Cover Date: August 2018
On Sale Date: June 2018
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Ed McGuiness
Inker: Mark Morales & Jay Leisten
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Colorist: David Curiel
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Associate Editor: Alanna Smith
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
On Sale Date: June 2018
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Ed McGuiness
Inker: Mark Morales & Jay Leisten
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Colorist: David Curiel
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Associate Editor: Alanna Smith
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
Cover Artist: Ed McGuiness
While the Avengers (Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and Captain Marvel) are contending with the Final Host of Celestials that have appeared above Manhattan, they are being observed by an unknown person who narrates to himself about the events. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Robbie Reyes - the Ghost Rider - finishes his battle with the subterranean insect creatures that attacked him. He drives off, wondering why his demon-possessed car has suddenly stopped talking to him. Back in New York, Jennifer Walters approaches one of the fallen Celestials and is attacked by more of the insects hiding inside its body. She transforms into the Hulk and destroys the bugs. She's then contacted by the still living Celestial, named Eson, who teleports her to Los Angeles directly into the Ghost Rider's path. Hulk attacks and, after a brief battle, the two are again attacked and surrounded by the bugs. In New York, Captain Marvel's plan to teleport the Final Host into the sun using warp grenades is foiled when the Avengers are stopped by the mysterious narrator, revealed to be Loki. The Asgardian tells the heroes that the First Host are there to correct the mistake they made one million years ago by ushering in global extinction.
While the Avengers (Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and Captain Marvel) are contending with the Final Host of Celestials that have appeared above Manhattan, they are being observed by an unknown person who narrates to himself about the events. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Robbie Reyes - the Ghost Rider - finishes his battle with the subterranean insect creatures that attacked him. He drives off, wondering why his demon-possessed car has suddenly stopped talking to him. Back in New York, Jennifer Walters approaches one of the fallen Celestials and is attacked by more of the insects hiding inside its body. She transforms into the Hulk and destroys the bugs. She's then contacted by the still living Celestial, named Eson, who teleports her to Los Angeles directly into the Ghost Rider's path. Hulk attacks and, after a brief battle, the two are again attacked and surrounded by the bugs. In New York, Captain Marvel's plan to teleport the Final Host into the sun using warp grenades is foiled when the Avengers are stopped by the mysterious narrator, revealed to be Loki. The Asgardian tells the heroes that the First Host are there to correct the mistake they made one million years ago by ushering in global extinction.
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| Hell on wheels! |
THE ROADMAP
Robbie Reyes last appeared in Marvel Legacy (2017) # 1. The event in South Africa where he fought the Starbrand happened in that issue, which also saw a shift in his relationship with the demonic spirit inside him and his ability to tap into the power of the Penance Stare.
Loki recovered the mad Celestial from South Africa in Marvel Legacy (2017) # 1, which was reanimated and used to threaten Odin in Free Comic Book Day 2018: Avengers/Captain America # 1.
Robbie last encountered a different Hulk, Amadeus Cho, in Ghost Rider (2016) # 5.
CHAIN REACTION
Robbie Reyes' introduction to the Avengers continues with the second chapter of Aaron and McGuiness' debut arc.
This is one jam-packed comic, I'll say that much. In fact, I think it's crammed with too much, and not necessarily by what's happening plot-wise in the issue. It's fairly simple in that regard: evil space giants, ineffectual attacks by the heroes, Robbie fights Hulk, and Loki shows up at the end. What makes it feel so stuffed is all of the dialogue and exposition, the majority of it completely unnecessary. I think it all comes down to the narration by Loki, who despite being in shadow on the first page is blindingly obvious from his first narration box. In an issue already filled with dialogue between the protagonists (and don't get me wrong, the dialogue between the Big 3 Avengers is quite good, Aaron's always been a master at snappy repartee) the Loki narration just bogs things down to create an anchor around the story's neck. Perhaps its a telling sign that two of the core members of the team, Dr. Strange and Black Panther, make nothing but a cameo page 2 appearance?
