Avengers: Celestial Quest #7 of 8Avengers: Celestial Quest #7 of 8
Title: “Doom!”
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Joe Staton
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: HiFi Design
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Creator of Thanos: Jim Starlin
Thanos, Reptyl, and Primo stand before Vision, Mantis, Raptra, and Quoi each in their own holding cell. He says that he told them that nothing they did mattered. He says that the dying begins in five minutes. Thanos steps up into Mantis’ face. He says that she asked Eternity for help, but that he refused. He says that the Avengers tracked them to Raptra’s ship only to watch them teleport away. Thanos says that he has her child and lover. Vision says that if Thanos is the new all-father why he is just standing around talking about it. Thanos says that he is preparing for a majestic murder. He says that he will kill the Celestial Messiah, but that first he will learn the best way to kill him from the one closest to him, the Madonna. Thanos says that Vision will live on and on, forever by his side, recording his pageant. Thanos says that Vision’s “death” will be immobility. Thanos says that Raptra dies last and alone. Thanos turns “like a mountain ready to erupt”. Raptra and Primo look at him and realize that if Thanos is a god that they are not, and that there isn’t a thing that they can do about it.
After Thanos leaves, Mantis speaks to Quoi. She says that he doesn’t know her, but that she will not fail him. Quoi says that he believes her and that he knows of her. Quoi says that when they get out of there that they are leaving the pirate. Raptra says that she took the deal for immunity so she could try and save him. Quoi asks what about the first time she tried to sell him out. Raptra says that Quoi isn’t going to believe anything she says now anyway, but that she is not like that. Quoi says, “Lizard-girl, you are exactly like that!” Raptra says that she is just a pirate. She thinks to herself that her job often requires escape and starts digging into her own arm with her claws. Vision says that he can’t get through his cell’s energy field, but that he is working on it. He says that he is worried about the time limit. Mantis says that she meant what she said to Quoi and that will take up some time. She tells Vision that she felt the immensity of his loss when he told her of the loss of his twins. She says that she will fight forever for her son. She says that she has missed so much of motherhood. The door opens and Thanos stands in the doorway. He says, “Mantis. Time for darkness.”
Primo and Reptyl take Mantis’ arms. She doesn’t fight them because they are stronger, but they both know that she is a goddess and that they are just strong. They wonder if they are any better than the trolls that Thanos uses in his torture room. The thought makes Reptyl and Primo think that they have sold their souls. It makes them think that they once had souls. It makes them think. Knowing what they are thinking, Mantis says that it is true and that Thanos is connected to no one. They strap Mantis down to the table. Thanos says that he told the last occupant that he does not torture, but then the last occupant wasn’t going to give him the Celestial Messiah. Mantis just looks at Thanos and says, “no.”
Thanos touches Mantis’ head with his gauntlet and they are transported to the Realm of All Gods. Mantis says that she can feel Thanos’ destruction of the Priests of Pama. Thanos says that he has only to think to attack here. A large axe cleaves Mantis’ entire head and torso into two. Mantis says that the Priests of Pama were human minds “completely adapted to Cotati consciousness. It was complete, but it was an adaptation, giving you a crack to enter. Her mind on the other hand, is a human/plant unity.” Mantis’ two halves come back together. Mantis says that Thanos may not enter her mind. She blasts him back. Thanos says that no one doubts Mantis’ power, but that it doesn’t matter. Thanos says that only will matters. Thanos grabs Mantis by the face and concentrates. The sound inside Mantis’ head is the silence of absolute meditation.
Thanos takes his hand off Mantis’ head, as she remains strapped to the table. Thanos says that the Eternals were made gods, and that it seems there is no reason that Mantis could not make the same transition. Thanos congratulates Mantis and says that she may live through this, but that Quoi will not. Thanos says that even if Quoi has a mind like hers that he lacks the experience to withstand his assault. Mantis says that she is life, but that if Thanos harms Quoi that she will kill him. Thanos says that there are many ways to torture a mother. Suddenly Thanos’ ship starts to rumble. Mantis says that Thanos’ ship is under attack and that it sounds like Avengers’ weaponry. Thanos says that is impossible, as they were too far away to have flown there. A voice comes over the intercom and tells Thanos that they are being attacked by a Quinjet. Mantis says that perhaps things like heroism and loyalty do matter. Thanos tells Reptyl to destroy the Avengers and that he will destroy Quoi. Mantis lies on the table by herself. She says that they used Thor’s hammer for propulsion, and that they must have added Wanda’s hex for speed. Suddenly Death is standing beside Mantis. Death looks down at Mantis and then walks away.
Thor and Scarlet Witch attack Thanos’ ship. Thor tells Wanda to hurry up and that it looks like the rot has visibly grown since they have arrived. Thor says that they must rescue their friends and be gone. Wanda says that she thinks Thor forgot Thanos in there somewhere. Wanda spots Reptyl and lets a hex loose on him. Reptyl realizes that his legs have been fused together. Reptyl asks if she thinks that will stop a pirate who must win or he dies. Reptyl blasts at the Quinjet.
