E.G.G Q&A: Episode 44
WARNING!!!
This Q&A Session contains full spoilers for E.G.G Episode 44: Scramble! If you have not read it, please click here to do so now!
Review
In the past, Julian Woodfin, Joshua Westbrook, and Eileen Wuthrich were the best of friends. Josh joined S.H.I.E.L.D, but felt alone, so Eileen and Julian tested to join him in the organization. Eileen passed, Julian didn't. Years later, Julian had turned to crime, and in a confrontation with his old friends, Eileen was shot. Before he could be tried, he was set free by Dr. Doom at a price: His eternal allegiance.
In the present, Julian had had enough of this allegiance, and attempted to fight his way out of Castle Doom, only barely escaping with his life. With his new sonic tech, he terrorized E.G.G as the new super villain known as Scramble, only to escape when James came to save the day.
Old Friends
“Hurry up Julian!” Eileen exclaimed. Julian laughed.
“Alright, I’m comin’.” He said. Eileen grabbed his arm and began pulling him.
“We’re gonna miss him!” She said.
“We ain’t gonna miss him Eileen.” Julian replied. The two walked up to a building labeled ‘S.H.I.E.L.D Outpost’. Josh was standing outside, pacing nervously.
“Josh!” Eileen exclaimed, rushing up and hugging him.
“It’s about time you guys got here!” Josh said. “I was getting nervous!”
“You know we got you bro.” Julian replied. Josh smiled and put his arms around both of them.
“Boy, I’m glad to have friends like you!” He said.
“We’re gonna miss you Josh.” Eileen said.
“Hey, don’t worry, I get holidays. We can see other then.” He looked around. “Where’s Tanner?”
“He, uh, he got locked up last night.” Julian answered.
“Again?” Josh asked. “Man, are you gonna post bail?”
“If I can get the scratch, sure.”
“Let’s not worry about Tanner right now.” Eileen said. “This is your moment Josh. You’re an official S.H.I.E.L.D agent!”
“Yeah!” He took a deep a breath. “Today is the beginning of the rest of my life!” He turned to the door. “Oh man, I’m shaking all over. I’m actually kind of scared.” Eileen hugged him.
“It’s okay. I believe in you.” Eileen said. “I know you can do it.”
“Yeah bro, be chill.” Julian said, patting his shoulder. “You know we got your back.”
* * *
So I'm sure this opening had a lot of people confused. But then (hopefully) said confused people realized that this portion of the story was in the past. I liked the structure of this episode, telling a parallel Julian story through the past and present. The flashbacks finally give you the much alluded to but never seen history between Josh, Eileen, and Julian. The fact that they were such good friends at one point only makes it more personal, for everyone involved...
Julian v.s Dr. Doom
“I ain’t scared of you Doom.” He powered up his sonic gauntlets. “Now, you gonna back off, or do I gotta sit you down?” Doom clenched his fists, which began to gather two red energy blasts.
“I have so little respect for those who do not know their place!” Doom fired both blasts. Julian tumbled out of the way and shot out a sonic blast. The piercing noise shattered windows and scrambled the circuits of all machinery in the room. But Dr. Doom was not affected, and began to walk towards Julian.
“Aw shell.” Julian said. “Frequency, 200 hertz!” The sound increased. The chandeliers on the ceiling shattered. Doom continued to advance.
“You must by now realize that your resistance is futile.” Doom growled, reaching out for him. Julian frantically backed up.
“10,000 hertz!” He shouted. A sonic wave burst from the gauntlets and they both short circuited, blowing Julian back and out of the closest window. “NNNNNOOOOOO!!!!!” He shouted as he fell. Doom, who had only slid back a few inches, stood up and walked over to the window. He looked down to see the raging sea, and no sign of Julian.
“As is the fate of all who challenge Doom.” Doom said, as he made his way back to his throne.
* * *
Yeah, we all knew how this fight would end. In Julian's' defense however... Nope, we pretty much knew this was a losing battle. Considering we haven't seen Doom in action since Episode 20, I figured it was time for him to dust off his metal plates. But I wanted to finalize that Julian is no longer an agent of doom. He's his own person. And whether or not he's better off that way remains to be seen...
Enemies from here on out
“Surrender now Julian!” Josh yelled.
