Customer Reviews

Mighty Avengers, Vol. 1

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Mighty Avengers, vol. 1 (also titled The Mighty Avengers: Assemble) collects issues #1-11 of The Mighty Avengers, originally published between 2007 and 2008 and previously collected in Mighty Avengers, Vol. 1: The Ultron Initiative and Mighty Avengers, Vol. 2: Venom Bomb. The graphic novel is nicely produced with mid-gloss paper and finished boards with green foil stamping. The spine, however, is exceptionally tight--which causes the inner edge of many of the pages to be obscured (particularly annoying with splash pages). There's no creator commentary, but there is a significant amount of bonus art: character sketches, pre-colored art, and the covers to Wizard #180 and #199.

Brian Michael Bendis's plot details the creation of a new, government-sanctioned, post Civil War Avengers team, led by Ms. Marvel (as most Avengers fans will agree, a fairly unbelievable choice) and Iron Man. Their first two "missions" are reproduced in this graphic novel: the first, an all-out battle against a new, female Ultron; the second, a (rather silly) struggle with a Venom virus and an assault on Latveria. Bendis incorporates some interesting twists--a novel use of thought balloons and a disappointingly brief time travel story involving the Sentry--but the plot is still heavily dependent upon events taking place in other Marvel books (especially New Avengers--completists will need New Avengers, Vol. 6: Revolution (v. 6) and New Avengers, Vol. 7: The Trust for the full story). Frank Cho provides most of the art--with Mark Bagley also making contributions here and there. It's all decent and fits the plot well, but aside from a heavy use of splash pages (issue #9 features three in a row), it's nothing extraordinary.

Bendis fans generally prefer New Avengers to The Mighty Avengers, but if you're a casual reader this is the more accessible title. Fans of Civil War and Secret Invasion will particularly enjoy this collection, but even readers new to the Avengers will likely find it a fun read.

So I picked this up in the hopes that I would find something different this being the Registered team of Avengers. I got that however it was not nearly what I wanted. For the most part it's an introduction to the new team and a precursor to Secret Invasion which is fine but I feel they didn't try hard enough to make this team likable. Ms. Marvel is team captain, however it always seems Tony Stark is still pulling the strings as always. I also read this coming back from reading "World's Most Wanted" and I find Bendis' take on Stark kinda weak. I also really don't like how Cho gives Ms. Marvel "thunder thighs". Wonder Man and Black Widow are very ancillary just there for show and as paramours for Iron Man and Ms. Marvel. Ares has to definitely be my favorite character of the book and what made me thoroughly enjoy it. We see that despite being the God of War he doesn't necessarily take his axe and sever heads. This book also has plenty of inconsistencies particularly in the second arc. Aside from the Venom and Carnage clones you'll notice that people will change colors. Janet goes from red to black and back again. There is also a scene where the Mighty Avengers confront the New Avengers and there's this tension. Ms. Marvel says she is going to wake Janet who was clearly conscious in the last panel. I don't know if this was simply because it was an awkward situation. Janet Van Dyne's character also interests me given her past with Hank Pym which has a much stronger showcase in the first Arc. I was hoping to get more out of the Sentry as he is a major player in Siege allegedly but all I got is that he "doesn't throw everyone into the sun". As mentioned in the last review thought bubbles are really annoying after a while. It was fine when you try to feel out the new team but into the second arc I find it unnecessary and redundant. My last high point for the book would have to be the interaction between Clint Barton and Tony Stark; two guys with a lot of history and the reactions are great. To sum it up, it's a fun book with some obviously weakness due to an unbalanced team both in powers and characterizations. 3 1/2 stars. I leave with this question: Would Dr. Strange really be taken over by a symbiote?

This collection of the first 11 issues of Bendis's Mighty Avengers are incredible. Filled with depth of story telling and plenty of humor that is very classic Avengers. This story comes straight out of the Marvel Civil War and leads right into Secret Invasion.

While I personally prefer the New Avengers series that Bendis does, this series and this collection specifically are a must have for any Avengers fan.