Marvel Tokon- First Strike # 1

 By Mark Rodriguez

Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls is the hottest new fighting game nowadays as it brings 4-on-4 tag action featuring  Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Doctor Doom, Magneto, Deadpool and others. It's a pretty awesome game, especially if you're on the PS5 since it seems PC users are having issues with the game working properly. We already had several comics based on Marvel Rivals, and now we're gonna get one based on Marvel Tokon. Let's check it out!

"Cosmic Contender" opens with the flashback of a sole survivor of an alien invasion from a neighboring star system. While the invasion failed, it was at the cost of both civilizations with only the strong surviving. The one survivor was named Tryco Slatterus, but since that day he was known as The Champion. The Champion lost everything because his people were too weak. He vowed that no other planet would suffer like his did. He will train them and make them strong, whether they want to or not.

The Promoter is relaying this story to the Silver Surfer as they travel through space. The Silver Surfer says the Promoter doesn't sound too proud of her boss. Promoter says her boss makes a tournament where the fighters fight each other, then her and finally the Champion himself. If those fighters lose, the entire species will go under the Champion's training program. Silver Surfer notes that Promoter chose him to relay all this. She says since he was a former herald of Galactus, he'd understand. The Promoter was also the last of her kind. The Brood wiped out her planet and the Champion found her. She was desperate for answers and a purpose, and he gave her a new purpose as his Promoter. The Champion can restore her people and he gave her a taste of his power to prove that he can.

The Promoter thought this was what her people needed by the Champion's training ends up making people suffer. Silver Surfer said perhaps if his people were trained under the Champion they would have been strong enough to repel Galactus. The Promoter says the training doesn't make people stronger, it breaks down their bodies and their souls. She adds that his world, Zenn-La is next and the tournament already started. Silver Surfer flies off, leaving the Promoter floating in space. 

On planet Zenn-La, The Champion monologues about strength and survival as his tournament takes place. Citizens flee as Nova is fighting against Cosmic Ghost Rider. He says none of the fighters so far are even a match for his Promoter. He wants a stronger finalist, a true challenge. 

Just then a warrior named Shalla Bal lands into the scene. She slams her Illuminatrix scepter into the ground, creating an electric shock wave powerful enough to knock Nova and Cosmic Ghost Rider back. The soul of Zenn-La and the Shi'Ar gods live within her, and she challenged The Champion. The Promoter arrives and tells her not to get ahead of herself. Shalla Bal thought she fled to the stars. The Promoter was merely stretching her legs during the undercard. She reminds her that the path through to The Champion is through her. Shall Bal says not to waste more time.

Before the fight can begin, the Silver Surfer arrives and offers to fight in Shall Bal's place. He gave himself up to save the planet and will not allow his partner to do the same. The Champion accepts the challenge, assuming he can defeat his Promoter. 

 

Silver Surfer tells The Promoter to yield since he knows her reasons for questioning the Champion. She pretends to not know what he's talking about. Surfer brings up how she sought him out and told him of her master's cruel training. The Promoter nervously announces her loyalty to her master and says his mission is her mission. Surfer says he hoped to see better from her, but understands that she must play her role. He must do the same.

Silver Surfer and The Promoter fight all over the streets and skies of Zenn-La. As they grapple, The Promoter winks and tells Surfer to 'go get him' and pretty much throws the fight. Surfer tosses a huge energy blast at The Champion, who is able to withstand it. He says it's the first time in a century that he was brought down to one knee, but the Surfer is a servant while he is one of the universe's elders. The Champion grabs Surfer in a choke hold, monologuing as he prepares to end it. Surfer says if his end is now, he will join him. Silver Surfer causes a huge energy blast that engulfs them both.

As the explosion fades, the Silver Surfer is dead but The Champion survived the blast. He is once again the Champion of the Universe. He tells the Promoter to prepare the world for the training pits. He tells her to put Shalla Bal to the front of the line and says it's a shame to not have gotten the chance to challenge the Shi'Ar gods. The Promoter says their world isn't all that far. She can clean up while he heads off to Chandilar and the Shi'Ar Empire. 

The story invites you to try you hand against The Champion by playing Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls! 

"Fighting Avengers" opens in Manhattan as the city is caught in the middle of a war between the Skrulls and Kree as they fight over who conquers Earth. A large piece of debris is about to fall and crush a mother and her son. Captain America arrives and let's the debris break apart upon his shield, as he saves the civilians. He stands alongside Thor, Iron Man and the Hulk as they bring the fight against the invading forces. 

 

The Avengers beat back the invaders and the Skrulls and Kree retreat. Iron Man is ready to call SHIELD for clean-up so they can celebrate the win, but the fight isn't over yet for the Hulk. Hulk leaps into the air and grabs one of the escaping ships, slamming it back down into the ground. The others see that Hulk completely lost it and they have to talk him down. 

Hulk tears the ship open and is about to pound the Skrull pilot into mush. Captain America puts his shield in the way and tells Hulk to stand down. Hulk thinks Captain America is another Skrull (Skrulls are shape-shifters for those that don't know) and he punches him hard enough to send him flying into a bus. Iron hits Hulk with a Repulsor Blast strong enough to send him flying. Hulk thinks everyone is a Skrull and he leaps up and slams into the ground strong enough to send everything flying back from the impact.

Thor smashes Hulk with Mjolnir, and the jade giant thinks he's a fake too. Thor tries to convince him that he's the real deal as the public watches on. The SHIELD agents try to disperse the crowd as they wonder why the Avengers are fighting each other. The public says Hulk is crazy and he's going to destroy the whole city. Thor summons a huge bolt of lightning that hits Hulk hard enough to finally knock him out.

