Avengers: Celestial Quest #5 of 8Avengers: Celestial Quest #5 of 8
Title: “Love!”
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Jorge Santamaria
Inker: Scott Hanna and Koblish
Colors: HiFi Design
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Vision and
Mantis are nude together when Mantis is suddenly hit with a
telepathic cry from Quoi. Mantis says that they must go to Quoi
at once. Vision asks where this sudden gust of wind came from.
Mantis says that the Cotati sense Quoi’s distress the same
as she does, but that they cannot run to him. Vision says that
they are plants and not wind. He asks if they control the wind as
well. Mantis says that the Cotati control the entire planet.
“Swordsman” arrives at the same time as Mantis and
Vision. They find Quoi’s grove empty. Vision asks what the
plants are saying. Mantis says that they don’t know
anything. She says that one moment he there and the next he was
gone. Mantis says that she can’t sense him anywhere and asks
Swordsman if he can/ Swordsman says that he senses nothing as
well. Mantis says that they were prepared to fight tooth and
nail, but not to lose Quoi by stealth. Vision says that he
doesn’t believe that it was Thanos because indirect attack
is not Thanos’ style. Mantis asks who it could have been.
Raptra’s ship is already 173,000,000 units away. She says that she has run some close trails before, but that was the closest. She says that stealing the Cloak of Invisibility from Thanos is normally suicidal behavior, but that it was the only way to avoid being noticed by sentient plants. She thinks that Thanos was going to kill her anyway. She thinks how both Thanos and the Avengers will be after her now, but that at least she has what they want. She says that she was a good pirate before, but now she has hi-jacked the fate of the universe. Raptra says that she doesn’t have so much of a problem believing that as opposed to believing that Quoi is it. She says that he is animal and plant, and that both are alien to a dino. She says that it is time to go to work. Raptra radios Thanos and asks him if he can hear her. Thanos says that everything he rules is far more advanced than hers is. He asks if she understands that the God of Death is now her enemy. Raptra says that Thanos was already going to kill her, but now she has what he wants and that she will trade it to him for his unbreakable oath granting her immunity. Thanos doesn’t hesitate for a second and says no. Raptra says that he should think again or lose his chance to turn the universe dark. Thanos says that if he granted her immunity that he wouldn’t be able to kill her and killing is what he does. He says that he is going to kill both her and the Celestial Messiah. Raptra says that he will have nothing and signs off. Reptyl says that Raptra is a spitfire, but that he was her captain and that he knows her tricks. He says that he will go after her. Thanos tells him to take Primo with him and that if they want to be gods in his pantheon that they will deal with this quickly and bring them both to him alive. Thanos says that they are his to kill. Raptra looks down at the unconscious and bound Quoi and thinks to herself that it didn’t go as she planned. She guesses that they will have to see just how good a pirate she is.
Back on Tamal, Mantis, Swordsman, and Vision tell the others about Quoi’s disappearance. Thor says that they thought that they were facing the end of the battle, but perhaps they have not even seen the beginning. Silverclaw asks what happens if Quoi dies. Vision says that Quoi will not die, and that he is needed to bring change to the universe. Thor says that they are Mantis’ to command and asks what they can do. The collective voice of the Cotati asks why they should be allowed to do anything. It says that they were supposed to protect him as they had done, but that they failed. Swordsman says that they do not understand humans, and that unlike them humans thrive on challenge. He says that their battles are never over. The Cotati points out that never ending battle includes never winning. They say that is why they opposed contact with them. Swordsman starts to object, but suddenly he loses control of himself. The Cotati say that he is no longer separate from the Field. Swordsman, now speaking in the voice of the Cotati, says that they have cost them their greatest treasure. Swordsman attacks. Thor says not to hurt him too gravely. Wanda says that’s fine, but the still possesses all the skills of the original Swordsman. Silverclaw says that she thought he was a loser. Mantis says that perhaps towards the end he was, but not at the end or at the beginning. She says to remember that Swordsman taught Hawkeye. Vision says that if they are going to make peace with them that they must simply render Swordsman unconscious. Vision plows into him and knocks him unconscious. The trees start reaching out for them. Thor says that they were not persuaded. Silverclaw says that their bodies are stronger. Wanda says that they have weapons beyond strength. Gas starts filling the area. Wanda and Thor pass out form the gas, but Vision, Silverclaw, Haywire, and Mantis are unaffected. Haywire says that the gas must be meant to deal with humans from their world and not his. He also points out that the plants cover the entire planet. Vision says that they seem to be able to mutate themselves at will. The Cotati start shooting razor sharp thorns at them. Mantis tells Haywire and Silverclaw to try and make it to the quinjet. She says that she and Vision will do the same, and that whoever makes it there first can come back for the others. She says that the Cotati are connected to the planet, and that they stand a better chance if they divide its attention. It’s too dense to fly, and Vision says that he can’t become intangible because he is the strongest one left and that he would be leaving those he cares about without protection.
