Writer: Derek Landy
Cover Artist: Greg Land
Inker: Jay Leisten
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Reviewer: Carl Bryan
“We know (who you are). You dragged a bunch of super powered folks over to fight for your
amusement. Once they were done, you followed them back here, became a general nuisance, and then
went away. What do you want?” – Captain Marvel to The Beyonder

Synopsis
Someone has been manipulating the Avengers for the past several months, altering the very fabric of
reality in an attempt to prepare the planet for a threat that could destroy everything.
Now, this unseen individual is to be dragged, kicking and screaming, from the shadows and into
the light…It is none other than The Beyonder!
This is a big move coming to the Marvel Universe

Positives
Derek Landy brings back the one and only Beyonder…yes…the one that gave Peter Parker the symbiotic
suit that has since shaken the Marvel Universe from Venom to Carnage to King Black. This is the true
domino character that sent shockwaves in 1984 with his first appearance in Secret Wars #1…Jim Shooter
and Mike Zeck’s Beyonder.
Enough with the history lesson, though. What is Landy doing with the Beyonder? He set us all up in All-
Out Avengers issues #1 -#5 immersing the Avengers in all out action and an art team that really
knows how to draw the nuances of every character.
From the mind manipulation of She-Hulk, we learn that the Avengers literally are two steps ahead of the
Beyonder in both their moral compass (Did we really think Jennifer was going to kill a villain?) to T’challa
and Tony constructing Stark Tech and Wakanda Tech separately without each other knowing the
specifics…but it works out to reveal the Beyonder.
Love how Landy provides us that Tony and T’challa are still the smartest icons in the Marvel
Universe…take that, Reed Richards!

Positives 2.0
Who knew there was a person more powerful than a God. Derek Landy takes the Beyonder and
, well….goes beyond even him with an origin story that sets up a threat even more than Mephisto, the
Beyonder, Dr. Doom, and Thanos snapping his fingers. Watch out for “The Lost One”.
Turns out there are more Beyonders, and apparently, “our Earth’s Beyonder” needs champion warriors to
combat The Lost One. Pretty awesome kickoff to a storyline!

Negatives
From the art to the initial story idea, this looks very intriguing to be a part of in terms of reading and re-reading issues from All Out Avengers as well as this Beyond series. I see where the Beyonder has a
bit of Mr. Mxysptlk from the DC Universe. I don’t remember him being that way when he was first
introduced, but a new author taking the reins infuses some different Beyonder vibes. Time will tell on
this personality shift.

Final Thoughts:

After recent Avenger storylines falling a bit flat, I am sincerely impressed at how the pieces of this one
are coming together. It is tough to shell out for all the comics I would love to buy, but a return of The
Beyonder is worth your investment…especially if you remember the 1980s as a comic-friendly
playground!

9/10