The Avengers Defend 42 From a Buncha Bugs [Review]
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! must team up with some of their deadliest foes when the super prison, 42, is attacked by strange creatures! Click “More” to read our review!
S2, Episode 15: Assault on 42
The Avengers transport Whirlwind to 42. A raving Leader warn against a coming threat to the prison. Cap, Ms. Marvel, and Agent Quartermain investigate the power shortages. They find a power conduit was chewed through. Thor and Wasp are attacked by a scorpion like thing. Soon, the entire prison is overrun by the creatures. Outside, Ms. Marvel and Thor discover a massive wave of the creatures on the way. They ask the prisoners to help them fight the monsters. The rest of the bugs invade, but hold because another, much more impressive creature commanded them to. The Leader learns the name of the bugs’ commander – Annihilus. Leader gets to the prison’s computer to disrupt Annihilus’ energy shield. They take him down and destroy the device he uses to control the bugs and with that, his threat is ended, but 42 is in bad shape and it’s fairly certain Annihilus will not be staying away.
This episode reminds me a lot of the movie Alien with a setting in remote space with no hope for backup and multi-legged, highly intelligent creatures menacing the crew. There’s already a lot of tension being at 42 and surrounded by the worst of the worse villains, but add in a brand new threat that outnumbers the agents, Avengers, and prisoners by the thousands, and now you have a brand new threat that only heightens the problems. In some ways, the episode also calls back the Fantastic Four issue that Johnny Storm “died” in. If all else fails and the combined forces can’t hold back Annihilus or his annihilation wave, they will destroy the portal to the prison, trapping them there seemingly forever.
All of this makes for a pretty compelling episode. The bug monsters are already creepy and Annihilus is a tough foe. Throw in the setting and the stakes and you’re literally at the edge of your seat. That’s where good writing plays such a large part. Brian Reed, a veteran of Marvel Comics, comes through pretty solidly with an exciting action/horror/sci-fi tale that pays off even when we’re positive the Avengers will find a way to not blow up their only way home. Fans of Ms. Marvel are in for a treat too. Reed was the last writer to have the character star in her own book and that series was really good. In this episode, Reed shows how much of a tactical leader she is.
A COMIC BOOK BLOG RATING
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Tense and creepy story that leaves you on the edge of your seat. Good stuff from Ms. Marvel as well. | Not much for me to say negative. Just a good episode all around. |
| Rating |
0 Comments
You can be the first one to leave a comment.