Iron Man gives Thor his respect, but the Asgardian only shows regret. They blame themselves for bringing the savage Hulk into this. Captain American says they should contain him before the crowd gets even more savage. Iron Man gets an idea.

 

Later on, the Avengers take Hulk to the Savage Land. Hulk has woken up and asks what's going on. Cap explains that they won and saved the world. Hulk understands that the world now wants him gone. Cap says he can return home once things calm down. Hulk says he has no home and no friends as he walks off. I mean, you would if you would calm down and not threaten the very people you're supposed to protect. Cap watches Hulk leave and says they were once Avengers and hopefully they can be Avengers once again someday.

The narrator says to watch how the Avengers re-assemble when playing Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls.

"The Battles Ahead" opens with Storm blasting a Sentinel with lightning (even thought she is yelling out Hurricane). The Sentinel falls and Storm tells the Danger Room to end the simulation. The Danger Room asks if she wishes to increase the difficulty but Magik cuts in and says 'absolutely not'. 

 

Storm asks if Magik is checking up on her. Magik says someone has to as she's locked herself in the Danger Room since 'the big fight' and asks how many training simulations she needs. Storm says she should be training too since they know what they're up against. She says they don't know how much time they have before 'he' attacks again and everyone needs to be ready. Magik asks about 'everyone' since there aren't that many of them left.

We flashback to the fight as Magik is standing her ground. Beast and Nightcrawler have already been defeated. Magik prepares to end things but several energy blasts come her way. She can only say 'oh no' as a huge energy blast engulfs her. Magik snaps back to reality, as she is also rattled by the fight.

Later on, Storm and Magik check up on Wolverine in the medical bay, who still needs time to recover despite his healing factor. Storm asks what the X-Men will do now. Wolverine says it's now her call, as she's in charge now. Storm is afraid she's not ready, and of who she might hurt under her command. Wolverine says they're up against something powerful and heartless and they're only still alive because she got them out of there.

We flashback from Wolverine's point of view of the big fight. He struggles to get up and unleashes his claws. He runs towards the fight despite Storm telling him to stop. Wolverine gets blasted and is down, alongside Magik who has also been defeated. Storm cannot allow them to lose today, so she summons all her power and unleashes The Eye of the Storm.

Back to the present, Wolverine tells Storm that she was the only one that got them out alive and they need her. The enemy they faced was Cyclops with the powers of the Phoenix. Wolverine says the Cyclops they knew is as good as dead. 

 

Wolverine, Storm and Magik head outside the mansion for some fresh air. Wolverine asks Storm what's next. Storm says they will rebuild and remember that the X-Men don't quit. They will find allies, protect the community and fight back. Elsewhere, the Danger Room hears this and has a new objective, 'Protect the X-Men'. It initiates the Danger Protocols.

Of course, the narrator says to find out what the Danger Protocols are by playing Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls.

My Thoughts-

So this is a one-shot that gives us a preview of some of the backstories of the teams formed in the game. When the game was a free beta, the only chapter available dealt with how Spider-Man assembled his team with Miss Marvel, Peni Parker and Starlord. The intro showed that The Champion had just defeated the Shi'Ar empire and had now set his sights on Earth. This ties into the first story which ended with him about to head out towards the Shi'Ar empire.

I was surprised to find out that despite the Promoter's overly cheerful and quirky persona, she is actually serving the Champion under duress and is wishing for all of this to end. Before you ask, I've been mostly playing online ranked matches and haven't gotten into the story mode. That first one about Spider-Man was longer than expected and I'll need to set aside time to sit and watch them. I am especially curious as to what would have possessed Magneto and Doctor Doom to willingly ally themselves with the Green Goblin and Carnage of all people.

So the first story ends shortly before the game begins. The second story ends with Hulk being asked to leave, but I'm guessing when the Champion appears, we'll have to see how they get him back. The one that surprises me if the X-Men story already featuring Phoenix Cyclops, who is going to be the first DLC character. He seems to be based on the Phoenix-powered Cyclops who was pretty much the final boss of the Avengers VS X-Men story from a decade or so ago. 

 

This adds to the story as now they have to deal with this Phoenix Cyclops... while also dealing with the Promoter and the Champion. At the same time, the story ends with the Danger Room gaining sentience and building a physical body that we all know as Danger. While in the comics (and X-Men 97) she started off as a villain, she does eventually join the team as a hero. Seeing that she's on the X-Team in this game, she might get fast-tracked into being a hero from the start. Or not. I don't know. I'll eventually get to the game's long-ass story mode, I swear. 

Overall it's a good quick read, mostly as additional backstory as we do see the origins of both the Promoter and the Champion. Assuming the Avengers story starts with Hulk being gone, this comic will explain why. I am curious how large a role Phoenix Cyclops will have in the story, or if an extra chapter will be added once this new team of four gets added. I am now curious if the next 3 DLC characters will be just solo characters for the sake for people in the game's roster or if they will be working alongside Cyclops. I ask because it's clear that Phoenix Cyclops doesn't really need the back up. I doubt the rest of the Phoenix Five will be in it (Emma, Namor, Magik and Colossus) given that Magik is already here in her normal form. 

Anyway, fun comic, good art, a good read and I love the game. I do feel a bit bad that the game seems to having so many issues for PC gamers, but I've been having a blast on the PS5 now that the full game is out. Looking forward to seeing what other fighters will be added to season one DLC. 

I also wonder if Thor will be in the game later on. He was very prominent in the Avengers story, even being the one to knock Hulk out, and so far he's not on the roster yet. His brother Loki is though, and maybe with him causing his usual mischief, Thor can't be too far behind? This makes me think that the DLC characters might not be an actual team. I guess we'll see.