Interesting Tidbit Vol. 5 #1: Kang the Conqueror first appeared in AVENGERS #8 and ranks as the 85th comic book villain of all time. Before becoming Kang, he was Nathaniel Richards, a scholar born in the 30th century. Living in a perfect society bored Richards and he became fascinated with history and discovered the time travel technology created by one of his ancestors, Victor Von Doom. He has gone up against the Avengers on numerous occasions, as well as Spider-Man, the Human Torch, and the Inhumans.
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THE AVENGERS #1
WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILER: John Romita Jr.
INKER: Klaus Janson
COLORIST: Dean White
PLOT:
This issue, somewhat strangely, starts off like something out of that Mavel DTV NEXT AVENGERS: HEROES OF TOMORROW. Steve Rogers then proceeds to ask no less than 26 heroes to join the Avengers, and only Wonder Man seems pessimistic about the whole thing. As the heroes begin rebuilding the city, Thor, Hawkeye, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Spider-Woman, and Iron Man gather to talk to Steve Rogers about the plans for the future when Kang arrives. Yes…Kang. Kang tells of a future where the children of the Avengers have defeated Ultron only to start off on a path that will destroy the universe due to their uncontrollable power. Kang leaves, the team tries to come up with a way to get to the future, and we discover that a Zeus-looking Hulk has plans for the Avengers.
REVIEW:
This issue started off well enough, a nice little zero issue to whet our pallets. Bendis wrote good interactions between the characters: we learn a lot about Clint just because he has decided to become Hawkeye again; Spider-Woman’s self-hating nature shines through but Wolverine, someone who has been there, tells her to “earn it;” Steve and Tony show their respectful but strained relationship; and Spidey is smart-alecky as always.
I suppose we could not just have a normal introductory issue, could we? Rather, we throw the team right into it with Kang. The use of Kang has become either a cliché or a fitting homage. I think that Bendis’s heart is in the right place, but I do not think that it is working. In using Kang, Bendis, either intentionally or unintentionally, highlights Iron Man: Kang uses a device that Tony has not even invented yet, but it puts Tony on the spot with the team; Kang seems to talk to everyone…and yet, only talks to Tony; and Tony somehow takes the lead on this mission, even though he is probably the least likely to have a child (rather, a child that he would completely own up to and one who would take on the mantel of Iron Man. I’m sure there are a lot of little Tonys running around), and Steve has already told him that Maria Hill is in charge.
This is not a team, as far as I’m concerned. There are several pieces trying to fit together but they do not make a whole. I’ve already expressed my belief that Spider-Woman does not belong on a team and I continue that belief. Wolverine is a habitual loner, always has been, always will be (it would actually be really interesting to see a team book with Wolvey and Spider-Woman)! Captain America (Bucky) deserves a chance to be a team leader, but that will not happen in this book. He also does well on his own, barring with the occasional team-up. Hawkeye is certainly on the road to recovery and it will be interesting to see him grow. And then we have the ‘same ol’ same ol’’ aspect of the book: Iron Man and Thor. Sometimes I think it would be great to just shake up the universe and have a very random team (I guess that’s what SECRET AVENGERS is for!) There is also no way that Maria Hill is going to be “leader” with Tony on the team. We shall see how long it takes for her to become unnecessary.
I’d say the plus for this whole issue is most certainly the art! How can you go wrong with John Romita Jr.?
RATING:
2.0 Webheads out of 5.0. This is not the Avengers book that I was looking forward to. Perhaps Bendis just had a first issue slump and when the full and final team is assembled we will see some good story telling. I sure hope so!
Ex animo,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Girl!
P.S. You will pay an extra $1 for this issue because Bendis has started writing THE ORAL HISTORY OF THE EARTH’S MIGHTEST HEROES. However interesting it may be, perhaps a better medium would be an actual book…stop wasting my money, Marvel!
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Stella, my dad’s the head of the Oral History Society here in the UK and he had a look at the ‘Oral History of the Avengers’ section. He wasn’t too impressed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this issue, read it twice in one day actually. I don’t usually do that but this issue was like a breath of fresh air, it didn’t feel weighed down by a huge event or crisis like almost every marvel book for the past few years. Not that thats necessarily a bad thing, its just nice to have everything in the marvel universe back in check.
LOL as well @ Nick MB
@Nick MB: LOLs, I hat when there is pronoun confusion!
