Avengers (Vol. 5) #25

Background

Last time: Iron Man 3030 came from the future back to present day to help the Avengers deal with a rogue planet. They merged it with the Earth to give it a new source of power and resources.

That was Rogue Planet #1, let's see what happens in #2...

Story 'Carve a Hole... Climb Inside'

S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier Iliad is in New York investigating a quarantined zone. (On a sidenote, why name a helicarrier when there is only one? Surely it's just the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier. Or if there is another, maybe it should be used once in a while? Just saying!). At the heart of the zone, the corpse of Ant Man!

Four hours earlier, A.I.M. were creating a new power source whilst in another dimension (using their Auger – the device that they pulled Hyperion from his dimenson with back in Avengers (Vol. 5) #4). A.I.M. minister Superia is pleased as now they have the power to begin their plans of mining the multiverse for all sorts of things. Unfortunately for A.I.M., the first thing they pull out is the Avengers! The six original ones to be specific. These Avengers are confused but pleased to be on Earth, especially as it is no longer falling down around them. The Scientist Supreme wants to destroy them but Superia would rather talk. It really doesn't matter though as this version of Thor uses Mjolnir to teleport the Avengers away. A.I.M. decide to let them go and proceed with their mining plans.

In New York, the alternate Avengers have realised that they are not on their Earth. 'Iron Man' suggests they are on an alternate Earth. ('Cap' then describes what happened to their Earth, what we readers recognise as an Incursion). 'Wasp' suggests that there might not be Avengers on this Earth, as they couldn't find their base, and perhaps they should start again on this world. 'Thor' agrees and starts by “teaching” some civilians, who are not kneeling before their God, by striking them with Lightning!

Back in the current time, Maria Hill is showing the Avengers (our Avengers if you will) footage of Thor's attack and the corpse of Ant Man. She wants an alibi...

General Comments

Well first things first, that was a good second part to Rogue Planet wasn't it?! GRR! You have a first issue of a brand new story so you can put a big #1 on it and then don't have a #2! Argh! Stand alone issues are not a #1! You don't need a #1 if there is no #2. Oh I'm glad I had my rant about pointless #1 issues last time as this just goes to prove what I was saying. Even if rogue planet is followed up in 5 issues time, it doesn't justify the whole #1 thing last issue and it proves that Marvel only use it to sell more comics. By that rationale this could have been a #1 too as it sets up a new storyline. Oh I find it so annoying! However, Marvel is a business, businesses aim to make money and #1 issues sell more so this is why they do it. I just hope it doesn't get as bad as every new storyline having a big #1 put on it.

Anyway, on with the review of this issue. Well I thought it was pretty good. We pick up plot lines involving A.I.M. and them exploring other Universes. This also ties in with the Incursions storylines told in the past year and over in New Avengers. It also sets up the new arc with the introduction of some alternate Avengers and left on the cliffhanger of the death of an Avenger. I just hope this issue is followed up on next issue! The concept of evil versions of good characters is hardly a novel idea and let's face it the dead Hank Pym is bound to be the alternate one as opposed to “our” one, but let's see where they go with it. I can't really comment on character development or anything like that as “our” Avengers don't really feature. I look forward to seeing how they deal with their alternate versions.

Finally as always, the art and, as normal, it's good. Nice pale colours at the start for the quarantine zone representing the sterility and death, and I thought the original Avengers were nicely portrayed.

Overall Rating

A good enough start but nothing ground breaking so a solid 3.

Footnote

Congratulations to the proof reader of this issue as the last panel contains “To be continuded...” (Cue this review being full of typos and me eating humble pie!)