#luke randolph collection event story

[aishangotome]

Luke Randolph: Even If I Make The World My Enemy

From A Hidden Oath: King of the BEAST (2024 Election) - Collection Event

—

The sound of frantic footsteps echoes from a short distance away.

I quickly duck into an alleyway, but it's only a matter of time before I'm found.

Emma: Hey, Luke...

Luke: Shh, they'll hear us if you talk.

I can feel Emma's heartbeat as I hold her close.

Luke: This is bad, we're surrounded.

Emma: Luke, it's impossible now.

Luke: Don't give up. I'll get us out of here, I promise.

???: Found them!

Luke: Ugh...

A figure holding something long and thin comes running from the end of the narrow passage.

Luke: Well, this is it then.

I intercept the figure's swing with my weapon.

???: Whoa!

The figure's weapon snaps in half with a light crack.

Emma: Luke, that's too much!

Luke: It's not too much. We're fugitives, remember?

Luke: If you've decided to follow me, there's no turning back now.

As I pull Emma's arm,

Emma: Luke!

Luke: ...!

Another pursuer behind me swings their weapon––

-

––This happened a little while ago.

While walking through town with Emma, a child playing with a wooden stick tripped and fell right in front of us.

Emma: Are you okay?

Emma rushes over and applies linen to the child's scraped knee.

Children: We finally found you! ...Huh, what happened?

Emma: It looks like they fell and got hurt. Are you all this child's friends?

Child: Yeah. We were playing knights.

The children were holding sticks and planks of wood of just the right length, with cloth tied around their necks like capes.

(Well, now that you mention it, they do look like knights.)

Luke: By the way, what role does this one play?

The child who fell wasn't wearing a shield or a cape. They were just holding a rather large stick.

Child: The escaped criminal who stole the legendary sword!

Luke: Oh, that's a really bad guy.

(I wonder if they stole it or escaped... but that's not important right now.)

Emma: There, all done.

While talking to the children, Emma seemed to have finished treating the injury.

Emma: Isn't this wooden stick a bit long to be swinging around? You might get hurt again.

Child: But it's the legendary sword...

(They're clearly disappointed.)

(.....................)

(...Well, maybe this isn't so bad once in a while.)

(Especially with Emma here.)

Luke: Alright, I'll take this then.

Emma: Huh!?

I snatch up the "legendary sword."

Children: Hey, that's not fair!

Luke: You're knights, right? Try and take it back from the escaped criminal.

Luke: Oh, and by the way, this one's an escaped criminal too. You gotta defeat us both to get it back.

Emma: Luke!?

I grab Emma's arm, who's looking confused, and run off into town with the legendary sword in hand.

-

Child: ––Take this!

THWACK, I get hit on the hip with a wooden stick.

Luke: Ugh, I'm defeated. You run, Emma!

I hand the "legendary sword" to Emma and fall to the ground––

Emma: Luke, what should I do... Ah!

Another child taps Emma on the shoulder with a wooden stick.

(Oh, they're holding back. Good for them.)

Emma: Uh, um... I surrender!

Children: Yay, we defeated them!

After Emma returns the "legendary sword," the children leave, satisfied.

(They're so energetic.)

I stand up, brushing the sand off my clothes.

Luke: Ah well, we got defeated. I was planning on escaping with you, too.

Emma: Hehe, you're such a liar. You broke off the end of that wooden stick to make it shorter and safer, didn't you?

(She caught me. I guess I can't hide anything from Emma.)

Emma: Even though we were defeated, it was fun. It was thrilling, like I was really on the run with Luke.

Luke: Yeah, your heart was beating so fast.

Emma: That's because you were close...!

(She's so cute.)

(So cute that... I sometimes wonder if it's okay for someone like me to be by her side.)

The word "defeated" that the children used earlier crosses my mind.

I used to be the one being defeated.

But now, Emma is by my side. If I make another mistake, Emma will be caught up in it too.

(––That's why I can't stray from the path anymore.)

(Well, if I were to stray from the path again and become an enemy of the country...)

