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Avengers (1963) #167-168, 170-177
Avengers the Korvac Saga
Save the world, destroy the world - it's all the same to him! A flawed demigod decides it's his destiny to perfect the universe! It's too much power for one man, and it'll take over a dozen powerful men and women - Earth's Mightiest Heroes and the Guardians of the Galaxy- to stop him! plus: the Avengers face additional endangerment from aliens, Atlanteans and automatons! Gueststarring Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Doctor Strange and more!
COLLECTING: Avengers (1963) 167-168, 170-177; Thor Annual 6
COLLECTING: Avengers (1963) 167-168, 170-177; Thor Annual 6
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
19 people are currently reading
405 people want to read
About the author
Jim Shooter
1,026 books85 followersJames Charles Shooter was an American writer, editor and publisher in the comics industry. Beginning his career writing for DC Comics at the age of 14, he had a successful but controversial run as editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics, and launched comics publishers Valiant, Defiant, and Broadway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
May 8, 2015
As Avengers hurtled toward the ‘80s, it proved that it still had one big epic in the tank. Avengers members (past and present) and various allies started disappearing mysteriously, popping away in front of their friends. A confrontation with the cosmic “Elder” The Collector brought the Avengers to the brink of discovering the extremely powerful Michael, once a villain from the future known as Korvac. Michael killed the Collector before he could expose him, precipitating a final showdown that left most of the heroes near death.
This was a massive saga with universe-shattering stakes. The fractured core team had to find a way to reunify, just as a massive infusion of former members and allies descended on their doorstep. Michael’s motivations were rather complex and he was presented as far from the typical comic book villain. He would have a profound impact on Moondragon, especially, propelling her down some dark roads in the years to come. Several characters made progress dealing with their respective personal issues. Ms. Marvel made her first appearances in the book (though it would still be some time before she’d join as an official member). This arc also included the introduction of Wasp’s career as a fashion designer and explored some crucial terrain in the complicated Captain America/Iron Man partnership that would echo down the years in stories such as Civil War or Jonathan Hickman’s recent run on the title. On a sartorial note, this arc marked the debut of Wonder Man’s infamous leisure suit look. Readers were also introduced to NSA liaison Peter Henry Gyrich, who revoked the team’s special privileges due to security concerns, making their operations difficult at a crucial moment. Seeing the team commandeer a city bus to transport them to the climactic showdown was a wonderfully bizarre detail.
A small army of writers and artists worked on this saga. That it holds together so well is an accomplishment of strong editing. Avengers: The Korvac Saga is one of the most famous Avengers arcs and a must read for fans.
A version of this review originally appeared on www.thunderalleybcp.com
This was a massive saga with universe-shattering stakes. The fractured core team had to find a way to reunify, just as a massive infusion of former members and allies descended on their doorstep. Michael’s motivations were rather complex and he was presented as far from the typical comic book villain. He would have a profound impact on Moondragon, especially, propelling her down some dark roads in the years to come. Several characters made progress dealing with their respective personal issues. Ms. Marvel made her first appearances in the book (though it would still be some time before she’d join as an official member). This arc also included the introduction of Wasp’s career as a fashion designer and explored some crucial terrain in the complicated Captain America/Iron Man partnership that would echo down the years in stories such as Civil War or Jonathan Hickman’s recent run on the title. On a sartorial note, this arc marked the debut of Wonder Man’s infamous leisure suit look. Readers were also introduced to NSA liaison Peter Henry Gyrich, who revoked the team’s special privileges due to security concerns, making their operations difficult at a crucial moment. Seeing the team commandeer a city bus to transport them to the climactic showdown was a wonderfully bizarre detail.
A small army of writers and artists worked on this saga. That it holds together so well is an accomplishment of strong editing. Avengers: The Korvac Saga is one of the most famous Avengers arcs and a must read for fans.
A version of this review originally appeared on www.thunderalleybcp.com
November 22, 2012
This volume collects a ten-issue epic from 1977, from issues of Avengers and a Thor Annual.
Korvac was a slave of the alien Badoon until he used their own technology to break free. Gathering power along the way, he travels from the 30th century to our time, intending to remake the world, bringing him into conflict with both the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
I never really liked Jim Shooter's writing much, even as a kid, and he handles most of this story arc (and seems to direct the rest, as there isn't a noticeable difference among the other writers who contribute.) There are too many attempts to be funny that just come off as embarrassing, too much petty, annoying bickering amongst the teammates and too many broad, hand-wavy explanations for everything. Korvac's origin is a particularly egregious example; he escapes from Thor and the Guardians and just happens to teleport right to Galactus' world-ship. There he plugs himself in and woohoo instant near-omnipotence. Honestly, I don't expect real, hard science from this but at least make something up that sounds plausible.
There is an odd sequence where the Avengers, needing to get somewhere but having their jet flight privileges revoked, take a bus--despite the fact that about half of them can fly under their own power.
