The Omni-Avengers stand assembled… just in time for the end of all that is! Your Major Spoilers review of Avengers Assemble: Omega #1 from Marvel Comics awaits!

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE: OMEGA #1

Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Aaron Kuder/Dexter Vines/Ivan Fiorelli/Javier Garron/Jim Towe
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $7.99
Release Date: April 19, 2023

Previously in Avengers Assemble: The grand, oversized finale of the most epic battle in the history of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Along with being the final issue of Jason Aaron’s five-year Avengers run, this features an all-star cavalcade of artists, a veritable smorgasbord of Avengers, and a few last emotional gut punches in the Mighty Marvel Manner.

REALITY, SUNDERED

Mephisto’s master plan has come to fruition, betraying his allies in the Multiversal Masters of Evil and breaking the bedrock of the God Quarry to free the restrained power of a previous dead reality. Old Man Phoenix barely manages to hold it back enough for the assembled Avengers to survive the flood, while The Doom Above All falls to its power, thanks to the one/two punch of The Invincible Ant-Man and Mephisto’s treachery. The Deathlok Celestial adds its power, but the team quickly discovers that nothing from this universe can hold back the force of the other. In short, someone will have to close the door, from the other side. It’s a classic comic book problem, one that Starbrand believes is her moment of truth. Echo and the prehistoric Phoenix barely defeat the last Master standing, combining their power with Logan’s to temporarily seal the rift, allowing Brandy to make her last stand to save reality.

But she’s no match for the speed of the Hellcharger.

A HERO, FALLEN

There are those who complain about a lack of stakes in comics, nattering that we know that the Avengers aren’t going to die or fail to save reality, but those people miss the point. It’s not a question of whether or not our heroes will prevail, but how, and how satisfying it could be. This one gives satisfying moments to all the active members of the Avengers: Captain America saves his canine counterpart, Thor embraces his Phoenix-mom’s fiery power, Echo expends her own Phoenix Force through the power of love, while Nighthawk, the forgotten Avenger, takes a moment to punch his creator, Mephisto right in his stupid face. Big moments for Ghost Rider, Starbrand, and The Valkyrie would spoil important plot points, but suffice it to say that they’re here, and it’s Namor The Sub-Mariner whose moment of growth is perhaps the most impressive… and maybe the most important. The multiple art teams work seamlessly throughout the issue, with great moments (and double-page spreads) abounding throughout the book. The final pages of the story gather all the surviving team members of Aaron’s run, including the Agents of Wakanda, to dedicate a monument on the site that was once Avengers Mountain.

BOTTOM LINE: THE RIDE ISN’T OVER, BUT THIS MAKES A GOOD ENDING

As is the custom with modern Marvel, Avengers Assemble: Omega #1 wraps things up with aplomb and puts all the metaphorical toys back in the box for the next creator, but also leaves room for new stories (Avenger Prime and his Mighty Multi-Vengers, anyone?), earning 4 out of 5 stars overall. I’ve heard complaints that this arc seemed to have no stakes, but I find the depiction of individuals at the point of crisis to be satisfying, especially with the artists on display here. It may not be everyone, but it certainly works for me.

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