Cover Date: April 2022; On Sale Date: February 2022
Writer: Jason Aaron; Artist: Aaron Kuder; Inker: Scott Hanna and Cam Smith; Colorist: Guru-EFX; Letterer: VC's Cory Petit; Assistant Editor: Martin Biro; Associate Editor: Analisse Bissa; Editor: Tom Brevoort; Editor in Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder
Tony Stark, the Ant-Man of Earth 818, has arrived at the prison cell to rescue Ghost Rider and Deathlok, only to learn that Robbie refuses to leave until the Black Skull is stopped. Reluctantly, Stark agrees to help, but the Black Skull realizes what is going on and floods the prison cell with his symbiote. Meanwhile, outside the castle, Stark's fellow team of Avengers take on the War Machines standing guard. Moon Knight and the Vision infiltrate the castle and discover a room filled with portals to other Earths.
While the Black Skull attacks the prisoners, Ant-Man shrinks down to microscopic size. While the Skull fights with Ghost Rider, Stark rapidly grows to giant size and punches the Black Skull through the wall of the castle. Ghost Rider, realizing that the symbiote is just another vehicle, takes control of it and purges it from the Black Skull's body. Robbie summons his Hell Charger and drags the defeated Black Skull behind him, taking out the remaining War Machines as he drives. However, inside the castle more variants of the Black Skull emerge from the mutliversal portals to avenge their fallen brother.
THE ROADMAP
Robbie Reyes was transported by Deathlok to Earth 818 in Avengers (2018) # 50.
CHAIN REACTION
The Avengers of Earth 818 assemble and Robbie Reyes gets his foot back via symbiote as the first story-arc of the series continues on.
After giving the spotlight over to Ghost Rider in the previous issue, Jason Aaron introduces an alternate team of Avengers for this issue, consisting of variants on Moon Knight, Wonder Man, the Thing, and the Vision alongside the Tony Stark Ant-Man. It's an interesting mix of characters, none of which other than the Thing are much different than their regular Marvel Universe counterparts. I like this take on Stark the most out of all the variants, naturally given he's the lead character of the group, but he has an affable personality that is far more cynical than we're used to seeing from mainline Iron Man.
For me, no big surprise, the most thrilling parts of the comic are centered around Ghost Rider. I'm not sold at all on this "All-Rider" business that Aaron is saddling onto poor Robbie Reyes, with the extremely tenuous logic that the Black Skull's symbiote is a vehicle that Robbie can "ride". The symbiote isn't an inanimate object, it's a living creature (though I suppose it's not miles away from a dinosaur or a horse, which have been means of transportation for Ghost Riders in the past). I dunno, it just doesn't ring true to me at all, it's too far outside the realm of plausibility. Still, it does allow Ghost Rider to get his much-deserved victory over the Black Skull, so that's something I guess.
Aaron Kuder, on the other hand, brings the thunder with another blistering job on the art duties. His version of the powered-up Hell Charger looks less like a car and more like a demonic creature intent on swallowing up anyone that gets too close to its grill and it matches his haggard, broken take on Robbie perfectly. Kuder has this attention to detail that really makes for an immersive experience with the comic and he sells the action sequences to near perfectly. Stuff like an ant-sized Wonder Man flying through the War Machines and Tony squishing Black Skull in his giant fist are all cheer worthy.
So far this series has been far more engaging than Jason Aaron's run on the regular Avengers series, but I have my doubts that I'll feel the same way once Robbie Reyes is no longer in the center spotlight.
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