If you say nothing else about writer Jonathan Hickman, at least the man knows how to deliver a double issue. Infinity #1, the kickoff for a six issue series that means great changes in the…blah, blah, blah, you know the rest. While most “double issues” are simply more pages added, Infinity #1 is absolutely packed with information. Jonathan Hickman has a massive story to tell, and he has very little room for filler.
Thanos is the big bad here. It makes sense. Not only is he the purple, blue and gold harbinger of destruction, he’s also the focal point of the Guardians of the Galaxy movie hitting theaters this summer. Opening on Titan, Infinity #1 introduces us to an Outrider, a creature with multiple arms, huge fangs and a face like a twisted Cenobite. These creatures work for the Dreadlord who, in turn, works for Thanos. Apparently, Thanos is looking for tribute from different worlds as he seeks out on mysterious prize.
While all that is going on, The Builders, an ancient race who terraform and rebuild worlds into what they think is acceptable, are on a collision course with Earth. Watching them wreak havoc is Captain Universe, a woman who is the mother of all space and time. The Builders are her children, and she watches as they disintegrate a world simply for fighting back against their reformation attempts. Back on Earth, The Avengers are taking Skrulls who have popped up for no reason. When Captain Universe rematerializes, uttering about the coming apocalypse, her other son Ex-Nihilo is dumbfounded. The Builders are not supposed to act this way.
Cut back to Outrider, who has infiltrated Black Bolt’s flying city in an attempt to find Thanos’s prize. Black Bolt manages to mortally wound the creature, but not before it gets back to Titan and faces the entire clan of Dreadlords, all there to help Thanos go after Earth. These creatures now know the problems of Earth’s heroes, and they mean to use those divisions to wreak havoc.
As packed as this description seems, it’s only the basic brushstrokes. So much happens in Infinity #1 that you might find yourself re-reading it a few times. Whatever Thanos is planning, coupled with the coming of The Builders, means real trouble for Earth and their mightiest heroes. It’s another “end of the world” scenario – not that we have any misgivings as to who will win. Realistically, the whole infallible plan of complete universal destruction is getting a bit repetitive for the event series. How about something smaller and more personal? An event series that has less apocalyptic but more emotional impact?
Jim Cheung’s art is phenomenal here. Across the board he absolutely nails every panel. First, I love his Thanos. He’s huge, imposing, and always smiling in a very “it puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again” kind of way. Thanos looks evil, and that’s always a good thing. Then we need to view the Dreadlord, one of the cooler looking bad guys in a while. Each creature Cheung pencils has history to it, they never feel like easily made up characters, or filler. His style with the human characters, the flow of action, even the panel placement is gorgeous here.
There must also be kudos give to the cover, by Adam Kubert and Laura Martin. One of the best Thanos renderings I’ve seen in a while.
Infinity #1 is packed and gorgeous to look at. However, I must agree with Iron Man’s statement towards the end of the story. “I’m getting tired of end of the world scenarios”.
Yeah, so am I.
(3.5 Story, 5 Art)