Haywire and Silverclaw go off on their own. Silverclaw says that Haywire should let her lead because she is jungle girl. Haywire says that his tanglewire acts like a machete and forges ahead. Silverclaw is actually caught, but she changes into a llama and breaks loose. She says that she hopes Haywire didn’t see that.
Vision picks up Wanda and Thor, but says
that carrying them will hinder his ability to fight. Mantis tells
her “loved one” that she will fight for both of them.
Vision asks what she called him, and Mantis says that she called
him loved one. Vision flies behind Mantis as she fights. Vision
tries to speak, but Mantis interrupts. She says that she wants to
talk too and be close with him for the rest of her life, but that
right now she has to fight and be mistress of the martial arts.
Vision
continues following behind blasting plants with his ray. Mantis
says that she will do anything to save her son, but that she
knows the Cotati and hates destroying them.
Thanos thinks to himself that he is going to kill the Celestial Messiah as slowly and painfully as his hybrid body will allow. Thanos says that he will kill him because he is his natural opposite. He says that he will kill him because Mantis, the Avengers, and even Raptra opposes him, and because death is beautiful. Thanos thinks back to the first time he saw Death. Thanos was eight years old and had just killed a cat. Death appeared. Thanos found her so alluring and compelling that since that day all other women have been less than hags to him. Thanos found his own mother repulsive and an affront to what women should be. As soon as he was able Thanos led an invasion to destroy all the other Eternals, but especially the women. A few survived, a handful that could eventually repopulate the world, but his mother was killed. Thanos says that his father disowned him, but that he was too late. Thanos says that since the age of eight that he has owed no allegiance to flesh and that now he has transcended even Death and kills only for himself. Thanos says that speaking of his father he wonders where he was when his brother and the other Eternals attacked. Thanos becomes very still and wonders if he has been diverted.
Mentor flies and finally reaches his goal. He reaches the darkness that is blotting out the stars from the sky. Mentor says that the void is beginning to blot him out as well. Mentor says, “Use your intelligence, my son. I count upon it… seek me out!”
Quoi wakes up aboard Raptra’s ship and asks where he is. Raptra tells him to calm down and that she just saved his life. Quoi asks what she is talking about and who she is. Raptra says that Thanos was coming to kill him, and that he would have succeeded. Quoi says that his mother and the Avengers were protecting him. Raptra says that they are no match for Thanos, and that none of them are alone. Raptra says that she is a dino whereas he is a combination of an evolved ape and evolved algae, and that Thanos is an Eternal, which is another type of evolved ape. She says that is why they have to kill each other because that is what apes do. Quoi asks about algae, but Raptra says that all they do is sit on their ass. She says that is why his only chance is with her. She says that she is a dino, and that she thinks differently. Raptra says that she is headed for the rot. Quoi says that his wrists hurt and asks if she had him tied up. He also asks what the rot is. Raptra says that the rot is a patch of space that a pirate like her can hide in. She also says that he was tied because she was trying to get away fast because Thanos was about to arrive. Quoi asks if the Field and his mother are in danger. Raptra says that Thanos passed the planet because he knows that Quoi is with her now. She tells him not to ask how Thanos knows. Raptra says that she won’t kid him and that they are flying for their lives. Quoi tells her to shut up and fly then.
