Avengers: Celestial Quest #8 of 8Avengers: Celestial Quest #8 of 8
Title: “Death Itself!"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Jorge Santamaria
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: HiFi Design
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Death floats above the stunned Avengers, Haywire, Quoi, and Thanos. Mantis steps forward and says that she defies Death and that life endures. Death floats in silence and watches as Mantis creates a seed of energy. The seed grows around all of them until it surrounds the whole ship. The bubble grows and strains against the Rot. She is trying to buy the Avengers the time to protect them, but the Rot tightens its grip and breaks Mantis' bubble. The Rot bursts into the ship and touches Primo. Primo screams in pain as the Rot disintegrates with one touch from the Rot. Quoi says that he doesn't want to see that again and so he lends Mantis a hand and they form a new bubble to fight against the Rot. Mantis repeats that she, but this time adds that it will also be her son helping her, will give them the time to save all of their lives. Thor starts to petition Thanos, but Haywire cuts Thor off and tells everyone to shut up. He speaks to Death and says that he has traveled across the galaxy to talk with her. He says that she has someone that he wants. He says that he wants Inertia back. He rambles on and says that Death has to give her back to him. Death doesn't say anything. She just glares at Haywire and Haywire "shuts up hard". Thanos breaks the silence when he steps forward and speaks to Death. He asks her what she wants and says that he is no longer her thrall. He says that her presence and speech requires explanation. After a silence, Reptyl says that now Death won't speak. Scarlet Witch says that if Death won't talk to Thanos that she can speak to her. Wanda says that Death wants someone to talk to. Thor says that Death isn't their only foe, and that he hasn't heard any words of alliance from Thanos. Thanos tells Thor to hear them now. He says that he cannot transform out of there and that Eternals are not immune to the Rot's touch. Reptyl laughs and says that Mentor found that out. Thanos yells at Reptyl to be silent. Thanos says that he is trapped on his ship just as they are, and that they will work together to escape. Thor says that he will take Thanos at his word, but that his eyes are open. Thanos says that his are as well.
Quoi says that what Thanos did not tell them is that half of his power is gone. Quoi explains that he absorbs power, and that when Thanos took him to torture him that he ended up with half of Thanos' power. Mantis says that she sees what it can mean when human and plant mate. Quoi says that he is too. Raptra says that is why she sold him out to Thanos. Quoi tells her to bite him. She says that she heard he was the Celestial Messiah and that he was there to advance the entire universe. She says that growing up with plants that he didn't learn how bad the universe can be. She says that after she kidnapped him that she thought like a pirate. She says that no one could tell him and that he would die if he didn't know. She says that she couldn't let him die. She swears that it is the truth and Quoi says that maybe it is. He says that he wants to believe her, but now that he knows how bad the universe can be he asks how he can trust her. Mantis reminds Thor of when he told her that she should know who she was, and that now her son knows who he is. Thor asks Mantis if she believes Raptra. Reptyl says that he believes one thing and that if they don't get out of there that they are all going to die. He says that he is not going to shut up about that. Thanos tells Reptyl that half of his power is still far greater than all of Reptyl's. Wanda tells Reptyl that he is a space being and that he should join with them. Vision says that he is a space being and Mantis says that she was the one that showed him that and that he was an immortal. She tells him to be immortal and kisses him. Silverclaw says that she and Haywire aren't space beings and that they will stay there and that he can try to chat up Death. Haywire says that Silverclaw hasn't looked into Death's eyes and that they go so deep. Silverclaw says that she looked, but that she is going forward. Haywire babbles on and on about how he is a hero and that he is going to save Inertia. Quoi asks Raptra if she really did it to save him. Raptra says that she did and Quoi curses.
Scarlet Witch, Thor, Vision, and Reptyl leave the protection of the ship, but do not leave the protection of Mantis' and Quoi's bubble. Wanda says that as a witch she has "never felt magick so unutterably dark", but that it is not pure magick. Thor says that all flesh rots before it and so he will put it to the test with Mjolnir. Thor throws his hammer into the Rot and it comes back to him unchanged, but that the Rot is also unchanged. Reptyl says to try his power then. He says that he may not be a god like Thor is, but that he is more than he ever was before. Vision and Wanda add their power to Reptyl's, but still there is no affect. Thor adds the power of Mjolnir to the concoction, but it is still not enough. Thor says that they still have to do more. Vision tells Thor not to do it, and tells the others that Thor is planning on diving into the Rot. Wanda calls Thor an idiot. Vision gets in Thor's path, but Thor tells him to get out of his way and that they must not fall short against the Rot. Vision says those are his thoughts exactly and that they need Thor alive. Thor says that a god might live in the Rot, but Vision says that he may not and that it is too early to find out. Thor says that he would give his life for his comrades and that he cannot give less than his all. He says that however the Beserker may have clouded his thoughts and asks Vision what he advises. Vision says, "The Messiah."
