Avengers #261Issue(s): Avengers #261 Review/plot: ...but they are surprisingly stoic about it. Less so when Starfox causes Sanctuary II to self-destruct, and General Zedrao suggests that it's time for the Avengers to leave (but not before Firelord is again humbled, this time by realizing that it was the Skrulls that saved his life after the injury he sustained last issue). If you think about it, there's a major disruption of the intergalactic status quo here. The Xandarians and Nova Corps are gone. The Skrulls have lost their shape-shifting powers and there's the potential for a Prince Raksor / General Zedrao alliance that would dramatically change their race's temperament. And when's the last time we saw the Kree (aside from Bel-Dann in Fantastic Four annual #18)? I know the disparate pieces have been addressed here and there, but this period is ripe for a cosmic Untold Tales. I think Rocket Raccoon should be available at this time... On the way home (and let's pause to revel in a Buscema/Palmer downtime scene again)... ...Starfox announces that he's leaving the team to continue the search for Nebula. Firelord decides to go with, which Starfox seems pretty ambivalent about. Despite being (unfairly, in my opinion) maligned by more recent writers (and fans!), i really liked Starfox's tenure on the Avengers. Stern played up his outsider/alien status to great effect, and his presence also allowed for nice callbacks to Starlin-era Captain Marvel. Not quite similarly, Firelord's brief visitation in this book was a bit of a tease; i would have loved to see him replace Starfox so Stern could write him some more. But i'm not writing fan fiction here (you're welcome), so let's move on. The rest of this issue deals with the Avengers getting serious about the Beyonder. It's been a concern of Captain America's for a while but events have kept him from acting on it. With the Beyonder's interference last issue and the Avengers back from their space mission, they are able to give his arrival the attention it requires. Frankly i wish Stern had written Secret Wars II, and not only because the focus here, which is from the Avengers' perspective and not the Beyonder's, works a lot better. Actually before they can really focus on the Beyonder, they have to deal with the FAA since that agency is revoking their right to keep Quinjets in the city now that the Avengers' Security Clearance is being "restructured". But the Beyonder pops up in the middle of that meeting anyway. It's really old fashioned to have someone say "Egad!" but it fits with the similarly outdated clothing style and i love it. The Beyonder is apparently having a manic phase, and he demands that Cap and the Wasp chase him before he'll talk. When they are successful at catching him... ...he teleports away again. Later he shows up while the Black Knight and Hercules are setting up devices to monitor him at Project Pegasus (i don't know why the Avengers sent Hercules to help with a scientific matter, except that they know that every time anyone goes to Project Pegasus there's a super-villain break-out or worse). And again back at the Avengers Mansion. Hercules' punch has the unintended effect of setting off some jet fuel in the Quinjet hangar. The Beyonder sets things right, but it does prove the FAA's point. If you thought my idea of having Firelord, former herald of Galactus, join the Avengers was crazy, how about Wasp's offer to make the Beyonder an Avenger-In-Training. Actually it's a brilliant idea, and if the Avengers had been able to make such an offer around the time Vinnie Corbo found the Beyonder, things might have gone a lot different. But while the Beyonder is intrigued by the offer, he declines. While many Secret Wars II tie-ins are tangential to the plot, this one tackles it head-on and does really well with it. Quality Rating: B+ Chronological Placement Considerations: Begins while the Avengers are still in space, after Avengers annual #14. This is a tie-in with Secret Wars II #4, but there's nothing here or in that issue that dictates placement. References:
Crossover: Secret Wars II Continuity Insert? N My Reprint: N/A Inbound References (7): show CommentsThe problem with Starfox is that in a backup story in Silver Surfer Annual 4 written by Ron Marz, it was implied that Starfox uses his powers to seduce women. Unfortunately, certain fans (and writers) have blamed Stern for this, despite the fact that he made clear that Eros doesn't use his powers on people without their consent except in combat situations. Posted by: Michael | July 1, 2012 9:55 AM I had almost none of the issues with Starfox as an Avenger, but I read them all growing up. Like with Captain Marvel, it took a while for me to appreciate him, but he really grew as a character and that's reflected in his choice to go after Nebula. Besides, with Hercules around, that's really too much "it's fun to be here" for the Avengers at one time. Hercules will also take care of Firelord stupid impetuous behavior, so no need to have Firelord around either. Posted by: Erik Beck | June 1, 2015 2:46 PM I wonder why Cap didn't notice that the Beyonder is a clone of himself but with a black Jeri Curl? Posted by: Vincent Valenti | August 11, 2015 4:35 PM I think he does in a later issue. Posted by: Thanos6 | August 11, 2015 5:31 PM Yeah, it'll come up in #265 when the two of them talk. Posted by: Erik Beck | August 11, 2015 6:49 PM The Wasp notices how he looks and moves like Cap in this issue so it is acknowldged. Posted by: Hugh Sheridan | March 9, 2018 11:26 AM Comments are now closed. |
|||||||||
SuperMegaMonkey home | Comics Chronology home |