Exiles: New World (Marvel NEW)/D-Day Special (2018)

The first special issue of the Marvel NEW ongoing series, Exiles: New World. It is published as a commemoration for those who have died in the dreaded Normandy Landings during the Second World War that happened 74 years ago. It is published around the 6th of June, 2018, the same the event happened. It is succeeded by Exiles: New World Issue 14.

Synopsis
''The Exiles have faced powerful villains, nuked the Avengers, fought many, many Hulks, and conquered some losses including some of their own. On this special occasion, they are deployed to a universe where the Allies lost their precious war in 1945... with a twist of its own! Can the Exiles defeat the forces of Hydra and their familiar, yet different leader? And how did a familiar face get into this world? Plus, why is the art style so vintage?''

Continuity
This special issue takes place after the events of The Hulk of Two Worlds and Exiles: New World Issue 13.

Plot
Some times after the tragedies that happened on Earth-9200, the team lands on a rural place in another reality. They land on their feet with the exception of an unfocused Ghost Rider who lands head-first, prompting him to briefly yell an otherwordly expression of pain before the Punisher shuts his mouth with his hands. The Exiles' vigilant leader, Rojhaz, notes of their landing position in a forested area with a village not too far from their position.

Going to the Punisher, the Punisher insults Ghost Rider by calling him a weakling despite his "powers". Rider apologizes, saying that he never gets his skull land on a rock at the speed of light. Castle realizes this when he sees the large rock where Rider is leaning on. Knowing this, he simply scoffs and tells him to get up. Nova asks where they are and Greenskyn guesses they're in a dark forest teeming with friendly goblins, warlocks, ghouls, and trolls.

Bull tells Greenskyn to think farther, pointing to the village at the distance clearly illuminated by electric lamps. Strange is interested by this and suggests they are somewhere in a world filled with magic. Nova, not intending to offend him, asks Strange why does he think electric lamps mean magic. Plus, being in a dark forest doesn't always mean a bunch of evil wizards will show up. Strange takes no offense and apologizes, saying that he's had a hard time thinking after last time's problem.

Reminded of this, Rider asks Rojhaz if he believes that Kang's not trying to kill them this time. Rojhaz answers by saying that this time, he trusts her although she doesn't really give the specifics of this mission other than it being more "relaxing". Rider wonders what "relaxing" is supposed to mean, and Rojhaz suggests for them to find the meaning in the nearby village. He remembers that Kang told him she and Uatu would reveal the true objective once they reach the first point of interest. Seems like the village is the first point of interest.

Before setting out, Strange asks Rider if he can turn off his "headlights" to not attract unwanted attention. Rider surprises most of his teammates by being able to do so, prompting Nova to say that she never knew Ghost Riders can voluntarily turn off their fiery heads without reverting to their human form. Ghost Rider reminds her that he's still "growing" and discovering what he can do. Punisher smirks, saying that he's got lots of tricks up his sleeve. Hell, he may even have more than Doctor Strange's. Realizing an implication of offense, Castle tries to apologize but Strange turns him down and accepts such possibility.

The team make their way through the woods to the village, they quickly discover that the village is empty, with only the indication of life in the area being the large mansion at the center of the village. Greenskyn asks if this is supposed to be the "point of interest" instead of the village itself, and Rojhaz guesses so. Under his lead, the team sneak around the mansion to peek through the windows. There aren't any guards outside the mansion's entrance, but it is locked with no way inside (they don't want to bust in without a reason anyway).

Bull, Greenskyn, and Nova managed to overhear an interesting chatter that sound quite familiar to them. Bull notes that a woman is speaking to someone brutish inside. The woman is heard expressing something about her "fondness" for strong men with a fondness for defending the weak. The other man says that he's pleased to hear that and confesses of his attraction to her. The woman reciprocates it, saying she doesn't want to be a victim to another "false patriot".

On another side where Rojhaz, Castle, and Rider are eavesdropping, Rider informs Captain that the big guy's voice sounds familiar. Rojhaz asks what time did he remember it and Rider claims that the only possible choice is no other than Maestro's world. The panel switches its focus to the mansion's interior later, with Strange seen meditating to project his astral form to see the mansion's contents. Inside, Strange exclaims in surprise at what he sees: a group of captured villagers, a whole host of mafia gunmen armed with energy weapons, and the main center of attention: a man with the unmistakable look of a certain jolly green giant and a normal woman without any apparent distinctions.

