Well, at least it was the villains for a change.
Secret Wars II #7
Marvel (January, 1986)
“Charge Of The Dark Brigade!” WRITER: Jim Shooter PENCILER: Al Milgrom INKER: Steve Leialoha COLORIST: Julianna Ferriter LETTERERS: Rosen & Friends EDITOR: Bob Budiansky
Worried that Beyonder may try to wipe out Death again, Mephisto makes a deal with the conceptual and cosmic beings. Using a machine called “Beyonderbayne”, Mephisto captured the energies Beyonder used to force Death’s return and with Eternity’s help will channel still more, destroying Earth and part of the universe in the bargain. Not having time to corrupt heroes, Mephisto is forced to use villains to attack the Beyonder, where he went to sit and think, forming a movement of people sitting around thinking. The Thing, who blames Beyonder for all of his troubles, pursues him as well, but while he still wants to kill him, his conscience forces him to protect the Beyonder from the villains until Beyondersbayne melts down. With forcing Ben to confront his conscience and showing other people a means to uncover their purpose (plus if you think about it other characters he’s met along the way), the Beyonder decides his role is to help others find their role. This will not end well.
I can’t think of anything positive about this story. For every good thing there is a bad one. Then you have the whole cult of thinkers thing, which has no good counterpart. Thing realizes that as much as he wants the Beyonder dead, but like in his tie-in (I’m guessing that’s where the Thing wrestled the Beyonder) he is forced to do the opposite, this time actually protecting him. And then he still wants to fight him. See, Ben blames Beyonder for bringing him to Battleworld, where he could control his form between Ben Grimm and the Thing until that stopped. Then Ben went back to Earth to find Alicia had fallen for Johnny. And he blames the Beyonder. Ben, YOU were the idiot who decided being able to turn into a human was more important than your girlfriend and you’re surprised she didn’t wait for you? That’s not Beyonder’s fault, that’s all you, dummy.
As for Death and Mephisto, I understand their actions and it’s kind of funny watching Mephisto be forced to go against his MO in order to take the Beyonder out. But yet again the so-called protectors are willing to destroy a good part of the universe in order to stop a guy who is only a threat because you keep making him one. He wants to learn, they want to destroy, but they act like the reverse is true. It’s very annoying for someone like me to watch.
So, no I cannot recommend this comic. The only one with pure motivation is the guy sitting there doing nothing. Thing is an idiot. The other conceptual beings are idiots. And Beyonder gets surrounded by a whole ton of idiots BEFORE the villains trusting Mephisto of all beings show up. I can do without this.
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