It’s finally here! Marvel’s Infinity event kicked off this
week from the team of Jonathan Hickman and Jim Cheung and let’s not forget
colours by Justin Ponsor. This event has been built up to for some time, within
both Hickman’s flagship Avengers titles, the 5 issue limited series Thanos
Rising, and other plot points taking place within Guardians of the Galaxy and
FF. I have the luxury of collecting all but one of these titles, which has definitely
helped me in having a better idea of what is taking place and characters
involved. Because of this it is hard for me to judge whether this is new reader
friendly, Marvel usually attempt to make these events readable without having
to have been keeping up with the past 2 years of Marvel Universe history, but
it certainly did help having read many of the new Marvel NOW! titles up to now.
This comic contains The Illuminati, The Builders, The
Avengers, Inhumans and also Thanos and the first appearance of his Black Order.
Along with several different space faring species among them the Skrulls and
also the Space Knights of Galador, who I will be honest I had no idea existed
till I read this comic. All in all going
by the introduction to the cast this issue contains 44 characters along with
the groups. It is no secret that this title involves Thanos, he has been all
over the promotional material and this is his first real major appearance in the
comics since his cameo at the end of the Avengers film, not counting his
appearance in Avengers Assemble.
The comic opens within the same event from New Avengers #6,
there has been another incursion and the Illuminati have to destroy the world
to save their own, if you have been reading New Avengers you would know that the
incursions have begun to happen more frequently. This is what has been the main
plot point throughout Hickman’s New Avengers run. Not much is really given away
about why this is happening within Infinity #1 and to get a real understanding it
is certainly worth picking up issues 1-8 of New Avengers.
We then get to a new chapter within the story, that was
originally released within the Free Comic Book Day issue in May, the first appearance
of Corvus Glaive and his Outrider scouting for secrets and worlds that must pay
Thanos’ tribute. Corvus Glaive would appear to be the senior within Thanos’
Black Order and is clearly immensely powerful having beaten the Champion of
Ahl-Agullo, a planet recently raised to the ground by his master showing the
true devastation that can be caused by Thanos and his Black Order. Is this the
fate that awaits Earth?
These first two chapters appear to form a prologue for the
issue introducing us to several characters and plot points that will feature within
the future of the story. This chapter format really is vital in helping to
introduce the different aspects to the story, weaving an intricate tapestry,
and also the new characters that will be pivotal to the on-going plot.
After this prologue you are hit with the movie like double page
introducing the title and credits, followed by an extensive billboard of who is
who within this epic. You are then introduced to one of the main antagonists
The Builders, introduced within the first arc of Hickman’s Avengers run.
However, even if you have not been following Avengers this issue does a good
job of introducing the characters and their intentions. Originally created to
help create life the Builders have turned and are now systematically destroying
Civilisations and planets, they helped to create, on a route that takes them on
a crash course with Earth. Within this chapter we are introduced to even more
new characters the Space Knights of Galador and in turn their planet currently
being destroyed by the Builders. The Space Knights gallantly fight on but to no
avail, confirmed by the arrival of Captain Universe who affirms that there is
no saving Galador, she is there to witness the beginning of the end.
“Orbital” we finally see the appearance of Earth and the
heroes we all know, the Avengers, being called in to supervise a threat that
turns out to be Skrull Refugees, what could be forcing these aliens to seek
refuge on Earth? The Builders or Thanos? We are then introduced to yet another
group the Inhumans and also the purpose of the Outrider who is seeking secrets
from within the mind of Black Bolt, what secret does he hold that Thanos seeks?
The Avengers are made aware of the threat of the Builders from a distress call
sent by the Kree from one of their secret outposts under attack. Here a
character with a similar look to Ex Nihilo is visible confirming the Builder
threat and also leaving Ex Nihilo confused as to why this is happening. This
course of events leads to the Avengers deciding that they must head into space
to meet the impending Builder threat leaving only Iron Man and a handful of
heroes back on Earth. With Earth in his sights this is pleasing news for Thanos
to hear that Earth has no Avengers, queue evil grin.
There is a lot to take in within this first issue, the
amount of teams and characters involved. The most important being the Builders,
Thanos, Inhumans and Avengers. This issue has definitely left me wanting more
and having read the issues of Avengers and New Avengers up to this point I do
have a greater understanding of the characters involved. This issue does a
great job of the different threats facing Earth and the possible outcom, seen
through both the destruction of Ahl-Agullo by Thanos and Galador by the
Builders. With the Avengers having left the planet to attempt to stall or stop
the Builder threat this leaves Earth to the mercy of Thanos and his Black Order
and if anyone knows anything about the character these two scenarios
coninciding leave the Earth in peril and can only, and hopefully, lead to an
explosive event.
This issue is wonderfully illustrated by Jim Cheung with
beautiful colours by Justin Ponsor which really help to give a character to the
different corners of the Marvel Universe. Hickman’s choice to segregate the
story into various chapters really helps to introduce us to the vast mix of
characters and also the different plot points that are clearly important as
they have been given their own chapter to be brought to our attention. Dustin
Weaver and Jerome Opena will be illustrating the next issue, previews are
already available on Comic Book Resources for issue 2 and as to be expected the
art is of the same standard as Cheung, clearly Marvel have a lot invested in
this title with the team put together for it.
You don't have to wait long for more Infinity action as
Hickman continues his event is Avengers #18 released this week with interiors
from Leinil Yu, yet another book that is sure to look great. From reading this
first issue I would strongly recommend that if you are to pick up any tie-ins
to this event I would be sure to pick up Avengers and New Avengers by Hickman as
these are bound to hold important moments alongside the main story in Infinity,
along with if you have the chance to catch up with all Avengers and New
Avengers up to now to give you a better background regarding the new characters
in both the Avengers and New Avengers I would really think it would be worth
it.
I for one am very pleased with this first issue, reading it
several times over, and I look forward to what comes next. How is this going to
play out? Who is going to protect the Earth? Which is the real threat? This
first issue does a great job of setting up this event and now I just want to
see what happens! Please don’t let me
down Hickman and make me realise what a great Marvel event can be again.
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