A New Starbrand Is Born In Avengers #30
by Josh Davison
Mild Spoilers Ahead
The Avengers, Gladiator, and the Heralds of Galactus have at last found the new Starbrand. She is a pregnant Earth woman on the verge of giving birth and Gladiator is trying to kill her. The Avengers won’t allow this. This puts Earth’s Mightiest Heroes against the united forces of Gladiator, Silver Surfer, Terrax, and Firelord. The Avengers also need to help the Starbrand through labor so that the baby can survive. Captain America takes the helm on this while the others take on some of the most powerful beings in the cosmos.
Avengers #30 brings the “Starbrand Reborn” story to a conclusion, with the Avengers putting everything on the line to protect the new Starbrand and her newborn child from the Shi’ar Majestor and three Heralds of Galactus. To make matters worse, Thor has gone full Brood. It’s an epic final chapter and we get to see this Avengers team of heavy-hitters take on some of the galaxy’s most powerful forces while desperately trying to save a pair of lives.
Much of the comic also consists of the aftermath, with Black Panther debriefing Captains America and Marvel.
While there is some humor in this comic, the one-liners are far more restrained. The drama is able to land, and the atmosphere of seriousness and sincerity is well-maintained throughout the comic.
Gladiator comes across as especially coldhearted in this story, though he does show some degree of sympathy once everything is said and done. The Avengers also have words with the Heralds and Silver Surfer reminds us why he will always be one of Marvel’s greatest creations.
Ed McGuinness and Francesco Manna team up for this explosive climax and their styles compliments one another very well. The action scenes are thunderous and the cosmic forces at play are given brilliant and bombastic representation. Manna and Mark Morales ensure that the book is skillfully inked and color artist Jason Keith gives a vibrant color treatment to the proceedings.
Avengers #30 is an exciting and compelling finale for the “Starbrand Reborn” tale. We get to see the true birth of a new Starbrand in the backdrop of a battle of galactic proportions rendered by a brilliant art team. This one definitely gets a recommendation. Give it a read.
Avengers #30 comes to us from writer Jason Aaron, artists Ed McGuinness and Francesco Manna, inkers Mark Morales and Francesco Manna, color artist Jason Keith, letterer VC’s Cory Petit, cover artist Mico Suayan with Rain Beredo, and variant cover artist Khoi Pham with Morry Hollowell.
Final Score: 9.5/10
