Quasar

Continuing the impressive narrative concision of this crossover, Quasar quickly shifts from failing to stop the Shi’ar from departing to connecting with the Starcore crew, learning from them what the readers found out back in Avengers 344: the sun is suffering egregious deleterious effects from the warping of space, an example of which Quasar has just seen for himself. It is mildly bemusing Dr. Corbeau is not in this issue, but the information is transferred in any event.

Like with most issues in this mighty crossover, some brief attention is paid to the continuing contextual stories and casts going on in the various series, especially for those series centered on one character. Quasar spends a few moments checking in with Epoch, one of the many cosmic characters populating his series, and the narration shifts briefly to some other supporting characters, but the reader unfamiliar with Quasar’s recent past and supporting friends is not confused for long, since only a half-dozen panels are given to them here. Soon the narrative returns to Quasar, now at Mar-Vell’s tomb (having been sent there by the Avengers after learning of the disturbance at the tomb hinted at the end of AWC 80). There, he rendezvous with another interstellar Marvel denizen, Starfox, the Eternal and resident of Titan. Someone is indeed breaking into Mar-vell’s tomb.

The “someone” is actually two people: Captain Atlas and Dr. Minerva, the Kree’s go-to scientists and troublemakers (and love interests). Captain Atlas admits to Quasar and Starfox the Kree are indeed at war with the Shi’ar, and they are there to retrieve Mar-vell’s Nega-Bands, essentially to keep them out of Shi’ar hands (somehow they already know the Shi’ar have the Psyche-Magnetron).

During all this, Quasar and Starfox engage in another massive battle, the third in as many issues, each bigger than its predecessor – yet, somehow, each battle is well-scripted, well-paced, and well-received. Never does one get the feeling of “oh yes, another ‘epic’ battle – must be a crossover.” Each battle features different combatants, even though they have all been against the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, which makes the trio even more impressive. The surprise twist to this battle (I shan’t spoil it for you) is especially clever, abetted by its discovery not by our hero but by Dr. Minerva, an antagonist. The battle also showcases the first of this crossover’s many two-page “splashes” (as they are called in the business), each one an extraordinary display of artistry and emotional impact.

Meanwhile, in the Kree Galaxy, another seemingly-unconnected event occurs. A brilliant scientist, more aware of the decay and decadence growing in the Empire (in part because of the recent accession to power by the current rulers of the Kree, whom the scientist considers usurpers of the former ruler, none other than the Supreme Intelligence we’ve heard so much about lately), unofficially exiled to a backwater planet, has not stood idly by but has instead continued his pursuit of cyber-genetic engineering. He tries out his work on himself, transforming into Korath the Pursuer, a mighty power intent on shaking the Kree Empire “to its foundations!” The plots and sub-plots start to ravel.

The narrative concision and precision of this series, as we have and shall continue to iterate, continues unobtrusively, as demonstrated during the major mid-issue battle scene: the action breaks to return our attention back to the Avengers West Coast at their Compound, where Captain America and the AWC discuss with Rick Jones (somewhat one-sidedly) what to do with him (ending the confusion of his whereabouts somewhat glossed over in AWC 80. Unwilling to return Rick to the Hulk just yet, Cap entrusts him to the 24-hour care of Simon Williams, a.k.a. Wonder Man. Meanwhile, as Quasar and Starfox bring the mighty battle to a conclusion (aided indirectly by Dr. Minerva, who virtually finishes the fight single-handedly), Captain Atlas recovers Mar-Vell’s Nega-Bands and makes Wonder Man’s job a whole lot more difficult: with a simple clang, Captain Atlas escapes Quasar and Rick Jones appears in his place – about to suffocate and explode in the vacuum of space! (Talk about your intense endings!) It’s a great issue, with humor (Quasar: “So where are the tomb-raiders?” Starfox: “In the tomb, I’d imagine.”), philosophy (Captain Atlas: “It is the mind that matters, not its house of flesh.”), a great fight scene, vulnerable heroes, dangerous villains, intriguing movement in all plot strands while adding more, an impressive two-page splash, and an intense ending clamoring the reader to dive into the next part of the series.