Avengers: Celestial Quest #4 of 8Avengers: Celestial Quest #4 of 8
Title: “War!”
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Jorge Santamaria
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: HiFi Design
Editor: Tom Brevoort
From the walls of the Hall of Wars comes a rhythmic beat of trumpets and drums. Ten Eternals have gathered before Mentor and Eros. Mentor tells Eros that he knew that this day was coming, but that while he finds it a bit of a relief that he doesn’t find it enjoyable to send him up against his only brother. Eros says that he is surprised that mentor didn’t do something sooner. He says that Thanos wants to kill the Celestial Messiah, and that if he does that the entire universe loses. He says that the Avengers and Mantis have stepped up, but that Thanos is an Eternal and must be dealt with by an Eternal. Eros makes note of the fact that he didn’t say “kill him” since it is much more likely that Thanos will kill him. Mentor holds his head and says that he has one son who worships death, and that the other thinks everything is an adventure. Eros says that especially when it is in the service of a lady. Eros asks Mentor if he has ever seen Mantis. Mentor hugs Eros and wishes him luck. He says that he will await news, and Eros tells him not to worry. Mentor watches them go, but thinks about Thanos as he has done since the new star’s ascension. Mentor flies off.
Secco, of the Plasmagen, spots Thanos’ ship and tells Primo. Primo shouts out for everyone to get to their battle stations. He says to watch out for signs of attack, but then a torpedo is launched from Thanos’ ship. They manage to destroy the torpedo. Primo asks if they see anything else. They do not, but at that moment Reptyl is walking on the outside of the Plasmagen ship. He is taking off the cloak of invisibility. Reptyl thinks how Thanos provided the cloak and the plan, but that it is up to him to carry it out. Reptyl thinks how this is his first chance to use the new powers that Thanos gave him, powers that no Saurian has ever had before. Reptyl blows a hole in the ship and enters. Primo says that he is not Thanos and asks him who he is. Reptyl replies that he is not the Celestial Messiah as he smacks Primo away. Primo says that it wouldn’t matter if he was, and says that no “flesh-man” can with stand his heat. Reptyl says that he is more than flesh. He says that he is a god in service to a greater god. Reptyl says that he withstands and advances. Primo says that he won’t when he sucks all the air from the room. Reptyl says that Primo doesn’t understand what he has been saying and so he will show him. Reptyl punches Primo repeatedly until he knocks him unconscious.
As Primo starts to awaken he hears Thanos commend Reptyl on a job well done. He says that was worthy of a servitor of Thanos. Thanos slaps Primo and says that Primo had best not keep him waiting, and that he only wants the strong. Thanos says that Primo has seen what he has done for Reptyl and asks him if he would like to be his second god.
On Tamal, Mantis walks up behind a sitting Quoi. Quoi tells her to go away and asks if she didn’t understand that she is not wanted there. Mantis says that she understood, but that she is not leaving. She says that as his mother she can withstand his teenage invective. Quoi says that she left him before, and repeats that his name is Q. Mantis says that she was taken away by an explosion. She says that he must remember their time together, and that even though he was young, that they were good times. Q says that was a long time ago, and that he has grown up since then. Mantis says that he has grown into a handsome young man. Q says to spare him, but Mantis says that she is going to talk. She says that he is everything that she hoped and dreamed that he would be when she united with his father. Q says, “oh god.” Mantis says that they were both at their peaks and that they knew that they were making a child of immense power and goodness. Q says, “Thanos, take me now”. Mantis says that he shouldn’t even joke about that, and that Quoi knows what she says is true. Q says that what he knows is that he is different from everyone no matter where he is. He asks that if that is special then who wants it. Mantis says that he wasn’t supposed to be without a mother, and that he was supposed to go back and forth. Q says that it didn’t happen, and that he became a teenager where the most rebellious thing someone can do is to grow an extra leaf. He says that he has been going crazy there. He says that whatever he was supposed to learn from Mantis and Earth he did not, and so he is not some Celestial Messiah but just a messed up kid. Mantis says that she doesn’t believe that, and that she believes that he is exactly what he should be. Q says that she is his mother and of course she thinks that. Q says that he wants to be alone. Mantis turns, but says that Quoi is not alone, that they both have each other again, and that she won’t lose him again.
