Title - Chthonic Maneuvers
Issue - 1
Writer - Jim Starlin
Art - Ron Lim
Summary:
Doom detects energy signatures operating on levels characteristic of cosmic entities, however he can find no such being nearby. Unlike others who might discover this, he sees an opportunity to gain new power. Elsewhere, across the globe, super-heroes are attacked by distorted doppelgangers of themselves. Across the universe, Thanos leaves his self-imposed exile to investigate the same pattern detected by Doom. Along the way, he discovers that Eternity has become catatonic. When he finally tracks down the source, Thanos finds Magus teamed with a doppelganger of himself are at the root of the problem. Elsewhere, Doom makes contact and requests the presence of a mysterious ally. The figure steps through a portal and it is revealed to be none other than Kang the Conqueror. On monster Island, Thanos makes a similar entrance upon Adam Warlok and the Infinity Watch and asks for their aid.
Comments:
A nice first issue. Certainly Jim Starlin knows how to make an exciting first issue. Seeing our heroes attacked by weird clones of themselves is neat. However I'm not too happy about Iron Man losing to his. Of course, God forbid, Wolverine should get beat! Doom puts in a few appearances. Those of you who like Doom's villainous side will certainly enjoy his teaming with Kang. Their conversation seems to be laced with the implication that their working together could jeopardize Kang future. This once again expressing the connection between Doom and Kang. Their teaming and ready sub-plot of back-stabbing one another is reminiscent of Super-Villain Team-Up. It too bad they never got a chance to do a proper team-up in that title. Although I'm not a fan of Doom as a villain in this period, I'm going to say Bottom Line: Read It!
Title - Ethereal Revisionism
Issue - 2
Writer - Jim Starlin
Art - Ron Lim
Summary:
As the heroes of the world gather in the 4 Freedom's tower to learn of the latest threat to Earth, Doom and Kang continue to track the location of the vast energies being funneled throughout the universe. Together they seem to track down one of the relays for the energy but decide to stand aside and observe Galactus who also arrives on scene. With the aid of Dr. Strange, Silver Surfer, and Nova, they discover that the energy is of a mystical nature and begin to trace the source. Doom and Kang follow them. In the realm of Death, Thanos lead Warlock and the Infinity Watch and they observe a recap of the Magus's origins and how he came to be alive once more. It is revealed to them that while Warlock held the Infinity Gauntlet he purged himself of good and evil and thus gave Magus being once more. However they are stopped from hearing Magus' ultimate goal when Death discovers their presence and sends them fleeing. Back on Earth, the meeting is under way when Wolverine arrives and accuses Iron Man and Reed Richards of being fakes. A fight embroils among the heroes who don't know who to trust. Daredevil using his sense learns that Wolverine is correct but is too late. The fake Reed reveals a Gamma bomb hidden inside his podium. The building is destroyed in the explosion.
Comments:
The continuation of the Infinity War series, Doom and Kang continue their search for power and put in a brief appearance. I recommend the issue even though they don't do much. I don't recall Hulk being so hostile in the 90's. He is especially angry towards Cap. Possibly the whole Avengers angst perhaps? Notable scenes are Spider-Man thinking Hawkeye a jerk for not offering him a ride to the meeting. seeing Multiple Man play poker with himself, and the numerous banter exchanged between Thanos and the members of the Infinity Watch. Not mentioned in my write-up from last issue, I thought it was funny that one of the New Warriors had to ask what was the Infinity Gauntlet? Looking back, what stands out most is the Wolverine reverence that plagued the 90s and probably exists today to some degree. He walks in cool as cool. I suppose if your a Wolverine fan its okay, but for others it might be too ostentatious. Bottom Line: Read it!
Title - Nefarious Rhapsodies
Issue - 3
Writer - Jim Starlin
Art - Ron Lim
Summary:
Doom and Kang are still pursuing Galactus as he journeys to the source of the energy. Invisible Woman manages to contain the explosion inside one of her force fields and Thor tosses it into space. Magus meanwhile observes that Galactus is fast approaching and destroys his ship. Doom and Kang then continue along the same path. After reaching their destination, they find that it is nothing but another relay. Once more they cloak themselves as they observe other arrive, this time Thanos, Warlock and company. There they await to make a jump to the source of the energy and thus to where Magus is. Meanwhile, the heroes of Earth use magic to also journey to the Magus' hideout.
