The Infinity Gauntlet #1 Review

The Infinity Gauntlet #1
Written by Gerry Duggan
Art by Dustin Weaver
Colored by Dustin Weaver
Published by Marvel Comics

When I first heard that The Infinity Gauntlet was going to be one of the series spinning out of Secret Wars, I felt excitement mixed with a healthy dash of apprehension. The Infinity Gauntlet is one the best remembered and most loved events Marvel ever published, and seeing it reborn in the world of Secret Wars had all kinds of incredible possibilities. It boggles the mind a bit.

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But without all-things-Infinity architect Jim Starlin at the helm, I was a bit concerned. Would Gerry Duggan be able to do the concept justice? And just how would the concept be used? You would think someone with the Infinity Gauntlet could, you know, fix everything with just a gesture. That would make for a pretty quick and boring story.

Now that I’ve actually read The Infinity Gauntlet #1, I can honestly say that a) yes, Duggan has things very well in hand, and b) I never in a million years expected the story I got in the first issue.

The reason I was so surprised is because The Infinity Gauntlet, at least in the first issue, has almost nothing to do with the iconic miniseries with which it shares a name. Instead, we read as a family desperately tries to survive in a shattered city against a horde of bugs. All we know is that the Nova Corps tried to stop the critters at some point and failed. There is no explanation about which world this is or what exactly is going on. You leave the first issue with more questions than answers if I’m being honest.

The story is told from the point of view of a young girl, and it works beautifully, giving the story a different angle than you would expect. Duggan does a great job on the script, mixing equal parts humor, drama and action to tell an entertaining tale.

Even with a solid script, the real star of The Infinity Gauntlet is artist Dustin Weaver. He draws and colors the issue and does so with a very deft touch that is amazing. His interesting use of panel layout, the way he gives the action a very real sense of motion and the understated color palette he uses all help to make for a comic that works incredibly well visually. The lush, detailed backgrounds and character designs (including a nicely tweaked Nova uniform) also make this a comic that leaves an impression long after you’ve finished reading it.

My only problem with The Infinity Gauntlet #1 is just how much is left unanswered. As I said, you finish the issue with a lot more questions than when you started. Is this a universe we’ve seen before? Is the Thanos in this series that same as the one who appeared in Secret Wars #2? And how will the Infinity Gems figure into the larger story of Secret Wars?

Lucky for us, the book is so entertaining, fun and simply well done that finding out the answers will be a pleasure.

The Bottom Line: If you went into The Infinity Gauntlet expecting something similar to the classic miniseries of the same name, you will be one disappointed fan. However, in many ways what we get is something even better. Instead of grand spectacle, we get something more along the lines of a family drama — except with giant bugs, Infinity Gems, the Nova Corps and Thanos.

Of all the Secret Wars tie-ins I have read so far, The Infinity Gauntlet is my favorite. It’s an unexpected gem (pardon the pun) that will surprise and delight. Not to be missed.

Next: More Secret Wars: Old Man Logan #1 Review

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