Concerned, Strange returns to his physical form and informs the group that they have another Hulk problem. This immediately puts a grim expression on the faces of the previous second team except Ghost Rider. Rider remains optimistic, asking Strange if there's only one' Hulk there. Strange assures him that this Hulk is small and yes, there's just one Hulk. Greenskyn wonders if the small Hulk the one he knew in the Arena. Strange clarifies that he is not human-sized "small", but he's not as big as Greenskyn himself.

Justicer asks Strange if there's anything he can describe, and he adds that this particular Hulk wears a red bandana. Immediately, Bull's mind flashes back to the last time she threw a Hulk across the desert of Maestro's world. Bull instinctively remembers that the Hulk she threw wore a red headband. Realizing this, she curses out and identifies the Hulk as Boy-Bob Banner.

Upon hearing her, Rider asks if that's the Hulk Nova threw across the desert last time. Nova, taken aback, asks if that's truly the same Hulk that Bull ordered her to dispose of. Although Strange doesn't know, it seems that he has heard the "mysterious" Hulk proving his might to the woman by mentioning that he survived getting thrown across the Sahara. Hearing this, Nova and Bull immediately agree that this is Boy-Bob and inform the others of this.

Rojhaz is surprised at how Boy-Bob coincidentally ended up in the same universe they're tasked to save next. Punisher asks if Nova literally threw him out of the old universe and of course, she denies this. Besides, she's not that powerful. Greenskyn asks Rojhaz if the other team (not his, not Rojhaz's) didn't clean up the entire universe. Rojhaz believes that the Thunderbolts must've thought that the only Hulks they have to clean up are the ones in the city.

Nevertheless, the team is forced to take action when the woman asks Boy-Bob to prove his love by massacring the villagers. The hear of the villagers' despair can be heard all the way to the entrance, the Punisher reacting as if he's drunk with rage. He asks Rojhaz to let him at them, but the Captain orders him to wait for his signal. Somehow overcoming his instinct, Punisher holds his tactical shotgun back, albeit with an itchy trigger finger.

The Exiles gather around the door, with Greenskyn taking the honor of breaking down the gates. However, Rojhaz orders Greenskyn to stand down and let them see what trick Strange brews for them. Greenskyn respectfully joins his teammates and Strange thanks him, saying that they won't disappoint. But first for this magic trick, he needs his fellow newcomer's audience.

Nova giggles and asks him what she has to do. Strange simply orders her to "shoot", before the scene switches perspectives to Boy-Bob and the woman laughing together. While doing so, a door knock is suddenly heard. Bob asks if she's expecting any guests and she says no. When she asks the same thing, he also says the same thing. The gunmen know what to do and in their own language, most of them wait at the door with their guns up while one of them goes to respond the door.

Slowly opening the door with caution, the mobster asks who's at the door by saying "ciao". At the doorstep, a beggar-disguised Doctor Strange asks him in English if he can help him. Upon hearing his English vocabulary, the mobsters rudely tells him to f*ck off and insults Strange as a lost immigrant. Standing in the shadows beside him, Castle turns to Rider and tells him that this is why he killed the Sicilian Mafia.

Although professionalism is one thing to make this act succeed, Strange is actually offended by the mobster's words. Deciding to ignore him, he continues his trick and assures him that he is not worth the troubles. In fact, he's just out to give him a present. In a split second, the mobsters suddenly get hit by violent refractions of energy that Strange contains from Nova, unleashing it at the right time. Surprised, Boy-Bob orders "Valentina" to get behind him as he seemingly realize who this is.

After the mobsters are all knocked unconscious, the Exiles enter the building and the first one that attracts Bob's attention is Nova. Bob mutters "no" as he remembers her as the one throwing him to the other side of Earth. The first Exile to throw down some words to him is Bull however, greeting him so calm he freaked out. Bob immediately tries to run (much to Valentina's shock) but is stopped by Strange who assures him that no pain will come.

