Evolutionary War
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The Evolutionary War was a comic book super-hero fictional crossover which ran through most of the summer annuals published by Marvel Comics in 1988.
The storyline was the first of its kind. While there had been previous extended crossovers over multiple titles before it, The Evolutionary War was the first to take place exclusively in annuals. This format of crossover was to be repeated by Marvel a year later in 1989's Atlantis Attacks and was imitated by DC Comics for the first time three years later with their Armageddon 2001 crossover in 1991.
The broad plot of the story involves the re-emergence of the High Evolutionary. In each annual he embarks on various schemes which are intended to either safeguard or accelerate the evolution of mankind.
These include the elimination of Mutants and other "subhuman" races (shown in X-Factor Annual #3) and the eradication of illicit drug distribution (shown in Punisher Annual #1) and ultimately the detonation of a "Genetic Bomb" (in Avengers Annual #17) which is intended to cause an automatic and rapid evolution of every human being on the Earth.
During the crossover the Evolutionary encounters large numbers of super-heroes and his actions have some long term consequences for the Marvel Universe, such as the restoration of the Savage Land which had been destroyed in previously published storylines.
Each of the annuals which were a part of the crossover feature a short back up strip titled "The High Evolutionary" which was written by Mark Gruenwald with pencil art by Ron Lim. This 11 part story explains the complicated history of the High Evolutionary and recounts all his previous appearances.
The story concludes in Avengers Annual #17 when an informal group of Avengers (including The Beast, The Captain, Falcon, Hercules, The Hulk, Jocasta and Yellowjacket (Rita DeMara)) is assembled in an attempt to prevent the detonation of the "Genetic Bomb".
The crossover involves every Marvel super-hero annual from 1988, with one unofficial addition, that same years' ALF Annual #1. ALF, an adaptation of the television series of the same name, is a comedy series starring a stranded alien life form, whose adventures are intended for younger readers. In the light hearted story which connects the annual to the crossover the High Evolutionary happens upon ALF, with hijinks inevitably ensuing.
In Avengers West Coast Annual #4 (first published in 1989) the events of the Evolutionary War storyline are briefly touched on in the back-up "The Last Good Soldier" by writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Mike Manley. In that story USAgent parachutes into an unpopulated pacific atoll to disarm one of the High Evolutionary's storm troopers who does not realise that the Evolutionary War has ended.
Also in 1989, Thor #407 follows up on the events of Avengers Annual #17 to reveal the fates of Hercules and the High Evolutionary.
Finally, a postscript of sorts to the series came with What If...? #1 (July, 1989) written by Roy Thomas, which explores the question "What if the Avengers lost the Evolutionary War?".
[edit] Full bibliography of the Evolutionary War crossover
The original crossover issues:
- Part 1: X-Factor Annual #3
- Part 2: Punisher Annual #1
- Part 3: Silver Surfer Annual #1
- Part 4: New Mutants Annual #4
- Part 5: The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22
- Part 6: Fantastic Four Annual #21
- Part 7: Uncanny X-Men Annual #12
- Part 8: Web of Spider-Man Annual #4
- Part 9: West Coast Avengers Annual #3
- Part 10: The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #8
- Part 11: Avengers Annual #17
There is some confusion regarding the correct ordering of parts 5 and 6. Fantastic Four Annual #21 ends with the text "continued in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22", but Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22 ends with the text "continued in Fantastic Four Annual #21". The correct ordering can be determined through reading the story, though: Fantastic Four Annual #21 references events of Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22 as if they were in the past, indicating that Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22 precedes Fantastic Four Annual #21.
Other crossover issues:
- ALF Annual #1 (1988)
- Avengers West Coast Annual #4 (1989)
- What If...? volume 2 #1 (July, 1989)
- Thor volume 1 #407 (September, 1989)
