Previously on Squadron Supreme: Thanks to kidnapping the Golden Archer, the nefarious Institute of Evil was able to kidnap the families of the Squadron Supreme. Long story short, the heroes save the day.
"Inner Circle"
Writer: Mark Gruenwald
Penciller: Paul Ryan
Inkers: Sam De La Rosa, Keith Williams
Letterer: John Workman
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter
The story begins with Hyperion, Tom Thumb, and the family of Arcanna Jones watching her weave some magic.
What is she doing? Well, she is making Squadron City invisible! Yes, Squadron City! The city of the future! Well, it's not really a city, it's more like a gigantic fancy new HQ for the Squadron Supreme.
Sorry about the quality, folks. My tablet scanner hated me for trying to scan this thing. I hate two-page spreads for this reason. I'm at least glad I didn't have to turn the trade on its side. Anyway, Squadron City is basically a new HQ, complete with hospital, meeting area, little houses for the members (that's funny to me), and the latest hi-fi stereo equipment for your listening pleasure. It was 1986.
Tom Thumb is impressed with Arcanna's magical abilities, as he felt it would have been very demanding technologically to hide the still in-progress HQ. The group go inside the field, and Arcanna heads to her family's home, which kind of has an old castle vibe to it. The group meet Whizzer's wife Madeline Stewart, and her daughter. As Arcanna's husband starts to make lunch and their kids play together, Madeline tells Arcanna that Whizzer still is struggling with the guilt he's having over running out on the Squadron when their families were attacked. Arcanna reassures her that he just needs time to recover.
Meanwhile, Hyperion and Tom Thumb come to the still in-progress laboratory complex. There, Ape-X shows off something she's been working on. She's been building on Tom Thumb's force-field belts, modifying them to be better personal protection devices, and at a much lower cost. She suggests with the gun manufacturers shut down, their factories could be converted to force-field belt manufacturing. Hyperion compliments her efforts, much to Tom Thumb's chagrin. However, he perks up when she states that Tom Thumb really deserves the credit, as she's only building on what he created.
Hyperion then goes to visit Zarda, who is helping a crew with building a landing field for aircraft. The workers are former criminals they hired to help out. Unusually, Quagmire is working with them. And there's a bit of a funny moment with his powers.
Hyperion then goes and visits Doctor Spectrum and Lamprey. Hype is touching base with everyone, and he asks how Doctor Spectrum's therapy sessions are going. Spectrum states he's still not ready for combat duty.
You may have noticed that in the last issue, the Institute of Evil's members attacked the Squadron Supreme, but here...they're helping the Squadron build their new HQ. And they're being nice. Well, there's an explanation for that.
Hype then next visits Amphibian and Shape, who are making a nice lake. Amphibian reveals that the Squadron used the B-Mod machines on the Institute, forcibly turning them into good guys. Amphibian really dislikes this. Even worse, it's shown that Shape felt no pain from the B-Modding, and he likes what he's become thanks to it. Amphibian complains about the lake to Hyperion, because he needs to be near water for his health, like the Silver/Bronze Age Aquaman. The nearest ocean is two hours away by the fastest craft. Hyperion brushes it off, saying Kingsley was outvoted when it came to deciding the location of the new HQ. Tom Thumb is not the only one who feels unappreciated.
Hyperion then visits Foxfire, who got on a new costume. She is looking over supply deliveries. Lady Lark was supposed to be with her, but she went to check up on Golden Archer again. Hyperion grumbles that lately, she can't seem to stay away from his side.
At the hospital facility, Lark is cooing over Archer, much to his chagrin. Actions have consequences, Wyatt. He tells her he needs rest, and she agrees to leave him alone for a bit. Dr. Decibel comes to visit Archer, and Archer complains that Lark's over-affection is making him crazy. Blue Eagle flies down to visit Lark.
Eagle confronts Lark, saying she's been acting very strange these past couple of months, and he wants to know why she suddenly went so crazy over Archer after wanting to break up with him. Lark takes it well.
Meanwhile, one of the Squadron's greatest enemies has been watching the Squadron's takeover from a hidden citadel.
Meet Master Menace, criminal mastermind and evil genius extraordinaire. During the last six months, he was busy taking over the Middle East. You'd think that the Squadron would've heard about this at some point.
It was only now that he has learned what the Squadron are up to in America. Menace eyes a news report, an interview with Tom Thumb about the B-Mod device. In the interview, Thumb talks about how the B-Mod device is a humane way to reform criminals. Menace takes an interest in the device, as some of his occasional allies in the Institute of Evil have already been brainwashed by it. Menace also believes that he can devise a way to reverse the effects. He then goes to greet some guests.
Meet, from left to right: Mink, thrill-seeking cat burglar. Remnant, the cloth-wielding criminal. Pinball, the bouncing ball of malice. You may notice that unlike the strips of cloth he uses in the future, he's shown to be a card-thrower. There's a reason for this. According to the entry on him in the Marvel Appendix, Remnant may have originally intended to be a character called "Wild Card", a Joker-analogue themed around playing cards. The link will explain further.