Comments:
This issue is a little weak. The plot doesn't really move at all other than moving the characters around a bit. Mostly the biggest development is that Earth's heroes finally know what's going on after 3 issues. Otherwise Doom and Kang are still following Galactus and repeat the same scene from last issue where they hide when someone shows up. There is a nice moment between Thanos and Warlock but otherwise, Bottom Line: Skip It!
Title - Mortiferous Artifice
Issue - 4
Writer - Jim Starlin
Art - Ron Lim
Summary:
Magus has unleashed a horde of doppelgangers on Earth and the heroes who launched into space are battling Thanos and company. Doom and Kang continue on their journey to the source of Magus' power and ultimately arrive. Galactus arrives and puts an end to the fighting among the heroes in space. Doom and Kang meanwhile discover the source of Magus' power to be 5 cosmic cubes. Galactus uses a device to share everyone's recent memories and thus brings everyone up to speed. It is determined that in order to defeat Magus, Warlock must once again absorb his evil side. He plans to do this with the reassembled Infinity Gauntlet however it fails to work.
Comments:
At last Doom and Kang arrive. 5 cosmic cubes? Are any of them made up of Molecule Man and the Beyonder. As I recall they joined as a cosmic cube. Or maybe its the one with Hitler inside of it? Never mind. Doom doesn't do much here except find the cubes along with Kang. Its and important plot point so I'll say, Bottom Line: Read It!
Title - Psycho Machia
Issue - 5
Writer - Jim Starlin
Art - Ron Lim
Summary:
Galactus appears before the Living Tribunal to petition that the Infinity Gems be allowed to work once more in unison. Unknown to him, Magus has managed to kidnap Adam Warlock and along with the Gauntlet. He reveals to Warlock this was his goal the whole time. Everyone has played into their proper roles in order for him to gain the Gauntlet for himself. As Magus observes the Tribunal, Doom and Kang act at last. Warlock chooses to side with Magus knowing full well that Doom and Kang may be even more perilous. It is Doom who finally stand triumphant among them. He discards Kang and demands the Gauntlet from Magus. Unfortunately for Doom, the Gauntlet is activated and Magus gains all power.
Comments:
If there is an issue of Infinity War for Doom fans to get, it would be this one. here Doom finally does something other than sit around with Kang and follow energy waves. In a sort of repeat of events from Infinity Gauntlet, Doom almost gets the Gauntlet for the second time. The jewel of the issue however is watching Doom mop the floor with Warlock and Magus. Doom is king. Bottom Line: Buy It!
Title - The Animus Engagement
Issue - 6
Writer - Jim Starlin
Art - Ron Lim
Summary:
The Magus and Adam Warlock engage in a battle of wills. Eternity is revealed to be one half of Infinity. Thanos informs Magus that he does not have the reality gem in the gauntlet and therefore does not have as much as he thinks. With that edge, Warlock is able to banish Magus into the soul gem where he is even less than a shadow. Thanos returns to his quiet home where he ponders upon what the future holds, specifically the one detail everyone has overlooked. Magus was Warlock's evil side. What of the good?
Comments:
"It is not enough to know the war is won without fully understanding its outcome."
Professor X sums up the Infinity War with that statement. Tales of the cosmic scale tend to verge on the unintelligible because they deal with concepts so massive, the average reader, nay mortals, could not comprehend because they are cosmic. Nevertheless Infinity Gauntlet was able to go from point A to point B in simple logical steps that anyone can understand. War does this for the first few issues in which we don't know what's going on. As soon as they tell us, then that is when things get complicated. I think Gauntlet was a much better story in that although it was a cosmic epic it was still a relatively easy story to understand. It doesn't really get into the philosophical battle of wills which you have no idea why will save the day. I really don't know why Warlock just by touching the Gauntlet gets to win the day or be able to exile Magus. I suppose we are just supposed to take it at face value that he can do it. I really don't get what is the significance of Infinity and Eternity being two sides of the same coin. Overall the War mini-series runs I think two issues too much. Issue #3 really doesn't move the plot at all, and a lot of 4, 5 and 6 could have been compressed into two issues instead of three. Doom's role is minimal and I probably could have saved myself the trouble of writing this by merely stating, "Doom teams with Kang in order to claim a new cosmic power threatening the universe and is ultimately denied the Infinity Gauntlet for a second time." I never realized until now that Starlin had already planted the seed for Infinity Crusade here. Something else that War lacks is a real poignant moment like when Cap goes one and one against Thanos. Admittedly, that is a hard scene to top. Since Doom doesn't show up here, Bottom Line: Skip It!