Vision says that he figures that they are about halfway there. Mantis wonders how Silverclaw and Haywire are doing. Mantis warns Vision about a tree limb. Vision increases his density and the limb shatters against him. Mantis asks Vision what is wrong. Vision says that he was just thinking about his twin sons. Mantis says that no one told her that he has sons. Vision says that she doesn’t understand. Vision says that he and Wanda had children by using magick. He says that they were Billy and Tommy. He says that they were good little babies, but that the magick ended and they were lost to them as if they had never existed. Vision says that it was years ago and that Wanda grieved and time healed her, but that he never grieved. Vision says that he was a toaster then, and that his emotions didn’t come back until years later. Vision says that he hasn’t put it behind him, and that he is still grieving. Vision says that he feels what it is for Mantis to have her son stolen from her. Mantis hugs Vision and says that they share so much. Mantis says that Vision keeps saying that he is not human, but that now he is going to stop. Mantis points to his chest and says that this is not human because it can be shut off. She points to his head and says that this is human even though it can be shut off a thousand times. Mantis says that they are both humans, but that they have become immortals in different ways. She says that was their source of attraction though they had no way of knowing it at the time. She says that it isn’t android and mutant, but that it is android and Celestial Madonna. Vision says that Wanda is right there, but that Mantis is right and that now they are the “loved ones”.
Silverclaw and Haywire are still calling each other as they are approaching the ship. All that separates them from the ship is a valley filled with thorns. She tells him to stop screwing around and get to it. Haywire says that it takes a little while to regenerate after being used so much. Silverclaw says that it is him only power, and that he has just been neglecting it because he has been too busy wandering around whining about his dead girlfriend. Haywire fills the valley with tanglewire, and the two of them walk through a tunnel he creates by controlling it. Suddenly acid starts shooting out at them. Silverclaw says that she can fly them the rest of the way. Silverclaw scoops him up. He asks why she was riding him about his power when she could have flown them instead. Silverclaw says that she isn’t strong enough to go long distances carrying a “lump of lard”, but says that she is going to get stronger. She says that seeing Mantis is an inspiration to her. Haywire hits the remote and opens the door to the quinjet. Silverclaw drops them inside and says that now they can go rescue the others. Haywire says that it is about time they did something since all they’ve been doing is watching the others fight. Silverclaw leans in and kisses Haywire. Haywire yells at her and says that he is there for Inertia. Silverclaw says that she thought he liked her. Haywire says that they do nothing but fight. Silverclaw says that is why she thought it. Haywire says that she is a teenager, but Silverclaw says that she is in college. Haywire says that she thinks like a teenager. He says that he is not her crush, but that he is a man on a mission. Silverclaw says that he is a jerk, but Haywire says that he is there for Inertia and that she shouldn’t forget it.
Mantis and Vision arrive just as the quinjet starts to rise into the air. Mantis tells the Field that they will bring Quoi back, and that is what they do. The Field holds onto the quinjet to try and stop them from leaving, but the quinjet is too strong. The quinjet takes off. Out in space, Wanda and Thor awaken. Wanda says that the effects wear off quickly out here. Silverclaw thinks to herself how embarrassed she is. Vision asks how they are going to find Quoi now. Mantis says that Quoi is awake now and that her sense of where he is has no limits. She says that he is headed straight towards the black area.
Quoi notices the blackened area. Raptra says that is the rot, and that despite it’s solid appearance that there are nooks and crannies to hide in. She says that she just wishes that she knew where Thanos was. She tells “Plant-Boy” to hold on for the ride of his life.
Avengers Files rating: 7 out of 10
The story continues to progress well though this issue feels a little more filler than the others. I liked the background on Thanos, but I’m still waiting to find out how Thanos has become a death god instead of a Death worshipper. I’m hoping there is some sort of explanation beyond that he just foreswore his allegiance to Death. Santamaria’s pencils are very nice, but not particularly outstanding. A good job.