Age of X-Man: Prisoner X #4: Like the other series in this event, this issue covers the same ground that we've previously covered without adding anything particularly new or interesting. The only real development is Dani putting to words what we've all already known, that every time someone manages to break free of Nate or Legion's control their control over everyone else slips. As such, it's no surprise that Bishop is able to get a full-scale riot going here. But, it's still unclear what role Legion plays in it: I can't tell if he encourages Forge to release the power-dampening collars or if Forge did it on his own. I honestly can't say I care all that much at this point. This entire event is just an awkward transition as we move to whatever mess Hickman plans on making.
Batman #72: Every time I think this series can't get worse and more repetitive, it does. I have to give King that, I guess.
Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1: This issue is interesting in that it maintains the main series' modus operandi, focusing not just exclusively on the Guardians team as we traditionally know it but also including the various Marvel Cosmic characters as well. As a Nova and Quasar fan, I was of course most interested in their story. I thought Ewing did a great job teasing out their characters through their dispute, as Rich criticizes Quasar's breezy optimism as a sign that he's lost touch with reality given his dealings with cosmic entities like Galactus. The conversation starts with Rich admitting to Quasar that he's on "therapeutic leave" after he watched the Skrulls destroy one of their renegade worlds. He had just saved a family from a group of Skrull soldiers when Adsit tells him that the Skrulls had withdrawn from the Pan-Worlds Treaty and revoked the Nova Corps jurisdiction over the planet. Adsit compels him to leave just before the Skrulls destroy the planet. Rich observes to Quasar that the Kree and Shi'ar are likely to withdraw as well, meaning galactic war is coming. Quasar essentially tells him that he's sure everything will be fine, prompting Rich's criticism. In an obvious parallel to our current era, Rich tells Quasar that he's on the front lines dealing with real people. He sees the hard-liners taking over the political system, the galactic economy collapsing after years of inequality and upheaval, etc. He warns Quasar that people like him are looking for a Thanos, when it's really the 30-credit beer that sparks revolution and chaos. Sound familiar?
Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider #9: As I think I've mentioned, I feel like this series has gotten increasingly repetitive, recycling the same story lines over and over again. McGuire does it again here, as a bad guy interrupts yet another Mary Janes' performance trying to get at Gwen. But, the good news is that Man-Wolf is at least a different villain, injecting some much needed energy into this issue. We don't yet know why he's targeting Gwen, other than his assertion that he's defeated all the city's heroes. It seems like he's essentially offended Gwen thinks she could superhero in "his" city. That said, the cop who helps Gwen ID Man-Wolf somewhat contradicts this claim, telling her that he appeared during her incarceration. Did he really defeat everyone in the short time she was in prison? Although the rhythm might be the same, at least the person playing the instrument is different. I'm not sure I'm going to stick with this title when it's (once again) relaunched, but for now I'm at least glad that I have a reason to hang in there.
War of the Realms #5: This issue is the point where it feels like this story spun beyond my ability to grasp. Previously, the tie-in issues had been supporting the main title, so they weren't necessary to read to understand the main title's plot. Although I've been reading many of the tie-in series, this issue is where I feel like you had to read specific tie-in issues to understand the developments here. I had to re-read several issues just to assemble the rough timeline I put together here, and even then I'm still not sure that it's right.
Some leaps you can legimitately make on your own. Last issue, most of the teams reconvened at Avengers Mountain, and it's clear that it's when they slammed the Boggle cube on the table to make new teams. She-Hulk brought the dwarves from Nidavellir in issue #4; in this issue, they joined forces with Iron Man to become, awesomely, the War Machine Dwarves. Meanwhile, She-Hulk is leading Daredevil, Deadpool, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage to take Australia from the Trolls. But, even when you can make some leaps on your own, it isn't all necessarily clear. For example, Jennifer has somehow gotten a hammer and Ulik calls her "Thunder-Hulk." I assume that happened in a tie-in issue that I didn't read.
In some cases, you can make the leap, but it's still hard to follow. Carol Danvers is a great example. She led the War Avengers (Black Widow, Captain Britain, Deadpool, Sif, Venom, Weapon H, and the Winter Soldier) in the Battle of London in issue #3 and "War of the Realms: Strike Force - The War Avengers" #1, but they seem to surrender in issue #3 when Malekith teleports Venom and himself...somewhere. They resume the fight at the end of "War of the Realms: Strikeforce - The War Avengers" #1, taking on dark elves at the Great Wall. But, in issue #4, the Agents of Atlas have replaced the War Avengers in the fight with Carol at the Great Wall without explanation. In issue #5, Captain Britain has re-appeared in London, found the Black Blade, and is now fighting alongside Captain America, while Carol has moved onto Shanghai with Hawkeye and Shang-Chi. The Agents of Atlas are presumably somewhere.
In some instances, you just have to assume existing tie-in series end happily. Last we saw him, Sir Ivory was unconscious in Africa after fighting Kurse in "Spider-Man and the League of the Realms" #2; in issue #5, he joins Queen Featherwine and the Punisher at the head of the Light Elf Rifle Brigade in Wakanda. (It seems like the entire "Spider-Man and the League of the Realms" mini-series happens between issues #4 and #5, after Spider-Man returns from Jotunheim and the Punisher brings the Light Elves to Midgard.) Balder and Thori were trying to save Balder's sister in "War of the Realms: Journey into Mystery" #4, but now Balder is with Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider, and Spider-Man taking on the Enchantress in Montevideo and Thori is with Captains America and Britain in London. (I guess Spider-Man hitched a ride from Africa.) Kurse also apparently survived, because she's fighting the Destroyer somewhere.
In other words, the wheels come off the bus here as Aaron's ambition gets the better of him. I get what he was trying to do, instill in us the magnitude of the battle. He does accomplish that; it's awesome to see everyone fighting all over the place. But, the plot gets lost in the shuffle of players across the chessboard, a point Carol herself made in "War of the Realms: Strikeforce - The War Avengers" #1. After all, Thor is the key here, but we barely get a sight of him. I get the symmetry of Thor hanging himself from Yggdrasil like Odin did. I just don't get why he does it. Insight? Did he really need insight to know that he has to take on Malekith? I assumed that it was to reforge Mjolnir, but that didn't seem to happen. I feel like we could've had fewer slugfests and a few more panels teasing out this very, very essential plot point. Aaron has pushed this moment of "OK, time to wrap up this story" longer than most authors, so I'm not complaining too much. But, it's time for the end to come, as it thankfully does next issue.
Also Read: Black Cat #1; Marvel Team-Up #3; Star Wars: Age of Rebellion - Luke Skywalker #1; Uncanny X-Men #19; War of the Realms: Journey into Mystery #4
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