In the Marvel Universe, superheroes are becoming less and less trusted by the people. And in the wake of Avengers: Armageddon, a new roster of Avengers is assembling. But who exactly will be the one shouting “Avengers assemble!” in a voice so resounding that it sounds like it’s right out of Marvels Rivals? Well, none other than your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, of course.
That’s right, Spidey is gathering together with his buddies Daredevil, Luke Cage, Captain Marvel, Logan, and… Miracleman?! Well, it is better to keep your friends close and newbies closer, I guess. In the relaunch of Avengers, superstars Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto begin the next leg of their reunion by immediately getting into some, as Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova would say, “big potatoes”.
The story continuously builds off the premise that something seems off. Not just to Spidey, but for everyone. As Zdarsky begins setting the stage for Mephisto’s invasion on New York, we begin to see just the quantity of deals the devil’s made. With Mephisto’s contracts recently voided and no longer active, it seems all of those who dealt with him are beginning to feel an indescribable change within them as a result of it. Not only that, but those in tune with their morals, like Captain Marvel and Luke Cage, also seem to sense the brewing storm.
Interestingly, Zdarsky has them process it in various different ways. While some lean on one another for the first time, others look to old friends for guidance. Either way, the chemistry between this team’s members is slowly growing. Through all of this, I found that the building anticipation that was set up throughout a majority of this issue helped to create a captivating story because we as readers know what’s coming, but our heroes don’t yet.
My only complaint is that I’m not a huge fan of Carol debating having a drink. I think that trope for recovering alcoholics is a bit of an oversimplification of what battles recovering addicts experience. There are a variety of ways Carol could be coping with her survivor’s guilt, and I don’t particularly agree with this one. However, it does turn on an interesting conversation between her and Daredevil that I hope is further explored. And while the means didn’t justify the end, I did find the end of that segment of the book to be somewhat compelling.
It’s no secret that Spider-Man and Mephisto have crossed paths. In the infamous storyline One More Day, Peter Parker sacrificed his marriage to save his Aunt May. With every contract null and void, it does beg the question of what repercussions readers should expect. While it’s not entirely clear yet what these repercussions might look like, readers will definitely want to check out this story to get an idea for where things are headed. And while I’m not entirely sure whether it was intentional, I do think it’s worth noting that May’s fate does seem oddly intertwined with all those whose lives are the result of contracting Mephisto. With all these lives in jeopardy, one does begin to wonder just how much will be uncovered about Mephisto’s past deals.
Something else that really stood out to me in this issue was how stunning it was. I mean, it’s no secret that Marco Checchetto is one of the greatest artists of our time. But in case there are any doubts, look no further than here for a reason to believe otherwise. Marco’s line work is simply electric, with each character having subtle expressions that add to their dialogue or fight scenes with such intensity that causes each page to pick up on every detail. And with the colors from Matt Wilson, I find that the story really pops. I think the most perfect example of this is when the skies turn red. No, this isn’t a Crisis event – that’s for the Distinguished Competition to deal with – but seeing the hues slowly become more amber helps to reinforce how apocalyptic things are racing towards unless our heroes assemble to save the day. Truthfully, this issue wouldn’t be as exciting as it was if not for the dynamic work of Marco Checchetto and Matt Wilson animating each page with such nuance that you’d think it was ripped right out of a movie.
Avengers #1 is a great story that leans into the awareness of how much fan intrigue there will be in seeing how the deal from One More Day is impacted by Mephisto’s contracts being voided. But if you’re expecting all cards to be shown here, think again – things are just getting started! By taking that intrigue and adding a variety of characters with similar but different guilt complexes (I’m looking at you Daredevil, Captain Marvel, and Miracleman), Chip Zdarsky begins providing this current roster with subtle chemistry that continues to lure in readers as the team dynamics begin to take form. Now, one can only hope will turn this group into a team of mighty heroes up to the challenge of protecting Earth from all Hell throws at it.
‘Avengers’ #1 prepares for our heroes to dance with the devil
Avengers #1
Avengers #1 is a blockbuster first issue that true believers won’t want to miss, especially if they’re curious to see how the results from One More Day eventually are impacted.
Reader Rating0 Votes
0
The premise of this story is more than enough of a reason to check out this issue.
The utilization of civilians adds a needed urgency to the threat Mephisto poses as he’s not just after a few people he’s contracted with.
This issue is spectacularly drawn and has a stunning cover.
We haven’t seen whether this ‘team’ will decide to form the newest Avengers roster to protect Earth.
Carol reverting back to her older haircut is not the choice I would have made.
9.5
Great
Buy Now
Amazon
Up Next:
‘Friendly Neighborhood Mary Jane’ #1 is a charming start
‘Uncanny X-Men’ #38 packs in new characters and two action scenes
DC sends ‘The Demon,’ ‘Jonah Hex,’ and ‘Absolute Batman: Ark M’ back to press
Comic Books
Comic boo-ks! 11 creators reveal the scariest pages of all time
Comic Books
DC extends ‘Absolute Catwoman’ to 12 issues, continuing Selina Kyle’s story through 2027
Comic Books
EXCLUSIVE Marvel Preview: Infernal Hulk Vs. Spider-Man #1
