Infinity #1

I’m not going to make any friends with this opinion, but I just can’t get in to Jonathan Hickman’s writing. I gave up on Avengers after Thor and Hyperion spent an issue talking on a hill. But I decided to give this epic, 45-part story another shot and pick up Infinity #1.

I shouldn’t have bothered. Most of the issue reprinted material from the Free Comic Book Day issue this year. While necessary, it was a repeat, so I couldn’t really make a new opinion based on it. It sort of added to the “waiting” feeling I already had with Hickman’s builders storyline.

I’ve always like the Inhumans’ costumes and designs, but as characters, I can’t get into them that much. I actually find the Eternals a bit more interesting. Adding in a ton MORE Inhumans doesn’t address my problem, and giving Black Bolt a bunch of weird wives just makes him into Bill Paxton. I think Black Bolt appears on more pages than any other Marvel hero, making this one really weird Avengers story. I mean, they really don’t do much in this one at all. 

Again, if I hadn’t already read 12 issues of Avengers to start this story, I’d be a lot more forgiving of an issue where the Avengers barely appear. I never thought I’d say this, but I think I’d like Cannonball and Sunspot back on the X-Men; at least they might get a few more lines!

The weird hunter killer villain is neat, and Jimmy Cheung’s design is intimidating, but man, I bought this comic for one reason: Thanos. He appears on one page, and doesn’t do a lot on it. It’s a great moment, full dread, but I want more, especially with a comic this thick! I mean, if Infinity Gauntlet had this pacing, then the heroes wouldn’t disappear until issue 4!

This type of serious, dramatic crossover is clearly not my cup of tea. More pages doesn’t make the threat more horrifying, it just makes me more anxious to see the story develop. I need more plot for $3.99 (or more!)

Infinity is more Crusade than Gauntlet. It is proof that long, drawn out stories are EVIL. 

Thanos Rising #1

I hadn’t planned on picking up this book, but when push came to shove, I trust that Jason Aaron would do a good job re-telling Thanos’ origin. Once I actually go into the book, I think my trust is well-founded. I certainly don’t remember any of this from past Thanos appearances. I know the character pretty well, but my main familiarity is from early 90’s Silver Surfer and later, so I can’t say if this retcons anything or not.

Thanos is the child of Mentor and Sui-San. While Mentor seems to be oblivious to the darkness in Thanos, his mother tries to kill him almost immediately after he is born. I always thought that the Eternals of Titan had more physical variation, so Thanos’ purple gorilla look wouldn’t stick out as much as it does here. In this story, Thanos sticks out like a sore thumb. He’s a genetic freak, although most of the kids around him seem to be willing to look past that. Aaron drops in a few hints of the darkness within Thanos, but he really seems to be trying to be a good kid. Eventually, though, Thanos is manipulated into a tough situation that seems to change his entire outlook. Or it may just be unleashing his dark side.

Any good tendencies in Thanos are in spite of his distant, calculating father, Mentor. Simone Bianchi really changes up Mentor’s look; I’d never recognize this as the same guy from my old Marvel Universe handbooks. My one other complaint is the lack of Starfox. He gets mentioned a few times during the issue, so I’m hoping that Aaron is going to give ol’ Eros a good, dramatic introduction next issue.

How old is Nebula? She’s a character with a lot of Thanos-ties, so I’m keen to see if she shows up in this mini too. At first I thought the girl manipulating Thanos might be Death, but since everyone talks back to her, I’m hoping for Nebula.

As I said, Bianchi really changes the look of the Eternals. His painted look, combined with the tremendous detail on every page, make this a very beautiful comic. The facial expressions are crystal clear throughout, with fine acting even on Thanos’ insane-looking face. I like the iguana lizards that seem to be the main other occupants of Titan. Tough planet!

Good