Avengers: Celestial Quest #3 of 8Avengers: Celestial Quest #3 of 8
Title: “What Goes Around…”
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Jorge Santamaria
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: HiFi Design
Editor: Tom Brevoort
By the clock of the quinjet it is 6AM. Vision walks out of the room, leaving Mantis behind. Scarlet Witch is sitting looking out in space. Vision sees her. Wanda tells Vision not to worry, and that she isn’t going to make a big scene out of he and Mantis. Vision says that Mantis said that was her attitude. Wanda asks if he thought otherwise. Vision says that no Wanda had been quite clear. He says that he has to admit that he has enjoyed acting as a man again. Wanda says that is all she needed to hear. Vision starts talking about the thrill of a kiss, but Wanda repeats that was all she needed to hear. Wanda wishes Vision good luck with Mantis, and tells her not to worry at all about her being there. She says that he has been very patient with her and Simon. Vision says that he hasn’t been as patient as she’d think. He says that his ex-wife and brother would be hard for any man, but that companionship drives life. Silverclaw wakes up to see Vision and Scarlet Witch talking. She says that they stand there talking about sex in a civilized fashion while they’re battling Thanos. Silverclaw wonders if she will ever be that confident about Thanos or sex.
Suddenly the quinjet is attacked. Thor shouts out from the controls that it looks like three space pirates. He calls for Silverclaw to come take the controls. Silverclaw says that she barely knows how to steer the wheel. Wanda explains that Thor wants to take the fight to the pirates, and that Silverclaw would be less at home in space. Haywire says that he will help since he is no good in space either.
Captain Reptyl notes that their piloting grows erratic. Kid Syn says that they have damaged them. Raptra says that she thinks that it is a trap. Reptyl agrees with Raptra and tells them to be ready.
Vision, Mantis, Wanda, and Thor emerge from the quinjet. Vision remarks that space is beautiful, and Mantis says that it is to those that can survive in it. Wanda says that with a space suit that she is as good as anybody there. Mantis says that she meant no offense.
Syn says that they were right about the trap. He asks what they should do next. Reptyl tells them to attack before they can spread out. Thor throws his hammer and smashes Raptra’s ship. Syn and Reptyl turn to flee, but Wanda uses a hex to cause Syn’s ship to crash into Reptyl’s. Reptyl starts diving towards Wanda. Wanda is helpless it takes her a moment to regenerate her power. Mantis says that every star powers her and she blasts Reptyl’s ship. Vision flies towards Kid Syn’s ship. They keep shooting at Vision, but the blasts don’t touch him in his intangible state. Vision phases into the ship and destroys the power source. All the pirates make it to escape pods fifteen seconds before the craft explodes. Vision says that he had never considered that space was another natural environment for an android. He says that Mantis is right, and that he need not be tied to Earth.
Reptyl tells Raptra that if her ship still works to guard his flank as they escape. Raptra says that she can’t do it, and that she has to pick up as many escape pods as possible.
Vision returns to the others and says that it looks like they are in rescue operations. Thor says that as long as they turn their attention away from them that he sees no need to continue battling. Wanda figures that they learned their lesson. Vision is phasing back into the ship and tells Mantis that he finds space “enthralling”. Mantis says, “As did this one, Viz.” Wanda thinks, “Viz?” to herself as she starts to go back into the quinjet.
Inside, Haywire tells Silverclaw to kick it into gear because they are getting away. Silverclaw says that she isn’t sure how, and that the others seem to have called it a day. Haywire says that Inertia would have fought them. Silverclaw reminds Haywire that she died fighting and asks how good she could have been at it. Haywire shouts that Silverclaw doesn’t get to talk about her like that or at all. Silverclaw says that she is an Avenger, and that he can’t intimidate her. Haywire says that he is Squadron Supreme, and that the only reason he puts up with her is so he can rescue her. Silverclaw reminds Haywire that Inertia is dead. Haywire says that he knows that, but that they are going to the goddess of death, and that he isn’t leaving until he gets his girl back. Silverclaw asks if that is why he is wound so tight. Haywire says, “duh”, but Silverclaw tells him not to act like that and asks how she was supposed to know. Silverclaw says that she understands that he loves her, but that the odds are a million to one. Haywire says that there are odds, and asks when odds have stopped them from doing anything. Haywire says that she shouldn’t be dead.