(It would only be if something bad happened to Emma, or if she got hurt.)

(If that time comes––)

(I swear I'll love you, even if it means turning against the world.)

Emma: Hehe, what's wrong?

When I hug her tightly, Emma gently wraps her arms around my back.

Luke: Nothing. I just wanted to touch you.

Luke: And this too.

Emma: Mm...

Unable to contain my feelings, I lean in and kiss Emma.

The bustling noise of the royal capital fills the alleyway, leaving the two of us alone.

FIN

[columbuscomicscorner-blog]

Venomverse: War Stories #1 Review **Spoilers**

Tales From The Front Lines Written by: Cullen Bunn Artists: Annapaola Martello, Java Tartaglia

Review: Let us dive into the first tale of the five shorts provided, focusing on setting up the events in the main Venomverse series. Doctor Strange wearing his venom cloak and meditating, is interrupted by Captain America winded to inform Strange their resistance team was ambushed. We’re not given much insight into who the roster is on the team, but all you need to know most of them died. The only other survivors were Hulk and Moon Knight, who were consumed by some unknown evil. Our sole survivors of the resistance are in a dire situation, leading Strange mustering enough strength to conjure a spell, showing us the team they’ll recruit and train for what’s to come.

Overall: I’m the guy who didn’t plan on falling into the trap of paying $5.00 for both titles. I figured I’d take my chances reading the main series first and use that to decide if I circle around to fork over another $5. Unfortunately, doing this particular reading order will affect my review. While I can appreciate this prelude, it comes off as a sales pitch more than a prelude. I would’ve liked more world building to explain how this universe became what it is. If you’re a reader who had questions after reading Venomverse #1, you’ll least get few answered. While the art isn’t horrible, it’s nothing to write home about.

Score: 6.8/10

Blessing In Disguise Writer: Nnedi Okorafor Artists: Tana Ford, Ian Herring

Review: This is a full out origin story of Ngozi, a paralyzed young girl from Nigeria. Which was caused by a bus accident that left Ngozi in a wheelchair. We open the story seeing Ngozi in her room, looking around you get an understanding her inspirations are Bruce Lee and the Dora Milaje. She was also once a great track runner and has plenty of trophies to prove it. In the background, a National Geographic type program is playing in the background providing facts about grasshoppers. One, in particular, tells Ngozi that they can in fact fly. Just so happens there’s a grasshopper right outside her window. She’s ecstatic and zooms outside to catch it. Worst timing that Black Panther is fighting with Rhino, attempting to take back the capsule that holds a venom symbiote. When that capsule gets away from them, it’ll find a new home and rolls next to Ngozi. The capsule at the point hatches open and the symbiote consumes Ngozi. Now that she’s one with the symbiote, Ngozi can be and do anything she wants. But first, she’ll need to put a stop to Rhino and does so picking up the pieces where Black Panther left off. During this scuffle, Black Panther lost his life to Rhino after being stomped out. Now Ngozi and the Venom symbiote will train in Wakanda until Ngozi is worthy enough to becomes the new Black Panther of Wakanda.

Overall:   There was a lot of enjoyment to be had with this short. I was pulled in by the tragic story of Ngozi, just within the opening page, you get a rundown of who she is and where she’s been. This is what I would consider the true war story of the book. Ngozi was simply caught in the crossfire, while she could’ve been even more scared, Ngozi embraces her new change and takes it on. Usually, the host is afraid of the Venom symbiote, in this case, it’s the complete opposite. In the end, Ngozi’s dreams come true, not only did she train alongside the Dora Milaje, she’s become the new Black Panther. This short shorty gave me enough courage Ngozi will have no problem protecting Wakanda. Although she’ll never be able to walk without the symbiote, she’s found her purpose in this world.

