“Storm” Comic Book Issue 8 “Chapter 8: Sinister Schemes of the Stars and Stripes” Part One – Review

From writer Murewa Ayodele, Issue 8 of the current Storm solo series began a new arc for our Omega-Level Mutant Goddess. It’s Ororo vs the American legal system, and that’s a battle she can’t (or won’t) lightning strike her way out of.

Titled ‘Sinister Schemes of Stars and Stripes’ – Part One, Storm issue 8 opened with Ororo heading back to Brazil to handle the weather anomaly created by the Thunder Gods that jumped her in the previous issue. I liked how she connected with Mother Nature and assured said natural entity that she, Ororo of the Storm, had grown powerful enough to fix the situation.

I also liked the quick panel showing Tony, Reed, and T’Challa being glad about Storm handling the natural disaster, after having tried to face the conundrum with science. Tony throwing shade at T’Challa about not wanting to meet Storm and T’Challa shooting back by mentioning Emma Frost made me chuckle. T’Challa’s clearly avoiding Ororo. As of now, the ball’s in his court. He will need to take the first step if he wants to rekindle their relationship. I do see T’Challa and Ororo getting back together (they are meant to be!), but not anytime soon.

As for Thor coming to aid Ororo, we saw the two Avengers working together in the Amazon rainforest to collect the ashes of the pilot and the serum-enhanced serpent. According to Ororo, Doctor Voodoo would be able to separate the pilot’s ashes so he could get a proper burial. And what’s when Thor shared information about what’s making its way to Earth.

Turns out that before Zeus or any of the Storm Gods, there was one called Hadad. A billion years ago, Hadad’s rage enabled him, the First Storm God, to go after and defeat Eternity, Death, and more. Hadad made Eternity his cloak, Death his war club, the Phoenix Force his armor, and Infinity his shield. Things had become so bad that the freaking One Above All had to step in to put an end to Hadad.

Apparently, Hadad was on his way for an encore soon, and his inevitable return had caused numerous current Thunder Gods to fight each other, dividing them into supporters and anti-Hadad beings. Hadad wasn’t going to be alone. He was going to be accompanied by Rot Storms. Poor Silver Surfer Soot was shown fighting Rot Blizzard (who had swallowed Galactus) in the far reaches of the universe.

So, yeah, as Thor put it, our girl was running out of time to prepare Earth for the upcoming Thunder War. And while I understood why Ororo refused Thor’s help to fight the Thunder Gods she had recently encountered, I wish she had accepted the summoning feather. Yes, Storm is OP, but she’s facing foes who are also OP. An ally like Thor is invaluable.

I have a feeling that the rematch with the Thunder Gods will reveal them, or at least most of them, to be in opposition to Hadad. Thus, they will team up with Storm during the Thunder War.

Anyway, before Ororo entered the cosmic battle, she had other pressing matters to attend to. Her decision to help Charles Xavier during the X-Manhunt event had led to certain consequences. The American government had called Ororo in for questioning.

I liked how Ayodele gave Ororo a problem she couldn’t simply throw a lightning bolt at and call it a day. Being who she was, Storm had to deal with the legal predicament by the book. And though she was prepared to answer the questions, you could tell that the FBI agents handling her case were eager to put her behind bars.

From the very start, the agents had planned to intimidate Ororo. The interrogation room was large to make Ororo feel insignificant. Agent Fabiyi walked in with a condescending demeanor. It was obvious he was wasting time asking Ororo about the Storm Sanctuary and her work as an Avenger before he brought up Charles Xavier.

At least, we got to learn about who had built the Storm Sanctuary. Tony, Lunella, and Shuri had worked together to create a technological marvel that emitted no greenhouse gases. It also didn’t block sunlight. There’s also something going on with space within the Storm Sanctuary. It’s way bigger inside than it appeared to be outside.

As for Ororo aiding Xavier, Fabiyi presented a scenario where Ororo could have been telepathically manipulated to help him without realizing her mind had been invaded. However, as Ororo put it, certain beings who had energy coursing through their bodies were “immune” to telepathy. Similar to Storm, mutants like Gambit and Jubilee were also “immune” to telepathy.

I mean, we all know that Storm, Gambit, and Jubilee were resistant to telepathy, with Ororo being highly resistant due to her energy manipulation skills, indomitable will, and telepathy-resistant training. But I can understand why Ororo used the word immune during their conversation. 

Fabiyi even put her statement to the test, having tried to telepathically manipulate reality after touching her hand. Of course, Ororo was able to see through the trick. As she put it, beings far more powerful than Fabiyi had tried to overcome her mind and had failed.

Certain that Xavier hadn’t mentally controlled Ororo for help, it gave Fabiyi the proof he needed to call in the rest of his agents and put Ororo under arrest.

I can’t be sure what was going on in Ayodele’s mind during the writing process. But seeing Fabiyi strongly link Ororo to Cairo and her time as a child thief, wanting to try her under a “working” legal system like America’s, and then declaring how things were different in “My America” to an “immigrant” Black woman indeed had certain sociopolitical layers to it. Even though he introduced himself as an alien from another planet, Fabiyi was adamant about “othering” Ororo, a WoC mutant superhero who had saved Earth and the universe countless times.

There’s no chance the team of four special-powered FBI agents is strong enough to defeat Storm, but I’m interested in seeing how Ororo will handle taking them down and clearing her name. No matter how powerful she was, due to operating on the good side, Ororo had to follow certain legal systems. Frankly, it’s kind of nice to see Ororo have such a problem on her plate before the more action-heavy stuff is served during the Thunder War.

Fabiyi also mentioned Agent Lundquist, an independent observer from the Office of National Emergency, whose presence Ororo had detected due to her powers. It was so refreshing to see yet another example of Ororo’s sensory abilities. We don’t get that a lot. I’m intrigued by what role Agent Lundquist will play.

Talking about the other characters, Eden helped teleport Storm to the interrogation, letting her know she only had to say the word for an army of mutants to stand by her. With Storm gone, Maggott decided to hold a wrestling match including him, She-Hulk, Gentle, Big Bertha, Juggernaut, Strong Guy, Armor, and Abomination. Apparently, it was Maggott’s way of testing his power after being leveled up by Eternal Storm. 

Also, She-Hulk should have been on the clock as Storm’s lawyer. But oh well.

Ayodele took to the letter’s page to share some heartfelt words about the importance of Storm’s hair and how Ororo’s decision to currently wear a weave was meant to be a supportive gesture to anyone who had lost hair due to a medical condition or some other reason.       

Did you read Storm issue 8? What did you think of it?

Let us know.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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