“You think ‘cause you’re a S.H.I.E.L.D agent you’re better than me?” Julian shouted back, pushing against Josh. “I was always better than you!”
“You’re the one aiming the gun!”
“Both of you stop!” Eileen shouted.
“Let me go!” Julian shouted, punching Josh in the gut several times. Josh gritted his teeth and rushed both of them into a wall.
“Stop it! Stop it right now!” Eileen cried. Julian banged Josh’s head against the wall, and Josh punched Julian across the face. “I said stop!” Eileen screamed, as she pushed Julian away from Josh. And suddenly, the gun went off. Josh and Julian both looked at Eileen, who had let out a spine chilling scream.
“Oh man…” Julian said.
“Eileen?” Josh asked. She lifted her hand off of her hip to see blood. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fell unconscious. “EILEEN!” Josh screamed.
“I didn’t… this was never supposed to…” Julian couldn’t find the words. “I didn’t want this…”
“Aaaaahhhhhh!” Josh screamed. Julian looked up as Josh punched him, and knocked him out cold.
* * *
I really like this battle between Josh and Julian. It's like brothers fighting, and the fact that these two are now completely different people just adds to the conflict. This is truly the downfall of the great friendship was saw in the beginning of the episode.
Rainbow Eyes
Josh stood up.
“I’m done with him.” He said, storming out of the room. Eileen sighed.
“Julian, you’re setting up a wall. Let us in.” She put her hand on top of his. “Let me in.” Julian pulled away.
“Whatever you do got no effect on me rainbow eyes.” He said. Eileen sighed.
“Okay.” She said. She motioned to the door and the two agents came in and took him back to his cell.
* * *
Bet you all had a "so that's where that came from!" moment, didn't you?
E.G.G v.s Scramble
“Focus guys!” Eileen said, shooting lighting at him. He tumbled out of the way and shot an ear splitting sonic blast at her head. “Agh!” Eileen screamed, falling to the ground.
“Eileen!” Josh shouted. “Are you okay?” She looked up and saw him shouting, but couldn’t hear a word he was saying.
“I can’t hear you!” She yelled, holding her ears, which were ringing like an alarm.
“Okay, this guy is serious.” Josh said to Acacia. “Watch yourself.”
“Right.” She replied. Scramble began to launch repeated blasts, Josh and Acacia rushed to avoid them. Acacia turned invisible. “Find me now…” She said to herself. Scramble suddenly released a large but silent sonic blast that blew out around the room. He targeted the sound displacement under his mask and shot at Acacia. It hit her and she screamed, falling to the ground and turning visible again.
“Okay, I don’t care who you are, this ends now!” Josh shouted. He rushed forward and punched Scramble. Scramble fell backwards and Josh immediately grabbed his gauntlets. The two struggled, back and forth.
“Surrender now!” Josh yelled.
“No.” Scramble growled, pushing against Josh. He punched Josh in the gut several times. Josh gritted his teeth and rushed both of them into a wall. Scramble banged Josh’s head against the wall, and Josh punched him across the face.
“Aragh!” Scramble growled, grabbing both sides of Josh’s head. Josh grabbed his arms and began to pull, but Scramble unleashed his sonic burst.
“AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!” Josh screamed, falling to his knees. Scramble stepped up to him.
“One more at close range should do the job.”
* * *
This, I think, is a pretty epic fight. Aside from when Josh and Scramble are alone, and their confrontation mirrors the one from years previously, I think that Scramble is just a menacing foe. His powers are great, and E.G.G didn't stand a chance. He won! You know, before James showed up. But yeah, I'm not sure anyone in E.G.G wants to face Scramble again. Though they may not get the choice...
See you tomorrow!
Make sure to read Episode 45 tomorrow and post comments and any questions you have so that I can answer them in the Q&A next Thursday, August 27! E.G.G's greatest battle is about to begin!
Next Episode
Scramble is back, but this time he has backup. The Masters of Doom have formed, and they are the most formidable opponents E.G.G has ever faced. In this double sized issue, a clash of titanic proportions begins, and the end is so shocking, you may just yell at the screen! Experience E.G.G's greatest battle yet, tomorrow, August 21, in E.G.G Episode 45: Masters of Doom.