Infinity Wars Prime #1 Review

Infinity Wars Prime #1

Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artist: Mike Deodato Jr.
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Deodato Jr., Martin
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Review by Nico Sprezzatura

When Gerry Duggan took over Guardians of the Galaxy last year, Marvel teased it would pay off in a big way sooner rather than later. This week’s Infinity Wars Prime #1 is the final prelude for that payoff, no doubt looking to synergize with this year’s massive (and similarly-titled) Avengers film. Is it worth your attention?

I’m not sure!

I never really know how to approach zero —or in this case, prime— issues. At best, they give you some necessary foundation for the main event series; at worst, they’re superfluous filler. In the case of Infinity Wars especially, there was already a whole prelude event (Infinity Countdown) that was conceived for the sole purpose of setting up this one. Why not just publish Infinity Wars Prime #1 as the final issue of the latter?

(That’s a rhetorical question, of course. The reason why is so that Marvel can sell two new #1’s of a title instead of one… but that’s neither here nor there.)

(It’s also a pet peeve of mine when zero issues are published after a #1, since it makes more sense to approach them as prequels or origin stories to a character or event we’re already familiar with. Comics, they’re weird!)

If I’m being honest, Prime #1 feels more akin to the “superfluous filler” sort of zero issue than the other kind — or at the very least, it would’ve been a more satisfying conclusion to Infinity Countdown, which sorta ended on a whimper in my opinion.

The basics are these: various corners of the Marvel Universe have been seeking out the (newly-restored) Infinity Stones thought to have been destroyed a few years ago, and the more heroic among them (i.e. Doctor Strange, the Guardians) are looking to ensure they don’t fall into the wrong hands like they’re so wont to do.

There’s nothing really new revealed here, aside from the first appearance of Requiem, who’s being majorly marketed as the main antagonist of Infinity Wars. If you’re asking why Thanos isn’t the big bad of an event series about the Infinity Stones, well… you’re gonna have to read the issue. It’s explained pretty succinctly, but you might’ve been able to figure it out before even getting there.

I do find the idea of Requiem to be interesting. We’re not made privy to their true identity, and probably won’t be for a while, but if I had to guess… I’m putting my money on Nebula. Given how big her prevalence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is right now, it’s weird that she’s barely showed up in the comics since then. Wouldn’t her being the baddie of Marvel’s big event this year do a good job of bringing her back into the fold? Another popular guess is Gamora, which I’d be pretty underwhelmed by personally, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

The art here, drawn by Mike Deodato Jr. and Frank Martin, is similarly fine (?). Deodato runs pretty hot and cold for me, and I’m not always a big fan of Martin’s colors, but their work in this issue is suitable. To his credit, Deodato’s layouts have been pretty interesting lately, so they make Prime look cooler than it might’ve otherwise. I would’ve liked to have seen what Duggan’s Guardians of the Galaxy (and Countdown) collaborator Aaron Kuder could’ve done with this script, but that’s just my opinion.

The Verdict: Check it out.

As a prelude to Marvel’s next big crossover event, Infinity Wars Prime #1 is mostly skippable, but it’s not the worst thing to spend your cash on this week.