Champions #14 review: Viv Vision and her human experience
By Alex Widen
The grand scheme is revealed! Yet will High Evolutionary’s acts against Viv Vision prove more motivating in Champions?
Champions #14
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colorist: Edgar Delgado
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A super villain with a grandiose scheme is a dime (or $47.88) a dozen in comic books. Yet while an over the top rogue is often a great element, often times it’s more personal acts which cut to the bone. That’s the situation where the Avengers and Champions find themselves now. While they may be trying to stop High Evolutionary from destroying the Earth, they’re also trying to save their friends. And it looks like the mad geneticist has permanently altered Viv Vision against her will!
Image by Marvel Comics
Both Viv Vision and Falcon were captured on Counter-Earth by High Evolutionary in the last chapter. As the Falcon is led away for further experimentation, the work has already been done to Viv Vision. As a reverse version of Pinocchio, the android has been “evolved” into being “fully human.” This change was unwelcome and without consent, and Viv Vision feels utterly violated. As a result, Viv Vision is powerless and emotionally distraught, while High Evolutionary thinks he did good.
Image by Marvel Comics
These Kids Know What’s What!
Most of Viv’s friends in the Champions (alongside Wasp/Nadia Pym) were left behind on Earth to battle Ani-Men who randomly beam in. In fact the only teenage hero the Avengers took to Counter-Earth was Nova, and that was only after he screamed about having experience there. It seems like even with the world at stake, the Avengers still see the Champions as kids who do clean-up work. Yet in mopping up some of the animal-men, they learn about the overall scheme.
Image by Marvel Comics
Since the merger between Earth and Counter-Earth occurs via vibration-pulses, Amadeus Cho figures out to block one. He does so by causing a bigger vibration with his Hulk-strength, which is the sort of ridiculous comic book logic that readers either love or love to hate. Given time to interrogate one of the animal-men, the Champions learn that High Evolutionary’s plan is the equivalent of a cosmic sledgehammer, and is more monstrous than any of them thought possible!
Image by Marvel Comics
Meanwhile, Nova and the Avengers literally crash into High Evolutionary’s citadel on Counter-Earth. Yet the Vision quickly isn’t concerned about any plot to destroy two worlds. The supposedly emotionless robot is furious about what has happened to his daughter. As a result, he goes after High Evolutionary with a deeply personal vigor. Unfortunately, what the High Evolutionary lacks in combat skills, he makes up for in manipulation. It’s time to save the Falcon from a similar fate!
Image by Marvel Comics
The Last Stand of the High Evolutionary!
While this is Viv Vision’s first experience being fully human, it’s not one she is thrilled with. In a short scene which may be the highlight of the issue, Viv comments on the human condition. She comments on the weight of human flesh and the limited capacity for their minds. To her, it feels like a curse instead of a blessing. Yet even as the Vision seeks to protect her in his usual passive-aggressive way, Viv Vision refuses to stand idle while her friends are being attacked.
Image by Marvel Comics
In record time, the Champions smash their own way into the citadel and reveal High Evolutionary’s plot. His attempt to merge both Earth and Counter-Earth together won’t be a delicate matter of sonic waves. Instead it will be a crude intergalactic explosion as he literally smashes both planets together to pick at what is left. The massive loss of billions of lives as well as the eons of time it would take to properly rebuild a world don’t matter to a mad geneticist who has become immortal.
Image by Marvel Comics
This leads to a massive battle in which both superhero teams pile onto High Evolutionary and hit him a lot. And has the master villain of a crossover plot, he reacts by being pummeled flat in two pages. Seriously, that is the end result. While it is true that he emitted a “devolving ray” at the heroes, they literally outrun it in two pages and short it out with random energy Nova blasts. More ridiculous comic book logic right there. Yet is the threat High Evolutionary talks of even worse?
Image by Marvel Comics
The Plot Needs to Evolve, Too!
Mark Waid continues on with this crossover of both of his team books. And much like previous issues, the best moments revolve around smaller character moments. The scheme itself is a typical over-the-top plot standard of the genre. In addition, Mark Waid “solved” the dilemma of making High Evolutionary a credible villain by not even trying. Despite all the sleazy words, a villain who once held his own against Galactus is beaten down by all of the heroes with barely a whimper.
Image by Marvel Comics
Instead, the last two pages tease with replacing the big bad villain with some yet unseen figure. Is this being the true creator of Counter-Earth? Is this retroactive continuity on our hands? It is difficult to care. A crossover with began with two issues of generic threats like comets or shaking buildings has now ended its second act with an utterly underwhelming superhero smack-down. It could be possible this “unseen threat” is the Man-Beast, yet he’s an even more obscure figure.
Image by Marvel Comics
The Characters Remain the Main Draw!
Instead the highlight of the issue is on Viv Vision. Her determination to aid her friends despite being violated and weakened tells to her strength. While she talks of humanity being something fraught with weakness, her determination reveals the true abilities of humans to strive over all for the sake of those they love. Furthermore, seeing the Vision finally break down and treat his daughter with something close to kindness or empathy is welcome and long overdue.
Image by Marvel Comics
Some of the dialogue is entertaining, even if most is functional. There is a cute rivalry between Amadeus and Nadia as to where he stands on the “smartest figures on Earth” list. After all, that list may be altered now that Hank Pym is dead and Mr. Fantastic is off world, right? Ms. Marvel once again proves herself the heart and unofficial leader of the Champions by leading them into the fray. Nova gets a brief moment to be a hero against High Evolutionary’s energy blast.
Image by Marvel Comics
It Could Be Better, yet It Could Be Worse!
Humberto Ramos continues his amazing streak on solo art at fourteen issues. Since his strengths tend to include inhuman characters, this one has them in spades. There are plenty of Ani-Men, Hulk smash or Ms. Marvel elastic moments for him to go wild. He does a good job of making a one-sided “curb stomp” battle against the big villain look harsh and emotional. In addition, the inks and colors by Olazaba and Delgado bring out the best in his pencils. There is a lot going on in every panel!
Image by Marvel Comics
Next: See the High Evolutionary's best moments in Avengers #673!
In conclusion, this issue, along with this crossover, remains a mixed bag. The whole is not quite the sum of its parts, but some of those parts are notable. While seeing Viv Vision get a redesign which will become the easiest cosplay costume in recorded history is shocking, it brings out some emotional reactions in the short term. Ultimately, it is the characters who matter more than the plot. It is simply a shame that the plot is so drugged out, pedestrian, and woefully underwhelming.