View source for The Evolutionary War

{{Infobox comics story arc <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> 
<!-- |title          = The Evolutionary War -->
|image          = Evolutionary War.jpg
|imagesize      = <!-- default 250 -->
|caption        = {{Descript-cvr|[[X-Factor (comic book)|X-Factor]] Annual||3|1988|art=[[Walt Simonson]]}}
|publisher      = [[Marvel Comics]]
|startmo        = 
|startyr        = 1988
|endmo          = 
|endyr          = 
|Superhero      = y
|Crossover      = y
|titles         = ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]] Annual'' #22<br><!--
-->''[[The Avengers (comic book)|Avengers]] Annual'' #17<br><!--
-->''[[The Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]] Annual'' #21<br><!--
-->''[[The New Mutants (comic book)|The New Mutants]] Annual'' #4<br><!--
-->''[[The Punisher (1987 series)|The Punisher]] Annual'' #1<br><!--
-->''[[Silver Surfer (comic book)|Silver Surfer]] Annual'' #1<br><!--
-->''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]] Annual'' #8<br><!--
-->''[[Web of Spider-Man]] Annual'' #4<br><!--
-->''[[West Coast Avengers]] Annual'' #3<br><!--
-->''[[X-Factor (comic book)|X-Factor]] Annual '' #3<br><!--
-->''[[Uncanny X-Men|X-Men]] Annual'' vol. 1, #12<br>
|main_char_team = [[Avengers (comics)|The Avengers]]<br>[[Avengers West Coast]]<br>[[Fantastic Four]]<br>[[X-Men]]<br>[[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]<br>[[Punisher]]<br>[[Silver Surfer]]<br>[[New Mutants]]<br>[[High Evolutionary]]<br>[[Kingpin (character)|Kingpin]]
|writers        = 
|artists        = 
|pencillers     = 
|inkers         = 
|letterers      = 
|editors        = 
|colorists      = 
|TPB            = 
|ISBN           = 
|cat            = Marvel Comics
|sortkey        = Evolutionary War
}}
"'''The Evolutionary War'''" was a [[comic book]] [[fictional crossover|crossover]] which ran through most of the [[1988 in comics|1988]] [[annual publication|annuals]] published by [[Marvel Comics]]. Principal writers included [[Gerry Conway]], [[Steve Englehart]], [[Louise Simonson]], [[Chris Claremont]], and [[Steve Gerber]].

The storyline was the first of its kind. While there had been previous extended crossovers over multiple titles before it, "The Evolutionary War" was the first to take place exclusively in annuals. This format of crossover annuals was to be repeated by Marvel for the next four years, most notably with [[1989 in comics|1989]]'s "[[Atlantis Attacks]]."

==Background==
{{main|High Evolutionary}}
One of the world's premiere geneticists, the [[High Evolutionary]] had devoted his life to unlocking the mysteries of life and creating new forms of intelligent beings for his research. His crowning achievement was the creation of [[Counter-Earth (comics)|Counter-Earth]]; however, this was viewed as little more than a trivial matter by the [[Beyonders]], who captured the planet for display in a cosmic museum of curiosities.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= [[Mark Gruenwald|Gruenwald, Mark]]|penciller= [[Jerry Bingham|Bingham, Jerry]]|inker= [[Gene Day|Day, Gene]]|story= Suffer Not a Warlock to Live|title= [[Marvel Two-in-One]]|issue= 63|date= May 1980}}</ref> Realizing that his own aspirations to godhood were dwarfed by the Beyonders, the Evolutionary succumbed to madness and depression. He goaded the [[Hulk]] into damaging the defense mechanisms in his armor, so that he could commit suicide.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= [[Bill Mantlo|Mantlo, Bill]]|penciller= [[Sal Buscema|Buscema, Sal]]|inker= Buscema, Sal|story= Devolution|title= [[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]|volume= 2|issue= 266|date= December 1981}}</ref>

==Plot==
The High Evolutionary is revealed to have survived his suicide attempt, and has rededicated himself to guiding and enhancing the evolution of humanity so that his race may one day be supreme to all others, including the Beyonders. To this end he initiates several concurrent efforts to accelerate [[human beings|human]] [[evolution]] and eliminate perceived threats to mankind's genetic purity.

