Birth Of The Starbrand In Avengers #26
by Josh Davison
Mild Spoilers Ahead
We return to the ancient past and witness the infected Celestial unleashing its blight upon our world. Billions of years later, the asteroid strikes the Earth and kills the majority of life on the planet. That asteroid carries the Starbrand, and it chooses its first champion from the life that existed at the time. One million years ago, a pair of early humans named Vnn and Brrkk carve out a life for themselves in a secluded and bountiful garden. These two are in love with one another, but their life in paradise is interrupted by the arrival of Deviants. This destroys the garden but unearths the Starbrand once again.
Avengers #26 gives us the origin of another member of Avengers One Million B.C, the Starbrand. We learn of the peaceful life he once enjoyed as well as the origins of the Starbrand which gave him his incredible powers.
Jason Aaron gives us an endearing look at the life Vnn and Brrkk enjoyed before the Deviants arrive, and this gives the reader an idea of everything the Starbrand lost when the Deviants arrived.
This allows the moment in which Starbrand gains his powers an instance of great awe and tragedy.
We do get to see the other Avengers One Million B.C. characters in this issue, albeit briefly. Their part of the comic is rendered by the very talented Andrea Sorrentino, who lives up to his reputation even in that short segment.
Dale Keown provides the visual work for the rest of the comic, and it looks fantastic. The more subtle moments with Brrkk and Vnn, the surrealism of the infected Celestial, and the sorrow-stricken might of the Starbrand are all crafted to perfection. Inkers Joe Weems, Cam Smith, and Craig Yeung give the visuals the proper weight and clarity, and color artists Jason Keith, Erick Arciniega, and Jay David Ramos ensure that the comic pops well from beginning to end.
Avengers #26 provides a compelling and heartbreaking tale as the origin for the Starbrand of One Million B.C. It’s a tale that ties back into the origins of our world and what sets it apart from others, and it’s a story of love and loss. It’s a damn good read and is easily worth a recommendation. Check it out.
Avengers #26 comes to us from writer Jason Aaron, artists Dale Keown and Andrea Sorrentino, inkers Joe Weems, Cam Smith, Craig Yeung, and Andrea Sorrentino, color artists Jason Keith, Erick Arciniega, and Jay David Ramos, letterer VC’s Cory Petit, cover artist Dale Keown with Jason Keith, and variant cover artist Alex Ross.
Final Score: 8.5/10
