Gamora’s training starts in this week’s all new THANOS #3 by Tini Howard. However, will this new bond between them grow in the face of an oncoming war? Meanwhile, Thanos’ proto-Black Order plots a mutiny. Let’s dive into the issue and see how this plans shapes out.

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Writer: Tini Howard
Art: Ariel Olivetti, Antonio Fabela, and VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 26, 2019

First of all, this reviewer loved the shout out to Planet Sakaar from PLANET HULK and from the movie THOR: RAGNORAK. Seeing Thanos’ ship hovering over the planet was a great little Easter egg. In addition, this reviewer found it interesting to see Gamora and Thanos’ relationship bloom throughout the issue. Tini Howard writes Gamora as a very defiant little girl yet frightened and searching for meaning and acceptance at the same time.

Furthermore, this reviewer deeply enjoyed the Mad Titan attempting to teach Gamora how to fight, slaughter, and kill by literally throwing her to the wolves… or bugs in this case. Gosh, there may even be a dash of care coming from Thanos even at this early stage in their relationship. After seeing the Mad Titan save her life with a bomb blasting the thousands of bugs ready to eat her, Thanos even says Gamora was lucky to escape before the blast killed her. However, readers can sense the subtle hint in voice that Howard is injecting into the issue making fans aware of the sarcasm and care within Thanos tone and mannerisms.

Fans will also enjoy Howard’s fatherly take on the Mad Titan. Magus continued to astral project himself to annoy Thanos and pointed out his paternal tendencies towards Gamora. The Mad Titan saved her life by amputating her leg and arm off in his own quarters even though he would have left everyone else just die. Heck, Gamora even gets Thanos to laugh! Who’s EVER done that? However, Howard also points out something that most children do by saying “it’s embarrassing when you’re so desperate for someone to look after you and be proud of you that you don’t care who it is.” This is so unbelievably true in any relationship. Needlessly to say, it’s even more true with children, especially those searching for some type of guidance.

Howard nails a home run with this perspective. Many have only seen the Marvel movies and probably wonder, why would Gamora be associated with Thanos? Why would she pretend to be his daughter for so long? Comic readers may even wonder why someone would follow the man who killed their parents? Point is, Tini Howard is taking the time to show readers how their relationship has developed, why it continues to form, and sheds some light on it with a common perspective that most people can actually relate too. It’s genius, understandable, surprisingly has never been done before, and this reviewer is quite enjoying the ride.

If you’re searching for something monumentally epic about Thanos fighting cosmic beings, searching for ways of destroying the known universe or snapping half of everything out of existence, this book isn’t for you. However, if you are looking for an incredibly brilliant story about the relationship between Gamora, the Mad Titan, and how their relationship expanded and germinated into something that very well possibly could be called “love” from actual Death and destruction, this issue and series are for you.

Final Thoughts:

Howard has truly taken time, zeal, and devotion to develop a well-written story that’s never been told and quite frankly is interesting and logical. Hopefully, fans will get some hardcore twists and action soon. In the meantime, I’m all in! Excellent job Tini Howard! Everyone should be reading this series.