Ultron makes a less-than-stellar showing around the middle of the volume, hiding out in a convent (!) We find that the Avengers have been "immunized" to his primary means of attack. How does that work, exactly? The Scarlet Witch's involvement in this battle was referenced when Ultron returned a couple years later, but this really dumb plot device is never heard from again. Nor is the deus-ex-machina way in which Thor finally defeats the robot.
And what on Earth is Nighthawk doing in here? He shows up at a fashion show, something he admits he wouldn't normally do, for no apparent reason.
I like a lot of 1970s Marvel, but the Avengers wouldn't reach greatness until about a half a year later.
Korvac was a slave of the alien Badoon until he used their own technology to break free. Gathering power along the way, he travels from the 30th century to our time, intending to remake the world, bringing him into conflict with both the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
I never really liked Jim Shooter's writing much, even as a kid, and he handles most of this story arc (and seems to direct the rest, as there isn't a noticeable difference among the other writers who contribute.) There are too many attempts to be funny that just come off as embarrassing, too much petty, annoying bickering amongst the teammates and too many broad, hand-wavy explanations for everything. Korvac's origin is a particularly egregious example; he escapes from Thor and the Guardians and just happens to teleport right to Galactus' world-ship. There he plugs himself in and woohoo instant near-omnipotence. Honestly, I don't expect real, hard science from this but at least make something up that sounds plausible.
There is an odd sequence where the Avengers, needing to get somewhere but having their jet flight privileges revoked, take a bus--despite the fact that about half of them can fly under their own power.
Ultron makes a less-than-stellar showing around the middle of the volume, hiding out in a convent (!) We find that the Avengers have been "immunized" to his primary means of attack. How does that work, exactly? The Scarlet Witch's involvement in this battle was referenced when Ultron returned a couple years later, but this really dumb plot device is never heard from again. Nor is the deus-ex-machina way in which Thor finally defeats the robot.
And what on Earth is Nighthawk doing in here? He shows up at a fashion show, something he admits he wouldn't normally do, for no apparent reason.
I like a lot of 1970s Marvel, but the Avengers wouldn't reach greatness until about a half a year later.
January 31, 2023
3.75 stars. Ok, this was pretty cool. Korvac was a half man, half machine who fought with the original Guardians of the Galaxy from the 31st century. He escaped and ended up gaining godlike powers from exploring Galactus’ abandoned ship. With his new power, he shielded himself from the other omnipresent beings to remain unseen to work his plan to take over the universe. This plot ran the entire course of this book. As the Avengers dealt with other issues like fighting Ultron………again, fighting Tyrak, this Korvac plot bubbled in the background. This story did a pretty good job slowly building up as the book went on. I also came to like these original Guardians of the Galaxy. I thought they had some cool characters and now I want to read their books. Lucky for me there is an omnibus that collects them. But yeah, I dug this one. The late great George Perez did awesome on the artwork along with Sal Buscema and Dave Wenzel. Then the ending was one that I didn’t see coming which was a nice finale.
November 24, 2015
A complicated epic involving the most complex of characters, Korvac or later, Michael. It starts with Thor teaming with the original Guardians of the Galaxy to take on this mad machine man who is tormented and yearning for power (like they all do) then it moves to an awkward time within the Avengers, fighting and disloyalty is high, some government official basically comes in and shuts them down leaving them with lacklustre means, even Nick Fury abandons them as the Avengers lose all their priority clearance. Stressful times ahead so how do they cope when past and present Avengers keep disappearing and who is Michael.
Without giving too much away the Korvac Saga leads up to what you expect a huge battle but are the Avengers really the bad guys at the end of the day.
I totally felt for Michael but then he wanted to rule the world even if he wanted to save it make it better, the likes of Hitler said similar doings and we know how that ended, so was the Avengers right to not allow him to go ahead as planned. One will never know.
Without giving too much away the Korvac Saga leads up to what you expect a huge battle but are the Avengers really the bad guys at the end of the day.
I totally felt for Michael but then he wanted to rule the world even if he wanted to save it make it better, the likes of Hitler said similar doings and we know how that ended, so was the Avengers right to not allow him to go ahead as planned. One will never know.
September 1, 2018
I have mixed feelings on this one. I read this as a kid and remembered it fondly. Reading it now felt like a lot of work. Comics of that era had a lot of long exposition designed to make every issue clear to new readers. That slows down the narrative a lot when you're reading it in a collected edition.
The art is great. The core story is good, bordering on very good. This is an "important" Avengers run, but maybe not the finest.
It's just a dense read, especially if you read modern comics. You won't breeze through this collection.
It's worth reading, if you're just getting into the Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy titles. It touches on big events that are referenced in other Marvel titles, particularly Bronze Age books.
The art is great. The core story is good, bordering on very good. This is an "important" Avengers run, but maybe not the finest.
It's just a dense read, especially if you read modern comics. You won't breeze through this collection.
It's worth reading, if you're just getting into the Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy titles. It touches on big events that are referenced in other Marvel titles, particularly Bronze Age books.