Back inside the ship, Vision asks Mantis if she can maintain the bubble without Quoi's help. Mantis says that she can now that she knows the power against her. Quoi says that he can feel that she will be able to handle it, and that he is way ahead of Vision. Raptra and Mantis wonder what Quoi means. Quoi says that conventional powers won't work against it, but that he is unconventional. Quoi says that he has all of his power and half of Thanos' power. He says that he has to go with destiny, but tells Mantis and Raptra that he loves them both. Reptyl asks Thanos why they place such an importance on one another. Thanos says that if he ever knew that he has forgotten. Quoi says that the Rot kills humans, but that maybe it won't kill a plant-human. Thor parrots that it is too early to find out the way he was told when he wanted to dive in. Quoi arrogantly thinks to himself that it is easy to say that if one's destiny is just to make loud noises, but that he is the Messiah and that he thinks he knows what that means. He says that Messiahs save the universe by dying or by living forever and that it is time to find out. Quoi flies into the Rot.
Quoi says that the Rot is fantastically empty, but that it exists and that he can absorb it and transmute it. After two seconds of trying, Quoi decides that the Rot is too big and that he cannot do it. He figures out that he can reverse the Rot's power, but also gives up on that quickly. He tries to reverse the Rot's power with both his and Thanos' power, but Quoi discovers that the Rot liked it. Quoi flies back to the ship and says that they need another plan.
Back inside the ship, Quoi tells the others that though he survived that he did not help. He says that his power only made it stronger. He says that if he is the guy that is supposed to save them that they are not getting saved. Mantis says that it did get stronger, but that she can still hold the bubble. Quoi says that she can't do that forever. Thanos says that Quoi can steal power, but that he doesn’t know how to use it. Quoi whines that he doesn't see Thanos trying, and that whatever he does that he worships life. Thanos says that Quoi worships a limitation then. Thanos says that nothingness is grander. Mantis says that once Thanos dealt death to another and enjoyed it that all life meant nothing to him. Mantis says that Thanos went after Death, but that he realized that even Death could not hold him. Mantis says that Thanos is completely alone, and that even though he tries to build a pantheon that it all means nothing to him. Mantis says that Thanos tells himself that he loves nothingness, but that he really loves nothing. Thanos says that he loves only himself. Death comes forward and says, "The Rot is our child." Thanos says that Death is insane and that they were never intimate. Death agrees and says that she wouldn't have it so either. Thanos says that Death maintained the gulf between them and asks why, after finally deciding to speak, does she speak nonsense. Death says that death maintained the gulf until Thanos died. She says that in the moment that Thanos fell into her embrace that his energy was one with hers, and that in that moment they created horror. Death says that at first the Rot was just a dot and that she did not sense it. Over a long time the Rot grew, but still she didn't take notice. When she finally noticed it she wondered why she hadn't noticed it before. Death realized that it was because it was something alien to her and that she held sway over all the universe. She says that the Rot is alive, but that it is not life. She says that it is alive because of Thanos, and that it is not life because there is no life in Death. She says that the Rot is both of them, and that though it grew in the emptiness of space that it is their child. Thanos rejects that and says that he doesn't create. He says that he only destroys. Death tells Thanos to tell himself what he wants, but that only the two of them can end the Rot. Thanos says that he would gladly destroy it since it is an obstruction to his will, but that he has lost half of his power. Quoi says that he can return Thanos' power. Thos asks if that is wise, but Quoi says that when Death talks they should listen. Quoi blasts Thanos his power back and though Thanos doesn't say anything the others can hear the word "power". Thor says that he is watching Thanos. Thanos says, "Then watch a Thanos unbound... completely unbound... as I now bring forth the power cosmic! But... no. Whenever I draw upon that, I lose control... I grow mad... and why not? I am Thanos! I am all! Let us go, hag!"
Thanos and Death fly out into the Rot. Thanos says that they
go into the sum of all and nothing. Death says that they Rot
faster than others, but Thanos says that it is because they are
"so little different from it." Thanos says that it
lacks the "divine madness" and that it is less than
all. Death and Thanos struggle against the Rot, but they continue
to dissolve. Thanos says that they cannot do anything against the
Rot as themselves. Thanos says that he cannot create and that he
had to kill to give his godlings power. He says that he has to
take the Rot's life. Death says that the Rot is both of them and
that it's lust for death comes from Thanos, and that he must go
against his nature to confront it as must she. Thanos says to do
it now. Death makes no reply, but for the first time she releases
her power. Death pushes and Thanos pulls. Thanos starts to glow
and the Rot dissolves. 
