Avengers (2013) #16 Review

“THE TWO WORLDS SOLUTION”

Prelude to INFINITY: Part Three.

The battle between the Avengers and Mad Earth heats up.

Whatever happened to Ex Nihilo and Abyss, and for that matter, Starbrand and Nightmask as well?

The Good

Cover- This month’s cover is an eye catching almost painted looking, pissed off mega angry hulk. The lovely prelude to Infinity plastered at the top while the Avengers sign is neatly stacked underneath Hulk’s chin.

Action- Oh sweet divine fisticuffs! Brilliantly illustrated and executed by Stefano Caselli, everything was simply sublime!

Night Mask and Starbrand-Just as I anticipated when they were imprisoned back in Avengers (2013) #9. Tony Stark’s Dyson Sphere can’t possibly hold these two! As Starbrand’s consciousness expands he’s realizing more and more just how truly powerful he is, the knowledge and insight he has…..it’s all fascinating and may well mean that both are Earth’s best hope against whatever is coming in Infinity. Let’s remember how it took Hulk, Hyperion and Thor to stagger Starbrand before he understood his powers.  Now that he’s getting a handle on it what can he truly do?

AIM- So the Aim guys have fired up that machine they used to pull Hyperion out of the Hypertime and into our own back in Avengers (2013) #4. By the sound of things they plan to either make another attempt at grabbing someone else or they plan to try and capture the celestial class robot who has just mopped the floor with the Avengers.

Hulk Unleashed- This is the thing about Hulk that when handle just right can enhance the overall tale. Banner is being used in the capacity of big brain trying to figure out what the signal that went out back in issue Avengers (2013) #14 was all about. Just as he has an epiphany Hulk springs forth. Question is, did he lose control or was this another side effect or the signal? Either way this deprives the team of much needed intel at the worst possible time!

Black Heroes- Eden Fesi our aborigine teleporter, Sunspot our super strong mutant, Captain Universe our Deus Ex Machina and the return of NightMask! Oh yes this month gave me all kinds of tingles up and down my spine!

Art- Stefano Caselli’s art is gorgeous I have no complaints from start to finish. It’s all simply divine!

Things to Come-So I’m assuming Thanos army is now moving across the galaxy and Eden Fesi has been given the first clues by way of Captain Universe who’s taken him to the planet Galador to witness the first embers of war.

The Bad

This is one of those books that requires multiple reads to fully understand even a fraction of what’s going on. That may put some off, also until the arc is done you may be lost so TPB reading is sometimes required.

The Ugly

Overall this issue had the most black heroes on the stands, great action, art, cover and oodles of potential- 4.5/5