Elsewhere on Tamal, Scarlet Witch finds Thor alone and tells her to fight with her. Thor says that the battle will be with Thanos when he arrives. Wanda says that she wants to fight and work off some energy. Thor flies into the air and says that Wanda is an old friend, and that he would be afraid of hurting her. Wanda causes a whirlwind to encircle Thor. Thor commands the whirlwind to stop. He hurls his hammer at Wanda’s feet and the force knocks her to the ground. He flies down and tells her to explain herself. Wanda says that she is just upset about Vision and Mantis, and that she has no right to be. She says that she is mad at herself, and wants to work herself into a state of exhaustion. Thor starts to say that it seemed like Wanda not only seemed to accept it but that she even helped it along, but Wanda cuts him off and tells him to get off her. Thor says that he will be happy to help her. Wanda thanks Thor and blasts him in the face with a hex on some nearby water. She says that if anyone asks who beat him up that she is swearing him to silence.
Still on Tamal, Vision lays on the ground looking up at the sky. He has perfect peace, silence, and so much more. Across the body of water near him, Silverclaw and Haywire are sparring. Silverclaw asks what good is his tangle wire against a howling monkey. Haywire says that he isn’t fighting a howling monkey but a snotty little girl. Silverclaw says that she is a non-snotty, non-girl who is now a condor. She tells Haywire to tell her about the girl that he likes better. Haywire says that he doesn’t talk about Inertia. Silverclaw says that he should since she seems to be with him all the time. Silverclaw asks if her name was Edith. Haywire is reluctant, but says that her name was Edith Frieberg. Silverclaw says that she was called Inertia because she could shift momentum from one thing to another. Haywire says that she was a great heroine that he could never catch with his tangle wire. Silverclaw says to assume that she is the greatest heroine of all time, but says that she gave her life and that Haywire doesn’t have one. Haywire says that there was no need for her to die unless it was so he could bring her back from the dead. He says that she thinks that he is crazy, but if there really is no reason then he might as well be crazy. Silverclaw says that gods are a mystery. She says that her mother was one, and that she still doesn’t know everything about her. She says that Thor is a mystery sometimes too. She tells him to accept it and try to move on. She says that maybe he could find someone else. Haywire says that not until he looks Death in the face and finds out that there is no way that he could save her. Silverclaw says that this is what drives her crazy about him. She says that everything is supposed to be centered around the Celestial Messiah, but that he is still wrapped up in his own life. Haywire says that he is wrapped up in “her” life.
Eros and the ten Eternals are approaching Thanos’ ship. Eros says that they all know why they are here, and that some of them may not survive. One Eternal says that Thanos almost wiped out their entire race and says that they have not forgotten. Eros says that they will never forget, and that if they all die today that they will die with joy in their hearts and with the knowledge that they fight for life. Again Mistress Death stands by off to the side silently. No one seeing her or knowing what she wants.
Back on Tamal. Mantis finds Quoi again. He says that he thought he was rid of her. Mantis remarks that his English is much better. Quoi says that he absorbs things, and that no one spoke at all until they arrived. Quoi asks her what she wants. Mantis says that they spoke before about him being her son, but that he is also the Celestial Messiah and asks if he has given any thought to that. Q says that he knows the drill about him being the perfect hybrid from a perfect human and perfect plant. He sarcastically says that he is so special. Mantis says that he must be to generate all this interest. Q says that Thanos would kill anyone. Mantis says that she was talking about the star. She says that neither she, nor Quoi’s father made that happen, but that it is the universe itself announcing that he is ready. Q says that she can’t possibly believe that he is going to change the universe. Mantis says that he can’t believe that a bad girl from a third world would change the universe either. She says that is what she wants him to understand: that she didn’t believe it either. Mantis says that Q may think that she is just his mother, but that she is much more than that. She says that she walked this path before. She says that she just wanted him to know that they do have things to talk about even if she is his mother. Mantis kisses Quoi on his forehead.
