Almost
Though the first few pages of Captain America 401 take place before this issue, it is probably best to read these first. Quasar 35 picks up from Quasar’s perspective after page six of CA 401, as Quasar, having just resigned from the Avengers (doing what Cap can’t quite do), heads off to begin anew his role as Protector of the Universe. Taking on himself some responsibility for not knowing about the Shi’ar-Kree War in time to do any good, Quasar plans to perform his interstellar role much better by first returning to the Kree Empire and seeing what good he can do for the survivors. Trying to bring his former social life to a sense of completion, Quasar hands over the reins of Vaughan Enterprises to Ken, his right-hand man; fails to reunite with his girlfriend Kayla, considering all the deleterious effects of her encounter with the Angler; and is joined by his roommate the Eternal Makkari. Joined by Her en route, the trio arrive in the Kree Empire.
In the intervening days since he last saw the devastation of Hala, Quasar is initially struck by the reconstruction that has already occurred. Part of the planet’s orbital defense system has already been replaced, and reconstruction work on the planet has already begun. Before they have time to adduce what this means, the trio is attacked by Vice-Roy Deathbird and members of the Kree Imperial Guard: Korath, Ultimus, and Shatterax. It is jarring to read “Kree Imperial Guard,” especially when applied to a group who used to be called Starforce. Deathbird has quickly acclimated to her new responsibility and the apparent concomitant need to hate all Avengers. They are now violating Shi’ar space, regardless of whatever “humanitarian” reasons they claim. The Shi’ar, as Lilandra said, are taking care of their responsibilities alone. The Avengers should be gone. Quasar acquiesces by quantum-jumping the trio off the planet and deeper into the Kree Empire, hoping to find some who need his help.
Soon the trio encounter a giant ship cobbled together from a variety of architectural forms called the Mourning Star. Aboard, Quasar meets a recent acquaintance named Fath, who helped him mourn the recent passing of his mentor Eon. Fath and his sect the Mourners are trying to mourn the passage of so many billions of Kree, but the head empath Wayopex the Interdite soon discovers the Kree aren’t actually dead. Quasar and his friends agree to investigate, but Quasar is troubled by all the spiritual stuff, considering his lack of faith – as a star traveler, nothing in the universe has lead him to believe in an afterlife (not a very impressive panel, really, considering how well Quasar usually is portrayed). With the help of Epoch and his quantum bands, Quasar locates the source of the disturbance: the Kree souls are being held in containment by a giant soul eater (it reads slightly better in the comic than it sounds here). The issue feels hurried, as it tries to transition out of the giant crossover and back into Quasar and his supporting characters, but the weak treatment of the supernatural and the almost nominal appearance of Deathbird and some former Starforce members detracts it from reaching its potential. Her's juvenile infatuation with Quasar fortunately was not overplayed during Galactic Storm, but it is here again on overload. It could have been a great "aftermath" issue to a great crossover, but it doesn't quite reach that level.