In a new preview for an upcoming issue of Marvel Comics’ MODOK: Head Games, the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing has grown desperate. His brain has somehow been hijacked, and MODOK can’t stop seeing memories and flashes of a domestic life he’s never lived, complete with a wife and children he’s never had. Strangely enough, these images seen by MODOK are actually from the upcoming MODOK animated series coming to Hulu later this year, which makes it all the more perplexing as to why these memories are now in the head of the comics version of AIM’s greatest and most intelligent living weapon. Furthermore, AIM has turned on him as a result. Short on options, MODOK has no choice but to turn to his rival Iron Man for help, who calls out a hilarious reference to Funko Pop figures in the preview for MODOK: Head Games #2.
In the first issue of the MODOK miniseries from Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum (who also serve as show runners for the animated series), AIM was in the midst of a heist to steal several pieces of Stark tech when MODOK began experiencing the memory flashes. This resulted in AIM’s mission ending up botched. Despite using his immense intellect to quickly recoup AIM’s losses, the other leaders of AIM saw an opportunity to strike and eliminate MODOK, thus getting rid of the competition he presents.
After a vicious battle involving several different iconic Marvel weapons AIM has reverse-engineered, MODOK managed to escape, now a fugitive from his own organization. With nowhere left to turn, MODOK has sought out his rival Iron Man for help, desperately needing to figure out whatever’s going on inside his very large head. After a show of good faith, Iron Man agrees to help, though he does make a very funny reference to MODOK’s appearance, which can be seen in the preview page from Marvel Comics below:
- MODOK HEAD GAMES #2 (OF 4)
- (W) Jordan Blum, Patton Oswalt (A) Scott Hepburn (CA) Cully Hamner
- Still haunted by visions of a life he never had, M.O.D.O.K.’s quest to uncover the truth will find him teaming up with the most unlikely of allies… none other than IRON MAN himself! Two genius intellects… one mission… what could go wrong?
Iron Man’s reference to MODOK as a “murderous Funko Pop” is amazingly funny, as that’s pretty much exactly what MODOK is. Funko Pop figures are characterized by their disproportionately large heads, which is a perfect description for MODOK himself. Likewise, this joke looks to be just the tip of the iceberg, as the preview pages indicate Iron Man will be joining MODOK to visit an evil villain organization expo in Las Vegas, hoping to reclaim the piece of stolen Stark tech Iron Man needs to help MODOK out. No doubt Oswalt and Blum have more up their sleeves for the rest of the issue and series. Here’s hoping they’ll take advantage of the opportunity for some really humorous dynamics that come from Iron Man teaming-up with MODOK in Marvel Comics.