Thanos has just
finished draining the life force from Secco and using it to
recreate Primo into a god. Primo says that he is a god, and that
he is Thanos’. Suddenly the ship begins to shake from an
impact. Outside, Eros and the others are pounding on the ship.
Eros says for all of them to go together, and that they have
breached this Eternal alloy in practice. Thanos asks Reptyl and
Primo of they heard. Primo says that it isn’t one of his
powers, but Reptyl says that it is one of his. Thanos says that
it is his brother coming to die. Thanos tells Reptyl and Primo to
go and destroy everyone but his brother. Thanos remains behind
and tells Raptra that she will live for one more day and then
decide to serve him or die. He says that he could have killed her
five minutes. Thanos stops talking and informs the captain to
fire. Thanos’ ship fires. Four Eternals go down immediately.
Eros and the other Eternals scatter to safety. Eros charges
around and smashes into Thanos’ ship towards Thanos. Eros
says that for the sake of the universe that one of them is going
to die today. Eros punches Thanos twice in the face. Eros says
that Thanos is bigger, but that he is also slower, and that he
can’t bring his power to bear if he can’t use it.
Thanos says that he doesn’t need to hit Eros, and ads that
this is childish. Eros says that is because they have been
fighting since they were children. Eros says that he knows
Thanos. Thanos says that he knows Eros as well, and that he knows
that Eros didn’t come on his own but that Mentor sent him.
Thanos says that Mentor still pretends that he can control
events. Eros asks if Thanos is stopping him. Thanos says that
Eros and Mentor have tried to destroy him before, but not often.
Thanos says that in Eros’ heart of hearts that he knows the
hopelessness of his quest. Eros dodges one of Thanos’
punches. Thanos says that Eros isn’t even trying to
manipulate his emotions. Eros says that he is good at that
because he practiced on Thanos’ emotional void, and that he
learned long ago that it was useless against Thanos. Eros says
that Thanos’ power-madness serves his purposes fine. Thanos
says that he knows madness, and that this is not it. Eros dodges
another punch and kicks Thanos. Eros says that Thanos could have
fooled him. Thanos says that if Eros was serious about winning
that he would have brought the Avengers who are waiting around on
Tamal in another fruitless attempt to stop him. Eros says that
the Avengers are the best thing about Earth, but to battle an
Eternal one needs an Eternal. Eros says that of course there were
more Eternals before Thanos killed nearly all of them along with
their mother. Thanos says that no one on Titan, not their mother,
not Eros, not their father, understands what he is. 
Thanos says that
he kills, and that is what he does, and that what he chooses not
to kill he removes. Thanos knocks Quicksilver into a wall and
grabs him by the neck. Thanos asks Eros where his vaunted speed
is now. Thanos asks Reptyl and Primo what the fate of the other
Eternals is. Reptyl says that four are dead, and that three are
seriously injured. Thanos tells them to come and stand with their
all-father then and they will strike together ending this
encounter with the united force of his pantheon. Thanos, Primo,
and Reptyl strike Eros. Thanos says that he did kill his mother,
but that Eros and Mentor must live with that knowledge. 
Thanos says
that Eros will live, but that he won’t wake for a week.
Thanos tells them to throw his out with the other garbage while
they go conquer Tamal. Thanos starts to tell Raptra that she is
going to have to decide, but then discovers that she is gone.
Reptyl says that she always was a survivor and bets that she ran
for her life.
As Raptra’s ship flies away, she removes the Cloak of Invisibility. She says that staying there was suicide, and that she has only one chance to beat Thanos. She says that she has to get to the Messiah first.
Avengers Files rating: 8 out of 10
Santamaria’s style is growing on me (though I will say that his women need a lot of work). The fighting action is done quite well and continues to display good storytelling abilities. Thanos’ pantheon continues to grow with Primo. I don’t really understand why Mentor sent the other Eternals to die, but I guess that will be revealed with time. Wanda finally seeks to punch someone over the weirdness of the Vision/Mantis situation… except it’s Thor. Still very entertaining read and I can’t wait for this story to keep moving.