Written by Jonathan Hickman & Nick Spencer.
Art by Mike Deodato; Stefano Caselli; Marco Rudy; Marco Checchetto; Frank Martin; Edgar Delgado; VC’s Cory Petit; & Clayton Cowles.
Cover Art by Leinil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho.
SUMMARY:
Released by Marvel Comics in 2013, this 136-page hardcover compiles that same year’s Avengers # 12-17. A single page summarizes Ex Nihilo’s recent Savage Land creation of black-and-white Bengal-like humanoid children. Under Hyperion’s initiative, the Avengers attempt to provide these children a makeshift education in humanity. Among them, Spider-Man openly expresses his skepticism about the team’s role as teachers.
Avengers’ Current Roster: Captain America; Thor; Iron Man; Spider-Man; Hawkeye; Spider-Woman; Bruce Banner/Hulk; Wolverine; Captain Marvel; Smasher; Black Widow; Falcon; Sunspot; Cannonball; Shang-Chi; Manifold; Captain Universe; and Hyperion.
In the Savage Land, Thor and Hyperion contemplate the necessity yet slow progress assimilating the unnamed children to life on Earth. A diversion involving a Savage Land creature’s attack sets up The High Evolutionary’s abduction of the children. While he commences his accelerated experimentation project, the Avengers split into search-and-rescue teams. An infuriated Hyperion finds the Evolutionary first before confirming no permanent harm has been done to the young captives.
Beginning with the ‘Origin Bomb’ impact site in Chhatarpur, India, an army of mysterious beings emerge to initiate a cosmic cataclysm on Earth. Similarly, another impact site in Perth, Australia, provides further evidence that Marvel’s multiverse is fracturing. Dr. Bruce Banner feels the intense pressure of trying to gauge potential solutions, as Earth is beginning to run out of time. In South Korea, Black Widow, Thor, Hyperion, and Hawkeye witness a nuclear reactor’s imminent meltdown before Captain Universe intervenes.
In Perth, a reinforced Avengers response team (Captain America; Shang-Chi; Sunspot; Spider-Man; Wolverine; Manifold; Cannonball; Hyperion; Thor; Black Widow; Hawkeye) launch a counter-attack against the cosmic beings. Meanwhile, A.I.M. Island inadvertently unleashes an unknown construct (reminiscent of the animated Justice League Unlimited’s Amazo), which heads to Perth. A flashback from weeks before reveals Nightmask’s contact with an exiled Starbrand inside his dome orbiting the sun.
The exhausted Avengers are no match for their new adversary’s firepower. Rendered unconscious, the defenseless Avengers’ D.N.A. is sampled by an A.I.M. science team. A.I.M.’s Superia manages to convince the construct to return to the organization’s custody.
Pushing his assigned SHIELD staff to their limits, a stressed Banner’s subsequent Hulk-out rattles the SHIELD’s orbital station. Commander Abigail Brand’s deep-space S.W.O.R.D. detail intercepts a Skrull incursion to access Earth. Captain Universe convinces Manifold that, for the upcoming crisis, the Avengers must expand their ranks.
Fulfilling Captain Universe’s suggestion, Captain America, Manifold, and Captain Marvel recruit two of the most unlikely candidates to bolster the team’s cosmic presence.
Note: This ‘T+’ (ages 16 & up) title’s formats also include digitally and trade paperback.
REVIEW:
This particular Avengers storyline has two worthwhile components: stellar artwork and, of course, the team’s considerable star power. Slick visuals aside, however, far too much of Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer’s plotting this time frankly becomes a bore to read.
That isn’t to say that this title’s fanbase won’t enjoy portions of Volume 3, as it’s only one salvo in a high-profile Avengers epic for that time. Unlike Avengers World, Volume 1: A.I.M.pire, for instance, this volume is relatively self-contained and doesn’t leave readers dangling on a ‘to be continued’ hook. The flip side is that A.I.M.pire, despite its fractured tone (i.e. five ongoing subplots), its equally well-illustrated content proves more readily entertaining than Prelude to Infinity.
In that regard, whatever the Prelude to Infinity is meant to convey doesn’t supply a must-read. Contemplating Avengers, Volume 3: Prelude to Infinity as a library option instead makes the most practical sense.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Each full-page cover precedes its story. The primary cover artists are Dustin Weaver & Justin Ponsor for Issue # 12; and then Leinil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho for Issues # 13-17.
For the double-page Avengers 50th anniversary variant cover (spread across Issues # 12, 14, and 16), artist Daniel Acuña devised its interconnected image. Appearing in ¼-size, the black-and-white sketch versions of covers from Issues # 12-15 adorn the last page.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
