Avengers: Celestial Quest #2 of 8Avengers: Celestial Quest #2 of 8
Title: “Madonna Reborn"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Jorge Santamaria
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Color HIFI
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Mantis says that she was five, but now she
is one again. Thanos says that is because he killed the other
four. Thanos says that she will be the last to fall before
Thanos. Thor, Scarlet Witch, Vision, and Silverclaw stand off to
the side. Silverclaw asks Thor if he can’t get in there and
help. Thor says that Mantis again is a goddess, but a newly
reborn one. He says that she has to know who she is, but that he
stands by in case he is needed. Haywire asks who Mantis is.
Vision explains to Haywire, but also thinks to himself that
Mantis was the only other woman who could reach him when he could
be reached. Thanos says that each Mantis was stronger than the
last, but says that he is a god of death. 
Thanos blasts
Mantis, but Mantis doesn’t seem to suffer much less die. She
rides the power until she can gain control of herself and lands
on her feet. Mantis says that Thanos might be death, but that she
is life. Thanos says that he sees that. He says that the fight is
now over. He says that unified she is too powerful for him to
kill easily. Thanos says that of course this was never about her.
Mantis realizes that Thanos is talking about her son Quoi. Thanos
says that the new star signals Quoi’s maturation. Thanos
says that because he is half plant that he has aged eighteen
years in six years’ time. Thanos says that his life is now
over. Thor tells Thanos that Mantis is an Avenger. Thanos says
that he understands that. He says that it was only a chance to
destroy the five parts of Mantis before they were reunited, and
that he never depended on her death. He says that they can strive
to save the boy, but that it will not matter. He says that
nothing they do matters. Thanos teleports away.
Silverclaw says that she doesn’t like the sound of that. Thor reminds Silverclaw that Mantis has shown that the way Thanos says things are isn’t always the case. Mantis says that she is thrilled to be back with the Avengers, but that they must reach her son now. Thor again says that he will signal the others to bring a more suitable craft, but Mantis says that there isn’t time and that they must do it themselves if they are willing. Thor says that of course they are willing. Thor says that Quoi won’t die as long as they can battle the mad god that worships the goddess of Death. Vision offers Haywire an out, but when Haywire hears that there is a goddess of death he says that he had better help them. Wanda tells Silverclaw to stay behind and tell the others where they went. Silverclaw says no way, and adds that this is what being an Avenger is all about. Mantis says that she remembers the time when Wanda was relegated to the sidelines, but then they all grew.
Elsewhere in space, Straker and Foster are being followed by three pirate ships. Straker tells Foster to head into a class three nebula because the pirates don’t have the shielding to follow. In the pirate ships, Syn tells Reptyl that they needed shields over speed. Reptyl reminds Syn that he is Captain Reptyl, and that those who challenge his decisions die. Raptra tells them both to calm down. Reptra agrees with Reptyl in an argument because he has earned her respect.
Inside the class three nebula, Straker walks through the ship as his passengers say what a good job he has done. Straker thinks to himself that he will not fail the messiah. Straker thinks how a Priest of Pama is always an object of scrutiny. He gets by himself and says that it is only in private that he is allowed to drop his disguise. Straker peels off his lizard skin exterior to reveal a human looking priest inside. He says that only he knows where Quoi lives currently, and so he must rush to his side. Suddenly Straker realizes that he is not alone. Thanos stands beside him and says that now he is alone with his doom.
The Avengers rocket along to the coordinates Mantis gave them, but Vision says that even aided by the power of Thor’s hammer that it will take them 78.7 hours to get there. He says that now they can have a bit of a reunion. Thor asks Mantis where she has been all these years. Mantis says that is a long story that even she is just now remembering. Vision says that there is no need to live in the past. He says that she has returned at last. Mantis says that maybe they should hear her story. She says that after becoming the Celestial Madonna that she returned to Earth several months later. Vision asks why she didn’t contact them. Mantis says that she wanted to live as a normal mother. She named her son Sequoi, or Quoi for short. Mantis says that she raised Quoi for a year in Connecticut when Quoi’s father agreed to take him to Cotati world where they are now headed. She says that she then went out to explore the cosmos and befriended the Silver Surfer. She says that the Elders of the Universe exploded her. Eventually she re-cohered and spent some time with the West Coast Avengers. Wanda and Vision says that makes no sense because they were with the West Coast Avengers. Mantis explains that nobody remembers her being there. She says that not fully re-cohered nobody remembers her being with them… not the Avengers, or the Fantastic Four, or anyone who was there at the death of Galactus. Mantis says that recently she became more substantial, but as five different sides of herself. She says that she would have become one eventually, but that Thanos speeded up the process.