The most interesting bit, naturally, comes with Aaron's use of Ghost Rider and She-Hulk (or, I guess, just "Hulk" in this series) as the two outlier members that are forced together through contrived means. I suppose it had to be a narrative stretch for the writer to get the California based Reyes involved in a team of heroes that operate out of New York, so I'm willing to forgive any plot gymnastics to get there. Aaron's characterization of Robbie is a bit off from what we've seen out of the character under creator Felipe Smith, with his role here much more in the vein of "reader identification/rookie hero" than the angry growling monster from his last solo series. That's okay, Aaron has a niche that he needs filled on the team, and it's obvious he has ongoing plans for the character. It's just a bit jarring, that's all. And what is it with Robbie constantly having to fight Hulks, anyway?
The artwork by Ed McGuiness, similarly to the script, is packed with so much stuff happening that at times it feels like utter chaos on the page. Some of that may in fact be intentional to try and sell the way the Final Host dwarf the heroes and the city, but it makes things so cluttered that I had trouble processing the visual layouts and action beats. The figure work is quite good, and when he gets to let loose on the Ghost Rider/She-Hulk scene things become a lot more engaging. He doesn't have to focus on tons of fiddling details of the city and the Celestials and is able to turn his attention solely on the action and figure work. He's still a great artist, of course, I just think he's getting too tied up with the scale of what's going on in the plot.
So this issue is a bit of a busy mess at times, but when it slows down to focus on Ghost Rider it's a massive improvement.
This is one jam-packed comic, I'll say that much. In fact, I think it's crammed with too much, and not necessarily by what's happening plot-wise in the issue. It's fairly simple in that regard: evil space giants, ineffectual attacks by the heroes, Robbie fights Hulk, and Loki shows up at the end. What makes it feel so stuffed is all of the dialogue and exposition, the majority of it completely unnecessary. I think it all comes down to the narration by Loki, who despite being in shadow on the first page is blindingly obvious from his first narration box. In an issue already filled with dialogue between the protagonists (and don't get me wrong, the dialogue between the Big 3 Avengers is quite good, Aaron's always been a master at snappy repartee) the Loki narration just bogs things down to create an anchor around the story's neck. Perhaps its a telling sign that two of the core members of the team, Dr. Strange and Black Panther, make nothing but a cameo page 2 appearance?
The most interesting bit, naturally, comes with Aaron's use of Ghost Rider and She-Hulk (or, I guess, just "Hulk" in this series) as the two outlier members that are forced together through contrived means. I suppose it had to be a narrative stretch for the writer to get the California based Reyes involved in a team of heroes that operate out of New York, so I'm willing to forgive any plot gymnastics to get there. Aaron's characterization of Robbie is a bit off from what we've seen out of the character under creator Felipe Smith, with his role here much more in the vein of "reader identification/rookie hero" than the angry growling monster from his last solo series. That's okay, Aaron has a niche that he needs filled on the team, and it's obvious he has ongoing plans for the character. It's just a bit jarring, that's all. And what is it with Robbie constantly having to fight Hulks, anyway?
The artwork by Ed McGuiness, similarly to the script, is packed with so much stuff happening that at times it feels like utter chaos on the page. Some of that may in fact be intentional to try and sell the way the Final Host dwarf the heroes and the city, but it makes things so cluttered that I had trouble processing the visual layouts and action beats. The figure work is quite good, and when he gets to let loose on the Ghost Rider/She-Hulk scene things become a lot more engaging. He doesn't have to focus on tons of fiddling details of the city and the Celestials and is able to turn his attention solely on the action and figure work. He's still a great artist, of course, I just think he's getting too tied up with the scale of what's going on in the plot.
So this issue is a bit of a busy mess at times, but when it slows down to focus on Ghost Rider it's a massive improvement.
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| Doritos breath attack! |
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