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Infinity Wars
Infinity Wars: The Complete Collection
The full saga of Requiem and the Infinity Wars! The Infinity Stones are back. Individually, they grant their wielders great power. Together, they bestow the power of a god! As each stone's location is discovered, forces converge for a battle that will send the universe down a dark path...to the end! Featuring the Chitauri, the Raptors, the Nova Corps, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Adam Warlock and more surprising Stone-wielders! But who, or what, is Requiem? When she warps the Marvel Universe in half, what surprising heroes will assemble to stand against her? And when death comes at last, who will fall?
Collecting: Infinity Countdown Prime 1, Infinity Countdown 1-5, Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock 1, Free Comic Book Day Amazing Spider-Man/Guardians of the Galaxy 2018 (Guardians of the Galaxy Saga), Infinity Wars Prime 1, Infinity Wars 1-6, Infinity Wars: Fallen Guardian 1, Infinity Wars: Infinity 1, Thanos Legacy 1 (B story)
Collecting: Infinity Countdown Prime 1, Infinity Countdown 1-5, Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock 1, Free Comic Book Day Amazing Spider-Man/Guardians of the Galaxy 2018 (Guardians of the Galaxy Saga), Infinity Wars Prime 1, Infinity Wars 1-6, Infinity Wars: Fallen Guardian 1, Infinity Wars: Infinity 1, Thanos Legacy 1 (B story)
592 pages, Hardcover
First published September 18, 2019
18 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 13, 2019
Duggan's Infinity Wars is a strong end to his Guardians of the Galaxy run. (In fact, the first five "Infinity Countdown" issues are pretty much the last issues of his Guardians.)
This story has a nice epic scope that dovetails the modern-day Guardians sequence that began with DnA's work with the most cosmic "Infinity" stories previously produced by Starlin. It's a nice combination that feels like it brings the cosmic universe together, while also bringing Starlin favorite Warlock back into the fold. We also get great endings and new beginnings for a few cosmic characters and a real feeling that this is an ending of another cosmic chapter.
The biggest problem with this comic, and what keeps it from getting five-stars is ironically what got advertised the most: the Warp World, where pairs of heroes are merged together. The problem is that it feels like a detour from the rest of the story, while simultaneously also feeling way too rushed. The result just doesn't fit with everything else, and unfortunately makes some of the last third or so of this volume awkward.
Still, Duggan's run on Guardians was generally good (and so much better than the mediocre, crossover-laden Bendis run that preceded it) and this is a worthy ending to it.
This story has a nice epic scope that dovetails the modern-day Guardians sequence that began with DnA's work with the most cosmic "Infinity" stories previously produced by Starlin. It's a nice combination that feels like it brings the cosmic universe together, while also bringing Starlin favorite Warlock back into the fold. We also get great endings and new beginnings for a few cosmic characters and a real feeling that this is an ending of another cosmic chapter.
The biggest problem with this comic, and what keeps it from getting five-stars is ironically what got advertised the most: the Warp World, where pairs of heroes are merged together. The problem is that it feels like a detour from the rest of the story, while simultaneously also feeling way too rushed. The result just doesn't fit with everything else, and unfortunately makes some of the last third or so of this volume awkward.
Still, Duggan's run on Guardians was generally good (and so much better than the mediocre, crossover-laden Bendis run that preceded it) and this is a worthy ending to it.
November 12, 2019
Great artwork throughout and the story is pretty strong, although the main villain's motivation could use a bit more development. I never really believed it was strong enough to drive what happens in this series. Otherwise, not bad at all.
February 25, 2021
The Infinity Stones are reborn! But whom will wield them and to what end do certain characters want with the stones?
What I liked -
The premise is decent! The idea that the stones come back to ‘life’ and the power struggle that ensues is fun. Having Gamora be a big part of the story is good and in keeping with her character/ relationship to Thanos. The action is decent and the ‘smooshing’ of characters is an interesting idea.
What I disliked -
As with any bigger event it gets bogged down by the tie ins. They add little to nothing to the story and realistically could’ve been broken down to a dialogue from another character. The story is good but, and I guess that’s their the design, the stones all too often work out as a ‘get out of jail’ free card for situations. Deaths are used to shock but just as quickly undone rendering them all pointless.
