There’s a Star Trek joke in here but it just isn’t coming to me.
Prototype #4
Malibu Comics/Ultraverse (November, 1993)
“Wrathful Moon”
WRITERS: Len Strazewski & Tom Mason (credited as Prototype’s creators)
PENCILER: David Ammerman (credited as the creator of Wrath)
INKER: James Pascoe
COLOR DESIGNER: Robert Alvord
INTERIOR COLOR: Family Fugue
LETTERER: Tim Eldred
EDITOR: Chris Ulm
Jimmy is questioning his life (not knowing his new “girlfriend” is actually being paid to date him), when Wrath, part of Aladdin, breaks into the lab to retrieve his microrecorder of Prototype’s armor systems. Thanks the the new connection system, Jimmy is able to sense it remotely and goes down to suit up. Meanwhile Jimmy’s girlfriend from his old life shows up looking for him and Prototype has to save her during the battle. Damaged, Jimmy hopes he at least fried the microchip recorder, but the girl is shooed away by Ultratech and the police, not able to tell him that she’s pregnant with his baby. Later, Bob tries out his own armor and gets accused of the break-in.
What they got right: It’s a pretty good battle considering Jimmy is clearly a rookie. I think he’s supposed to appear outmatched, otherwise his failures would put this in the got wrong category. They’re trying to establish this concept of “what if Iron Man really was the employee and not the boss” and there are some interesting elements. We also get a hint that Jimmy is a proper Ultra, having a connection to the Jumpstart incident…or so he was told. With these guys lying is easier than breathing.
What they got wrong: I know he’s supposed to think he’s the actual hero, but…Wrath is not a hero name. You Aladdin guys suck at this. For the franchise as a whole I am so in the dark about this supposedly important incident. If you’re starting a new universe, maybe let us in on some of your lore? This has been one of the complaints about the Rippaverse’s approach to forming their universe (particularly the complaint I’ve heard about Isom), and even they have given us more to go by.
What I think overall: I think I should have looked for a better reading order because what I wanted was to read these books in proper monthly order without spending more time on research than reading. Otherwise, the book is still pretty good and I plan to keep reading.
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