Originally posted by Laminator_X
This is factually incorrect. Contrary to what the poster in the other thread wrote, she didn't begin to succumb to the Dragon's influence (and gain the concurrent powerup) until much later in the pages of New Defenders.Remember also that long-term Infinity Gem use leaves the bearer more powerful even without the gem. Pip can still teleport without the Space Gem, Adam can touch soul without the Soul Gem, etc. Heather should be more powerful even without the Mind Gem than she was when she conquered Ba-banis.
As for Messiah Complex, I haven't read it and cannot comment.
So you're saying that she wasn't on a power-up when she performed that planetary level feat? Then how would you explain the drastic power down she received? In the following scans from the Annihilation Conquest Mini she says the Dragon of the Moon was subtly influencing her for years before she succumbed to being a host for it.
Moondragon's Story
Annihilation Conquest: Quasar #2
(15th August 2007)
(Writer: Christos Gage. Artist: Mike Lily)
That last bit regarding the long term effects of the Infinity Gem is moot since current Heather has become a retard regarding her telepathy. She strugged to control a few "drones" in Annihilation. And I just picked up the Annihilation Conquest Quasar Mini and the first 3 issues of Annihilation Conquest and she's pretty lackluster in them in terms of telepathy.
Current Moondragon in terms of pure telepathy is most definitely not what she used to be. Her dragon powers however are another story.
Originally posted by ExodusCloak
So you're saying that she wasn't on a power-up when she performed that planetary level feat?
Yes, I am. The possession stories weren't even written until years later. One might look at it as a ret-con, I suppose, but there was no indication of any sort of boosting in the original tales.
Then how would you explain the drastic power down she received? In the following scans from the Annihilation Conquest Mini she says the Dragon of the Moon was subtly influencing her for years before she succumbed to being a host for it.
You did see some of this in New Defenders as she struggled with her anger towards Odin for hobbling her powers and mistrust from her teammates. There were scenes where she was being tempted by whispers and such. Again though, this was never portrayed in her Avengers-era appearances.
That last bit regarding the long term effects of the Infinity Gem is moot since current Heather has become a retard regarding her telepathy. She strugged to control a few "drones" in Annihilation. And I just picked up the Annihilation Conquest Quasar Mini and the first 3 issues of Annihilation Conquest and she's pretty lackluster in them in terms of telepathy.Current Moondragon in terms of pure telepathy is most definitely not what she used to be. Her dragon powers however are another story.
I chalked it up to bad writing myself. Gage's portrayal of most the characters in the Quasar-mini was at odds with most of their previous portrayals.
Originally posted by Laminator_X
Yes, I am. The possession stories weren't even written until years later. One might look at it as a ret-con, I suppose, but there was no indication of any sort of boosting in the original tales.You did see some of this in New Defenders as she struggled with her anger towards Odin for hobbling her powers and mistrust from her teammates. There were scenes where she was being tempted by whispers and such. Again though, this was never portrayed in her Avengers-era appearances.
I chalked it up to bad writing myself. Gage's portrayal of most the characters in the Quasar-mini was at odds with most of their previous portrayals.
It certainly seems like they used the Dragon of the Moon Possession stories as a retcon to lower her power levels to something more workable in the heroic sense. 😬
This kind of reminds me of the Jean Grey situation, when people say "sans Phoenix" it's very difficult to narrow down which feats are viable and which aren't because of the convolution that is the Phoenix Force.
To make matters worse in Moondragons case a period of her career involves the usage of the Mind Gem which again makes a whole load of her feats arbitrary.
And what's more unfortunate is that with Heathers death it'll be very difficult for her to make up for the lackluster displays of telepathy post losing the mind gem.
Whether it's bad writing or not is entirely subjective due to the recent potrayl of her power level after losing the mind gem but if I'm looking at Current Moondragon(No Upgrades, No Telekinesis, No H2H, No Dragon Powers, Only Telepathy) I can't see her taking the majority here.
Moondragon of the old with her upgrades would wipe the floor clean with practically any Earth Telepath. Pre-retcon Moondragon(When the Dragon of the Moon wasn't considered an Upgrade) would do the same. Current Heather however is not even a semblance of her former self.