Favourite panel -
Gamora’s surprise reunion with Thanos is very well done and ultimately satisfying.
3/5
What I liked -
The premise is decent! The idea that the stones come back to ‘life’ and the power struggle that ensues is fun. Having Gamora be a big part of the story is good and in keeping with her character/ relationship to Thanos. The action is decent and the ‘smooshing’ of characters is an interesting idea.
What I disliked -
As with any bigger event it gets bogged down by the tie ins. They add little to nothing to the story and realistically could’ve been broken down to a dialogue from another character. The story is good but, and I guess that’s their the design, the stones all too often work out as a ‘get out of jail’ free card for situations. Deaths are used to shock but just as quickly undone rendering them all pointless.
Favourite panel -
Gamora’s surprise reunion with Thanos is very well done and ultimately satisfying.
3/5
January 7, 2020
Had potential just wasnt amazing.
October 10, 2021
★½☆☆☆
(This started out as a genuine effort to review Infinity Wars, but devolved into a screed about Deodato's disingenuous production method. Nota bene: IMO, just because one uses nontraditional methods of image-making doesn't exclude them from being artists; software-assisted illustration is a completely valid artform, be it in comics or otherwise. The usage of digital techniques in comics is near-ubiquitous (in coloring and lettering especially), and often used to great effect: Fiona Staples' illustration and Elizabeth Breitweiser's coloring come immediately to mind.)
TL;DR: The otherwise pretty capable Duggan struck out with Infinity Wars, but it's an Olympic lap pool of irradiated hyena shit with Deodato at thepencil stylus. Full explanation of Deodato's 3D tracing process below, for anyone interested.
TL;DR²: Duggan good; writing here not good; Deodato v. bad
On the heels of a Guardians run which saw the series not only reclaimed from the mud through which Bendis had dragged it, but begin to approach the spirit of the defining Abnett & Lanning glory years, Duggan's storytelling takes a regrettable nosedive.
But the mediocre scripting and inane plot would've made for an average-ish Big Two event were it illustrated or co-illustrated by any of the talented pencillers who've worked Marvel Cosmic before: Esad Ribic, Brad Walker, Leinil Yu, Jerome Opeña, Duggan's former collaborator Adam Kubert, Juann Cabal, et al., all come to mind. In light of the remarks about Deodato that follow, it is telling that several of the artists I just listed work in digital, and one also uses posing software - the difference is that they do so artfully and in service to the work.
Unfortunately, as is the case with every series in the last ~15 years he's worked on, Mike "literally-tablet-tracing-over-3D-models" Deodato (it's a lengthy appellation, but one he's earned) pretty much decimates it.
Infinity Wars' panels are a mechanized assembly line of Deodato trademarks: 3D character models with their rigid G.I. Joe posture and gawping Barbie faces; blocky vertices and visible right-angle outlines of polygons; four base character models for 80% of the series' characters; spamming brush pattern stamps onto the image layers and calling it shading (he's especially fond of Ben Day dots and faux pencil stroke grid crosshatches); severe aliasing on models for failure to consider printing resolution; distorted and often grotesque frozen anatomy from lazy posing -- Deodato's entirebag of tricks toolbar of tricks makes for less dynamic and fluid characters in a cohesively designed page, and more for a series of stiff, inorganic, and sterile 3D-generated action figures.
And it's a shame, because if he wanted to, he could actually put in some effort and digitally draw the characters in the same way he once did conventionally. The man is not untalented, he's just taken it upon himself to outsource 95% of the drawing process to 3D software.
His digital image production method, for those of you who don't know (and it seems as though a majority of Big Two readers aren't aware of the fact that they're looking at Photoshop layers over screenshots of 3D modeling software) is as follows:
Over the years he's streamlined this process to the point of extreme efficiency, enabling him to reach deadlines that would take months for real illustrators (whom he could formerly be counted among) to complete.
What I take issue with is Deodato claiming his production method is illustration (I take care to term it production, because what he's doing is manifestly industrial and has little relationship with art), and denying he uses modeling software at all. He's not only dishonest, but the rapid pace with which he can churn out that soulless dreck undercuts many real working illustrators, taking food off the tables of real creators. It also doesn't help that Deodato's made no secret of his many shitty moral and political views, and isn't known for his creative or personal integrity.
