Infinity Crusade #3

Background

This is another in a long line of epic cosmic adventures by Jim Starlin done during the '80s. The concept of these adventures (and cast) are all essentially the same. Some great cosmic power (generally the mad god Thanos of Titan) threatens all of existence and all of the heroes of the Marvel Universe gather together to fight it off (even if they, like Spider-Man) are not considered cosmic in nature). Other main characters generally involve Adam Warlock, Pip the Troll, Gamora, and other cosmic Starlin characters. Sometimes Thanos was the good guy, sometimes he was the bad guy, but always was he out for what he could get out of the entire event (even if he was temporarily siding with the angels).

Needless to say, as these are epic gang adventures, specific many (most) characters are relegated to standing around in crowds, having a line of two or dialogue, or perhaps a panel or three of action per issue. Such is the case with Spider-Man in this particular series (in other Infinity titles he had a greater or lesser role in the adventure).

Adam Warlock and his team of heroes (along with Thanos) are going after Warlock's feminine side, in the form of a being called The Goddess that split off from Warlock. As the series is cosmic in scope, and six issues in length, not only is nothing really going to happen until the later issues in the series, but nothing in the series is actually going to affect anyone (except those in Warlock's regular supporting cast).

Story 'Goddess'

Near as I can tell, Spider-Man doesn't actually appear in this issue (a hero with a mask that looks similar to Spidey's stands in the background of a single panel, but I'm still not certain that it is him, I think it might actually be someone else. However, Spider Woman (Julie Carpenter) does appear in a few panels.

General Comments

More of the same.

Overall Rating

While the story itself is vintage Starlin, and fun to read for its epic scale and philosophical outlook on the nature of heroes and villains, as a Spidey tale, it rates towards the bottom of the web scale, as a Spidey-Sighting, Sorry Jim.

Footnote

While the series is fun (really it is), there truly just isn't enough of Spidey here to do an actual review.