Anghus Houvouras reviews the latest issue of Marvel NOW!’s Avengers…
“We learn that the Canadian super team Omega Flight got lost in a Garden Origin Site. Discover what happens when the Avengers go in to rescue them. Learn why Adaptation is the scariest word in the Marvel Universe.“
Ahhhhh mystery. When done right, there’s nothing quite like it. Avengers has been a rapidly unfolding mystery since the first issue which introduced us to the evolutionary weapon known as Ex-Nihlo. His bio-bombs started an evolutionary process that is reshaping the earth, the same event that led to the formation of the new and improved (and massive) Avengers.
Earth’s Mightiest Mortals have been dealing with the aftermath of Ex-Nihlo’s attack on Earth since the series relaunched. His tinkering with our galaxy led to “the white event” which has brought many of the old ‘New Universe’ characters into the 616, It’s also seen regions of the planet overtaken with evolutionary and biological weapons that are wreaking havoc.
The most recent event has taken a handful of Avengers to Canada where a city has been sealed off and their super team Omega Flight has been lost in action. After some abrasive dealing with S.H.I.E.L.D. and Department H, Cap is allowed in to try and find out what happened.
Like before, the point of impact is a hot spot for craziness. A city has been overrun with vegetation and savage creatures populate the area. Cap and company run into the Canadian superhero Validator who has been transformed into something other-wordly. The Avengers soon vacate and leave S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Maria Hill with very little information. The first two thirds of the issue are standard comic book fare. It’s the last third where the brilliance of the issue is on full display.
We see the events retold from a different perspective and learn that Validator has become not only something other-wordly, but is tasked with protecting this dangerous utopia Ex-Nihlo has created. She leaves the world with a cryptic message:
“The system is now online.”
It’s a perfectly executed issue. Jonathan Hickman has crafted an exception first ten issues. There hasn’t been a dull moment yet. There’s so many things left up in the air. What is Ex-Nihlo’s end game? Are there other ‘New universe’ characters waiting in the wings? Is the Earth still in jeopardy with these event zones becoming more and more active? I don’t yet know, but I’m enjoying how Hickman is slowly playing his hand.
Anghus Houvouras is a North Carolina based writer and filmmaker. His latest work, the graphic novel EXE: Executable File, is available from Lulu.com.
Originally published April 25, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