Score: 8/10

Deal With The Devil Writer: Declan Shalvey Artists: Delcan Shalvey, Chris O’Halloran

Review: Frank Castle (Punisher) has run out ammo to wage his war on Kingpin. Kingpin catches wind of this and offers to meet with Frank to call a truce. When Frank Castle arrives at Fisk’s hideout, Fisk takes it upon himself to rub Frank’s dire times in his face. Frank plays ball and accepts to make a deal with Fisk. But that’s not what Fisk has in mind and plans to murder Frank where he stands. Frank is keeping a secret and wasn’t wasting his breath on Fisk, turns out there’s something hidden inside him. As Frank projectile vomits a venom face huger onto Fisk, he begins his transformation into a Venomized Punisher. Let the bullets fly as Punisher guns down the mob bosses and saves Fisk for last. That’s not the only stop and Punisher cleans up New York all of the crime. In return, Frank must come through on his end of the bargain and assassinate Venom’s old pal, Peter Parker. But just before we can pull the trigger, Doctor Strange plucks him from his timeline.

Overall: This time around Delcan Shalvey proves he can deliver a violent “What If” story. That’s all there is to it though. The story is more straightforward to set up Punisher’s mindset going into Venomverse. The art provided delivered more excitement than the story itself. But in the end just an okay prelude to the main series.

Score: 7/10

3, 2, 1. Writer: Magdalene Visaggio Artist: Alex Arizmendi, Lee Loughridge

Review: Let’s focus on the next character which will be plucked by Doctor Strange. A Venomized Rocket Racoon is dead set on killing Carol Danvers, who goes by Captain America in this universe. The Kree has put a bounty on her head with a huge payout. Rocket’s ego is a big as his guns and thinks with the symbiote on his side, Rocket can conquer anything that gets in his way. After some back and forth action sequences, Rocket seems to get an upset stomach mid stare down and is suddenly turned inside out and warped into a different dimension. This leaves Carol scratching her head in confusion and goes on about her day.

Overall:  Now, this was the weaker shorts of the issue and follows the same trend as the Punisher tale. If you’re a fan of Rocket Racoon, you’ll find some entertainment in watching a trigger happy Racoon venom out with an array of weaponry. The symbiote didn’t seem to have a noticeable effect on Rocket Racoon and was a natural fit for the character. Unfortunately, not much to take away this short.     

Score: 6.5/10

 Force Majeure Writer: Aaron Covington Artists: Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez

Review: During a conference call between Doctor Doom and the Avengers, they discuss the rumblings of rumors that a symbiote has found a host inside Doctor Doom. There Doom explains to them, that he has the situation under control and no need to worry. All along, the symbiote has an inner dialogue with Doom reminding him who’s really in control. The Avengers don’t trust Doom, sending Luke Cage to visit Latveria. Back at Latveria, the symbiote puts Doom in his place and comes across Doom’s hidden lair of Doom Bots. Once the symbiote takes control of the bots, Doom doesn’t let his guard down allowing the symbiote to fully take over his body. It’s Doom that’s fully transformed into a Venomized Doom. Luke Cage flies into Latveria wearing Iron Man type armor and takes the initiative to blast Doom. But something’s not right and Luke mentions his blast ray was only set to stun. So where did Doom vanish to? I hope that’s answered in the Venomverse series.

Overall: I need more of this universe stat, the roster of the Avengers presented in the story is something we’ll never experience in the current timeline. The team consists of Sam Wilson, Luke Cage, an African Black Widow, Miles Morales, Peter Parker, and Thor(Jane Foster). Put your money where your mouth is Marvel and give this series a trial run. Aaron Covington delivers brilliant back and forth dialogue between Doom and the symbiote. Doom kept calm and collective as the symbiote does everything to try and take over its host. At moments I even cringed for Doom’s safety. I may be a little-biased because of my fandom for Doctor Doom. Aaron Covington reminds the reader why Doctor Doom is the best villain in the Marvel Universe. I can look past the confusing dialogue bubble just before Luke leaves the Avengers. Because they saved the best for last, providing great art and an engaging story. I’m hyped to continue Venomverse in hopes of seeing this Venomized Doom return.     

Score: 9/10

Hear our review of Venomverse #1 on the Columbus Comics Corner Podcast, here.