SECRET WARS {3rd series} #5 (of 8)
Writer & Designer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Esad Ribic
Color Artist: Ive Svorcina
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Covers by: Alex Ross; Simone Bianchi & Simone Peruzzi; John Tyler Christopher; Tomm Coker; Sophie Campbell; Pat Broderick & Chris Sotomayor
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
“Owen Reece Died for Our Sins” (20 pages)
A funeral of the highest distinction is held for Sheriff Strange. An elder explains that God Doom was responsible for the origin of the universe with his right-hand man Stephen. The Thors raise their hammers in honour of the fallen man. Thor (Jane Foster?) asks the new Thor recruit to explain matters. He promises answers in due time. This is a private service. Sue Storm organized it for her ‘husband’. Franklin uses his powers to put a wreath of lotuses around the statue’s neck. He vows to tear apart the culprit limb from limb.
Universal truth: “The high cost of living is death.” – Doom to Valeria
Bide your time: “Undying love and eternal patience are not the same thing, child.” – Doom to Valeria
Doom curses Stephen for his bullheadedness. He gestures and enters a realm unseen by others. It is located below the Molecule Man’s statue. Owen Reece is a chatterbox. He has many hard truths to express to his ‘master’. He is ravenous since he has consumed everything. Victor neglected to bring him some nourishment. Doom tells MM that Strange has passed away. Owen thinks it was cancer which is the number one cause of death but Victor informs him that it was something far worse: doubt.
Master of your domain: “We have the appearance of peace…of being whole…but I think it all might just fall apart if we are not careful.” – Molecule Man to Doom
The secret origin of the Molecule Man is re-presented!! [Note: this is an extension of what was relayed in NEW AVENGERS {3rd Series} #33] Stephen was the Omega. Victor was the Alpha, in a manner of speaking. The Beyonders are the originators of reality. Their status as creators started to dull them. They became death-bringers. The Molecule Man was made as an agent of destruction, chaos, annihilation. One universe was insufficient. Multiple MMs were conceived across the multiverse. No one thing can be truly perfect. The major flaw in design was that Molecule Man became an actual man with free will. Owen chose Victor Von Doom to be his plaything!! Not the other way around! Doom delayed the simultaneous detonation of all the human bombs. Cloning is a copy of a copy – each subsequent product inferior to the former. Owen was infinitely divided [literally and figuratively]. He and Doom created the religious order of the Black Swans, killers of the faulty shaper of reality. The task took a toll on Owen’s sanity. Stephen then joined the twosome. The joint efforts were in vain since the Beyonders were on to their prodigal’s plot. They could not be deterred but they could be distracted. Doom dared defy them.
How to lessen an explosion: “Blow the primer to diminish the charge.” – Doom to MM
The slaughter of the myriad MMs led to the storing of their vast power. The sole survivor acted as a receptacle and conductor. The overflow of the world-shaping ability would be manipulated by Victor and Stephen. Strange admitted ineptitude in this nigh-impossible endeavour especially because of his conscience. Doom had no such qualms. Doom confesses to killing his dear friend. MM was already aware of this. Owen believes that Victor set off a chain of events that will lead to the ultimate end. Doom in his quest for godhood is both catalyst and casualty. Victor lashes back that maybe MM will be the trigger. Owen laughs it off.
Valeria has gathered the Justice Division of the Future Foundation. Priority number one is to hunt down and imprison Sheriff Strange’s ‘murderers’. Alex Power and Dragon Man provide their report of the crime scene to Doom’s Daughter. Latverion (Battleworld) is replete of Doom’s own energy which Alex has labelled God particles. The Thors’ enforcing creates spikes in the field and allows for easy detection. Night Machine and Psycho Man find the information irrelevant and unordinary.
Sore about Thor: Bentley-23 is definitely not a fan.
By this halfway mark, I was hoping to see the opposing sides gather and begin to engage in combat. In light of last issue’s shocker, it makes sense to have the good Sheriff laid to rest and given tribute. I have always predicted that Thanos and Doom will slug it out in the very end. The Infinity Gauntlet will undo all of Victor’s vainglorious efforts. Why else would Mr. Hickman transport the Cabal to Battleworld? He is the master architect of this entire opus. No single character is misplaced nor used as filler. I’ll admit my anxiety in seeing the heroes act accordingly. Enough talk! Time for action, and plenty of it!!
Esad Ribic is an outstanding sculptor. Stephen Strange’s statue is life-like! Its stern stance is reflective of the sorcerer supreme with the weight of the worlds on his shoulders. Some close-ups and profiles of Doom reveal his humanity despite his delusions. Molecule Man is a Marvel take on the Distinguished Competition’s homicidal maniac. Owen is less threatening but off his rocker due to multiple killings of his other selves.
The universe is (mainly) infinite in its size and composition. Scientists estimate that 1078 to 1082 [between ten quadrillion vigintillion and one-hundred thousand quadrillion vigintillion] atoms comprise our definition of reality. Thus, in honour of the Molecule Man who ‘died’ to keep us all alive: I give this book 7.500 [seven to the fifth power = 16,807%].