This single issue successfully begins setup for what will eventually be a cosmic-level event comic that encompasses almost all of the Marvel universe. In thirty pages, this is no easy feat, but the sharp and concise writing on Duggan's part nails it. The art by Mike Allred is always a pleasure, and when used on the many settings and characters visited in this issue, it is especially pleasing. Marvel's first metaphorical toe in the water of the upcomingInfinityevent hits every point it needs to for a setup issue, but also offers a story that is much deeper and will leave readers chomping at the bit for more. If the rest of this event is half as well-done as this issue, Marvel has struck gold.

The art, as always, is solid. The colors are vibrant the characters themselves are expressive and exciting to look at. When Rogue blew up over the apparent death of Johnny Storm, I felt her pain. When Falcon was stuggling to control such a diverse team, his panic was apparent even without reading the dialogue. This event has been a great time, and the art really lends itself to this.

Overall, this issue made a lot of smart decisions. Bouncing around the universe to check in on each Infinity Stone worked well for the purposes of Infinity Countdown Prime, but continuing that trend would have spread the story very thin. Having a tight focus on the Guardians and on one Infinity Stone was a wise decision, and keeping the tone of the issue lighthearted instead of jumping to a grimdark plot device immediately also served it well. I highly recommend this book.

Finally, Adam Warlock confronting Ultron is not only entertining, but also sets the stage for an epic battle in the near future. The reveal that Ultron has been experimenting on the Silver Surfer was not only unexpected, but also changes the entire confrontation and leaves the reader on the edge of their seat for the next issue. This second issue is very well executed, aside from a few hiccups.

This event is the culmination of a lot of effort on Marvel's part. This is to say nothing of the art. Deodato Jr. is on point as usual, and the vibrant colors, strong pencilwork, and expressive characters only serve to bolster the already strong premiere issue. Definitely pick this one up.

Where this issue falls short is with the art. Stylistically, this book is all over the place. Sometimes, the characters are drawn in a simple but elegant way. Low detail works well, and Foreman pulls it off well. However, there are certain panels that have a weird amount of detail compared to the rest of the book. This is not to say that these panels are necessarily bad, but the art could use a single, consistent style. Though all of the art is solid, the disparity is noticeable, even to a person who cares much more about the writing of comics than the art.

Overall, the No Surrender crossover is off to a strong start, but could use some refining in future issues. If you're looking for an exciting, visually appealing book, this crossover is the one for you.

With any luck, this book will continue to capitalize on the wealth of heroes and villains at its disposal, especially the Black Order. With the caveat that it could use some focus and streamlining as well, this series has been extremely enjoyable so far. Some character development here and there, or some lasting effects on our heroes may be too much to ask from Marvel, but if the series can focus up and push itself in new directions, it could shape up to be something special.

Art-wise, this book does just fine. The work that Kris Anka does is consistent throughout, but when most of what you need to draw is characters laying on beds or sitting a dinner tables, it is hard to make it stand out. Once again, this is facet of this issue that could contribute a lot to the overall quality of the series if the pacing picks up. The Runaways are a hard team to nail down, but Rainbow Rowell seems to have a good handle on the beloved characters. Hopefully, now that the setup seems to have concluded, we can enjoy the high quality character interaction while also having the characters do something.

Art-wise, this book is great. Kris Anka continues to put out solid work, with expressive faces and vibrant colors keeping the eyes of the reader for the entirety of the issue. Though this series has its issues, the conclusion of this issue gives a lot of hope that this will shape up to be a top quality comic in short order.