Release Date: August 14th, 2013
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Written By: Johnathan Hickman
Art By: Jim Cheung
Price: $4.99
Colors By: Justin Ponsor
Review:
I figured I’d start my reviews off with a bang and shoot for Marvel’s main event; Infinity. This is the event that should shape Marvel Comics for the forseeable future. The big one. If you haven’t been reading the Illuminati-centric Secret Avengers or Thanos’ origin story, some of this may come out of left field, especially the first page. Overall though, it seems easy enough to pick up, start reading, and still not be completely lost.
This is probably the most earth-shatteringly powerful Avengers roster ever assembled. This team could possibly take the JLA in a brawl. We’ve got all the favorite heavies like IronMan and Thor, along with Captain America leading the pack. Add in Captain Universe, Hyperion, Nightmask, Starbrand and the newly invented Ex Nihilo and his sister, and this team could break planets. Then you have the rest of the team including heavy hitters like Smasher, Captain Marvel, and the obvious forthcoming Hulk/Banner incident and you’ve got quite possibly the strongest team in comic books right now. They’re gonna need it.
Thanos is pulling strings and digging for Marvel’s deepest darkest secrets with a specialized assassin. His first big pile of skeletons is found on Attilan in the mind of Black Bolt, the Inhuman king. A lineup of the Illuminati make an appearrance in the king’s mind as do a group of unfamiliar (at least to me) “hidden kings and a lost queen”. Meanwhile a giant spaceship armada and The Builders are razing worlds with what looks like ol’ Ex Nihilo’s second cousin or stepbrother and their path is set to Earth. Of course it is. Our planet has a giant kick me sign on it in a language that every alien race in the Marvel Universe can translate. For once the Avengers decide to fight the cosmic threat off planet and go to meet it in space. This, however; seems to make Thanos and his council’s day.
Jim Cheung’s pencils are his best yet. I was surprised Marvel picked him for this serious a book since, in my honest opinion, his style and characters are somewhat cartoony. I really dig his work. It’s superb in Infinity but it kind of takes away from the gravity of the situation. His facial features are kind of static and unmoving even though theyre beautiful to look at. I think he’s perfect for books like Runaways or Young X-Men, just not universe breaking, end-all galactic battles. The writing has me convinced that Marvel just stepped up the threat levels for the Avengers and all its heroes. Only time will tell whether the visuals will continue that trend.
All in all, this was a fun read with beautiful art work. Since Cheung’s babyfaces are the only complant, I’d recommend this book. The mood was already that of a sense of complete and utter defeat at a force that has the entire Marvel galaxy shaking in fear. The Builders will put the Avengers and ultimately the entire universe through the ringer. Whatever secret Thanos’ hound discovered on Attilan, mainly who those people were in his vision, it will most likely mean a high body count for Death. Thanos can only hope.