...Anyway, yeah. A regrettable conclusion to Duggan's Guardians run. Fortunately afterward Cates and Ewing would take up the mantle, and Cates would go on to usher in the third Marvel Cosmic renaissance.
(This started out as a genuine effort to review Infinity Wars, but devolved into a screed about Deodato's disingenuous production method. Nota bene: IMO, just because one uses nontraditional methods of image-making doesn't exclude them from being artists; software-assisted illustration is a completely valid artform, be it in comics or otherwise. The usage of digital techniques in comics is near-ubiquitous (in coloring and lettering especially), and often used to great effect: Fiona Staples' illustration and Elizabeth Breitweiser's coloring come immediately to mind.)
TL;DR: The otherwise pretty capable Duggan struck out with Infinity Wars, but it's an Olympic lap pool of irradiated hyena shit with Deodato at the
TL;DR²: Duggan good; writing here not good; Deodato v. bad
On the heels of a Guardians run which saw the series not only reclaimed from the mud through which Bendis had dragged it, but begin to approach the spirit of the defining Abnett & Lanning glory years, Duggan's storytelling takes a regrettable nosedive.
But the mediocre scripting and inane plot would've made for an average-ish Big Two event were it illustrated or co-illustrated by any of the talented pencillers who've worked Marvel Cosmic before: Esad Ribic, Brad Walker, Leinil Yu, Jerome Opeña, Duggan's former collaborator Adam Kubert, Juann Cabal, et al., all come to mind. In light of the remarks about Deodato that follow, it is telling that several of the artists I just listed work in digital, and one also uses posing software - the difference is that they do so artfully and in service to the work.
Unfortunately, as is the case with every series in the last ~15 years he's worked on, Mike "literally-tablet-tracing-over-3D-models" Deodato (it's a lengthy appellation, but one he's earned) pretty much decimates it.
Infinity Wars' panels are a mechanized assembly line of Deodato trademarks: 3D character models with their rigid G.I. Joe posture and gawping Barbie faces; blocky vertices and visible right-angle outlines of polygons; four base character models for 80% of the series' characters; spamming brush pattern stamps onto the image layers and calling it shading (he's especially fond of Ben Day dots and faux pencil stroke grid crosshatches); severe aliasing on models for failure to consider printing resolution; distorted and often grotesque frozen anatomy from lazy posing -- Deodato's entire
And it's a shame, because if he wanted to, he could actually put in some effort and digitally draw the characters in the same way he once did conventionally. The man is not untalented, he's just taken it upon himself to outsource 95% of the drawing process to 3D software.
His digital image production method, for those of you who don't know (and it seems as though a majority of Big Two readers aren't aware of the fact that they're looking at Photoshop layers over screenshots of 3D modeling software) is as follows:
• Use Poser (as far as I can tell, Poser is his 3D character modelling software of preference, but he may use others) to load an environment, usually a modified template background, which he peppers with stock assets as needed (photographs for backdrops, 3D models for decoration). The buildings and vegetation of earthbound scenes are especially conspicuous, and he's used the same photos of the World Trade Center rubble to the point of abuse. (The buildings' unmistakably unique structural claddings make it obvious he's using WTC photos.)