As the return to the ship, Wanda is taking off her space suit and thanks Mantis for blasting that ship. Mantis says that she was happy to help. Silverclaw wonders if she is the only one that thinks this ship is about to explode, or if she is imagining it because she can’t understand how two women in their places can be so civil. She says that it is easier to understand Haywire, but that he is still a basket case. She wonders if she is cut out for the Avengers, and also wonders who could love a girl that much.
Reptyl tells Raptra that they have escaped no thanks to her. Raptra says that they all escaped including Kid Syn. Reptyl said that she was ordered to leave him, and that the next time she disobeys orders that she will die. Raptra says that she doesn’t have to listen to him. She says that Syn might be right that she agrees with him, but that doesn’t mean that she has to take his orders. Reptyl says that he isn’t using any of his supplies to fix her ship. Raptra says that she can take care of herself so long as they are not attacked again. Then out of nowhere the two pirate ships are completely dwarfed as Thanos’ ship appears.
The Avengers finally approach the planet of the Cotati. Mantis says that it is finally hitting her that she is about to meet her grown son when she last saw him as a little boy. She wonders if he forgot her, or if he thinks that she abandoned him. Vision tries to comfort her and says that he didn’t forget her “so why should your own flesh and… sap?” Mantis asks Vision if he is telling jokes. Vision says that it seemed to be what was needed to break the tension. Mantis says that she told Vision that she needed him. Vision smiles and says that it is good to be needed again.
Silverclaw stands next to Thor and says that if she were interested in someone that she hopes that it could be like that. Thor says that first she must tell the lad. Silverclaw says that there is no lad. Thor says that his eyes that can see from Asgard to Midgard must have misled him. Silverclaw agrees and says that he is as blind as a Costa Verde bat.
Five hours later they finally land on Tamal, the planet of the Cotati. Vision looks at what appears to be a welcoming committee, and says to Mantis that he thought that they couldn’t move. Mantis says that they can’t, but that they are gathered here permanently for gala arrivals. The Cotati that Mantis coupled with to produce the Celestial Messiah appears in the form of Swordsman. He is the only one that can move about or alter his appearance. Vision folds his arms across his chest as Swordsman and Mantis hug and speak telepathically. Thor asks if he should call him Swordsman. “Swordsman” says that he might as well since as plants they lack individual names. Haywire says that this is weird. Swordsman tells them all the history of the Cotati. Mantis asks Swordsman where their son is. Sequoia says, “Like yu care.” Swordsman tries to tell Mantis that it is just a phase, and that Quoi is a good child. Quoi says that he isn’t a child. He says that he is eighteen earth years old. Quoi tells Mantis that his name is Q now, the weirdest Earth letter unless something has changed in the time that she was waiting around for his star to appear. Mantis says that she wasn’t waiting for anything, but that her essence was exploded. Swordsman warns Q, but Q asks if he is going to punish the Celestial Messiah and says not to make him laugh. Q says that he doesn’t listen to his father, and that she isn’t going to get anywhere. He tells Mantis thanks for dropping by. Vision tries to stop Q, but Mantis says that she can handle this. Q asks if Vision is his “unkel”. Mantis holds Q and says that she understands how he feels, but that she only returned to herself four days ago. She tells Q that Thanos wants to destroy him and so they have come to protect him. Q asks if he is supposed to believe that. Mantis says that he should believe that and that she loves him. Thor tells Q that if he doesn’t believe Mantis that he can believe him since he is a god like him. Q says that no one is like him. Q says that there is a new star in the universe because of him, and that he transcends everyone including gods that have been around since the dawn of time. Q tells Mantis thanks for dropping by, but also tells her to go home and walks away. Wanda and Silverclaw both tell Mantis how sorry they are. Mantis thanks them, but says that she understands why he feels that way since she did abandon him through no fault of her own. She says that he just needs to get to know him again. Swordsman says that the human “mother’s touch” is what they have been lacking there, and that Quoi has become a weed. Haywire mumbles that he would kick Q’s “punk ass” up to his new star. Silverclaw says that Haywire is no better. Haywire says that he is getting closer to Death. Silverclaw says, “Yippee for you.”