The three came to Menace for help. They also know what the Squadron did to their fellow villains, and they want to escape them. Menace agrees to help them, and use one of his machines to send them to another world. Menace will stay behind, as he refuses to let the Squadron's actions scare him into fleeing.
Three weeks later, the Squadron's new meeting chamber is completed. Whizzer has to report something. He and Blue Eagle went to Huxley State Prison (Nod to Aldous Huxley, another clever nod by Gruenwald) to implement the B-Mod program there, but the warden was resistant. He doesn't want the Squadron messing with his prisoners' minds, even if the intentions and outcome are "good". The two then left, and Hyperion commends them for doing the right thing.
Amphibian puts up the possibility that he'll never "come around". What will the Squadron do then, B-Mod him to make the warden compliant? B-Mod the newsmen who discover that? Amphibian does have a point. How far can the Squadron go with this thing? Archer already abused the B-Mod to make Lady Lark love him again, who will be the next?
Tabling the issue, Power Princess suggests that the former Institute of Evil be brought into the Squadron as members. The Squadron have various thoughts on it.
It's really interesting seeing each of their thoughts on the former Instituters' membership. And their thoughts make sense with their characters. Power Princess's Utopian upbringing states that those who seek fellowship should be welcomed. Lady Lark is reluctant as Dr. Decibel ruined her singing career. Tom Thumb is all for it, faithful in his invention. Whizzer feels they are too different. Eagle is reluctant to trust them due to their criminal pasts, and the pragmatic Arcanna reveals she is pregnant with her fourth child, and with that, they need the extra manpower. Man, Mr. and Mrs. Jones loves making kids, don't they?
Hyperion breaks the tie, inducing them, but breaking them into field duty slowly. And the final business of the day? Blue Eagle has some business. He points out that Lady Lark has been acting very strange over the last few months, being crazy when she's not around the Golden Archer. He then comes right out and says it.
Eagle explains that Tom Thumb can prove this, as the B-Mod machine has internal memory that records its usage. Eagle explains that the B-Mod was programmed to recognize and disregard the Squadron's brain patterns. This saved them from being B-Modded by the Institute of Evil in the last issue. However, Eagle believes that little protective measure was put in after Archer brainwashed Lark.
Tom admits that he did discover that someone did use the B-Mod on Lady Lark, but can't prove it was Archer. Eagle says it would make sense. He's the only one who had the motive. Spectrum brings in Archer so he can defend himself in this trial. Archer hears the testimony, and he confesses.
Thumb explains that he can't undo the brainwashing of Lady Lark, as the process would probably cause permanent brain damage. Lady Lark is enraged by this and runs out of the room. The Squadron debate over what to do about this.
Hyperion takes it to a vote. Whizzer, Amphibian, and Spectrum vote not to discipline the Archer. Power Princess votes for B-Modding him. Tom Thumb, Blue Eagle, and Arcanna vote to expel him from the Squadron. Hyperion is again the tie-breaker. He votes to expel Archer from the Squadron. Spectrum is furious at Blue Eagle. Hyperion tells Archer the news. Lady Lark is angry about this, but Archer accepts this, and apologizes for what he has done.
That night, Amphibian heads to the lab and destroys the B-Mod machines. Ape-X hears the noise, and asks what's going on. Amphibian assures her that everything is alright. He orders her to call up the plans for the B-Mod machine, and delete them from the computer.
This is where we see the true subtle horror of the B-Mod device. The former villainess can object, but in the end, she has to obey a Squadron member's orders. Her free will was taken from her against her wishes, and it can easily be assumed her compatriots in the Institute of Evil suffered the same fate. It's scary stuff, and a great way of subtly showing how much the Squadron Supreme have lost their way.
Satisfied with that he has done, Amphibian takes a craft and heads back to the ocean, basically saying "Screw the Squadron, and screw the surface world". He swims off, vowing never to leave the ocean again. So long, Amphibian. The story ends with Nighthawk finally appearing again after several months, checking out a strange tower. He was watching the Squadron's activities, and he finally has a plan to stop them.
This issue was really good. The change with the Institute of Evil's personalities was a bit jarring, but made perfect sense considering the themes of this series. It's a fantastic way of showing just how much the Squadron is slowly slipping into becoming tyrants and their not even realizing it. The B-Mod has opened up the doors to some serious abuses of power, and we're starting to see the Squadron do exactly that. It was also neat to see Amphibian finally get some focus, despite the fact this would be his last appearance in the series.
The late Paul Ryan, who would in a few years become known for his five-year run on Fantastic Four from 1991 to 1996, takes over the artwork here. I have to be honest, it's an improvement. Bob Hall upped his game in his last issue, but Ryan takes it to another level. It does make me wish Ryan had done the whole mini. How much nicer would those last five issues have looked under Ryan's pencils? Ah, well. Next time, we'll take a look at an adventure of Supergirl...
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