Writer/Artist: Jim Starlin
Publisher: Marvel
It was the return of Jim Starlin to Marvel and his favorite cast of characters after having driven them into the ground with the Infinity Crusade affair, and yet it came and went without so much as a whisper. The title itself, in the tradition of the Infinity series of the early ‘90s, is actually rather deceptive, as Abyss lacks the scope, consequences and ambition of the previous event series. But taken as a self-contained Thanos and Warlock story, it’s actually pretty good.
The cast of the Infinity Watch, minus Drax, team with Thanos, Captain Marvel (Genis Vell), Doctor Strange and Spider-man in an attempt to stifle one of Thanos’ plans gone awry and save the universe. Spider-man? What is Spider-man doing among this cosmic cast, you may ask. While he slightly feels shoehorned in, he’s handled rather well as the common man who can barely comprehend the cosmic stakes at risk, and Genis is on hand to be the middle man who knows enough to explain the fundamentals of the plot while is also something of a novice himself. While it sounds like these two do nothing but serve as exposition and comic relief, their conversations do pack enough substance and wit to justify their inclusion, and it feels good to have a Captain Marvel once again involved in Thanos’ affairs.
The plot and Starlin’s art style are straight-up old school, in a good way and bad. It’s the kind of cosmic superheroics we never see anymore that’s delivered with the same straight face as with the original Thanos sagas in the ‘70s. It also makes use of many characters’ potential, as Doctor Strange gets some of the best battle scenes he’s had in over a decade and Thanos gets to explain away his dreadful appearance in the early issues of Jurgens’ Thor. The designs for the villains are both uninspired and simplistically genius at once. But at the same time, the plot is extremely hokey, leaning on plot devices like cosmically aware children, mind control and reoccurring insanity. Some of the illustrations, though purposefully so, are overly goofy and hurt the overall tone.
Worst of all, as fun a tale as it is, it has no lasting significance beyond the miniseries. It attempts to develop Thanos’ motivations, but merely offers faint promise for real change in his next adventure. The rest of the characters have had little to no effect on the Marvel universe since this outing, and despite their short moment in the spotlight, it’s nothing more than a moment. It shouldn’t hurt the strength of the tale itself, but a story called Infinity Abyss has lofty expectations to live up to. If only it were retitled Thanos and Warlock’s Excellent Adventure.
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