Advanced Review: Thanos Rising #1

*SPOILER-FREE REVIEW*

Writer:  Jason Aaron
Art:  Simone Bianchi
Colors:  Simone Peruzzi
Letterer:  VC’s Clayton Cowles

If you haven’t noticed, Thanos is a pretty big deal over at Marvel.  He appeared in the after-credits scene of the hit movie “The Avengers”, so Marvel has made a point to bring him back to prominence in their comics.  It’s their way of grooming the movie audience for his inevitable return in either the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie or sequel to “The Avengers”.

Thanos was the main villain in Brian Michael Bendis’ Avengers Assemble opening arc, and now his origin is being retold by Jason Aaron in Thanos Rising, a five-issue limited series with art by Simone Bianchi.

What I Liked

The art from Simone Bianchi and colors from Simone Peruzzi make a great team.  I remember seeing Simone Bianchi doing art back on Wolverine many years ago.  This was my first time picking up one of his books in years, and I was very impressed.

Jason Aaron does a masterful job of dropping the reader into the early days of Thanos’ life as a child and the hardships he faced growing up.  Even as a young man, Death was never too far behind.  I like how Aaron portrays Thanos as a kind soul.  It is a stark contrast to the mad tyrant we know him as today.  It makes us want to know what happened to change him into Thanos the Destroyer.

What I Didn’t Like

There honestly was not a thing I found fault with this issue.  I was never one to care for the character Thanos.  He never appeared in the Spider-Man and X-Men comics I read growing up.  I always knew of Thanos, but never had background on him as a villain.  One day I need to go back and read the Infinity Gauntlet crossover.  This opening story has me intrigued to keep reading his story so I can familiarize myself with him.

Summary

A very nice introduction to the origin of the mad titan Thanos.  By the time this limited series finishes, it will be time for Marvel’s next big epic event, “Infinity”, which will be starring Thanos himself.  Thanos will be front and center at the Marvel Universe in the fall, and Thanos Rising is establishing his history for new readers.

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