On Titan, Mentor stands looking up at the new star. Mentor says that he has decided that this new star will attract his son, and so he must act. A tear rolls down Mentor’s cheek. Mentor says that a dark day has arrived for the Eternals.
Reptyl, Raptra, and Kid Syn prepare for
Thanos’ arrival. Reptyl says that they still have almost
three crews to throw at him, and that he might get in but that he
isn’t getting out. The doors open and Thanos steps forward.
He says, “hello”, and then unleashes a blast of power.
Seconds later everyone but Reptyl, Raptra, and Kid Syn are dead.
Reptyl says that if Thanos is going to kill them that he should
go ahead and do it. He says that being a pirate always meant
spitting in death’s face. Raptra says that they will never
whimper. Syn says, “Um… yeah! Times two.” Thanos
says that if had wanted to kill them that they would already been
dead. Thanos says that he has foresworn his allegiance to Death,
just as he did to his father. Thanos says that he honors only
himself now. Thanos says that he has decided to form his own
pantheon, and that today they can become gods. Thanos says that
he can evolve them to new heights and give them new power if they
serve his will to destroy the Celestial Messiah. Kid Syn asks why
they should agree to serve when Thanos will not. Raptra says that
everyone knows that Thanos is evil incarnate, and that she would
never trust him. Reptyl asks Thanos how much power he is talking
about. Reptyl says that he believes Thanos, and that he can see
it in his humanoid eyes. Reptyl says that there are many humanoid
gods, and that it is time for reptiles to reach those heights.
Raptra says that it shouldn’t be through Thanos. Syn says
that he always knew Reptyl would sell them out. Reptyl tells
Thanos that he wants to complete this deal. Thanos says that
first he must draw the energy from Kid Syn. He grabs Syn and
drains his life force. Thanos says that energy must come from
somewhere, and that he cannot create it. Thanos then takes the
energy and expands Reptyl’s life force. 
Thanos starts to
say that Reptyl is now a god, but Reptyl does it for him. He says
that now he is Reptyl the god. Thanos again makes the offer to
Raptra and says that he could use a woman’s savagery. He
says that one of his minions would give his life for her
transformation. Raptra says that she will never do it for him.
Thanos says that in that case she will be used as a life force.
Raptra thinks to herself that they will see about that and that
Thanos cannot frighten a pirate.
The sun shines down on Tamal, Mantis tells
Swordsman that they created Quoi together and that they should
have raised him together. She says that she is sorry that it was
left to him alone. Swordsman says that is just the way it
happened, and that they couldn’t have predicted what would
happen. Mantis says that they would have spent more time
together. She says that in a way she knows him better than she
knows herself, but in other ways she doesn’t know him at
all. Swordsman says that she knows that he is part of the
communal mind of the Cotati, and that for all that she would have
added that her constant individuality would have been hard for
the Cotati to deal with. Swordsman says that they played their
parts as the perfect examples from their races, but that life
goes on. He says that he is overjoyed to see Mantis again. Vision
watches as Swordsman and Mantis hug. Vision steps forward. He
says that he doesn’t know how to fight the Cotati so
Swordsman can set the rules and they will duke it out. Swordsman
asks Vision what he is talking about. Vision says that he is
fighting for the woman. He says that he is done with being
reserved and retiring since that never got him anything. Mantis
says that this isn’t what Vision thinks. Vision says that
until Mantis tells him that she prefers Swordsman that he will do
what he can to keep her. Mantis kisses Vision and says, “How
about this, you idiot?” 
She says that
she knows that he is enjoying getting back into the swing of
things, but that he doesn’t have to be so macho. She says
that it isn’t one of his charms. Vision admits she is right
and asks her to tell him about his charms. Mantis says that she
like intelligent men, and that is why she likes this Swordsman
over the original but that she likes him best of all. Vision and
Mantis walk off to see a pond Vision found. Swordsman tells them
to enjoy themselves. Off to the side Mistress Death watches it
all unfold.
Avengers Files rating: 7.5 out of 10
I love the Thanos as a god establishing his own pantheon. Establishing Reptyl as a real threat is also pretty cool. The Vision with Mantis thing continues to be interesting, as does the relationship with Scarlet Witch. I’ve never been a big fan of the Cotati, and Quoi is a gigantic weenie. The art works fairly well here. I’m not a huge fan of Santamaria’s style, but his storytelling talents seem just fine.