Avengers: The Final Host (Comics) | Review

Here's what happens when writer Jason Aaron (The Mighty Thor: Lords of Midgard, The Mighty Thor: Death of The Mighty Thor) decides to rewrite Marvel's cosmic history from the ground up– you get a storyline that connects prehistoric Avengers with modern-day world-ending threats in ways nobody saw coming whatsoever.

The Final Host doesn't just reunite the Big Three of Steve Rogers, Tony Stark and Thor Odinson; it throws them headfirst into a crisis that spans millions of years and forces readers to reconsider everything they thought they knew about Earth's place in the Marvel Universe.

What makes this opening arc compelling is how Aaron uses the reunion of Marvel's core trinity as a launching point for something far more ambitious and expansive. The story establishes connections that reach back to the very origins of the Marvel Universe while setting up mythology that would define his entire Avengers run.

This isn't just another cosmic threat story– it's a fundamental reimagining of how Earth became significant in the larger cosmic hierarchy, complete with prehistoric Avengers who've been protecting the planet since the very dawn of human civilization throughout history.

The Final Host centers around the emergence of Dark Celestials– corrupted versions of the cosmic beings who've been infected by an ancient parasitic race called the Horde that threatens universal destruction and complete cosmic chaos throughout reality.

These aren't the judgmental but ultimately neutral Celestials from previous Marvel stories; they're rabid monstrosities bent on destroying Earth completely, led by the awakened Zgreb the Sorrower who emerges in modern times through Loki's dangerous machinations.

Aaron's masterstroke lies in revealing the Avengers of 1,000,000 BC – a prehistoric team featuring ancient versions of familiar heroic archetypes. This legendary team includes an early Ghost Rider, Black Panther, a Phoenix-possessed woman, Agamotto, All-Father Odin, Iron Fist and the incredibly powerful wielder of Starbrand.

The prehistoric team's individual members each represent different aspects of human potential and cosmic power, with their ancient conflict against the Horde serving as a template for how modern heroes must approach seemingly insurmountable cosmic threats.

Their ancient battle against the Horde establishes Earth as a cosmic infection point that the Celestials have been monitoring for millennia, creating a throughline that connects to Aaron's later storylines including his work on Thor and the eventual Avengers Assemble event.

The revelation that Earth itself has been infected by the Horde creates genuine stakes beyond typical superhero conflicts. The modern Avengers must not only fight the Dark Celestials but also grapple with the possibility that their entire planet might be beyond saving completely from total destruction and cosmic annihilation.

This cosmic body horror element effectively elevates the threat level while providing Aaron with incredibly rich mythology to explore throughout his extended run on the Avengers series and all related storylines going forward into future arcs and crossover events.

Aaron cleverly uses the infection metaphor to explore themes of corruption and redemption throughout the storyline, suggesting that Earth's greatest weakness might simultaneously be its most powerful asset in cosmic conflicts against universal destruction.

The storyline establishes Loki as a key catalyst, though not necessarily the main antagonist throughout the arc. His awakening of Zgreb sets events in motion but the real conflict comes from ancient cosmic forces that predate traditional Marvel continuity entirely.

This approach allows Aaron to respect existing Celestial mythology while completely re-contextualizing it for his broader narrative purposes throughout the series. The prehistoric Avengers concept provides Aaron with endless storytelling possibilities while grounding cosmic threats in Earth's deep ancient history effectively.

Rather than making the planet special through random chance, he creates a compelling mythological framework where Earth's significance stems from an ancient infection that both dooms and empowers it in the cosmic hierarchy significantly.

Ed McGuinness (Avengers: X-Sanction, Superman: Emperor Joker), Paco Medina (Deadpool: Dark Reign, Deadpool: Secret Invasion) and Sara Pichelli (Spider-Man: Bloodline, Spider-Men: Worlds Collide) deliver impressive artwork that captures both the cosmic scope and intimate character moments Aaron's script demands.

McGuinness particularly excels at the prehistoric sequences, giving the ancient Avengers distinct visual personalities that communicate their roles without exposition. The Dark Celestials feel genuinely threatening and alien, avoiding sterile cosmic presentation.

Aaron's writing strikes an effective balance between accessibility for new readers and deep continuity integration for longtime fans. His character voices for the Big Three feel authentic, capturing their personalities while emphasizing their reunion matters. The pacing alternates between cosmic revelation and character moments.

The weakness some readers might encounter is that Aaron's cosmic concepts sometimes overshadow individual character development. While the Big Three get solid moments, supporting characters function more as plot devices than participants in the storyline.

Avengers: The Final Host succeeds as both a reunion story and ambitious foundation for extended cosmic storytelling. Aaron demonstrates his understanding of what makes these characters work together while introducing mythology that would define his entire run.

This volume works particularly well as a jumping-on point for readers unfamiliar with recent Avengers continuity. Aaron provides enough context to understand the stakes without requiring extensive background knowledge, while longtime readers get rewarded with connections to broader Marvel cosmic history.

What this really establishes is Aaron's vision of the Avengers as more than just Earth's defenders– they're cosmic participants in conflicts that span millions of years. The Final Host sets up mythological frameworks that connect to Aaron's broader Marvel contributions.

Avengers: The Final Host is collected in Avengers by Jason Aaron Vol. 1: The Final Host. Physical editions can be found at comic shops, major bookstores and online retailers. Digital editions are available through ComiXology, Kindle and Marvel Unlimited.