Spoilers for The Union #2 ahead!
The Union is Marvel’s newest superhero team, formed to foster a sense of unity in the United Kingdom following the chaos of Brexit, but in the wake of the death of their leader Britannia, it seems the team is done for—just as Knull and his symbiote dragons invade the British Isles. It goes down in The Union #2, written by Paul Grist, with art by Andrea Di Vito, inks by Le Beau Underwood and colors by Nolan Woodard. The issue is in stores now.
The team consists of super powered individuals, created for this series, drawn from the member nations of the United Kingdom: Britannia, representing Britain was the leader, Snakes is from Northern Ireland, Kelpie from Scotland and Choir is from Wales; Union Jack, an already existing character, functions as the team’s trainer. The Union debuted to great fanfare—and an attack by the symbiote god Knull. The team’s first outing could not have been more disastrous—Britannia was killed on live television, leaving the team without a leader. And in issue two, readers get to see the fallout from Britannia’s death, and it spells doom for both the team and Union Jack!
Union Jack struggles to keep the team together, but the other members make it clear they were there for Britannia, and without her, they are done. After they walk out, Selwyn James, the team’s handler, reminds Union Jack that his contract says Jack must function as the team’s leader until a suitable replacement can be found. Jack protests, telling him the team has literally walked out on him, but Selwyn tells him to get the team back together and ready for a press conference soon, or else he will lock Jack up for the rest of his life.
Needless to say, the stakes have been raised high for Union Jack—he must find a way to convince the Union’s members to not only come back together, but also accept him as leader—a task that is easier said than done. Definite parallels can be drawn between the Union’s situation and the one facing the United Kingdom right now as well.
The Union was brought together to fight for an ideal, one where the various heroes from around the UK could work together and show what they were capable of—a truly United Kingdom. Union Jack has a tall order ahead of him in reuniting The Union, and he must do it soon, before the United Kingdom falls into chaos at the hands of Knull.