Warning: contains spoilers for X-Men Unlimited #112As the X-Men continue to fight a losing war against the evil organization Orchis, one of the mutants’ greatest resources is the undercover agent Firestar, who is starring in the new X-Men Unlimited arc. Angelica Jones, conscripted into undercover service by a dying Jean Grey at the Hellfire Gala, is now being confronted with the possibility of fighting her ex-Avengers teammate and ex-fiance Justice, who will view her as a monstrous traitor.
The powerful telekinetic Vance Astrovik, popularly known as Justice, debuted in 1975’s Giant-Size Defenders #5, and besides being a major part of the New Warriors, Avengers Initiative, and Avengers Academy, is known for his romantic relationship with Firestar.
Now, Orchis is forcing Firestar to become the public-facing image of their vicious anti-mutant campaign in X-Men Unlimited #112, from writers Steve Foxe and Steve Orlando, with art by Guillermo Sanna and Javier Tartaglia. Orchis reveals to Angelica that Justice is once again acting as a public hero – and potentially even a replacement X-Man – making the mutant a major target for Orchis to take down.
Justice And Firestar Have A Long Complicated History Together
Vance Astrovik is a powerful mutant whose abilities were activated when he was confronted by a future version of himself – the Guardians of the Galaxy warrior Major Victory – who was actually trying to stop him from becoming a hero. Tragically, Vance’s abusive father becomes ever more violent after his mutant powers emerge, and in an act of defense Vance uses his telekinetic powers to accidentally kill his father, landing in prison for a while before emerging and taking on the superhero name Justice. During Justice’s time with the New Warriors, he developed a romantic relationship with Firestar, even becoming engaged to Angelica at one point.
Similar to his longtime love interest Firestar, Justice is one of Marvel’s more prominent heroic mutants to rarely be involved with the X-Men, more often engaging in Avengers affairs. Eventually, Vance broke off his engagement to Angelica, and their relationship became very strained, especially after Vance did not reach out to Firestar during her brutal battle with cancer. The complicated pair came to some kind of closure in the limited series I Am An Avenger, and while Justice was briefly seen as a member of C.R.A.D.L.E. in the Outlawed event, Vance has not played a significant role at Marvel since Avengers Academy.
Firestar May Be Forced To Fight Justice To Keep Her Cover
Now, Firestar is being confronted with her heroic ex-fiance and may be forced to battle him to maintain her important cover within Orchis. While Angelica has primarily been working for Doctor Stasis, X-Men Unlimited #112 sees her conscripted into the “Narrative Petal” of the agency, run by the evil mutant Judas Traveller. Judas is determined to use Firestar as the public image of their anti-mutant efforts, showing that this “controlled” mutant is fighting against her own people. The first mutant she is tasked with taking down is Vance Astrovik, with Traveller showing Firestar a video of Justice clearly saving people from a collapsing bridge.
Of course, Orchis is going to spin the event as Justice attacking a group of humans, with Firestar arriving in the nick of time to defeat and capture the “rampaging mutant.” Hopefully, just like Angelica did with Juggernaut, she will be able to discreetly convey to Justice that she is undercover, getting him to convincingly “beat” her so he can remain safe. The complicated history of love and betrayal between the undercover X-Men agent Firestar and former Avenger hero Justice will come to a head in next week’s issue, where Angelica might need to fight her powerful ex-fiance to maintain her Orchis cover.
X-Men Unlimited #112 from Marvel Comics is available now on the Marvel Unlimited app,
