Infinity Wars Prime #1: OK, here we go. After the pretty crappy ending of "Infinity Countdown," I can't say I'm all that excited about this event, but I'm game for at least reading the main series. We'll wait and see about the tie-in series. At any rate, Duggan gives us three separate (and seemingly unconnected) stories here. First, Loki discovers that he remembers the tales told in the books in the Asgardian library differently than they're recounted. He complains he's never the hero of the story, and I wonder if we're going to get an explanation why everyone has seemingly turned their back on Loki as the God of Stories (as he was at the end of "Loki: Agent of Asgard"). When Loki asks why the stories all involve the same people in different universes, the tomekeeper leads him to a book she remembers dealing with that subject. But, they're both surprised when the ending has been torn from the book, so they go to the Quarry of Creation, which the tomekeeper remembers also has something to do with the tale. Elsewhere, Adam Warlock consults with Dr. Strange about the disturbing changes within the Soul Gem. When they use the Ropes of the Xiand Nomads to enter the Soul Gem (the ropes allow them to stay anchored to our realm), an enormous creature (presumably the one that entrapped Hank Pym in a dreamscape at the end of "Infinity Countdown") looms over the landscape and kills a surprised Adam Warlock. Dr. Strange is forced to reveal his possession of the Time Gem to Adam in order to save him. Finally, Requiem, as we seem to be calling the person who had the dwarf create a sword for her in "Infinity Countdown," kills Thanos and then the Chitauri warriors he ruled. Standing over Thanos' body, she declares the past dead. (It's some form of Gamora, right? Maybe Nebula?) All in all, it isn't a terrible issue, though I still feel like I'm missing something. At the end of "Infinity Countdown," for example, Dr. Strange summoned the Infinity Watch. Yet, here, he's lying to Adam Warlock about having the Time Gem. Does this story take place before "Infinity Countdown" #5? If not, this part doesn't seem to make much sense. Whatever. We'll see where we go from here.
Marvel 2-in-One #8: Chip Zdarsky, STOP MAKING ME CRY. After the most recent issue of "Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man," it's just too many feels! With their powers gone, Ben and Johnny are forced to live normal lives on this strange new world. After Johnny learns Ben asked this Universe's Amadeus Cho to send out a signal to the Avengers and not just Reed and Sue, he realizes Ben has lied to him: Reed, Sue, and the kids are dead. Their subsequent fight is heartbreaking, as Ben confesses he lied because he was worried Johnny was falling to pieces and Johnny only half-heartedly insists he was pulling himself together. The Fantastic Four returns shortly, but I'm going to miss this period of Ben and Johnny needing to find a way just to rely on each other. But, I won't miss the crying, Chip!
Mr. and Mrs. X #1: This issue is goddamn perfect in every way. Thompson gives Remy and Rogue the wedding they deserved, not the afterthought ceremony we saw in "X-Men Gold" #30. Moreover, her mastery of their banter is even better than it was during the "Rogue and Gambit" mini-series. They're definitely in love, but it doesn't mean that they don't have issues or that they can't laugh at each other's expense. In the letters page, Thompson explicitly mentions how comics can be hard on marriages. In so doing, she addresses the elephant in the room, essentially promising at least a decent amount of time before we have to worry about them getting a divorce. With that sort of commitment -- the commitment I think we all expected to get with Bruce and Selina and Kitty and Piotr -- our couple and this series are on solid footing. It allows Thompson to jump into the deep end, as she does here as Remy and Rogue take a honeymoon in space and come face-to-face with a mysterious egg, Cerise and the Imperial Guard, and Deadpool! Best start to a series EVER!
Multiple Man #2: I mean, OK, it's not like I expected a mini-series about the Multiple Man that also involved time travel was going to make much sense. Rosenberg even plays with that premise throughout this issue to great effect. But, at some point, it has to make some sense. As far as I can tell, the dupe we meet here somehow became evil and killed hundreds of thousands of people when he took over the world. His recent jaunt to the future has already changed it, though seemingly making his repression even more brutal. Moreover, his return to that future gives him the idea to create the super-powered dupes that save him last issue, completing the loop. But, at this point, you just have to wonder why he doesn't go to the past and save the real Madrox the moment before Black Bolt releases the Terrigen Mist. In fact, he could save everyone who died because of the Mist. After all, altering the "future" isn't any better than altering the "past" since at some point they're the same thing. [Sigh.] Fucking time travel. At any rate, Madrox's interactions with his son and Layla are the best, as the creative team makes Davey's hope and Layla's despair evident. But, I'd like to follow what's happening at some point.
X-Men: Blue #32: Magneto has seen the future, as he mentions here, though I'll admit I can't remember when that happened. At any rate, he seems to have seen disaster, including something happening to Bobby in particular. But, he won't tell the kids, though they seem to draw the conclusion that their time in the "present" is growing short. I'm still intrigued how Marvel is going to resolve their story, and it's increasingly clear we're getting there soon.
Also Read: Amazing Spider-Man #2; Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #22; Star Wars: Lando - Double or Nothing #3
No comments:
Post a Comment