With Loki as their herald, the corrupted Celestial Final Host has arrived to euthanize the entire planet. Now the Avengers race to obtain even greater power than their demigod forebears wielded against this titanic onslaught!
AVENGERS (2018) #5
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: Paco Medina & Ed McGuinness
Inks: Juan Vlasco with Mark Morales & Ed McGuinness
Colors: David Curiel
Letters: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover: Ed McGuinness, Mark Morales & Jason Keith
Publisher: Marvel
Release Date: 7-18-18
?WARNING: This review contains major spoilers!!?
What You Need to Know:
Hoping they would have knowledge the Avengers could use against the Celestials, Ironman and Dr. Strange sought out the Eternals, only to find all but one had been killed. Accompanied by She-Hulk, Thor demanded that Odin reveal the secrets he had kept about his conflict with the Celestials. Odin revealed the path of the Blood of Ymir to them, a weapon that may destroy them with its use. Black Panther and Captain Marvel studied the corpse of a cosmic locust as Ghost Rider sped to find Captain America and his Celestial captors…
What You’ll Find Out
Loki reveals the ancient origins of modern “superpowered” humans to Cap. He says that four billion years ago, a mortally-ill Celestial (the Progenitor) incidentally fell upon a primordial Earth to die. Infected by the Horde (a species of planet-devouring cosmic locusts) it’s titanic, diseased remains permeated the chemistry of the infant planet, and Loki claims its ultimate, monstrous progeny are superpowered humans. Maddened by either the sight of its dead mate or infection by the Horde, another visiting Celestial called Zgreb the Aspirant was attacked and left for dead by the first Avengers, one million years ago. Its unconscious form did become infected and changed by the Horde, and has been spreading its infection to other Celestials, killing and possessing them. Now they have returned to the source of the disease, which Loki believes humanity to be an extension of.
Cutting Loki’s history lesson short, Ghost Rider ambushes him, chains him up in the “trunk of vengeance”, and peels away heading south with Cap riding shotgun. As the Dark Celestials pursue, Ghost Rider contacts Ironman and the Avengers orchestrate a rendezvous in Russia, where Cap is trying to get the town they crash-landed in to evacuate. Every Avenger teleports to meet Rider and Cap, where they prepare for direct confrontation with the Dark Celestials. Panther and Marvel have incorporated the Horde’s energy into their power-sets, presumably making the locusts vulnerable to their attacks (which they later share with Cap). From Mars, Stark has summoned a 2000-foot suit of armor called the God Killer Mark II while Rider tests the limits of his power, creating a Hell Celestial from a nearby fallen corpse. Strange baby-sits Loki as Thor and She-Hulk eat the frozen blood of Ymir, which transforms them into towering giants, ready to do battle with their titanic foes.
What Just Happened?
Character Development: First of all, as this is my first review of this incarnation of the Avengers, I’d like to say how great the dialogue has been throughout the run. Please excuse this if you’re not an MCU Avengers fan, but Stark is so well written, I hear Robert Downey Jr. delivering the lines as I read. He’s a wisecracking gem that doesn’t sound to me like Deadpool and his clones. Robbie Reyes’ Ghost Rider is showing what he is capable of and displays the potential power of Spirit of Vengeance like a veteran hero. His comic relief quips are well written, clever and add to the work instead of detracting from it. Cap is a bit bland and stalwart as ever, I feel like he could use a dose of charisma. The rest of the characters are handled really well, every scene with Thor and Jen is gold to me, as is Stark and Strange’s back and forth. Panther exudes confidence and Marvel is a goddess powerhouse that is great to see in action.
Art and Lettering: Avengers is a BIG title, and it shows that the artists know it. The emotional desolation of the Progenitor Celestial on primordial earth is palpable, its drowned corpse is dramatic and tragic. The immensity and design of these beings are always felt, not just seen. There’s a great little panel of a small silhouette of the newly assembled Avengers, who are dwarfed by a Celestial in the background, reflecting, to my eye, how huge these heroes actually are (and literally become). This whole run has been visually splendid.
Writing Critique: This Avengers re-start has been a pleasant surprise from the beginning, Ghost Rider in-particular has been really entertaining. The origins of super-life and the Avengers’ pre-historic predecessor’s stories are interesting and enjoyable to witness. I’m still not exactly sure why Loki is involved. Is he controlling the Horde or is he being controlled by them? Why do they need him if it’s the latter, and how can he possibly control them if it’s the former? Is it the Horde that is the disease or is it just humanity (Loki says it’s both, but he’s helping the Horde)? Why destroy the Earth if it is has become the primary breeding ground (and food source) for the Horde? I can speculate, but the onus is upon the author to fill these plot holes. Regardless, none of these questions are deal-breakers, and I’m looking forward to reading the next issue!
Rating: 9/10
Final Thought: The 2018 Avengers has been awesome! Hopefully, the explanation for Loki’s involvement becomes clearer.
Avengers #6, the conclusion of the Final Host, is available August 15th!
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