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Avengers Forever #3

Mar 2022

Jason Aaron, Aaron Kuder

Story Name:

The lords of Earthly vengeance Part 3: We who are about to avenge

Synopsis

Avengers Forever #3 synopsis by Rob Johnson

Rating:

Previously Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes) and 1 of the Deathloks sent to Earth-616 by the Avenger Prime were teleported to Earth-818, a wasteland ruled by Black Skull of the Multiversal Masters Of Evil. They were captured and tortured but at the end of last issue Ant-Man (Tony Stark) of Earth-818 came to their rescue.

Now we back-track a bit to Ant-Man and his gang, who we now learn are the Infinity Thing, a female Moon Knight (Mariama Spector), Vision and Wonder Man. Vision is a half-completed robot that Tony patched together when he was a kid. Simon Williams was 1 of the irradiated super-gladiators who fought to the death in the only films made in this world. He became their biggest star as the gray-skinned Wonder Man and then escaped. Ben Grimm went into space in search of a weapon to save the world and came back as the crystalline Infinity Thing who makes cryptic remarks like "The door is opening. It is time.". We don't learn much about Moon Knight yet. They all agree to the rescue, and Stark takes a last slug of booze before leading them out.

Now Ant-Man has enlarged to human size in the dungeon cell but learns that the 2 captives don't want to be rescued. GR has already lost a foot but says he has unfinished business. The DL says that the Rider won't run from his destiny. But in turn he asks Stark if he's an ant or an Avenger. Tony doesn't recognise the term but gets in touch with his team to update them on the situation. He relays that the duo have a plan, and that strangely they trust him after he said he was Tony Stark. Then they are attacked by Venom tendrils.

Outside the fortress guarded by Black Skull's War Machines the other 4 heroes are hiding shrunk by Stark Particles for half an hour. Wonder Man tells the others to go complete the rescue while he deals with the WMs. He turns ionic and then zooms around at mini-size zapping himself through WM brains or other vital organs. The levitating Thing opts to join in. He repeats his catch phrase adding "Infinity calls" and "Now is the time of the clobbering". He turns into a still-mini atomic sort of thing which has weird effects on nearby WMs, such as spaghettifying or crumbling into cubes.

Black Skull, Johann Shmidt inside a Venom symbiote. has entered the cell to find out what's going on. Ant-Man shrinks to atom size to escape his notice.

Mini Moon Knight and Vision have infiltrated the fortress. They learn from Stark's Iron Ant Shellhead that he shrunk out of communication 'range'. Vision detects a large energy source and the duo head to investigate it. On the way MK asks Viz why he never made Tony complete him. The android replies that he feared that becoming more human-like might give him the worst aspects of humanity.

Outside Thing and Wonder Man are still destroying War Machines. Wondy is enjoying himself. Infinity Thing adds more cryptic statements:- "Infinity must be guarded. The tower must stand. All must be assembled."

Mini Vision phases into the energy room and MK joins him her own way. The room is full of War Machine technicians, which makes it a bad time for the Stark Particles to wear off and make them full-size and visible. Mariama Spector declares that the Fist Of Khonshu is here for vengeance and attacks with gun, sword and acrobatics. Vision just calmly blasts away with the solar jewel on his forehead.

Black Skull is ranting as he attacks Ghost Rider and Deathlok. He claims to be in control of the Venom symbiote but when he lets rip with it, it shows that it is still not tamed and tries to kill Robbie Reyes. BS beats it back into submission, declaring that RR won't die until he's revealed the identity of Avenger Prime (which Robbie of course doesn't know). Meanwhile atom-Ant-Man has positioned himself and suddenly grows from there to really giant-size, punching Skull through the castle wall on the way.

GR has hitched a ride on AM's shoulder and DL is riding Shellhead. We now learn the secret plan. Last issue DL wired himself into GR's nervous system and *he* has since been enduring the pain BS has been causing GR, leaving the Rider free to strike back. Skull is firing pieces of Venom as spikes, but Ghost Rider plucks out the ones that have pierced his body and melts them into a hellfire chain. He claims that the symbiote is a vehicle which Shmidt is riding. But Robbie is now the All-Rider and *all* vehicles are his to control. With that he rips the symbiote from Skull's body.

Thing and Wonder Man are also now full size and still fighting. GR suddenly joins them in his Hell Charger with Ant-Man (and probably Deathlok) as passengers and dragging the Skull behind them.

Moony and Viz have dealt with *their* War Machines and now face the energy source. Vision realises it is an array of portals to other realities. And then other versions of the Skull step through swearing vengeance.

Review / Commentaries

Avengers Forever #3 Review by Rob Johnson (March 4, 2022)

Scott Hanna shares the inking with Cam Smith.

Infinity Thing's mention of a tower and 'assembling' suggest that he is another agent of Avenger Prime in his tower at infinity's end.

Marvel Fandom Wiki has led me to realise/remember that there has been a previous Avenger Prime created by a merging of Luke Cage's Mighty Avengers in their (2013) #14. It remains to be seen whether this has anything to do with the current mystery version.

All alternate Moon Knights were killed/depowered during the Infinity War event in Marc Spector, Moon Knight #43. Maybe this MK began her career after that? Or maybe when the multiverse was rebuilt after Secret Wars multiple MKs were brought back?

Of the other Skulls we see at the end another seems to also have a Venom Symbiote, 1 looks like Carnage, 1 seems like a combo with Captain America, another is a sword-wielding barbarian and the 5th is maybe a Ghost Rider totally encased in a protective suit like the X-Men foe Holocaust.

> Avengers Forever comic book info and issue index

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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Jason Aaron

Aaron Kuder

Cam Smith

Guru-eFX

Aaron Kuder (Cover Penciler)
Aaron Kuder (Cover Inker)
Jason Keith (Cover Colorist)

Additional Credits

Letterer: Cory Petit.
Editor: Tom Brevoort. Editor-in-chief: C. B. Cebulski.

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Ant-Man (Tony Stark 818), Black Skull (of MMOE), Deathloks, Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes), Infinity Thing, Moon Knight (Mariama Spector), Vision (of 818), Wonder Man (Simon Williams 818).

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