Taking on Tanaraq

• Writer - Tony Bedard
• Penciler - Mizuki Sakakibara
• Colorist - JC
• Lettering - Dave Sharpe
• Ass't Editor - Sean Ryan
• Ass't Editor - Stephannie Moore
• Editor - Mike Marts
• Editor in Chief - Joe Quesada

Summary

  The Exiles were to stop an experimental fuel-cell factory from accidentally igniting the earth's atmosphere, and a conversation would have done it, but Tanaraq slaughtered all the workers before the team could react. He asks what they're gawking at, since he just saved the world, but Namora calls him a murderer and rushes at him. He grabs her by the head, noting she may be strong, but his power is "ancient as winter and black as night." Calvin eye-blasts him, so he throws Namora at him; Clarice gets the team to stand down, since Tanaraq is too strong for them.

  Tanaraq says he just wants to get home to subjugate his own reality; Clarice calls to Heather, to fight off Tanaraq, but he says she's been purged of his body, except for her memories. He walks over to a keyboard and reactivates the factory, as blackmail: the sky will burn, unless the Exiles help him, and if they do, they'll be rid of him forever, as well.

  He wants to know how much time they have before their next jump; the Tallus says 21 hours. Tanaraq wants to trace the Tallus back to the Timebroker, so he can force him to return him to his reality. He needs to find an expert in trans-dimensional communication; Kevin suggests Reed Richards, but Tanaraq knows he wouldn't help him. He sends the Exiles to the genius villains: the Leader, Dr. Doom, the Mad Thinker, the Mandarin, the Master.

  Clarice has dropped Beak at Alpha Base, but he can't convince the guard to let him talk to Shaman, till Shaman shows up and says he was expected. He shows him a chamber with totem poles and an energy being, who says he'll help remove Tanaraq.

  The villains assemble in the factory and begin their research. Calvin isn't happy to endanger the Timebroker, but Namora thinks he deserves what he gets. Kevin is surprised he hasn't shown up himself, but Namora guesses he ignores them when they're done with their mission. Calvin asks if they've dropped the theory that he's a projection of their own unconscious; Namora says that's only the Timebroker's claim (iss. 13), and she believes the Celestial's warning against the Timebreaker (iss. 53), and Kevin agrees.

  As villains do, they begin to bicker; Doom has the Mandarin use one of his rings to disintegrate the others and then lets the Mad Thinker's golem bash him, while he quizzes Clarice about the Tallus's functionality.

  Kang's vessel materializes; he emerges, saying the secrets of space and time are already his. Dr. Octopus and the Master have seen enough and depart. Doom asks how Kang knew to come there; he says he was invited, and Beak emerges from the vessel. Tanaraq pushes Doom aside to confront Kang; he smells "sarcee tribal magic" on him. Doom blasts Tanaraq for his insolence and gets bashed into the ground. Beak tells Clarice to get ready.

  Tanaraq knows who it really is and asks if he brought Narya; Kang shows himself to be Shaman, who says his ruse let him get close enough. He takes green goo from his medicine bag and throws it onto Tanaraq's chest. He calls for Heather to awake, and her form begins to emerge. Tanaraq is infuriated; he thought she was dead.

  Wolverine shows up, calling to Heather: they were married. Tanaraq says he has no scent and tears him in half; it was Kevin in Wolverine's form. Tanaraq says he had a deal, and Heather is his now; she says she was dying, and the deal's off. Kang's vessel was really a group of totem poles; Beak says Shaman wants them to push Tanaraq through them, and Clarice has the team attack, while Calvin grabs Heather's hand and pulls her free. Shaman closes the portal, ignoring Tanaraq's pleas.

  Kevin reconstitutes himself; he used things Heather told him when they were stranded together (iss. 33) to bring up her memories. The Sasquatch power is gone; it will take time for her to adjust to being just human.

  Shaman says Tanaraq can't be destroyed, so they did the next best thing. Tanaraq finds himself surrounded by the Great Beasts of this reality, who consider him an impostor. They contacted Shaman, their mortal enemy, when they sensed a rival. When Beak arrived, they were prepared.

  Clarice notes they still have to shut down the factory; Heather volunteers, since she's the one who taught Tanaraq to type.

  Note: Narya is Snowbird, another mortal enemy of the Great Beasts.