• Use Poser to arrange his various preset characters in said scene
• Position the software's viewfinder at a desired vantage in the scene and take a 2D screenshot
• Load up Photoshop and perform a monochrome grain extraction of the screenshot (and/or use the equivalent feature in the posing software itself), producing a black-and-white layer of the scene's outlines. Think something analogous to a cell-shaded video game
• Use his illustration tablet and stylus to quite literally trace the outlines of the scene's characters, like the inking following the penciling phase of conventional multi-part comics production - but in Deodato's case, the "penciling" is the screenshot the software performed. If you have any doubts that this is the method he uses, watch this. It's a video purporting to be an overview of his start-to-finish Photoshop technique, but he hilariously bungles his own attempt at deception by forgetting to change the default layer names. There are four layers, arranged bottom-up as follows: Layer 1 is the white background. Second from bottom: Layer 3, shading (curious that they're out of order already, huh?). Third from bottom: Layer 2, the complete Hulk rough he traced from a screenshot of his posing software. Top layer: Layer 4, the rough sketch lines-and-shapes framework he pretended was the start of drawing of Hulk, but is actually just the reverse: he drew the rough framework after the Hulk trace was finished - hence its layer number: 4. Had it actually been the rough framework for the drawing, it would've been the very next layer he created after the background and thus be named Layer 2, which he would then drag to the top of the stack before the start of the video for when he demonstrates the steps by toggling the corresponding layers' visibility on and off at 0:40. Instead, he both created and drew the layer last in the process - after even the shading on layer 3, as he already had the figure sketch on 2 under which he filled in shade
• Any characters requiring emotional expressions other than the handful of presets he's created he'll draw in. This is generally why the faces of so many of his characters are either wooden and inexpressive and/or just don't look right
• Use brush templates - most often a set of finely tapered parallel lines meant to resemble pencil strokes - to spam cross-hatching and shadow in environments. This is one of the only areas where he may invest time, doing individual shading strokes mostly for faces. The majority of videos one finds online are of him doing perfunctory shading on a tablet
• Insert any special textures the panel calls for using the same brush template method. The blood splatter effects he got from a stock texture pack stand out as particularly lazy
• Same again for sound effects
• Apply a color layer of the original Poser screenshot, modified as needed for saturation
• Import the completed image into a master page file as a layer underneath the relevant panel(s)
• Aaaand page finished!
Over the years he's streamlined this process to the point of extreme efficiency, enabling him to reach deadlines that would take months for real illustrators (whom he could formerly be counted among) to complete.
What I take issue with is Deodato claiming his production method is illustration (I take care to term it production, because what he's doing is manifestly industrial and has little relationship with art), and denying he uses modeling software at all. He's not only dishonest, but the rapid pace with which he can churn out that soulless dreck undercuts many real working illustrators, taking food off the tables of real creators. It also doesn't help that Deodato's made no secret of his many shitty moral and political views, and isn't known for his creative or personal integrity.
...Anyway, yeah. A regrettable conclusion to Duggan's Guardians run. Fortunately afterward Cates and Ewing would take up the mantle, and Cates would go on to usher in the third Marvel Cosmic renaissance.
February 6, 2021
The story is pretty good. It is fun and action packed. The Guardians spar with a few interesting groups and characters. Duggan has a big story to tell and tells it with some of the coolest characters in the marvel universe. After the story this book has a history of the infinity stones covering every major event they have gone thru. Pretty cool.
I do have to mention that you are thrown in the middle of an ongoing story. It would have been nice if this event had started off cleanly. There is a recap of Duggan's Guardians run at the end of this book which would have worked better at the beginning. I also didn't like that the characters that had the stones already had them with no explanation as to how they got them. Not very complete as this collection implies. Also there is some random events that occur and even a stone changing hands with no scene or explanation as to how.
If I could I would give this collection a 3 and a half star rating but since we can only do solid numbers I rounded up since it is a pretty fun story despite a lot of confusion.
I do have to mention that you are thrown in the middle of an ongoing story. It would have been nice if this event had started off cleanly. There is a recap of Duggan's Guardians run at the end of this book which would have worked better at the beginning. I also didn't like that the characters that had the stones already had them with no explanation as to how they got them. Not very complete as this collection implies. Also there is some random events that occur and even a stone changing hands with no scene or explanation as to how.
If I could I would give this collection a 3 and a half star rating but since we can only do solid numbers I rounded up since it is a pretty fun story despite a lot of confusion.
November 9, 2020
Collects Infinity Countdown Prime issue #1, Infinity Countdown issues #1-5, Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock issue #1, material from Free Comic Book Day 2018 (Amazing Spider-Man/Guardians of the Galaxy) #1, Infinity Wars issues #1-6, Infinity Wars: Prime issue #1, Infinity Wars: Fallen Guardian issue #1, Infinity Wars: Infinity issue #1, and material from Thanos Legacy
FINAL RATING ON FULL COLLECTION: 4.5 STARS
Here is my review for "Infinity Countdown":
This is quite entertaining, but I would say that Gerry Duggan's short-lived "All-New Guardians of the Galaxy" run is required reading before checking out this pre-event. "Infinity Countdown" exists to set up "Infinity Wars," so in a lot of ways it feels like five additional issues of "Guardians of the Galaxy." There are a lot of great moments in this collection, and I am excited to read on in "Infinity Wars."
