The Guardians and the Nova Corps continue the battle for the Power stone. Will they be able to get it before the Chitauri army?
Infinity Countdown #3
Writer: Gerry Duggan
Pencillers: Aaron Kuder & Mike Hawthorne
Inkers: Aaron Kuder & Terry Pallot
Color Artist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics
What You Need to Know:
The Infinity Stones were reborn and scattered, passing from hand to hand across the universe, through time, transgressing the boundaries between worlds…
To protect the Power stone, the Guardians and the Nova Corps face off against the Fraternity of Raptors and the Chitauri Army. Mid-battle, Rich Rider, a.k.a. Nova has discovered that Talonar, leader of the Raptors, is none other than his long-lost brother Robbie.
Elsewhere, Adam Warlock has been reborn – cast into the clash of the stones, he has found the planet Saiph overrun and infected by Ultron. Even worse, he discovered that Ultron has a special captive – the Silver Surfer!
What You’ll Find Out:
Adam Warlock confronts Ultron in an attempt to free the Silver Surfer from his torment caused by the Soul Gem. Throughout their battle, Ultron describes his plans to assimilate the galaxy giving Adam Warlock the chance to gift his regenerative cocoon to the Silver Surfer. However, just as Ultron’s missiles launch into the skies, the Silver Surfer speeds past both Adam Warlock and Ultron and flies away.
Back at the battle on Xitaung, the Guardians and the Nova Corps continue the fight for the Power stone until the Warbringer brings everything to a halt with his horn of doom and declares his nearing victory. With the help of a brief distraction by Ant-Man, the Guardians are able to secure a retreat for the Nova Corps while Rich Rider tends to his badly injured brother, Robbie. Before the Fraternity of Raptors takes him away, he tells Rich the key to taking the Power stone. Mind over matter.
Down to their last rounds of ammo, the Guardians manage to pull off one last distraction by encouraging Drax to play the saxophone as their own horn of doom. This gives Rich enough time to tell Star-Lord what he needs to do to take the stone. With the Power stone in hand, Star-Lord brushes off the Warbringer and then tosses it into Drax’s saxophone. With the Power stone flowing through his saxophone, Drax blasts the enemies back. Then with the stone in the hands of Nova, the remaining group escapes the planetoid in Nova’s enhanced force fields.
Finally, the Silver Surfer has turned up somewhere in space, describing the power he was almost consumed by. He asks Galactus the Lifebringer to consume one world, to save an entire galaxy.
What Just Happened:
The battle on Xitaung comes to an odd conclusion with the help of a Power stone saxophone playing Drax and the latest issue of Marvel’s Infinity Countdown event. By invoking a familiar Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 scene, this issue captures a unique moment that is true to character, but unfortunately, in doing so, it undermines the danger that has escalated for previous issues. While this does give readers a few good laughs, the issue ends on a breathtaking exchange between the Silver Surfer and Galactus that is wholehearted and ominous.
The artistic direction remains to be a real spectacle throughout the issue, with Ultron being the weakest depiction both visually and narratively. Aside from this, the detail and coloring continue to make this event a beautiful reading experience. This combined with the fast-paced narrative works to the series benefits, forcing readers to anticipate each upcoming scene with another ultra-powerful character.
Although not the strongest entry in the Infinity Countdown event, the latest issue has some funny action-packed scenarios that only the Guardians of the Galaxy can bring. Luckily the issue ends on a strong note between the Silver Surfer and Galactus, teasing potentially great things to come in the very near future.
Rating: 7.8/10
Final Thoughts: Slightly faltering in its epic proportions, Infinity Countdown #3 instead provides some bizarre and hilarious moments before ending with ominous foreshadowing…
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