Inside the Quinjet, Haywire kids that he has been hit. Silverclaw says, “You’re a good pilot, Haywire. I’ll give you that.” Haywire notes that she isn’t calling him “Hal” anymore. He says that he is crushed. Silverclaw asks what he expected. Haywire says that he had to tell her how he felt more than Wanda did. Silverclaw says that is because no one believed either one of them, but that she has come to believe him. Haywire says that they are done talking then, and thinks to himself a thought for Inertia and tells her that he is almost there.
Wanda asks Thor if he said that the rot was growing. Thor says that it is, but that he is almost into the ship. Wanda says that is good because it seems to her that the rot is following them.
When Quoi is strapped to a table of his own, Thanos tells Primo to go join Reptyl in defeating the Avengers. Primo says that he lives to serve, but Quoi tells Primo not to let it get him down. Thanos says that the presence of true gods is undermining his pantheon. He says that he will deal with that. Thanos tells Quoi that Mantis told him everything and that he will die quickly and horribly. Quoi says that he doesn’t believe Thanos. Thanos says to believe this and reaches his arm out for Quoi.
Raptra reaches the acid capsules in her skin and melts her bars. She says that now that the bars are broken that the energy that went with them is gone. She says that she will slither through the bars. Raptra tells Vision that she doesn’t have any acid for his cell, but that she is going to go save Quoi. Vision tells Raptra to be careful. Raptra stands next to the door and yells for the guard. The guard opens the door and tells her to shut up. Raptra leaps at the guard and asks if Thanos has him around for his brains. The troll says that he is around for his bloodlust. The troll trips Raptra and is about to plunge his spear into her when Raptra grabs the spear with her tail and slits him with the claws on her foot. Raptra grabs the troll’s key and goes to open Vision’s cell. Vision thanks her but says that he has finally adjusted to the energy. Raptra says that they have to go save Quoi. Vision says that he would rather save Mantis, but he knows that Mantis would rather he save Quoi. Raptra says that maybe they can do both if they hurry. Raptra says that the door is a heavy one, but that it is just a door. Vision starts to phase though it.
Thanos confronts Quoi in the Realm of All Gods. Thanos’ giant axe instead of cleaving Quoi in two, the way it did his mother, instead breaks against him. Quoi says that Thanos couldn’t beat his mother and she was changed to a unity. Quoi says that he was born one. Thanos asks how Quoi knew. Quoi says that he and Mantis share a bond of feelings. He says that he felt Thanos confronting her. Suddenly Quoi is holding his own axe. Thanos says that means nothing and that he lacks experience and will. Quoi says that Thanos lacks an axe “in the tummy”. For the first time in his life Thanos witnesses power that rivals his own, but it is so different than any threat that he could have imagined that he could not have foreseen it. Thanos says that he must leave.
Thanos and Quoi are back in the physical world. Quoi says that Thanos is running from him. Vision phases through the door, but Thanos tells the “insects” to get out of his way. Thanos takes a swing at Raptra, but he misses and keeps walking ahead. Vision melts Quoi’s bonds. Quoi says that they have to go save his mom.
Thor finally breaks through the ship. Wanda says that now Haywire and Silverclaw can join them. She looks back and sees that the quinjet is surrounded by the rot. Thor says that he will go grab their friends. Thor thinks to himself that he hopes there is a way for him to get back to Thanos’ ship. He yells for them to get into their space suits.
Thanos rumbles past Quoi. He has to take charge of this war.
Quoi has to go apologize. Quoi rips the wall of the room where his mother is. He frees Mantis from the table and says that he never knew what she was, but that when she fought that he felt her splendor. Mantis tells Quoi to just remember that she walked the same path as him. Quoi says that it is still weird stuff coming from a mom.
Thor smashes the Quinjet open. Haywire says that he just ruined his own ship. Thor says that it had to be sacrificed or the two of them would have been. Thor lands inside the ship with Silverclaw and Haywire. He says that Thanos’ ship has to fly as well. He says that they need to seek a safe space, and that they will further battle there. Thor notices that Wanda’s hex on Reptyl’s legs has worn off as Reptyl, Thanos, and Primo appear. Thanos says that there are Avengers all around him, and that it seems like he has to teleport. Primo wants to make sure that Thanos is taking them, but it becomes a moot point when Thanos realizes that he can’t teleport. Thanos’ ship is completely surrounded by the rot. Death appears before them all and says, “Trapped, in fact… with Death.”
Avengers Files rating: 4 out of 10
Thanos seems to lose a little early in this mini-series. I’m hoping for something a little more substantial for the finisher. I find it a little difficult to think that Thanos set off without any clue about what he was getting into. Thanos is all about the knowledge and for him not to have any clue seems wrong. Some knowledge but misinterpreted would be more appropriate. I didn’t like Stanton’s art at all. I kept expecting Nancy and Sluggo to come out with a zinger about how much they don’t like homework or something. I’m hoping this means that Santamaria will be able to do both sections of the upcoming double sized finale. Art gets a 1 out of 5.