Adam Warlock is back, which I love. He is one of my favorite Marvel characters. I hope he has a big role to play in Duggan's overall story.
Here is my review for "Infinity Wars":
The concept was great, but the execution was just OK. I love Marvel Cosmic stories, but this one felt a little all over the place.
I don't think I feel like the Requiem reveal was earned, even though I had been reading "Guardians" and "Infinity Countdown" prior to this title.
I'm glad that Adam Warlock is back, but it is weird to feel like he was both front-and-center, while also being underused. He was around a lot, but I'm not sure how much his impact was felt until the last act of the story.
SPOILERS:
I am really drawn to the Warp World idea, and I've heard that we will see more of this dimension post-"Infinity Wars."
FINAL RATING ON FULL COLLECTION: 4.5 STARS
Here is my review for "Infinity Countdown":
This is quite entertaining, but I would say that Gerry Duggan's short-lived "All-New Guardians of the Galaxy" run is required reading before checking out this pre-event. "Infinity Countdown" exists to set up "Infinity Wars," so in a lot of ways it feels like five additional issues of "Guardians of the Galaxy." There are a lot of great moments in this collection, and I am excited to read on in "Infinity Wars."
Adam Warlock is back, which I love. He is one of my favorite Marvel characters. I hope he has a big role to play in Duggan's overall story.
Here is my review for "Infinity Wars":
The concept was great, but the execution was just OK. I love Marvel Cosmic stories, but this one felt a little all over the place.
I don't think I feel like the Requiem reveal was earned, even though I had been reading "Guardians" and "Infinity Countdown" prior to this title.
I'm glad that Adam Warlock is back, but it is weird to feel like he was both front-and-center, while also being underused. He was around a lot, but I'm not sure how much his impact was felt until the last act of the story.
SPOILERS:
I am really drawn to the Warp World idea, and I've heard that we will see more of this dimension post-"Infinity Wars."
November 24, 2022
What a KERSPLAT as the whole thing falls to shit!
Duggan's run on 'Guardians' was building to something spectacular, through the Nova Corps stuff, seamlessly leading to the 'Infinity Countdown' - and there the tie-ins were actually relevant to the plot (like why DO Wolverine and Black Widow have stones)...
Then this crap. Starts well enough, with A TWIST.
But then it's people standing around in some kind of meta-desert occasionally, playing catch with SUPER GEMS and occasionally slinging punches.
Then Warlock comes up with a solution (Cos I guess he can do everything). And they all go home. Oh, and Loki. Silly. All that STORY just for this?
And those 'Wars/Warps' tie-ins. A collossal distraction. Stunted whatever little was happening.
And the artwork looked lazy and the cross-hatching thing just looked unfinished. It LOOKED like it was slapped together on a computer quickly. This is supposed to be one of the grandest events in the Marvel Universe. It sits on the shoulders of the MCU. The lack of effort is extraordinary.
Just crap all round.
ADDENDUM: The 'Sleepwalker' stuff was good. It did actually relate to what was going on. A literal character rebirth that comes from the actual plot. Turned out better than the 'real thing'.
Duggan's run on 'Guardians' was building to something spectacular, through the Nova Corps stuff, seamlessly leading to the 'Infinity Countdown' - and there the tie-ins were actually relevant to the plot (like why DO Wolverine and Black Widow have stones)...
Then this crap. Starts well enough, with A TWIST.
But then it's people standing around in some kind of meta-desert occasionally, playing catch with SUPER GEMS and occasionally slinging punches.
Then Warlock comes up with a solution (Cos I guess he can do everything). And they all go home. Oh, and Loki. Silly. All that STORY just for this?
And those 'Wars/Warps' tie-ins. A collossal distraction. Stunted whatever little was happening.
And the artwork looked lazy and the cross-hatching thing just looked unfinished. It LOOKED like it was slapped together on a computer quickly. This is supposed to be one of the grandest events in the Marvel Universe. It sits on the shoulders of the MCU. The lack of effort is extraordinary.
