Review: INFINITY #1

*SPOILER FREE REVIEW*

Writer:  Jonathan Hickman
Penciler:  Jim Cheung
Inkers:  Mark Morales with John Livesay, David Meikis and Jim Cheung
Colorist:  Justin Ponsor
Letterers:  Chris Eliopoulos with Joe Caramagna
Cover:  Adam Kubert & Laura Martin

Marvel’s next big crossover event Infinity is upon us.  Jonathan Hickman has been building to this ever since he helped relaunch Avengers and New Avengers in the Marvel NOW!.

There are two forces at play here.  One is a group of space creatures called The Builders, who are cutting a path through the cosmos on a collision course with Earth.  The other force is Thanos.  There is something on Earth that he wants, and he will stop at nothing to find it and claim it as his.

What I Liked

The Inhumans get a fair amount of focus in our first issue.  For those who are not aware, they are scheduled to be the stars of the outcome of Infinity and have a new ongoing series called Inhuman.  I even learned things about the Inhumans I wasn’t aware of.  Apparently some lies have been hidden in the Inhuman household.

If you have been reading Hickman’s Avengers and New Avengers then there are elements here you will have satisfaction with.  Some long running threads are revisted, and Hickman even references crossover events from the past.

It’s great to see Jim Cheung providing art for this book.  The last series I saw him work on was Avengers:  The Children’s Crusade – Young Avengers (which my brother got me as a birthday gift last year).  I was also able to have Cheung autograph some of his comics for me at Megacon in Orlando this year.  I enjoy his clear and concise pencils.  He provides great detail to his panels, and his storytelling is easy to comprehend.  I can’t wait to see him draw more action-heavy sequences.

What I Didn’t Like

There are a lot of characters being juggled in this first issue.  On the recap page I counted over 50 individuals.  That is A LOT.  Some only get camera time in one panel and then not heard from or seen again.  With an event of this scope, this is bound to happen.

As much of an important part that the Inhumans have to play, they only recently started being featured in New Avengers.  It would have felt more organic if Hickman was using them early on in his Avengers or New Avengers runs.

A few of the opening pages were already shared in this year’s “Free Comic Book Day” giveaway.  For those who picked up that issue at their local comic book shop, this won’t be anything new.

Summary

Infinity #1 is a fine opening to this six-part mini-series.  The chess pieces are moved where they need to be, we are introduced to our main players, and some mysteries are established.  This is what Hickman has been building to all these months.  Usually these big Marvel events are saved for Brian Michael Bendis to orchestrate.  We have to wait and see if Hickman can deliver the goods.

This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network.  They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/

Timdogg

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE