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This classic Marvel villain is best known for betraying the entire human race to alien invaders … but is he a monster or just misguided?
Warning: Contains minor spoilers for Iron Man # 9
One of the biggest traitors in the Marvel universe might have doubts in the next one Iron Man publish Iron Man # 9. The book, written by Christopher Cantwell with a cover of kingdom come artist Alex Ross, is about to re-narrate the events of the origin of Korvac, one of Marvel Comics’ most powerful and yet unknown villains. Preview pages have been released for the next issue and what was once considered a black and white debut for a villain now has shades of gray.
The man who would become Korvac was once Michael Korvac, an ordinary 3000 AD man in the far future of Earth. When a belligerent race of aliens called Badoon invaded Earth, Korvac made a deal with the invaders and sold the humans in exchange for employment with the regime (and his own survival, of course). Dissatisfied with his job, the Badoon punished Korvac by fusing his body with a machine, granting him powers in the process. So goes the original origin of Korvac, as said in Giant Defenders # 3 in 1975. But 45 years later, Korvac returned to the pages of Iron Man series and its origin is due to a modern narrative that promises to delve deeper into the true feelings of the traitor behind his actions.
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The preview pages take place on a Badoon ship, likely sometime before the Badoon conquered Earth. A group of three captured human soldiers collect their thoughts after being subjected to torture to obtain information regarding their organization. Korvac – apparently one of their own and not yet their enemy – arrives, and the group’s captain wonders why Korvac’s costume is immaculate while everyone else’s is damaged by the fighting. “Nice uniform… where have you been hiding the last few days while they separated us for information?” Korvac responds by pulling out his handgun and immediately shooting the three humans in the head.
It’s what happens after the shocking execution that matters, especially when it comes to Korvac’s character. After a Badoon commander mocks Korvac for selling his own species, Korvac returns to his assigned station in the ship … and begins to cry. Eventually, he is seen on the floor in a fetal position with his head in his hands. Commander Badoon grabs him, berates his slave for not knowing his place, and swears that Korvac will never leave his assigned monitor again, presumably leading him to his eventual conversion into a cyborg.
The original origin is quite different at the moment: Korvac was caught sleeping by a supervisor, no mourning. This small change brings an extra layer of dimension to the once simple character. The original story never really went into detail about exactly Why Korvac betrayed humanity, But Iron Man # 9 could reveal the reasons Korvac turned on his own… and the regrets he carries with him, potentially to this day.
