With the world order completely rewritten after Avengers: Armageddon, there comes a day, a day unlike any other, when a new group of Earth’s mightiest heroes find themselves united to avenge the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain Marvel, Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Miracleman! The Avengers take center stage once again in the Marvel Universe, and it all starts here. Don’t miss it! Avengers #1 kicks off the next chapter that’s been teased for quite some time and mines a story from 18 years ago.
Writer Chip Zdarsky dives into guiding the Avengers with Avengers #1. It builds off of the work he’s been doing on Captain America as well as the recent Avengers: Armageddon. It’s clear that Armageddon isn’t necessarily the new status-quo and direction from that event, but more Biblical with Mephisto making moves on the world. Zdarsky gives us a literal Armageddon as angelic-like beings descend upon the world, taking back deals Mephisto has made, deals not ready to be paid. That includes Spider-Man, who made a deal in the controversial “One More Day” where he gave up his marriage to Mary-Jane Watson to save the life of Aunt May. Now, Mephisto has come to be paid further.
Zdarsky complicates the situation with the heroes of the Marvel Universe rocked from the events of Avengers: Armageddon which featured failures that resulted in mass death but also a world that has turned against them outlawing heroes. They’re broken, down, and not sure how to proceed. But, danger brings members together to take on the threat from Mephisto and in the short term, save New York City.
Avengers #1 is a decent start overall that does a good job of setting the tone for where things stand for these heroes and shows them at low points but also without a sense of direction and what to do next. This is a team that won’t necessarily trust each other, especially with the controversial Miracleman a part of it. It also presents a team forced into the role of heroes instead of sitting around figuring out what’s next with some grand plan. Zdarsky does an excellent job reminding readers and emphasizing these are heroes who often stumbled into their powers and with that comes a responsibility to do good.
The art by Marco Checchetto is good. There’s a nice chaotic quality to it all as fights break out and angelic beings descend. The color by Matthew Wilson and letters by Cory Petit also add to the overall look with a style that feels a bit grounded in its delivery. There’s some solid visual moments but it’s not one that feels like it has to deliver splashy moments. It does a solid job overall balancing the action and it’s quieter more character focused moments.
One of the best past of Avengers #1 is those quieter character moments. Carol Danvers talking to Daredevil at a bar going over what happened. Spider-Man’s confrontation with Miracleman blaming him for the deaths of thousands. There’s solid emotion there that’s emphasized by the art.
Avengers #1 isn’t the flashiest start but it’s a good start. It gives something that feels a bit new and with a lot of potential while also mining a story almost two decades old. It’s been months of buildup to this moment and this debut issue delivers what feels like the start of a nice payoff.
Story: Chip Zdarsky Art: Marco Checchetto
Color: Matthew Wilson Letters: Cory Petit
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
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