Negotiating God Style
This review was originally posted on my website Imagination Centre (here).
This has been a phenomenal crossover event so far, and although it took a while to become phenomenal, it has been brilliant since the start, with the main event as well as the Avengers and New Avengers tie-ins also being amazing. It did however jump to another level with the last issue, and I just hope that it continues to be great, as so far it has been the event that Marvel has needed for years.
Plot
As Captain America goes over his final plans with the Council, he sends Thor to negotiate their surrender. Meanwhile Thanos battles Blackbolt over the location of his son, Thane.
Review
This was yet another phenomenal issue, and this series has certainly moved up a level over the last couple of issues. Jonathan Hickman once again does a fantastic job of following on from both the last issue as well as the Avenger tie-in. Hickman also added a lot of drama and suspense in this issue, and although the start of the issue was slightly slow, it made up for that quickly, being very exciting for most of the issue. The dialogue in this issue was also terrific, and especially during the Thanos/Black Bolt fight, helping to add depth, as well as in this case tension. Hickman also once again did a brilliant job of balancing the two stories involved in this issue, allowing each to compliment the other.
The artwork in this issue was also fantastic, and Jerome Opeña and Dustin Weaver once again did an amazing job. The detail from both artists was spectacular as usual, being very consistent throughout. Both artists also compliment each other perfectly, as although I've always preferred Opeña's art slightly, Weaver's works perfectly alongside it, with both having very similar styles and tones. I also really enjoy how Weaver handled the Thanos/Black Bolt fight, as it was very exciting and explosive, and along with the layouts both artists produced for this issue, it was easily the best thing about the artwork. On top of all that both artists also did a fantastic job of showing the emotion in this issue, adding a lot of tone with it.
This issue would give us a deeper looking into Thanos' son, Thane, showing him as a healer in the Hidden City of Orollan. Now I won't go into too much detail as to avoid any spoilers, but this issue would give us a very good look at the character that has caused Thanos' wrath, also giving him some sort of origin as well. This was something that I really enjoyed, as after it was revealed that Thanos was looking for his son I was wondering what sort of role his son would play. Now this issue doesn't actually answer that question, but it would give a lot of development for the character, as well as hint at what his future may be.
Cause of Thane, Thanos and Black Bolt would become involved in a huge battle, that sees Thanos pushed to his very limits. This was a fight that I was looking forward to since the start of the series, and although I was expecting it to come a little later in the series, I'm going to complain, as it was a brilliant fight. I also liked that due to Black Bolt battling Thanos in this fight it allowed him to use his full powers, not back. I also loved the carnage that would come due to this fight, and the development that would come out of it. The fight itself was also very intense and exciting, adding a lot of entertainment to the issue.
The other part of this issue would see the Avengers try and negotiate some form of peaceful surrender with the Builders, with Captain America sending Thor to do the negotiating. Now the moment that it was revealed that Thor would be the negotiator I was very happy, as due to the cover I expected him to have a big involvement in this issue, and was glad that he did. Without going into any details I also really enjoyed the form of negotiation that Thor took, and this sequence turned out exactly as I expected, but in a very unique way, and overall this has been some of Hickman's smartest work on the event.
Final Verdict
This was an amazing issue, and so far this has easily been the best crossover event that Marvel has done in a long time. This issue itself had plenty of suspense and drama, with tons of excitement, and brilliant character depth. It also had a fantastic fight between Thanos and Black Bolt, and has really shaken up the development of the event. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this issue, as well as the rest of the series so far.
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