Untold Tales of the New Universe: Merc
Published in Amazing Fantasy #18 (April 2006)
Cover Artist: Parillo
Writer: Tony Lee
Penciler: Leonard Kirk
Inker: Kris Justice
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: VC's Rus Wooton
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Marvel Solicitation
. . . ALSO: In anticipation of next month’s NEW UNIVERSE event, a bonus 8-page story featuring Mark Hazzard, MERC!
Plot Synopsis
Hazzard, Mal, and Treetop take on a non-lethal mission, but there's no shortage of bullets flying and things blowing up.
Favorite Quote
HAZZARD: You lunatic! Non-lethal does not mean "blow up the
building."
MAL: Hey -- it worked, didn't it! Ha -- I'm a friggin' tactical
genius.
Chronological Analysis
The opening of this story places it in 1987 and it features Treetop. In Merc #6, Hazzard shoots Treetop in the leg and he is still in a wheelchair when Hazzard dies. According to the Official Timeline Merc #6 takes place on January 18, 1987. Therefore, this story takes place very shortly before Merc #6.
Review
I've never been a fan of Merc. Too violent for my taste. That remains true in this story, as I didn't really need to see Hazzard blow away a guy's knee with his machine gun. However, the ending caught me by surprise and was funny. So if you can stomach it, this story's recommended.
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