Thanos stands over the Priest of Pama. The priest says that he knows that Thanos wants to know where the son is. He says that as soon as he saw the star he knew that he had to go to him, and that Thanos would try to stop him. He says that he is prepared for what Thanos is going to do to him. Thanos says that he doesn’t torture… he kills. With one touch from his gauntlet the priest is driven insane. The priest’s mental energy, honed over a lifetime of training, explodes enveloping Thanos feeding his perfect lusts. Suffused with the power of raw madness, Thanos shoulders reality aside and stands in the realm of the gods. Thanos stands before Eternity, Death, Order and Chaos. Thanos greets Eternity as an equal. Eternity says that Thanos is not his equal because his godhood is built on the madness and deaths of others. Eternity adds that Thanos cannot create. Thanos says that neither can Death, Eternity’s sinister sister. He says that the two of them are gods much like Order and Chaos are a pair of gods. Thanos says that there need only be a balance, though to be fair Thanos only got his with the annunciation of the Celestial Madonna. Thanos says however that it is not in his nature to abide any other thus the annihilation of the Celestial Messiah. Thanos says that, as Death knows, he must live alone. Thanos leers at Death and says he is finished with her. He says that he has given everything for her even being dead and mad. Thanos says that love’s madness is finished. He says that he will kill, but not for her, but for the love of himself. Thanos says that he has learned from life, which is the ultimate negation of Death. Thanos says that she need not answer since she never does. He says that he is finished here, and so he will suck up the last dregs of power from the priest to return to where he began. Thanos stands back in the room. Thanos’ servant asks his master if he got what he needed. Thanos says, “Oh, yes. And the Messiah’s location as well.”
On the quinjet, Silverclaw is talking with Haywire while the other Avengers crowd around Mantis. Silverclaw tells Haywire what she knows of him, but when she mentions that he lost his girl Haywire jumps up and snaps that Inertia is off limits. Silverclaw tries to apologize, but Haywire storms off angry. Mantis comes over to Silverclaw. She says that the others do crowd around her, but that she would rather crowd around her. Mantis says that Silverclaw is the new girl as she once was. Silverclaw says that she hopes she does as well as Mantis, but that she knows she is destined to be a goddess. Mantis says that they will have interesting talks on this journey to her son.
Hours later, Mantis comes up behind Vision
as Vision stares out the window. Mantis asks Vision how he is.
Vision tells Mantis of his deconstruction, and how he still has
not yet recovered. Mantis says that Vision is very hard on
himself for not being human. Mantis mentions that Wanda told her
that she and Vision were no longer together. Mantis asked Wanda
why she was telling her this, and Wanda replied that Vision was a
good man. Vision says that it must weigh heavily on Mantis
regarding the rescue of her son. Mantis says that she is a mother
and a goddess, but that she has always been a woman. She says
that she loves her son, but that they will not reach him for
three days and she would look for comfort with other humans.
Vision mentions that he is not human. Mantis says that Vision was
Wanda’s man, and that she wouldn’t settle for less.
Vision says that is why he is no longer Wanda’s man. Mantis
says that she remembers when Vision didn’t believe that, and
that she doesn’t believe it now. Mantis puts her hand on
Vision’s back and says that she always regretted what they
did not share. Vision starts to stammer, but then Vision and
Mantis kiss. 
Vision breaks it
off and says that this is unfair to her. Mantis says that she
needs Vision now. Mantis and Vision kiss again.
Avengers Files rating: 7.5 out of 10.
A superb story. Thanos’ confrontation with Death was very cool. Thanos is setting upon his agenda with Thanos style. Great rendering. The scene with Vision and Mantis was also incredible. Vision finally catches a break with the one woman who “reached” him. Santamaria does a better job this issue. Some of the art is even spectacular, but some of the other art, like the goony look on Thor’s face, keeps it from reaching a full 4.