White Hot Light — Avengers #7 Review

There’s a superflow that runs through every universe, and it’s under attack.

Or it was.

The sudden attack on ascension stations monitoring the superflow in different universes has culminated in the destruction of the main station at the nexus of the superflow.

It’s the kind of threat Tony Stark and Steve Rogers saw coming when they brought in more members to the Avengers team, and after several issues spent introducing new characters to the universe and team, Avengers #7 picks up speed with a handful of the Avengers looking for the Starbrand, a human given the powers to save the Earth and destroy it.

With the manifestation of Captain Universe signifying a potential universe-busting event or events, the Avengers are in store for something ginormous as the being formerly known as Blackveil reveals his true nature. Warning of the White Event, the now correctly identified as a Nightmask has gained control of the Avengers computer systems to locate other summoned beings. They find the new Starbrand, whose birth destroys all life within 100 meters, at ground zero within the remains of a college campus. Whether or not the new Starbrand will fight alongside or against the Avengers remains to be seen as the team braces for more developments concerning the White Event and the threat to the superflow and Earth.

Escalation has been the general theme for the Avengers series, and issue #7 definitely steps it up, flying forward and head first. Jonathan Hickman’s laid out pieces are now beginning to reveal the bigger picture, and the Nightmask’s role in it all helps drive the plot forward even if readers don’t get a chance to ask some pertinent questions about what’s going on. It’s still unclear what the White Event is, what’s significant about it being the last, what’s wrong with the broken universe, and what kind of threat requires giving a college student the power to destroy the world. Hickman’s scripting is like a fast-moving train — jump on and hang tight for the ride.

Dustin Weaver takes over the pencils and inks on this issue with Justin Ponsor filling in on colors. The transition from Adam Kubert to Dustin Weaver isn’t as jarring as the jump from Jerome Opena to Kubert, and Weaver’s artwork is solid. The art team does a good job of keeping the look and tone of the book similar to the other issues. Weaver’s art seems more dynamic with moving characters that use their arms to express themselves and scene composition that’s instantly recognizable and familiar. The artwork in the second half of the book jumps out of panels, creating dimension.

For readers who want to their stories in courses with plenty of meat will find Avengers #7 a bone to whet the appetite. Characters throw around terms and names explaining them with more terms and names. It’s clear that whatever’s on the horizon could be big, really big, but it’s formless without a face.The groundwork’s been laid, and there’s a rumble coming from the throttle.