He sends his Purifier troops into [[Subterranea (comics)|Subterranea]] to sterilize the simple-minded races that dwell there. However, the discovery of a mutant [[Subterranea (comics)#Moloids|Moloid]] attracts the intervention of [[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]] and [[Apocalypse (comics)|Apocalypse]]. Apocalypse and The High Evolutionary engage in an epic battle in outer space. The Evolutionary is ultimately convinced that the Subterraneans indeed have genetic potential and ceases his operations there.<ref name="XFA3">{{cite comic|writer= [[Louise Simonson|Simonson, Louise]]|penciller= [[Terry Shoemaker|Shoemaker, Terry]]|inker= [[Al Milgrom|Milgrom, Al]]|story= Unnatural Selection|title= [[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor Annual]]|issue= 3|date= 1988}}</ref>

In [[Bogotá]], the Evolutionary's Eliminators are dispatched to exterminate a [[Colombian drug cartels|drug cartel]]. The [[Punisher]] discovers the battle and dispatches with both sides.<ref name="Pun1">{{cite comic|writer= [[Mike Baron|Baron, Mike]]|penciller= [[Mark Texeira|Texeira, Mark]]|inker= [[Scott Williams (comics)|Williams, Scott]]|story= Evolutionary Jihad|title= [[The Punisher (1987 series)|The Punisher Annual]]|volume= 2|issue=1 |date= 1988}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the High Evolutionary visits the [[Eternals (comics)|Eternals]] and persuades them aid his cause by mapping the genetic code of the [[Silver Surfer]]. The Surfer refuses to cooperate, and convinces the Eternals to let him be.<ref name="Surfer1">{{cite comic|writer= [[Steve Englehart|Engelhart]]|penciller= [[Joe Staton|Staton, Joe]]|inker= [[Josef Rubinstein|Rubinstein, Josef]]|story= Adam|title= [[Silver Surfer (comic book)|Silver Surfer Annual]]|volume= 3|issue= 1|date= 1988}}</ref>

The Purifiers set about removing the powers of mutants deemed to pose a threat to humanity. When they capture [[Magma (character)|Magma]] from Nova Roma, the inner circle of the [[Hellfire Club (comics)|Hellfire Club]] and the [[New Mutants]] storm the Purifier base in [[Wyoming]] to rescue her. During the struggle, [[Danielle Moonstar|Mirage]] inadvertently has her powers enhanced, allowing her to physically manifest the illusions she casts.<ref name="NMA4">{{cite comic|writer= Simonson, Louise|penciller= [[June Brigman|Brigman, June]]|inker= [[Bob McLeod (comics)|McLeod, Bob]]|story= Mind Games|title= [[New Mutants]] Annual|issue= 4|date= 1988}}</ref>

With the supply of drugs cut off by events in Bogotá, a drug war escalates in [[New York City]], made worse by the Purifiers murdering drug dealers. Seeking to retaliate against the ones who disrupted his drug trade, the [[Kingpin (character)|Kingpin]] learns about the High Evolutionary's scheme and allows the information to reach [[Spider-Man]] and [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Daredevil]]. Along with [[Robbie Baldwin|Speedball]], they defeat the Purifiers before they can enact the High Evolutionary's plan to sterilize all undesirable individuals in the city.<ref name="ASMA22">{{cite comic|writer= [[DeFalco, Tom]]; [[David Michelinie|Michelinie, David]]|penciller= [[Mark Bagley|Bagley, Mark]]|inker= [[Mike Esposito (comics)|Esposito, Mike]]|story= Drug War Rages|title= [[The Amazing Spider-Man]] Annual|issue= 22|date= 1988}}</ref>