“I think that Bendis’s heart is in the right place, but I do not think that it is working.”
So are you saying that he has no feelings, or that he is dead?
(I joke. Mostly.)
romtia jr artwork… I’ll go gaga over anything he does… The story is okay.
@spider-girl- I don’t think it was still THAT bad….but like you said, issue 2 should be a better way to judge it…
As usual, this isn’t really an Avengers book. It’s a bunch of characters that Bendis fancies all going on random adventures while having pointless, rambling conversations.
Except for Spider-Man’s crack about wanting to find true love – UGH… can’t we all pretend OMD didn’t happen… – LOL I rather enjoyed the issue gotta say. ^_^
I really enjoyed this, I’m looking forward to more issues
Does Bendis write a book that isn’t $3.99? I think that’s his going rate just like Johns over at DC.
LOVED the JRJR art on this book and I’m psyched to see him drawing Spidey again
I didn’t enjoy this issue a whole lot, either – but I’m not sure that anything could possibly live up to the hype.
Other thoughts:
1. I assume this is the “main” roster – at least for the time being. I found it odd – and disappointing – that there was so little diversity on the team. Two women, counting Maria Hill. All white folks. One Canadian, one Asgardian deity, and all white as snow. I guess Bendis didn’t want to put Luke Cage on the roster, given that he’s on the New Avengers roster and leading the Thunderbolts too. And Rogers alludes to one more guy (page 12), and that could be anyone. But still, a very male and very homogeneous group.
2. We’ve seen some tension between Rogers and Stark. That’s good. And there was a tiny bit of tension between Stark and Spidey on page 15. But I’ll be disappointed if we don’t see more tension on the team. Rogers is back and Osborn is gone (for now) but it doesn’t make sense (to me) that everyone will be friends again, as though nothing happened.
3. Following up on Jonny’s point – it seems like the only way they can sell team books is if they have “Avengers” or “X-Men” in the title. Other team books – the Defenders, the Champions, MI:13…haven’t made it. I don’t know what’s up with that – could be any number of things. But there’s definitely a pattern there. It makes me wonder if the Secret Warriors book has a future…maybe they should just give in and rename the title “Nick Fury and the ______ Avengers.” I’d say Secret, but that’s taken….
4. I don’t know if I’m the only person to notice this…why is Steve Rogers “Captain Steve Rogers?” In past issues of his book, before his “death,” it’s suggested that his actual Army rank (by this point) is something along the lines of a general. This makes sense given that, the last I heard, the U.S. Military still has an “up or out” policy for officers – i.e. if you’re up for promotion and denied twice, you’re fired.
@hermann22: Thanks, that’s good to know!
@spiderfan970: Perhaps I’m tainted because I skipped Siege altogether. This issue just wasn’t as BAM as I think #1s should be. Bendis needs to prove to me that this team can work and have good chemistry. Yes, I liked all of the different character interactions, but you never really know how well a team works until they fight. I think #2 will be much better. Maybe a 1.0 is harsh…I’ll change it…
Can’t wait to spider-man turns up, and i took the start of captain america asking everyone not so much as Cap asking them all to join the Avengers but rather Cap asking them all to join a specific team he had pre-seleveted for them (i.e some on secret avenger, some on academy, some on NA)
The scale here is so over the top I think it’s gonna really backfire on Bendis and end up one huge mess
It started off with the next avengers because the time stream is distorted. I’m sure we’ll see other alternate versions of marvel characters too. Here’s hoping for spidey 2099. Also I’m pretty sure that we’d be stuck paying an extra dollar anyway, and this oral history extra was bendis’ way of giving us more for our money. I think the plan is that it will be an actual book when it’s finished too. I didn’t think the issue was that bad, I mean they’re just starting out as a team. We all know that Bendis works in arcs, which means that this is only one part of a trade paperback. It’s like watching the first 20 minutes of Iron Man 2 and then grading that. While I could see from a single issue standpoint that this didn’t seem that interesting….I disagree. I liked all of the character interaction, I’m interested in Wonder Man for the first time in my life, and the story seems to be going new places. Of course I could be a little biased, because I love Bendis, I love Romita Jr., and I’m pretty sure this is the exact team of Avengers I would make if I were 8.
The “Zeus looking Hulk” is actually Maestro a future or different reality Hulk that was created in the Hulk: Future Imperfect series that was written by Peter David and drawn by George Perez. Really great story. Made me REALLY like where the issue is headed.