Silent War

What has come before.

When Scarlet Witch remade the world in line with her father's vision, The House of M was born. But it was not the utopia Magneto had hoped, because his vision is fundamentally flawed. Then when Wanda spoke those three words, "No More Mutants" the Decimation occurred, and the world's mutant population dropped from a million to 198.

One of the mutants who was depowered was Pietro Maximoff, Wanda's brother, aka Quicksilver. Always arrogant, being a mere human was not enough for Quicksilver, and he set about trying to reverse what his sister's chaos magic had done.

He sought help from his wife's people; the Inhumans. Granted their powers by the Terrigen Mists, he thought they might jump start his powers.

The Inhumans are well aware of the dangers of Terrigenesis, and refused. The effects of the mutagenic material on a mutant who had been stripped of his mutation were deemed too risky. So Pietro stole the Terrigen crystals.

The magnitude of this crime can not be minimized. Inhuman society is totally dependant on the crystals to grant them their powers. The utilization of powers is the basis of their technology. Without them, young adult Inhumans can not become full fledged members of their society.

Pietro took the crystals to Genosha, where he intended to restore all depowered mutants, building a mutant nation there. But the US government had other ideas, and seized the crystals as weapons of mass destruction.

Pietro escaped with a handful of crystal shards. He inserted them into his flesh, granting him two superhuman powers. They did not restore his super speed, but instead allowed him to jump through time, skipping forward weeks at a time. There, he could research history, giving him a sort of precognition.

His other power is to give back the lost mutations of depowered mutants, but in a twisted sort of fashion. Pietro decided that this was a gift, and that if the mutant in question was worthy, his or her powers would return in a usable fashion. If they were unworthy, their powers would become a punishment.

But now, the Inhumans have petitioned the United States Government for the return of their Sacred Crystals. The Government has refused.

The Plot

Four Inhumans, Gorgon the seismic, the electrical Nahrees, the plant controlling sociopath, Jolen, and the shy illusionist Kurani, make their way into a charity performance of The Tempest. Gorgon informs the captive audience that a state of war exists between the Inhumans and the United States. Acts of increasing hostility will continue to be performed until such time as the Terrigen crystals are returned to the people of Attilan. When the crowd becomes vocal, and Gorgon calls for silence, Jolen pops a few of their heads off. Gorgon is furious, but simply calls for a retreat.

They are met by the Fantastic Four. After a somewhat one sided battle, the Inhumans are taken into custody. There, they are turned over to Professor Campbell for study. He even says that the Geneva Convention does not apply, because Gorgon is not human.

He exposes Gorgon to a second dose of the mist. Gorgon breaks the containment chamber, and we see there are horrible consequences for them both.

Meanwhile, back on the blue area of the moon Luna, daughter of Pietro, a mutant, and Crystal of the Inhumans, was born human. She did not possess the X gene, nor the critical genes that allow Terrigenesis. But Pietro used his new found powers on his daughter, granting her enhanced perceptions. Now Luna is an Inhuman. But it is not easy. She is younger than any other Inhuman, and no one else can see auras to the degree she can.

Part of her duties includes helping to locate the crystals. Most of them are in the Pentagon. The remainders are imbedded in Pietro. It is decided that a small delegation will deal with Pietro. Blackbolt, Medusa, Crystal, and Luna.

They arrange to meet him in the headquarters of X-Factor. The Inhumans are horrified to discover the use to which he has put the crystals. He offers to be the source of Terrigenisis. The Inhumans make it clear they do not intend to trust him. X-Factor's Jamie Madrox and Layla Miller intervene. Layla Miller has a power to know stuff. She's like the butterfly effect. She does little things, and they have a profound effect further down the line. She hates Pietro, understanding his evil, but she is powerless to harm him. She has tried. But now she wants something from him. He tells the Inhumans something he has seen on one of his trips into the future. He saw a huge explosion emanating from the Blue Area of the Moon. There is a very tricky piece of business wherein Lalya makes it all work the way she wants, something that makes sure that the Inhumans get the information they need.

The next goal is to get the crystals back, and free the prisoners. And to do that, the Inhumans invade the Pentagon. Of course Iron Man and the caped fascist brigade show up to defend America's possession of the Weapons of Mass Destruction.

And they think they are winning when almost all the Inhumans teleport away, leaving just one...King Blackbolt.

Too late, they realize what that means. Blackbolt gives them a second to reach a safer distance, and then he speaks.

The devastation is unimaginable. The merest whisper from the lips of the Inhuman Monarch is more powerful than any conventional bomb.

The only thing more horrific is the American retaliation. And the unfortunately, the biggest threat to the Inhumans is one hiding in their midst all the time.

The Analysis

Silent War continues the Marvel disintegration of trust that seems to be the hallmark of their recent work. Knowing that earth has been infiltrated by undetectable Skrulls it seems that trust will be in short supply for some time to come.

Every aspect of the Marvel Universe is becoming divided, factionalized. The Inhumans have now been cut off from their allies on earth, and with their own Civil War looming on the horizon; it seems they are living in interesting times.

David Hine is an unfamiliar author to me, but I like his style. It is not on par with Peter David or Warren Ellis, but it is good, with strong plotting. It could do better with pacing and dialogue, but all and all, a good effort. Four Stars.

Frazier Irving is another unfamiliar name. His art is...interesting. It is good, realistic enough, but it somehow puts me in mind of certain ad campaigns of the fifties and sixties. There is a certain stylized quality that is quite distinctive. I don't think I like it, but I don't hate it either. Let's give it a neutral three stars.

I was not going to buy this title, but just a few pages drew me in; I think the Inhumans are going to be playing a much bigger role in the Marvel Universe in the near future. I suggest if you are following the events following the Civil War, and during the Secret Invasion, this title is a don't miss.