I missed an issue of this limited series along the way, and to Jim Starlin's credit, this chapter of his cosmic and apocalyptic super-hero saga is nevertheless accessible. Unfortunately, it's not terribly involving either. Starlin doesn't give the reader any context to which s/he can relate. Everything's about power and energy, not about living. Visually, this is a fun book, but it doesn't really give the audience a reason to care about the conflicts.
Thanos has managed to cut off the Celestial Order's source of power in an attempt to lash out at their harbinger, Akhenaten, but that move has brought the power and ire of the Order raining down on Thanos's allies, the Defenders and Captain Marvel. It turns out that like Doctor Doom, Thanos has been plotting all along to usurp ultimate power for himself, and it looks as though he will succeed. The question is whether or not he'll be able to handle it. Meanwhile, the cosmic entities of the Marvel Universe gather to discuss its future.
Starlin does an excellent job of capturing the energy and other-dimensional excitement of the book's premise. I remain a fan of the Akhenaten design as well. I can't stress enough, though, what an important contribution Christie Steele makes to the book, though. Colors are a key element in a cosmic story such as this one, and she helps to bring out the wonder of the starscapes and energy that's thrown about by the characters.
I enjoyed Starlin's Infinity Gauntlet several years ago. Hey, I'm a sucker for big crossovers with bucket-loads of colorful, super-hero characters. But with this issue, there are few of those colorful characters to be found, and without those heroes, it's that much easier for the story to lose touch with a more grounded atmosphere. Furthermore, these "deaths" of major Marvel characters are empty. The reader knows these established properties aren't being wiped out, so those moments lack any real impact.
I think the most disappointing aspect of this story, though, is the sense I've seen it all before. It doesn't seem as though Starlin is saying anything new about Thanos. His achievement of ultimate power and the coming together of a cosmic council... we've seen all of this before, and Starlin just doesn't give the reader a reason to care about it this time around.