While the royal family of the [[Inhumans]] is on Earth demanding that [[Crystal (character)|Crystal]] leave the [[Fantastic Four]], The High Evolutionary leads a squad of Gatherers and Eliminators to the [[Blue Area of the Moon]] to obtain the Inhumans' Terrigen Mist. [[Quicksilver (Marvel Comics)|Quicksilver]] leads the Inhumans in defending [[Attilan]] until the royal family and the Fantastic Four arrive to repel the invaders.<ref name="FFA21">{{cite comic|writer= Englehart, Steve|penciller= [[Kieron Dwyer|Dwyer, Kieron]]|inker= [[Joe Sinnott|Sinnott, Joe]]|story= Crystal Blue Persuasion|title= [[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four Annual]]|issue= 21|date= 1988}}</ref>

The High Evolutionary next travels to the site of the [[Savage Land]], hoping to restore the damage wrought by [[Terminus (comics)|Terminus]]. The [[X-Men]] are drawn to the scene as well and aid the Evolutionary in freeing [[Garokk|Garokk the Petrified Man]] from Terminus's power armor. Garokk and the Evolutionary succeed in restoring the Savage Land, and the survivors of Terminus's original attack return from the extradimensional realm in which they had taken refuge.<ref name="XMA12">{{cite comic|writer= [[Chris Claremont|Claremont, Chris]]|penciller= [[Arthur Adams (comics)|Adams, Arthur]]|inker= [[Bob Wiacek|Wiacek, Bob]]|story= Resurrection|title= [[Uncanny X-Men|X-Men Annual]]|issue= 12|date= 1988}}</ref>

The Exterminators attempt to seal off the Nexus of All Realities in the [[Everglades]] to prevent extradimensional entities from polluting humanity's genetic stock. One such entity known as Ylandris takes possession of Cecilia Cardinale, transforming her into [[Poison (comics)#Cecelia Cardinale|Poison]] in order to stop the Evolutionary's plan, while Spider-Man and the [[Man-Thing]] defeat the Exterminators.<ref name="Web4">{{cite comic|writer= [[Steve Gerber|Gerber, Steve]]|penciller= [[Cynthia Martin|Martin, Cynthia]]|inker= Martin, Cynthia|story= Sweet Poison|title= [[Web of Spider-Man]] Annual|issue= 4|date= 1988}}</ref>

In the broadest part of his plans, the High Evolutionary plots to construct a bomb that will genetically alter all life on Earth. He sends the Gatherers and a superhuman team known as the Sensors to [[Wakanda]] to obtain vibranium necessary for completion of the bomb. Unbeknownst to the Evolutionary, one of the scientists he has forced into his service is [[Bill Foster (character)|Bill Foster]], who surreptitiously alerts the [[Black Panther (character)|Black Panther]] to the situation. The Panther and the [[West Coast Avengers]] defend Wakanda but are unable to prevent the theft of the vibranium. Coincidentally, estranged Avengers [[Moon Knight]], [[Tigra]], and [[Mockingbird (Marvel Comics)|Mockingbird]] happen upon the High Evolutionary's citadel in the Savage Land and rescue Foster, who recovers his Giant-Man powers. With the security of his base compromised, he relocates his base to the floor of the Pacific Ocean.<ref name="WCAA3">{{cite comic|writer= Englehart, Steve|penciller= Milgrom, Al|inker= [[Gerry Talaoc|Talaoc, Gerry]]|story= Heads You Lose...|title= [[West Coast Avengers]] Annual|volume= 2|issue= 3|date= 1988}}</ref>

Before completion of the genetic bomb, the High Evolutionary sends Gatherers to capture a rogue [[Gwen Stacy#Clones|clone of Gwen Stacy]] for further study, while he visits the [[Young Gods (comics)|Young Gods]]. Some of the Young Gods decide to interfere with the Evolutionary's master plan, and encounter Spider-Man trying to rescue the clone. The High Evolutionary claims that "Gwen" is not in fact a clone but someone genetically altered to resemble the original Gwen Stacy, and returns her and Spider-Man to Manhattan. Daydreamer of the Young Gods restores the woman's original memories and appearance.<ref name="SpecA8">{{cite comic|writer= [[Gerry Conway|Conway, Gerry]]|penciller= Bagley, Mark|inker= [[Keith Williams (comics)|Williams, Keith]]|story= Return to Sender|title= [[The Spectacular Spider-Man|The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual]]|issue= 8|date= 1988}}</ref>

The Evolutionary's researchers reassemble [[Jocasta (comics)|Jocasta]], who immediately turns on her captors and attempts to contact the East Coast [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] about the genetic bomb. However, the team has disbanded and abandoned their headquarters, leaving its computers to assemble an ad hoc team of inactive reservists: [[Captain America|The Captain]], the [[Falcon (comics)|Falcon]], [[Hercules (Marvel Comics)|Hercules]], [[Beast (Marvel Comics)|Beast]], and [[The Incredible Hulk|Hulk]]. [[Yellowjacket (Rita DeMara)]] answers the summons (which she received via the communications equipment she stole from [[Hank Pym|her predecessor]]) and is allowed to join the team. Using the High Evolutionary's equipment, the Avengers hyper-evolve Hercules until he is able to match the Evolutionary's power in combat. Both Hercules and the High Evolutionary are apparently destroyed in the battle, leaving the Avengers free to stop the genetic bomb and save the world.<ref name="AA17">{{cite comic|writer= [[Walt Simonson|Simonson, Walt]]|penciller= [[M. D. Bright|Bright, M. D.]]|inker= [[Mike Gustovich|Gustovich, Mike]]|story= Prometheus Mutans|title= [[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers Annual]]|issue= 17|date= 1988}}</ref>

==Backup stories==
Each chapter of the crossover features a short back up [[comic strip|strip]] titled "The High Evolutionary" which was written by [[Mark Gruenwald]] with [[penciller|pencil]] art by [[Paris Cullins]] and [[Ron Lim]]. This 11 part story details the origins of the High Evolutionary, his previous storylines, and key events in which he participated (such as the origins of [[Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)|Spider-Woman]], [[Quicksilver (Marvel Comics)|Quicksilver]], and the [[Scarlet Witch]]). The series concludes by revealing how the High Evolutionary survived his apparent suicide and began plotting the Evolutionary War.

In the course of the story, it is revealed that the High Evolutionary received help from a mysterious benefactor, who provided him with the secrets of the human genetic code and access to Moloids to build his base on [[Wundagore Mountain]]. The story never reveals the identity of the benefactor, although it was long speculated to be either [[Phaeder]] of the Inhumans or the X-Men villain [[Mister Sinister]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/phaedr.htm|title = Phaeder (Maelstrom's father)}}</ref> It wasn't until nearly 25 years later that Marvel confirmed the identity of the mysterious ally to have been Phaeder.<ref>FF: 50 Fantastic Years #1 (2012)</ref>

The backup stories were intended to be read in the same order as the lead stories. However, the backups in ''Amazing Spider-Man Annual'' #22 and ''Fantastic Four Annual'' #21 are transposed, creating some confusion. ''Amazing Spider-Man Annual'' #22 contains part 5 of the lead story and part 6 of the backups; ''Fantastic Four Annual'' #21 contains part 6 of the lead story and part 5 of the backups. This can be confirmed by reading the relevant stories: In the lead story of ''Fantastic Four Annual'' #21, the Watcher refers to events in the lead story of ''Amazing Spider-Man Annual'' #22; whereas in the backup of ''Amazing Spider-Man Annual'' #22 the High Evolutionary has subdued the werewolf he fought in the backup of ''Fantastic Four Annual'' #21.

