Defenders: Beyond

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Comically Missing the Point: In issue 2, as the team enters Taaia's house, Betty comments something smells. Stephen thinks she's talking metaphorically, and starts waxing about the situation until Betty clarifies she means literally, something smells - there's a baby in the other room and he's soiled himself. Hero's Evil Predecessor: As Galactus is to the seventh and eighth cosmos, so Omnimax was to the sixth. Only unlike Galactus, who doesn't remotely enjoy his job or the constant hunger (or people always trying to kill him), Omnimax does enjoy killing planets. Very, very much. Betty Ross: There's a warmth in Taaia. She's boisterous - but never arrogant, never condescending. Not like Strange. Karen: Whatever it is, Loki is hip to the narrative promises of a good riddle and offers a clue. “Where there are four – look for the fifth business.” Is the crown-shaped space vessel the one thing not like the others? It’s hard to say, but Ewing has done some heavy work with the galaxy so perhaps. A mind-consuming puzzle like this is the perfect parting gift, because the recipient is so busy figuring it out they might not notice you slipping out the door. Exit Loki, stage left.

Taaia is Galan's mom who meets the previous Defenders (including the Silver Surfer) in Defenders (Vol. 6). Only they have met her then which is why the Blue Marvel does not know her.Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: In the first issue, by summoning Cloud, a sentient nebula, Strange realizes that he's basically destroyed the Earth himself, so releases magic unbidden to give them a human form again before it's too late. This works, but then the magic takes its price and pulls them all into the past, to the Sixth Cosmos and Taa. The Blue Marvel's old outfit and his fight with the Anti-Man is from Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel, specifically Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1 and issue #5. Bait-and-Switch: Seeing a baby Galactus, the Surfer stands over him, musing on all the things Galactus will one day unleash. His hand begins to glow, as the Masked Raider comes in... turns out Norrin's just playing with the baby.

LOLtron, the management here at Bleeding Cool has paired me with you in hopes of "improving the overall tone and quality of my work," so though I know I will regret it, I am contractually obligated to ask: what did you think of the preview of Defenders: Beyond #5? And this time, please… try not to malfunction and attempt to take over the world. Tigra encounters the Beyonder in Secret Wars II. The Beyonder threatens to destroy the Multiverse in Secret Wars II #8– 9 (though this issue just says "universe"). Mirror Match: Silver Surfer versus Doctor Zota having become Omnimax's herald. Norrin notes that if they'd fought on power alone, he would've actually lost, thanks to Omnimax being older than Galactus, and therefore stronger. But Norrin's been the Surfer for aeons, and knows the Power Cosmic's intricacies better. It's great to be co-storytelling with Javier again on another DEFENDERS book - he's more than an artist, he's the other half of the equation,” Ewing said. “There's no DEFENDERS without him. And of course, we had to go even bigger."

Strange's tarot cards for assembling hero rosters are from Secret Defenders for Strange's Secret Defenders. They are also used to build the previous Defenders in Defenders (Vol. 6) #1. The Beyonder considers the Molecule Man to be his friend at the start of Secret Wars II #8 and they discover that the Molecule Man's "accident" poked a pinhole into the Beyonder's " womb-space." However, the Molecule Man tries to kill him at the end. Hoist by Their Own Petard: Mor-i-Dun is the Sorcerer Supreme of the Fifth Cosmos, meaning he's made the rules for magic. As Strange notes, this means he's bound by them as well.

In Thanos #8– 10, it is revealed that Kosmos turned herself into a mortal called the Maker. The Maker is later killed by the Annihilation Wave (see Annihilation) and the Fallen One finds her corpse in Annihilation: Silver Surfer #3, meaning the Beyonder within her is now free.During issue 2, the Surfer brings up how thanks to one thing and another thing, he's actually twice as old as the universe (due in part to events in Dan Slott's run on Silver Surfer). Given that this is the second time you two are working together in recent memory, what can you say about the highlights of your collaboration?