Avengers 16
Hickman and Spencer (w) and Caselli (a) and F. Martin (c)
The prelude to Infinity pushes on as the foe from AIM Island, exponentially stronger than when they procured it, has broken out and made its way to the communicated signal in Perth, where the Avengers have gathered to shut down the signal. Meanwhile, on the Dyson Sphere that Tony created (over in New Avengers, but we've seen it here last time we saw Kevin and Adam, who sound less threatening than they are as Starbrand and...Adam), Kevin is learning about his new Starbrand powers and Adam is helping him reach the potential he needs. Hopefully he reaches it, though he poses a major threat to the Avengers at full power, because Captain Universe has shown Manifold why the Avengers need to think bigger.
Things are really heating up over here, which doesn't necessarily confuse things less. I've long said that this book has been relentlessly confusing, not leaving a lot of time to keep up with the book if you miss something or other. That said, it's giving a pretty great story for people who are keeping up with it. I think if you're skipping issues here and there, you're probably having some trouble keeping up (especially with things like the re-emergence of Kevin and Adam and the one page or so that the story spends on a foreign planet so Captain Universe can tell Manifold about how big the problem is) but it's worth reading. You can feel the story spreading out and really becoming the event it wants to be and you can certainly see why it's exciting for Hickman, as it feels like a story that can branch out in a lot of directions and that can really move the universe. Events have this problem sometimes of really coming out of nowhere and of staying far too long but this one feels like the seeds are pretty well planted and ready to sprout. Let's hope it doesn't continue a year past when the event ends (check out my A+X 10 below!).
Avengers Assemble 17
DeConnick (w) and Buffagni w/ Larraz (a) and Woodard (c)
Carol and company are now successfully on the trail of Yon-Rogg but that makes little difference since they still don't know where to find him. Meanwhile, the Sentries he's set up are continuing to lock into place for some horrible and unknown plans. The Avengers are spread out, each trying to take out Sentries in specific areas before they touch down. The Captains Marvel and America, thanks to help from Wasp and a Sersi the Eternal guest appearance, manage to track Yon-Rogg only to find that the psyche-magnitron had more effect on Carol than she had thought. Now Yon-Rogg's pulling out all the stops to battle the woman he views as an impostor in his kingdom and Carol needs to step up to stop him.
There's plenty going on in this event and five issues seems like a perfect amount for this event. That will, of course, be decided with the conclusion in the next issue of Captain Marvel but for now the arc is moving really well and the issues are well-paced and nicely hectic, creating the appropriate tone. One of the things that I wasn't totally sold on when this arc started but have come to really appreciate is the way that the Avengers have been characterized here. First and foremost, it's easy to forget that this isn't Captain Marvel's book and that it requires all of the Avengers. Secondly though, it's nice to see the Avengers interacting the way they do in this book. They're still spread apart and still obviously very busy but they all clearly have their own defined personalities and they all have their own quirks. That's one of the things that's been kind of lacking in Avengers, which has a more serious and grittier tone than Avengers Assemble has had, even as evidenced in the artwork. Still, it's nice to see a team, especially Marvel's premiere team, acting like a team and it certainly continues to shine through here, even if the focus is on Captain Marvel. Excited for the conclusion and where it leaves things for Carol and the Avengers.
A+X 10
Black Widow and Fantomex: B.C. Moore (w) and Anka (a) and J. Campbell (c)
Scarlet Witch and Domino: A. Warren (w and a) and Guru eFX (c)
Black Widow and Fantomex team up to stop a Russian program that has DNA samplings of every Russian superpowered being and intends to use them to create new heroes and/or villains. Black Widow is there to save people from the past she had while Fantomex is there to pull off an extremely difficult heist for an unknown buyer. Also, Black Widow wants to use stealth and planning and Fantomex wants to pull off an extremely difficult heist for an unknown buyer but doesn't really care how. This puts the two of them on the same team but rather at odds immediately as Fantomex blows Widow's cover. The two reconcile to join against versions of Ursa Major, Darkstar, and Sibercat. In part two, Scarlet Witch and Domino are dealing with a whole bunch of soft science (and Domino seems to be dealing with a slight alcoholic buzz) that essentially means probability fields from some Celestial base could destroy the world. According to Witch's plan, Domino is supposed to go into the base and destroy the core. However, her luck powers are enhanced by Scarlet Witch right now and she's suddenly able to see the outcome of certain paths of action and most of them seem to end in her death. She audibles and makes a play to save the universe (spoilers: it works).
The first story is absolutely delightful. Of course, I was biased going in but that didn't really help my review of Hawkeye and Deadpool which was a little boring anyway. Still, Black Widow and Fantomex are two of my favorite characters in the Marvel Universe and somehow it had never occurred to me that they could ever team up and it had occurred to me even LESS that they could team up against Ursa Major, who is one of my favorite villains on principle alone (giant bear who is pretty much just a giant bear rivals even my love of Batroc Ze Lepair). Great characterization for both of them drives the story and it's a worthwhile plot in its own way. Can't really say the same for story two which, granted, didn't feature two of my favorite characters, and also was bogged down by pretty unfortunate characterization and a very convoluted story about convoluted powers that no one really understands anyway. One complaint about story one, and it's a pretty petty one but it applies to plenty of comics; I don't really need a backstory for the tech you're using. If Black Widow pulls out some impressive tech, I'll believe that she either got it from Stark or that she just has it because she's a superspy. Maybe someone like Deadpool, who shouldn't really have access to that kind of stuff on a daily basis, needs to explain where he got it but there are multiple lines in this one dedicated to telling where Natasha got her tech. Still a very good story in a typically weaker book.
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