The Cosmic Quest: Aftermath (Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War, 2)

My son loved this!

The Avengers Infinity War ended in defeat, with Thanos snapping his fingers and immediately decimating half the population of the universe. Zoiks! Now what? Avengers Infinity War Volume 2: Aftermath follows Dr. Erik Selvig (played in the movies by Stellan Skarsgård), Darcy Lewis (played in the movies by Kat Dennings), and their brilliant new prodigy and recently orphaned friend Felix as they visit Selvig’s old colleagues to figure out what scientifically occurred when Thanos snapped his fingers. Most of these colleagues are beloved and ready to help, while one is up to no good. This novel, as Volume 1 did, serves as an interim episode between movies. It presents the Infinity War from the point of view of people who were not involved in the central conflict, re-introduces details about the Infinity Stones that we may have forgotten (there have been 20 movies, so we’ve forgotten plenty), and brings several forgotten characters back into the story. But this book is so much more than connections to the movies, it is about a tight group of friends and colleagues who not only support each other but also nudge/push each other to be their best selves. Whereas Erik and Darcy were ancillary characters in the MCU, they are moved to the fore in this novel and, with Felix, become the primary protagonists, expanding them into fully realized characters with histories, motivations, and fears. Darcy seemed like simple comic relief in the first Thor, but now she’s a determined woman motivated by her need to care for others who is reluctant to admit how much she cares, even to herself. Erik Selvig is still a weird scientist guy, but no longer brainwashed, so seeing his personality fleshed out, especially his interactions with young Felix, was enlightening. He’s as obsessive as he seemed under Loki’s control, but we learn how caring he is, bearing the weight of what he unwillingly did while brainwashed. Felix is the best part of this novel, a son/student to Selvig, someone fast and funny enough to keep up with Darcy, and a superhero in the making. To fill up the cast, Snider introduces former colleagues of Selvig, all as fascinating as Selvig. Snider created a really cool team here, a cadre of brilliant scientists (held together by a glue who majored in political science). And I want more. Make it happen, Marvel. “The Science Avengers” would not only make a great comic, it’d inspire more kids to pursue science and engineering to make sci fi concepts a reality. Stark can’t do it all by himself. The writing again is superb, with Snider showing his unique ability to take already established characters’ voices and replicate them to tell new stories. Darcy’s voice and tone were spot on, totally Kat Dennings-ish. There were far fewer Easter Eggs in Volume 2 but that actually made me perceive the few outside references in Volume 2 to be more important than just clever side references by the author. Theories abound about what happens next, and whether Mr. Snider is giving away hints or just teasing us is irrelevant, it’s fun and makes me move the puzzle pieces around in my head. I recommend this novel to kids and adults, and to any fans of the MCU. To my fellow fans, this book will satisfy your need for an Avengers fix…but it may also make you even less patient for Avengers 4. Excelsior!

Good book on after thanos war...

good book fast shippin

This side story takes place after The Decimation of INFINITY WAR. Dr. Erik Selvig calls Darcy for help one night, in a crazy stupor. A quest ensues to a) try to piece together the cause of The Decimation and b) find Dr. Jane Foster, who has fallen completely off the grid.

Avengers: Infinity War: The Cosmic Quest: Vol. 2: Aftermath By Brandon T. Snider, is a movie tie-in novel based on the MCU film “Avengers: Infinity War.” The story brings readers and moviegoers up to speed on the whereabouts of Thor’s human compatriots, who are alive and dealing with a new threat in the wasteland created by the Mad Titan, Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet. Scientist Erik Selvig, former love interest to the God of Thunder, Jane Foster, Darcy, and her new intern (obviously having dropped the other guy from Dark World) team up as the “Science Avengers,” to figure out the cause of the “blip event.” Gradually, Selvig and the others, investigating the Infinity Stones, figure out Thanos put the power of all six Stones together to cause the catastrophe that brought the universe to the brink of extinction. The aforementioned threat is a brand-new villain created for the book. This novel, as Volume 1 did, serves as an interim episode between the movies. It presents the Infinity War from the point of view of people who were not involved in the central conflict, re-introduces details about the Infinity Stones that we may have forgotten (there have been 20 movies, so we’ve forgotten plenty), and brings several forgotten characters back into the story. But this book is so much more than connections to the movies, it is about a tight group of friends and colleagues who not only support each other but also nudge/push each other to be their best selves. Whereas Erik and Darcy were ancillary characters in the MCU, they are moved to the fore in this novel and, with Felix, become the primary protagonists, expanding them into fully realized characters with histories, motivations, and fears. Darcy seemed like simple comic relief in the first Thor movie, but now she’s a determined woman motivated by her need to care for others who is reluctant to admit how much she cares, even to herself. Erik Selvig is still a weird scientist guy, but no longer brainwashed, so seeing his personality fleshed out, especially his interactions with young Felix, was enlightening. He’s as obsessive as he seemed under Loki’s control, but we learn how caring he is, bearing the weight of what he unwillingly did while brainwashed. Felix is the best part of this novel, a son/student to Selvig, someone fast and funny enough to keep up with Darcy, and a superhero in the making. To fill up the cast, Snider introduces former colleagues of Selvig, all as fascinating as Selvig. Snider created a really cool team here, a cadre of brilliant scientists (held together by a glue who majored in political science). These original characters are definitely the highlight of the book. While I did enjoy the main plot of the book. I still had a few issues. My main problem is the setting it’s set a few mouths after the “Blip Event”, and people on Earth are still acting like everything’s normal. Besides a few characters referring to the event, and Felix having lost his parents to it. The author doesn’t really seem to use the potential of Thano’s victory, and how it impacted Earth. Also the main original villain for this book just boring, and didn’t really get fleshed out. All in all, Dispirit a few issues Cosmic quest: Aftermath serves as a nice spinoff that focuses on MCU side characters that seemed to kinda have been forgotten about, and gives them a nice solo adventure set before Avengers: Endgame. I would recommend this novel to kids and adults, and to any fans of the MCU.