The makeshift strike force to infiltrate Lady Lotus’ mystical dome has been assembled… if Captain America can convince one of his oldest allies to join them. Your Major Spoilers review of The Marvels #7 from Marvel Comics awaits!
THE MARVELS #7
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Yildiray Cinar
Colorist: Guru-eFX
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 5, 2022
Previously in The Marvels: The final member of the assault team is in place (maybe), and the assault on Siancong begins. Witness all-out action against the forces of Lady Lotus, plus a look at what the citizens of Siancong and Melinda May have been through under the dome. And a shocking revelation from the all-new Warbird!
Then, things get stranger…
THE “ORIGINAL” VISION?
After last issue’s side-trip into the background of Lady Lotus, we rejoin Iron Man, Storm, and Captain America in the strange confines of Smokeworld, where Aarkus (the alien policeman who once called himself The Vision, back in the 1940s) lives. Time, however, is a little bit different in his world, so he has become even older than a Golden Age hero rightfully should be. He’s also upped his game after decades of study and research, which will allow him to teleport the makeshift strike force into Siancong… if they can get someone on the inside to make enough smoke to get him through. Captain America makes a high-altitude jump from the edge of the atmosphere, cracking through the strange shield of darkness over the South Asian nation. Some time later, Aarkus teleports the team (Iron Man, Aero, Storm, The Human Torch, the new Warbird, and Kevin Schumer, the nephew of The Tinkerer) in… right into a monster ambush!
AND THE OTHER SHOE DROPS
The real meat of The Marvels #7 comes in the character work. We get to see what SHIELD Agent Melinda May has been up to in Siancong, we get Warbird going rogue, Iron Man worrying about tactics, even Lady Lotus gets a couple of nice moments as she attacks. The final page cliffhanger makes perfect sense, following on the events of the issue perfectly, and yet feels unexpected, while Captain America’s ability to pull even this strange agglomeration of superhumans together is kind of inspiring. Cinar’s art is just breathtaking here, including a full-page spread of Aarkus/Vision’s new look, one of the best Storm moments in recent memory (she doesn’t care for Lotus’ boasting of complete control of things), and some wonderful lumpy Kirby monster design work. The series promised to use the entirety of the Marvel Universe and the vast array of characters therein, and they’ve really delivered so far, effortlessly revamping, reviving and reworking some of the most neglected characters in the universe, while putting Cap and Iron Man to good use.
BOTTOM LINE: A REALLY GOOD ISSUE
It’s not Marvels, it’s not Astro City, but The Marvels #7 comes from a similar ethos and pulls off a complex story with many metaphorical moving parts and characters in a way that feels effortless, reminding me of the best parts of shared-universe story-telling and doing so with wonderfully detailed and expressive art, earning 4 out of 5 stars overall. I’m already wishing I had the next chapter (which promises to tell us more about the mysterious new Warbird) in my hands, so if you’ve been sleeping on The Marvels, this issue is your chance to jump onboard for the best Marvel series in recent memory.
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THE MARVELS #7
Excellent story, wonderful art and a truly fascinating cast make this series a must-buy for me.
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Writing9
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Art8
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Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.