Just crap all round.
ADDENDUM: The 'Sleepwalker' stuff was good. It did actually relate to what was going on. A literal character rebirth that comes from the actual plot. Turned out better than the 'real thing'.
July 26, 2020
Gerry Duggan helms an ambitious Marvel event that is more Guardians Of The Galaxy-centric than I expected. I definitely felt prior knowledge of what has been happening in their book would have helped a lot. As an “event” the book was good. There were far too many moving pieces though. It seemed like characters were thrown to the wayside too easily (Captain Marvel, Emma Frost, Super Skrull, etc.). The book seems like it will have long lasting consequences as a good event comic should. There were tons of artists involved but the main book’s work by Mike Deodato Jr. was phenomenal. Overall, there is a ton to digest here but let’s hope it quells any writer’s desire to tell an Infinity Stone story any time soon.
January 4, 2024
This was the conclusion to the Duggan run, and it's big giant event story telling. It's pretty boring and loses a lot of the charm of the Guardians to bring in the super seriousness of the rest of the Cosmic world (Warlock, Surfer, etc.) It eventually crosses over with the Avengers with some weird combined versions Captain Strange, Wolverine mixed with Emma Frost, and some other weirdness. It doesn't come off well, although there's a few moments that do, mostly when associated with Guardians characters, enjoyed the arc of Drax in this particularly.
August 22, 2020
I... I'm not sure what any of the motivations are in this? Like it's still not clear to me why Gamora went from "a piece of me is missing" to "I need to fold the universe in on itself and feed a soul gem monster" But uh... it was cool? and fun? So if I let go of my critical thinking brain I enjoyed it.
July 6, 2022
Čekal jsem jen další event a ono se z toho vyklubal skvělý event s fajn tie-iny kolem. Tyhle vesmírné věci fakt můžu a rád u nich pohoňkám. Skvělý Loki a vlastně všechny postavy, po dlouhé době mě nikd nesral, i když Warlock možná trochu.
Doporučuji číst nejdřív guardians of the galaxy od Duggana a pak hned tohle.
Doporučuji číst nejdřív guardians of the galaxy od Duggana a pak hned tohle.
September 19, 2020
3.5 stars
It was a good story but the villian did not have enough depth for me.
Good ending to the 2018 guardian of galaxy series though.
Sad that drax had to die but imagine that is only temporary situation.
It was a good story but the villian did not have enough depth for me.
Good ending to the 2018 guardian of galaxy series though.
Sad that drax had to die but imagine that is only temporary situation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2019
I couldn’t tell you if it’s good or not, but I sure enjoyed it. Could’ve used more time in Warp World though, that concept is fascinating, far more interesting than Battleworld.
April 28, 2021
Pathetic desperation at it's worst
December 10, 2022
Some of Deodato’s best art (and I love that new Phyla design) and Duggan has some interesting ideas for the Infinity Gems, but it doesn’t pull together into a satisfying story really.
Read
December 30, 2022Did a third grader write this?
Seriously, Disney, I want my money back. This comic is an insult to comics and the intelligence of the reader.
Seriously, Disney, I want my money back. This comic is an insult to comics and the intelligence of the reader.
April 30, 2024
A fun and entertaining variant of the Infinity War. I like it!
September 9, 2025
It's good story and still be continue infinity stone story.
October 21, 2019
When I originally heard about this series, I thought it was just Marvel’s way of shamelessly creating a tie-in to the big blockbuster movie that was coming out at about the same time and ignored it. I am happy to report that I was wrong. This storyline is incredible. It is well written and beautifully executed. It has twists and surprises and is compelling from start to finish. The art is fantastic. It does a wonderful job of bringing you up to speed on the new status quo of the cosmic side of the Marvel Comic Universe. It also recaps everything at the end of this volume, giving you a concise synopsis of the history of the Infinity Stones and Guardians of the Galaxy since the Marvel Universe was recreated at the end of Secret Wars. I feel like I’m fully caught up on major events for the current slate of comics and there are so many seeds for new stories planted here that this will soon be required reading if you want to know where everything stands in the cosmic part of the marvel universe. Well worth the money and a worthy successor to the classic Infinity Guantlet storyline. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews