Puck Part 49: Alpha Flight #59 (June, 1988)

C’mon…you didn’t think he’d be gone for that long did ya?

I have this issue.

Judd hasn’t enjoyed his new life as much as expected. Feeling out of place in the world, he’s made his way to the Chinese province of Danwei in search of a lamasery containing a legendary Doorway Between Worlds where he witnesses a standoff between Tibetan priests and Chinese soldiers. The confrontation escalates, and Judd helps the priests by setting an explosion that brings down a helicopter, which unfortunately causes the military to retaliate more severely. Passing through a Wall Against the Unworthy generated by the priests as a defense, Judd reaches the monastery and meets the High Lama. Judd tells him that he seeks the Doorway to explore new worlds and have new experiences but the Lama refuses him, claiming that the Doorway is only for those worthy and willing to shed the substance of their present life. Their discussion is interrupted when a dragon (who Judd figures to be a super-being working for the Chinese government) invades the monastery and accuses the Lama of treason by associating with a foreign spy…Judd…who then attacks the beast. They fight, and Judd gets caught in the dragon’s tail. He’s about to face a fireball when the Lama intervenes and takes the blast. The dragon is guilt-ridden, and throws Judd aside. Judd, also blaming himself for the Lama’s death, is then visited by the Lama’s spirit which tells him that in death the Lama has gained passage through the Doorway, and asks Judd to join him. Judd is offered several different worlds to choose from, and one of them shows Alpha Flight in battle. Torn between his desire for freedom and his loyalty to his former teammates, Judd’s choice is taken from him, as the dimensional barrier between Judd’s world and the one containing Alpha Flight collapses, and both Alpha and the creatures they were fighting arrive in Danwei.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd understands and speaks Chinese.

2) We learn that he has seen a Wall Against the Unworthy before, decades earlier while studying tantric yoga in India.

3) The dragon that interrupts Judd’s conversation with the High Lama is actually Jade Dragon, aka Dei Guan of the Chinese Army, who is introduced here.

WTF? Moment: I wasn’t expecting Mantlo to bring Judd back at all, but this was a good way to do it. I’m just sorry to see him so unhappy considering how positive and hopeful he was back in #50.

WTF? Moment #2: Two words: Jim Lee. How cool does Judd look on that cover? Tell me he doesn’t look like Sean Connery!