The Avengers #18: A Bullet Fired At The Earth

Jed MacKay has seemingly grown fond of the ticking clock element introduced during the Fall of X tie-in issue, as his Avengers must once again work under immense pressure to halt a quickly-approaching threat. The godly Hyperion, left reeling in existential crisis after the conclusion of 2021’s Heroes Reborn, has decided to end it all and take the entire planet down with him. Hurtling himself at maximum velocity from the edge of the solar system, the team has approximately five-and-a-half hours to formulate a plan before he cracks the Earth open like an egg.

Thankfully, the Avengers have a fresh mind joining their brain trust as Ororo Munroe of the X-Men swoops in to offer a mutant perspective. MacKay takes the opportunity to cross streams with his flagship X-Men title, throwing Cyclops and Quentin Quire into the mix to spill exposition on why Storm has decided to distance herself from her mutant family. It’s not an explanation that will satisfy every fan, but the storytelling potential packaged with Storm’s new status quo should at least keep them intrigued.

It’s during this exchange that Ororo drops the thesis of comics, insisting that the Avengers are not a strikeforce, but an assemblage of equals, a claim proven true by proceeding events. Earth’s heroes solve the problem through diplomacy rather than action, flexing their roles as ambassadors of the Marvel Universe’s various factions to pull together every available resource and ally. Combining the might of magic, science and mutant telepathy, the Avengers locate Hyperion in the endless void of space. But above all, heart proves to be their most valuable asset as Vision is able to surmise that Hyperion’s threat to Earth is truly a cry for help. Instead of killing the poor soul, the team teleports him to a ravaged world of people-in-need; a place he can call home and be a savior to.

The poignancy of the writing is of course uplifted by the pencils of Valerio Schiti and the moody atmosphere of Bryan Valenza. Between the Avenger’s Impossible City, the X-Men’s Alaskan base, the Sanctum Sanctorum and Asgard, the artists have their hands full with diverse locations and portray each one with a unique sense of style. Their crowning achievement is the visual symbolism of every hero melding together as their powers intertwine, supporting the issue’s message of true teamwork and cohesion.