The title of “New Avengers” #3 by Jonathan Hickman is “Infinity.” The recently announced Free Comic Book Day 2013 offering from Marvel, written by Jonathan Hickman, is also titled “Infinity.” Things that make you go hmmmm…
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Illustrated by Steve Epting“INFINITY”
• The Illuminati experience their first incursion since reforming.
• Can the loose brotherhood of end times trust each other enough to use the Infinity Gems in unison?
• And a new member joins the Illuminati!
After the Black Panther-centric first issue and the second issue that was required to make sense of it all, Jonathan Hickman’s run on “New Avengers” hits its stride in issue #3. The team is faced with their first incursion event, a situation that involves another universe colliding into our own, which is definitely not a good thing. How does the Illuminati plan on dealing with this threat? With Infinity Gems of course, because that always works out so well for them.
Hickman kicks off the issue with a flashback between Professor Xavier, an Illuminati member prior to his death in “Avengers vs. X-Men,” and Beast. The way the flashback is initiated is perfect for the characters involved and really sells the whole “secret society” aspect of this book. Beast’s introduction into the team really helps ease readers into the book, which to this point has had a steep learning curve due to the metaphysical nature of the plot and the rich history of the team from Bendis’ run on “New Avengers.”
Xavier’s presence, or more accurately, lack there-of, sets the stage for a book that is very heavily dependent on the repercussions of “Avengers vs. X-Men.” Previous issues have dealt with the bad blood between Black Panther and Namor over the destruction of Wakanda, and this issue touches on Iron Man’s mistakes during the event. Captain America expresses his fear that, in an attempt to protect reality, the group will “build a machine or some kind of weapon without thinking…just because you might need it.” This sentiment is extremely relevant in light of Tony’s construction and deployment of the “Phoenix Buster” armor, which was responsible for the formation of the Phoenix Five. It is Captain America’s reservations about “crossing the line” which leads to the use of the Infinity Gems in possession of the Illuminati. It’s clear that this decision is going to have major ramifications later down the line, not just in “New Avengers,” but in the Marvel Universe as a whole, as several of Marvel’s heaviest hitters take note of what transpires in this issue.
As if the mid-issue twist isn’t enough to make things interesting, Hickman goes balls to the wall in the final pages of this issue, moving the group into an even darker place. Anyone who has read DC’s “Identity Crisis” and its follow up “Crisis of Conscience” will know that this kind of think cannot end well. Artist Steve Epting references a panel from early “Avengers #1,” which featured members of the Illuminati facing the reader. When this panel appeared in “Avengers” it did so with no context, but after the events of this issue it takes on a whole new meaning, and hints that the Illuminati may have to deal with the consequences of their actions sooner rather than later.
Amidst all this darkness, Hickman manages to let in a small ray of light in the form of small scene involving Reed Richards, the interloper Black Swan, and some french fries. Who knew all it took to bring two individuals from parallel universes together was McDonald’s?
Artist Steve Epting continues to deliver fantastic work in “New Avengers.” The artist moves deftly from large scale scenes with colliding universes to smaller scenes of talking heads in shadowy rooms. Everything is brimming with energy, from the alert discs inserted in the Illuminati’s palms, to the vibrational walls between universes, to the “Kirby Crackle” of the Infinity Gauntlet. Even so, this is a dark, dingy book, fitting to the tone, thanks to the muted color pallet employed by colorist Frank D’Armata. Most of Epting’s characters look fantastic as well, although Black Bolt looks a little too beefy, and Beast looks far too much like a blue Hellboy. It’s also interesting to note that Beast’s appearance hear does not reflect his most recent mutation in “All-New X-Men,” which either means this book takes place prior to that book, or someone in editorial goofed.
We’re just a few months in and it’s easy to see that this is one of the best books that the Marvel NOW! initiative has to offer. Even if it didn’t look like Hickman’s “Avengers” books are set to play a major role in Marvel’s next event following “Age of Ultron,” it would still be a shame to let great story telling like this slip by unnoticed.
Final Verdict: – 9.0. Buy it, because you know you want more Hickman penned Reed Richards.