Rojhaz proceeds to walk towards Boy-Bob alongside the Punisher to interrogate him after he has ordered the others to get the civilians to safety and guard the woman. He goes on to ask Boy-Bob what he is doing in this reality after his teammates reportedly already beat him in the previouis reality. Boy-Bob tries to act tough by threatening him but Nova teases him with a throwing gesture. This prompts Boy-Bob to reveal that after getting thrown by the Rocket Girl, he woke up to see his "boss" asking him to serve her one more time.

Even though it's quite impossible, at first hearing the Punisher assumed that the "boss" was this woman he "loves". Rojhaz actually thought the same until Uatu informs him that this is the time they know what's going on in this reality. Rojhaz allows him to speak away, attracting Boy-Bob's toughness once again to not speak up about the truth. The Punisher shoots a buckshot at his head to stop his stubbornness.

Uatu goes on to explain that the reality he's in will be quite an interesting matter for Rojhaz, identifying it as Earth-697064. This reality revolves around a version of Rojhaz himself who is no other than the universe's Captain America. Uatu informs him that his famous exploit during World War II and stand-off against the Red Skull exist, but not in a way he'll ever expect. Uatu apologizes in advance for not revealing the identity of the Red Skull, but Rojhaz luckily says that he doesn't mind and doesn't care whoever the hell is behind the identity.

Anyways, Uatu informs him that although the Red Skull exists, Hydra doesn't. And how a version of Hydra could end up here is unknown, alongside the fact that the reality's history has been somewhat rewritten. Originally, the Captain America of this world managed to defeat him and his daughter that resulted in their untimely deaths and the survival of the President of the United States, Thomas Kimball.

Problem is, the presence of an extra-universal Hydra somehow causes a shift of power within the universe and changes history entirely. Now, Captain America failed in defeating Red Skull and his daughter. Before Uatu can finish his words, Rojhaz assumes that President Kimball is now dead and the US is now a Nazi puppet state. Uatu reacts gleefully and asks him that the interesting story isn't over yet.

Uatu reveals that Kimball is still alive, well enough to still lead the United States as a puppet state of Fascist Italy. Upon hearing Italy, Rojhaz is confused and asks how. Before reveallng anything else, Uatu asks Rojhaz if he's expecting an entirely familiar story. Rojhaz answers no, but says that he's never known how different this universe could be. Uatu laughs and continues to explain.

Firstly, Uatu states that he likes to keep things as a surprise. He assures him that it's not life-threatening this time around and Rojhaz trusts him. Uatu goes on to ask Rojhaz a breaking question: What if he told him that the woman sitting on that couch is actually Red Skull's daughter? Most of the Exiles (except Punisher, Strange, and Greenskyn for obvious reasons) react to his revelation by looking at her in disbelieve. Rojhaz himself can't believe that fact and slowly walks towards the woman.

Staring at her, Rojhaz says that everything makes sense now. He then turns to his teammates and dramatically state that this world's Red Skull is Italian. Punisher responds in confusion by asking him what's wrong with him being Italian. Rojhaz realizes his overreaction and apologizes, saying that all this multiverse stuff is beginning to crush his mind. Nevertheless, Rojhaz asks what mission are they in for then. Uatu says that for this mission, killing won't be necessary but by all means they have to put Hydra out of commission. However, the deaths of Red Skull and "Valentina de Santis" must be ensured.

Rojhaz receives Uatu's mission and cuts off the connection. After severing the connection, Nova comments on the matter. She says that Uatu claimed that Red Skull and his daughter died when they're "defeated" by Captain America. If what she heard is right, does that mean Captain America actually kill in this universe? In response to her question, Valentina reveals that he did kill her, and she remembered the moment he "accidentally" took her life out. But now that her father has found new allies and a new source of might, none can oppose the power of the New Reich.

Bull mocks her, saying those words came out from a lone woman whose affection only goes for Nazis and lives in a singular mansion in the middle of nowhere in Tuscany. Valentina unsurprisingly gets angered and tries to strike her, only for Ghost Rider to hold her down. Punisher asks Rojhaz what should they do to these guys then. Rojhaz says that while Valentina's death is ordered alongside his father's, he doesn't think the time has come. For Boy-Bob Banner however, seems like they have to spend a night with him for some answers. Hearing this, Banner is utterly scared as Nova is seen smiling at him.

TBA