Warning: SPOILERS for Old Man Quill #12
When it was first introduced, the world of Old Man Logan was a horrifying wasteland where the villains had won, the heroes had died, and only a handful survived in secret and squalor. But now Marvel reveals that Old Man Quill -- formerly known as Star-Lord -- didn't just save the planet. He's founded a new, future version of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The last few years have seen the Old Man Logan story expanded upon in several books. The Old Man Hawkeye series explained how Clint Barton lost his sight before the original Logan book. And when Dead Man Logan finally let Wolverine die, his return helped to create the new Avengers of the Wastelands. But Star-Lord's story has been more cosmic in nature, becoming King of Spartax (as was his birthright) only to watch his planet fall to the Universal Church of Truth, and the rest of his famous Guardians of the Galaxy teammates get killed trying to stop the same enemy. But Star-Lord still had one last battle in him.
Most of the series has dealt mainly with Star-Lord's state of mind, PTSD, and regret over leaving his family to die. But in Old Man Quill #12, the time to fight and win finally arrives. And proving to the entire Marvel Universe -- sadly already wiped clean of most of his superhero colleagues -- Peter delivers, slaying Galactus and dismantling the Church forces he commands. Which leads to the question: what will he do now?
Even though he saves Earth, the fact that Doctor Doom's robotic double was killed by Galactus, and the top villain managed to escape leaves the future of the Wasteland world in the same peril as before. But after helping Star-Lord defend Earth, resistance leader Viv Vision asks him to stay and play a part in rebuilding his original home planet. Insisting that he belongs among the stars, Peter tells her that he's heading out to defeat the rest of the Universal Church of Truth that killed his people, now scattered to the solar winds without Galactus to unite them. But to do it, he's going to need help from some old friends.
The scene is well played by writer Ethan Sacks and artist Robert Gill, making it appear that Peter is issuing a rallying cry and request for help to the same hallucinations of his old Guardians teammates that plagued him from the start of the series. Only when Peter orders the "holograms" to be turned off is the truth revealed. Peter has made peace with the loss of his friends, and is simply using them to convey his renewed desire to bring their killers to justice... asking for help from a new team of familiar Guardians.
The gathered heroes -- Beta Ray Bill, Nova, Moondragon, Nebula, and a Baby Groot -- are instantly game to accept the invitation. Leaving a brighter future for this variation of the Marvel Universe. Not to mention leaving readers wondering if this is just the start of another Old adventure. That answer will need to wait, but for now readers can find the story in their local comic book shop, and the official credits and plot synopsis below.
- Old Man Quill (2019-) #12 (of 12)
- Written by: Ethan Sacks
- Art by: Robert Gill
- Cover by: John Tyler Christopher
- QUILL VS. GALACTUS! PETER QUILL is the only thing standing between GALACTUS and Earth’s destruction. And considering Quill’s track record…Earth is in major trouble. The ultimate conclusion of the Wastelands saga for the man formerly known as STAR-LORD!
Old Man Quill #12 is available now in your local comic book shop.