Issue(s): Captain America #12
Cover Date: Nov 97
Title: "War without end..."
Credits:
James Robinson - Writer
Ron Lim - Penciler
Dan Bulanad - Inker
Mike Rockwitz - Editor

Review/plot:
The final attempt at stopping Galactus.

This time the heroes win. It's all thanks to Dr. Doom. who has traveled back in time repeatedly, building on the knowledge gained with each loss.

I like it when Dr. Doom hijacks a crossover (see also the original Secret Wars). That said, it's actually Bruce Banner who comes up with the final solution to defeating Galactus, and sadly it's the tired trope of "feed him more of the type of energy he's trying to consume than he can handle".

It's kind of disappointing because it isn't a great payoff for all of Doom's efforts. I mean, he's ultimately still responsible because without him everyone would have died the first time. But it should have been more coordinated so that the reason they failed in the previous attempt is accounted for the next time, instead of this old cliche just coming out of nowhere. But at least Doom's contribution is acknowledged.

Also, as i've said before, i really thought that the coming of Galactus would result in the end of the Heroes Rebornverse. But after Galactus is defeated we go back to normal stuff like learning who Rikki Barnes' grandparents are (Bucky and Peggy Carter)...

...and a final accounting between Cap and Nick Fury. Actually, the scene with Fury is another middle finger to Rob Liefeld's One Cool Idea, with Fury now saying that the idea that Cap stood up to America over the nuclear bombing of Japan was a lie. And Cap knew all along!

One interesting thing is that Rikki Barnes is said to be a "chronal anomaly".

This revelation causes her to go diving head first into the battle with Galactus, which doesn't go well (as you can see in the top scan). But she comes out ok.

So that's "it" for Heroes Reborn. The four books end with a big crossover but not an end to the universe. There are the 13th issues, which are a crossover with the Wildstorm. But those begin with the worlds already merged. And that event ends with a fade to white that i guess represents the end of this universe (although it might just indicate an end of the merging with the Wildstorm universe). Either way, the Heroes Reborn comics were awful, even when they got "good" at the end, and they'll soon be back in the real Marvel Universe.

We're not that far from the Ultimate line of comics, and a little over a decade away from the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Both of those are kind of like reboots of the Marvel universe, not too different than what Heroes Reborn was. Or could have been. But while both of those took the time to do proper world-building and reimaginings of Marvel concepts for a newer audience, Heroes Reborn failed at that. Rob Liefeld end of things was going to be awful, that was a given. Jim Lee's side felt like it was supposed to be a proper reboot (as i've noted, the basic FF plot outline for the year could work as a bible for a film trilogy or similar) but in the end it reads like a rushed, slapped together mess.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This is the final issue of the Heroes Reunited crossover, and also the final issue of Heroes Reborn (not counting the #13th issues which are out-of-scope for me).

References: N/A

Crossover: Heroes Reunited

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A