Thanos shouts
that he holds it all and Death tells him that he has to release
it now. The universe screams as Thanos does so. Death says that
it has ended. Thanos says that his madness is gone as well. He
says that he stole to give. Mentor is among those returned by the
Rot's destruction. Mentor says that Thanos gave back what the Rot
destroyed. Thanos says that Mentor brought him to the Rot, and
that he sacrificed himself to make him end it. Mentor says that
now Thanos understands the role of "all-father". Thanos
looks at Mentor and for the first time he really sees him.
Death approaches Thanos. She says that they have mated and that it has changed what should never be changed. She says that she accepts him. Thanos shouts his objection, "You see Thanos as a husband? Half of a duo? Never! I offered you love but never fealty! Mating is an affirmation of life. It is for Mantis, not for you! If you will have me, you are not worthy!" Thanos disappears.
Haywire rushes up to Death and says that now she can hear him. Haywire says that her name was Inertia. He says that she can look into his heart and see that all he wants is to save her. He tells her to free her and that she is nothing to her. Death says, "She is all to me. You all are." Haywire starts shouting curses at Death. Mantis tries to make Haywire see that Death has given her answer, but Haywire charges Death and dives right through Death's robes. Haywire is gone disappeared into Death. Thor says that he was a fool. The Avengers start to advance on Death, but they too freeze in Death's stare. Death says, "Mantis. Sequoia." and disappears. Thor says that Death holds sway over all but Haywire. Vision says that it was such a love, but Silverclaw interrupts and says that Haywire didn't love her. She says that he was just obsessed with her. Quoi says to look around and see what Haywire missed when he was just obsessed. Quoi says that this was space as it was when it was first created. Quoi says that "everything burns like a new knife scar... and I am a healer." Mantis says that she was hoping that he would come to Earth with her. Quoi says that he was hoping that too, but that everything needs healing. Mantis says that she knows that he has to leave. Raptra says that Quoi is going to need an experienced pilot. Quoi agrees and the two embrace. Mantis suggests that perhaps the uniting of the races has just begun. Reptyl tells her to shut up. He says that dinos have been down too long to surrender now. He says that if Raptra mates with Quoi that he will kill her. Mantis says that Raptra can take care of herself, and that she also has friends. Reptyl flies off and says that it is a good thing that he is not a god because he would die for dinosaurs. Mantis, with tears in her eyes, puts her arms around Quoi and Raptra. She tells them that she believes in both of them and that they should go and be happy. Quoi and Raptra leave. Mantis says that there was so little time to get to know him. Vision says that with their empathy that the two of them do know each other. Thor says that they had better go home on Thanos' ship, and asks Mantis if she is coming along. Mantis says that she is, but that this time it will be as a daughter of Earth.
Aboard the ship, Vision asks Mantis if he can speak with her privately. He says that he saw her with her son, and that she loves children. Vision says that he cannot give her any since his body is just that of a machine's. He tells Mantis that he wants her more than words can say, but that it can't work for them. Mantis says that she has changed and that her loved one has changed. She says that perhaps they may change again and that their day may yet come. Vision and Mantis kiss. As Mantis walks away, Wanda's hand grabs Vision's shoulder.
Avengers Files rating: 3 out of 10
Man what a colossal waste of time. I kept thinking that this story was going to lead somewhere, but it was just a big nothing. The subplot with Vision and Mantis dissolves into nothing. The Haywire and Silverclaw subplot dissolves into nothing as does Haywire. It was also kind of annoying how Steve Englehart wasn't told that Death has spoken in recent memory, but that she does not speak to Thanos directly (although she has done that in recent memory as well). Raptra's explanation of why she sold out Quoi also sounded about as legit as a 3 dollar bill. Mentor says that now Thanos knows the meaning of "All-Father", but aren't the Eternals all dead, killed at the hands of Thanos? What exactly is Mentor all-father over? I hate Quoi. What a whiney, arrogant, little nothing. I hope someone finally sprays him with some weed killer and gets rid of him. And hey it's a good thing that Reptyl is not a god because he would die for dinosaurs... what in the name of Fats Waller does that mean? Santamaria does an okay job drawing the issue, but with all the tripe surrounding it, it is just hard to appreciate.