"It's been a marvelous 85 years for a certain superhero entertainment empire. The first issue of Marvel Comics, originally branded Timely Comics, launched on Aug. 31, 1939, and went on to introduce the likes of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four to an eager flock of comic book readers. Decades later, the Marvel name has a Hollywood studio that surpassed $31 billion at the global box office from 34 films based on those comic properties, as well as a burgeoning television slate on streaming service Disney+."
This excellent video explains how comics have traditionally moved from stand-alone characters to ever-increasingly complex interconnectedness of various characters via the "crossover event," requiring a major investment of time, mental energy and (above all) financial commitment from fans. The storylines constantly raise the stakes in terms of villains, threat levels and effort needed to win. Eventually the cycle gets too big to handle and must end in a "refresh" or "soft reboot" and start all over again.
The commentator accurately notes that the MCU has now entered this phase. After the huge crossover event of Thanos, stakes and threat levels have now been raised with the Multiverse and Kang the Conqueror storylines. As in comics, the complex storyline needs to be advanced via expository movies/series which unfortunately can be bad/mediocre for fans. "Entertainment becomes homework."
I certainly agree with this assessment. MCU movies/series are getting dull, overstuffed with too many characters and too many endless CGI battles. The only thing still keeping me involved are the occasional few-and-far-between scenes focusing on favourite characters' personalities and relationship developments.
I assume that once the Multiverse and Kang are exhausted, the next round will focus on the Skrull takeover of earth. Secret Invasion is already setting up this next big blockbuster storyline. Maybe Steve and Bucky's narrative will finally take centre stage again! I'm convinced that the Skrulls replaced Steve and that Bucky will ultimately be the one to save him. (By the time we get there, though, both principal roles might have to be recast due to aging actors.)
COLLIN KELLY & JACKSON LANZING (W) • Geraldo Borges (A)
Cover by Terry Dodson • VARIANT COVER BY MAHMUD ASRAR
VARIANT COVER BY GEORGE PÉREZ • VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY GEORGE PÉREZ
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY JOSEMARIA CASANOVAS
NIGHTMARE VARIANT COVER BY PEACH MOMOKO
SKI CHALET VARIANT COVER BY TBA • SKI CHALET VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY TBA
A REVOLUTION IS COMING! Bucky Barnes, the Revolution, just inherited a mountain of covert intel, and he has one objective: justice. Like lightning. He’s going after the establishment, the people no one else is willing or able to take down, and he’ll do whatever it takes to win. Teaming with the mysterious Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, Bucky assembles a team of black-ops heavy hitters to pursue high-profile targets like the Red Skull, Kingpin and even Doctor Doom himself. No one is safe from the Thunderbolts!
Cover Artists: Carmen Carnero and Alejandro Sánchez]
Well, it seems I was wrong. The Money and The Power did not kill The Love and The Machine, because here they are all back again at the Century Game table . . .
Meanwhile, the Invaders (now reduced to only Captain America, Destroyer and Nomad for some reason) reach the Shadow Capitol and easily fight their way through an army of supervillain mercenaries (including Crossbones in a wee cameo) bought by The Money and robotic soldiers created by The Machine. Just when things look dire, Ian Rogers, King of the Monsters, shows up to help his superhero Mom and Dad win.
Captain America confronts the monstrous Machine who, it turns out, was Dr. Agboje's mother in her human existence. She threatens to destroy everything but Steve activates Agboje's override in the Shield and initiates its kill switch sequence, destroying The Machine.
And now it's Alpine's turn to shine as a superhero! She takes down The Money, viciously clawing him and then nonchalantly licking the blood off her paws.
Cornered by The New Revolution and his gun, The Power taunts Steve that Bucky is still a killer and Steve should talk him out of it. But Steve leaves the choice up to Bucky, saying that if his call is to pull the trigger, "you're my friend, and I trust you." But it turns out that Bucky has another fate in store for The Power, turning him over to Doctor Doom who takes his revenge on Fortunov for his previous crimes against Latveria. Doom promises to make Fortunov's death last longer than the Century Game did.
And then Steve, Sharon, Bucky and Alpine all go back to New York and live happily ever after.
The story's overarching premise was too complicated and required an excessive amount of backstory to be comprehensible. There were way too many characters involved in this, and they took over the action at the strangest times (like MODOC). The plot veered wildly from convoluted to simplistic and silly.
However, the series did have some good moments of sporadic character development. Alpine finally got her due as Bucky's sidekick and was always a welcome presence when she appeared.
The best thing about this series was Carmen Carnero's outstanding art. Kudos to Carlos Magno's art as well. I'm now a fan and will watch for future work from both of them.
