It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire for the Savage Avengers in the year 2099 in Savage Avengers #6, by writer David Pepose, artist Carlos Magno, colorist Espen Grundetjern, and letterer Travis Lanham. This issue is yet another wild ride, ending with the perfect shocker of an ending.

At present, employees of Alchemax prepare for their shift working with a very familiar cybernetic arm. In the future, Punisher 2099 gets the upper hand against the Savage Avengers, but they’re able to escape him. A shadowy presence watches the battle and recognizes the team as they find an abandoned AI in the sewers that explains who Punisher 2099 is. The team makes their way to the ruins of Avengers Mansion and are attacked by Deathloks sent by the Prime Deathlok. Punisher 2099 shows up to help them, he and Deathlok holding the line while the Savage Avengers load up on old weapons stored by Iron Man. With that advantage, the team is able to triumph, but the Prime Deathlok is watching and ready to keep the battle going.

Pepose throws the best possible ending into this comic. There’s a lot to love about this book in general, but the ending is a jaw-dropper. The identity of the Prime Deathlok is a game changer. It’s an enemy completely out of the Savage Avengers’ league, someone who will challenge them like no one else. Seeing how the team gets out of this story arc in one piece, especially considering the opening scene, is going to make this one a must-read.

For readers who aren’t well versed in 2099 history, there’s a good scene that catches readers up on who Punisher 2099 is. Pepose is great for this sort of thing; he ensures that the reader always understands what’s going on and gives them what they need to know if they don’t know all the lore. As usual, this issue has great pacing and is action-packed, but that’s come to be expected from this comic.

Magno and Grundetjern do a remarkable job. When an issue is this action-packed, it needs great art, and these two are a great team. One of the best parts about Magno’s art is that he never skimps on the detail. The action scenes look great, and the character acting is superb, but the backgrounds look as good as the foreground. That’s not always the case with every artist, but Magno knocks it out of the park. Grundetjern’s colors are a wonderful compliment to the pencils, really helping bring out the details.

Savage Avengers #6 keeps doing what this book does best. It’s an action-packed romp that is going to shock readers by the end. Pepose, Magno, Grundetjern, and Lanham are firing on all cylinders, and this book continues to be a highlight every month.

Grade: B+