Arkon the magnificent, a warlord from a world whose survival depends on Earth's destruction. Wanda, a former witch and avenger without her mutant powers, kidnapped by Arkon to be his queen. Pietro, struck with fear for his sister's fate, rushing to the Avengers asking for help. Oh yes, all this and the creation of an atomic device to end with our planet...here we start our tale.
Once again, Roy Thomas and John Buscema show why they are considered one of the greatest tandems that has worked on the Avengers title over the years. Roy gives us a confident Vision; a technologically advanced T'Challa, able to create a device to break the gap between Arkon's world and the Earth; shows us Pietro's despair, only thinking about his sister's peril, never wondering about Earth's fate. And, although we have the big three at the end of the book, they are not the stars, but just the heavy weight that the team needed to win against Arkon's troops.
Roy used to do this very often. He had his team of Avengers, developing characters such as the Black Panther, Hawkeye (now Goliath), the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and, of course, his own creation, the Vision; but this didn't stop him from bringing back every now and then a very classic Thor or a genius Iron Man, just to provide the key to win the battle and eventually save the Earth.
However, the best part of this story may very well be the "Wanda - Arkon" story...a love story which takes place in the middle of a great crisis for two worlds. A love story where feelings change, and where we see a trembling Wanda almost giving herself to Arkon, realizing that maybe her fate is to become queen of an unknown world, and to marry a barbarian whose heart seems to get softened with her tender, sweet words.
The scene with Wanda holding the unique flower in her hand while reciting a poem that makes Arkon wonder if even the tiniest things can hold the greatest of secrets is wonderful. Roy makes it sweet and very intimate, while Big John shines here, drawing one of his most beautiful Wanda scenes. But, just like in real life, the hard reality comes at the worst moment, when the two of them were about to seal this beautiful moment with a kiss.
With Thor's arrival the team manages to cross the dimensions, taking the two lovers-to-be out of their dream, and awakening in Arkon the worst of barbarians once more, ready to defend his kingdom and crush the invaders, who are already shouting a well known battle cry: Avengers Assemble!
Being almost defeated, his troops down after the Avengers' terrific and thunderous attack, Arkon gets the device which will make the Earth explode with the power of the atom, and give his world light for countless eons, and heads for New York with his "prize", a confused and depowered Wanda Maximoff, who had been fooled by the ruler into thinking that Earth wasn't going to die in order for his world to live.
In the end the "reserve" avengers, Thor and Iron Man, manage to create and power a device which will give light to Arkon's world, therefore not being needed the cataclismic explosion on Earth that Arkon was about to provoke, by throwing the atomic sphere created with the knowledge of Earth's greatest physicians and the technology of Arkon's world.
But is this all? What about Wanda? And Arkon? What about what could have been, but never was?
What about that flower that helped the beauty show so much to the barbarian?
All these questions have one answer: Arkon ended becoming a nobler man thanks to Wanda's sincere words and care, and Wanda saw the best and worst that a man can offer, knowing that tenderness can be everywhere, even in a barbarian's cold heart...or inside a certain android, but that's another story...
Sam
2 comments:
Sam, the Arkon story made John Buscema my favorite artist. I enjoyed your review for fleshing out the Scarlet Witch and barbarian king attraction, which under Big John almost came alive.
Can't wait for your next review.
What an interesting review. After reading it I´m willing to read the comic! :)
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