==Related stories==
At the time of the crossover, Marvel was publishing a comic book based on the TV series ''[[ALF (TV series)|ALF]]'', and so ''ALF Annual'' #1 served as a tongue-in-cheek unofficial tie-in to the story in which the High Evolutionary meets ALF.<ref name="ALFAnnual">{{cite comic|writer= [[Michael Gallagher (writer)|Gallagher, Michael]]|penciller= [[Dave Manak|Manak, Dave]]|inker= [[Marie Severin|Severin, Marie]]|story= You Say You Want an Evolution?|title= [[ALF (TV series)#Marvel Comics|ALF Annual]]|issue= 1|date= 1988}}</ref> Years later, the ''[[Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe]]'' confirmed the canonicity of this story.

In ''[[Avengers West Coast]] Annual'' #4 the [[U.S. Agent]] discovers one of the High Evolutionary's storm troopers on an unpopulated [[Pacific]] [[atoll]], who is unaware that the Evolutionary War has ended.

''[[Thor (comic book)|Thor]]'' #407 follows up on the events of ''Avengers Annual'' #17 to reveal the fates of Hercules and the High Evolutionary.

==Alternate versions==

===What If?===
A postscript of sorts to the series came with ''[[What If (comics)|What If...?]]'' vol. 2 #1 (July, 1989) written by [[Roy Thomas]], which explores the question "''What if the Avengers lost the Evolutionary War?''". In this version of the story, the reserve Avengers are unable to stop the High Evolutionary from detonating his bomb. As a result, the evolution of all human life on earth is hyper-accelerated. This process causes humanity to evolve beyond conflict with each other, and between humans and mutants. When Celestials eventually arrive to destroy the Earth, the combined powers of humanity's minds destroy one of them, forcing the remainder to retreat. Mutants, already one step ahead of homo sapiens on the evolutionary scale, ascend to the next level and join together to form a combined group which leaves for space, ultimately destroying Galactus and merging with Death and Eternity to form a being so powerful that it enables the Big Bang of another universe.

==Bibliography==

===The Evolutionary War===
*Part 1: ''[[X-Factor (comic book)|X-Factor Annual]]'' #3<ref name="XFA3" />
*Part 2: ''[[The Punisher (1987 series)|The Punisher Annual]]'' #1<ref name="Pun1" />
*Part 3: ''[[Silver Surfer (comic book)|Silver Surfer Annual]]'' #1<ref name="Surfer1" />
*Part 4: ''[[The New Mutants (comic book)|New Mutants]] Annual'' #4<ref name="NMA4" />
*Part 5: ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four Annual]]'' #21<ref name="FFA21" />
*Part 6: ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]] Annual'' #22<ref name="ASMA22" />
*Part 7: ''[[Uncanny X-Men|X-Men]] Annual'' #12<ref name="XMA12" />
*Part 8: ''[[Web of Spider-Man]] Annual'' #4<ref name="Web4" />
*Part 9: ''[[West Coast Avengers]] Annual'' #3<ref name="WCAA3" />
*Part 10: ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]] Annual'' #8<ref name="SpecA8" />
*Part 11: ''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers Annual]]'' #17<ref name="AA17" />

===Related issues===
* ''[[ALF (TV series)#Marvel Comics|ALF Annual]]'' #1 (1988)<ref name="ALFAnnual" />
* ''[[What If (comics)|What If...?]]'' volume 2 #1 (July, 1989)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Marvel events}}
[[Category:1988 comics debuts]]
[[Category:1988 comics endings]]
[[Category:Comic book conflict storylines]]
[[Category:Comics by Chris Claremont]]
[[Category:Comics by David Michelinie]]
[[Category:Comics by Gerry Conway]]
[[Category:Comics by Louise Simonson]]
[[Category:Comics by Steve Englehart]]
[[Category:Comics by Steve Gerber]]
[[Category:Comics by Walt Simonson]]
[[Category:Comics set on fictional planets]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Evolutionary War, The}}
[[Category:Sterilization in fiction]]