Review: New Avengers - Issue #30

(Warning: This review includes spoilers from New Avengers issue #30)

If you have been following the Time Runs Out storyline, you know that things are looking bad for the Marvel 616 (original Marvel universe).  Since the story began in New Avengers #1, the story has been building on the premise that the Marvel heroes are finally facing their Kobayashi Maru scenario.  Issue #30 does a fantastic job of ramping up this idea by providing some much needed details about what is happening.

(Warning: Spoilers are about to be dropped in this article.)

Over the last eight months, Hank Pym has been travelling the multiverse with the purpose of finding out who is responsible for the incursions that have been wiping out realities.  It turns out that in part, the Beyonders are responsible for what is happening.  It also turns out that they are in control of the Mapmakers and are using them as a way of trapping the abstracts and other powerful beings of each universe. 

What makes this issue so fantastic is the tone it sets for the remainder of the story.  The heroes have run out of options and even the Deus Ex Machinas (infinity stones, celestials, etc…) have all been taken off the table by the end of this issue.  Of particular note, the death of Living Tribunal was finally explained after being shown over a year ago. 

The reveals of this issue made for a great read, but did leave me with a bit of a lingering sadness over the state of the 616.  With hope all but lost and future solicitations pointing to things becoming even worse, I was left not wanting to continue the story.  DC comics are known for the occasional reboot, but to see it unfold in the Marvel universe is a different experience.  Reed Richards holding his son after a failed attempt to save everything is a powerful image for a father like me.  More so, hearing characters who I have always known to be hopeful to finally admit defeat is simply a tough story to read. 

If you have been following the storyline, issue #30 is a must read.  If you haven’t been following it to this point, I would suggest starting back at issue #1 and working your way to becoming current.  Time Runs Out is likely to become one of those rare events that sticks with the community for generations.  It will all come down to how Marvel wraps things up in the next two months.   

Captain America: Civil War Speculation

Since the announcement of Captain America: Civil War, I have been pondering how they will translate the comic story to the big screen.  One of the things Marvel has done an excellent job of doing is taking those stories and putting a new spin on them in the movies.   Marvel has also shown that they are willing to take risks when it comes to their characters.  Given these things, I would like to propose the following ideas about how CA: Civil War may play out.

What if the roles of Steve Rogers and Tony Stark are swapped between the comics and movie?  One of the things about the original comic was that it seemed plausible that either character could have been for or against the registration act.  What if at the end of Age of Ultron, Captain America is distraught over the damage done and decides that there needs to be rules in place on how super heroes operate?  What if he forms a new team that is sanctioned by the government, but doesn’t take marching orders from it.  What if their primary purpose is to police other super heroes?

At the same time, Tony discovers his father was killed by the Winter Soldier and seeks “revenge”.  He is not willing to turn him over to the government and thus forms a team of like-minded heroes.  This elevates the conflict between the characters while making Tony the antagonist, but not a traditional villain. 

As for Spiderman, what if he begins on Captain America’s team, but switches sides at the end?  After all, Cap is a world renowned hero and likely someone that Peter admires.  Being asked to join his team would probably be a hard offer for him to turn down.  As the story develops, Peter learns that Tony’s father was killed by a bad guy, one that Cap is trying to save.  This resonates with Peter on an emotional level and causes him to help Tony towards the end of the story.  Peter and Tony form a bond at the end and Stark gives Pete a new costume (maybe the iron spider suit).

It is an interesting idea that fits into the general theme of the original story while offering a very different take for the movie.  I am not sure if there are plot points I am missing from the prior films that would invalidate this version from happening, but on the surface, it seems like a possibility.  Regardless if my idea is right or wrong, Captain America: Civil War is certain to be amazing.  (Or will it be spectacular?)