Secret Avengers #28: Review

Jun 2012

Rick Remender, Renato Guedes

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::

Story Name:

(no title given)

Review & Comments

Rating:

Secret Avengers #28 Review by Rob Johnson (March 3, 2014)

As Binary Carol Danvers *did* gain her power from *a* white hole. But I think it was 1 particular white hole, and she lost contact with it when she lost her Binary powers. The idea that she can choose to contact another white hole is new. This issue also confuses some aspects of white holes, the opposite of black holes, which are anyway purely theoretical objects. Ms Marvel worries about destroying a new universe being born on the other side of the white hole. The idea is that a white hole is the other side of a black hole. Stuff disappears from this universe down a black hole, and is spewed out into another universe from a white hole. Taking the idea 1 step further, such a white hole could be the Big Bang which starts off a universe. However for there to be a new universe being born on the other side, Carol would have to be working with a *black* hole in this universe. If she gains power from a white hole, then the far side would be a black hole, and no universe would be being created. Carol of course switches from Ms Marvel to Captain Marvel for her new series after Avengers vs X-Men. Captain Britain says he's faced the Phoenix many times before. But the only relationship I know of is his time with Rachel Summers (a host for the Phoenix Force) in Excalibur. The characters in this #26-28 section of AvX now go back to star in the concurrent Avengers #26-27.

From Our Blog:

Gwen Stacy, beauty queen of Standard High School, was Peter Parker's (alias Spider-Man) first great love.

Gwen Stacy: Classic Beauty

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Secret Avengers #28 Synopsis by Rob Johnson

A team of Avengers are on the Kree homeworld Hala where a mysterious man whom the intro text page refers to as Minister Marvel has brainwashed the population by some form of emission into welcoming the approach of the Phoenix Force, claiming that it will enable them to ascend to a higher level. He arranged for the resurrection of the original Captain Marvel, and included CM in his mind-control along with (semi-)Kree Ms Marvel and Protector. Vision broke the mind-control of some Kree. But when Captain Marvel saw soldiers killing these civilians the shock undermined Minister Marvel's control.

CM, Ms Marvel and Protector are carrying the limp forms of Beast, Thor and Vision to the centre of the city, where an Accuser is about to execute Captain Britain, Valkyrie and James Rhodes (without his War Machine armour). But Vision is able to free the brainwashed heroes from Minister Marvel's dream, and they realise that the Phoenix will destroy the planet rather than evolve its inhabitants. CM and Vision then stop the execution and free the minds of more people. And the Accuser tells them where to find Minister Marvel.

The Minister is with his son who he calls Marvel Mind - the source of the mind control. It turns out they are relatives of Captain Mar-Vell, whose actions in becoming a champion of Earth brought shame to the family name. Minister Marvel really believes what he preaches, and expects that his deeds this day will restore the family honour. But now that Marvel Mind has kept the populace peaceful until the Phoenix Force got here, he is no longer necessary - and the Minister kills his son.

Captain Marvel, Thor and Vision invade the palace. Minister Marvel greets his uncle and then blows his own brains out, presumably confidant that events will make him a hero to his people anyway.

The other Avengers are debating what to do. There's no time to evacuate Hala, so they must stop the Phoenix somehow. Beast suggests that Ms Marvel can do it, and she immediately realises what he means. (But of course they don't tell us for reasons of suspense.)

The Kree spacefleet is ordered back from futilely attacking the Phoenix Force. Ms Marvel and Thor approach it. Carol Danvers makes use of a nearby white hole to regain her old Binary powers. Binary then starts siphoning the Phoenix through herself and into a portal Thor's hammer creates to a distant part of the universe. She almost becomes lost in the exhilaration of the Phoenix power. But the Phoenix rejects her.

Captain Marvel catches the falling body of Ms Marvel, as Captain Britain flies up to take her place. He tries to force the Force through the portal. But CM tells Carol that the Phoenix wants him, to reclaim the part of the Phoenix Force that Minister Marvel used to resurrect him in #26. So CM hurls CB away, and faces the Phoenix alone, letting his life force be reabsorbed.

In an epilogue the Force has gone back on its path towards Earth. The Avengers are recovering from their wounds, and the Kree are repairing their quincarrier for them. And Carol Danvers is musing over the heroism of Captain Marvel. Throughout this issue she has been a voiceover recounting the story in a report for Tony Stark. Now she talks of taking on CM's name to honour him.

The story continues in AVENGERS #26

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::