April 11, 2016
In retrospect this is one of the foundation stones that pointed the way to the future of modern comics. It’s clearly influenced by Claremont’s X-Men storylines, with a lot of soap operatic conflicts going on (a leader filled with self-doubt, Captain America taking a quite out-of-character Wolverine role of undermining him), panels here and there setting up later storylines so nothing ever quite feels tidily resolved, and epic battles stretching from the 31st century to New York’s Forest Hill Gardens neighbourhood.
It’s clearly a primitive form of the ongoing narrative which dominates modern comics – whilst the story builds to the last three issues here, the Korvac storyline itself doesn’t properly kick in until the last three issues or so. What saves it though, and marks it out from the majority of what’s followed is the enormous sense of fun behind it all. In the economically testing 70s the government interference and cuts storylines were very much on the nose (and read so again to a modern British reader like me). It culminates in the splendidly absurd way the Avengers eventually reach Korvac’s lair, a splendidly comic conceit that adds to the absurdity of the climax’s setting. And of course there are the requisite punch-ups, although Jim Shooter has the wit to undermine this in the climactic battle (it’s far better executed here than when he reused it for Secret Wars). This is ridiculous, epic and yet has room to ponder moral questions.
What also raises it above the usual superhero fare is the essentially tragic nature of the villain. Korvac is clearly one of the Avengers’ most powerful foes and even a combination of the world’s mightiest heroes wouldn’t match him. The answer is therefore rooted in character, lending a tragic air to proceedings. We’re not simply admiring the heroes and jeering the bad guys, instead we’re left with characters on both sides as flawed and complex as the medium would allow.
Of course, being forty years old a lot of the attitudes on display are out of date, as happens to all art over time. But this is a reminder of how inventive Marvel of the 70s was and how fortunate I was to be brought up on them. Tremendous fun.
It’s clearly a primitive form of the ongoing narrative which dominates modern comics – whilst the story builds to the last three issues here, the Korvac storyline itself doesn’t properly kick in until the last three issues or so. What saves it though, and marks it out from the majority of what’s followed is the enormous sense of fun behind it all. In the economically testing 70s the government interference and cuts storylines were very much on the nose (and read so again to a modern British reader like me). It culminates in the splendidly absurd way the Avengers eventually reach Korvac’s lair, a splendidly comic conceit that adds to the absurdity of the climax’s setting. And of course there are the requisite punch-ups, although Jim Shooter has the wit to undermine this in the climactic battle (it’s far better executed here than when he reused it for Secret Wars). This is ridiculous, epic and yet has room to ponder moral questions.
What also raises it above the usual superhero fare is the essentially tragic nature of the villain. Korvac is clearly one of the Avengers’ most powerful foes and even a combination of the world’s mightiest heroes wouldn’t match him. The answer is therefore rooted in character, lending a tragic air to proceedings. We’re not simply admiring the heroes and jeering the bad guys, instead we’re left with characters on both sides as flawed and complex as the medium would allow.
Of course, being forty years old a lot of the attitudes on display are out of date, as happens to all art over time. But this is a reminder of how inventive Marvel of the 70s was and how fortunate I was to be brought up on them. Tremendous fun.
December 6, 2017
As a youngster I marveled at the scope of this story, but I was unable to find all the back issues that were translated into Dutch in second hand comic book shops. You can imagine how pleased I am now to own the whole story in one tpb!
The pencils by George Perez are great, the style of the other artists is not my thing. The unfolding mystery of Michael/The Enemy/Korvac still holds up after all these decades, love the story pacing as well. It's nice to see the Thor Annual with the Guardians of the Galaxy included, even though the storytelling style there is totally over the top.
Good fun really (regardless of some obvious flaws) and a great addition to my collection (finally!).
The pencils by George Perez are great, the style of the other artists is not my thing. The unfolding mystery of Michael/The Enemy/Korvac still holds up after all these decades, love the story pacing as well. It's nice to see the Thor Annual with the Guardians of the Galaxy included, even though the storytelling style there is totally over the top.
Good fun really (regardless of some obvious flaws) and a great addition to my collection (finally!).
August 13, 2016
Cuatro estrellas y media por el conjunto, con algunas entregas individuales algo flojas.
Los cómics datan de 1977. El tomo recoge una de mis sagas preferidas del grupo de superhéroes más poderoso de la Tierra. Especialmente aquí se luce Jim Shooter de guionista, a quien le gustan los argumentos a lo bestia y que nos ofrece lo que para mí es uno de los finales más grandiosos de la era Marvel.
¡Excelsior!
Los cómics datan de 1977. El tomo recoge una de mis sagas preferidas del grupo de superhéroes más poderoso de la Tierra. Especialmente aquí se luce Jim Shooter de guionista, a quien le gustan los argumentos a lo bestia y que nos ofrece lo que para mí es uno de los finales más grandiosos de la era Marvel.
¡Excelsior!
June 4, 2017
What it must have been like to read that final fight scene at the time.
There really had never been someone who walked over the Avengers like that before.
There really had never been someone who walked over the Avengers like that before.
July 10, 2019
My inner MARVEL nerd is screaming with joy. I loved this so so much and I can't believe I didn't invest myself in the comics earlier, because it turns out I'm not exclusively a movie fan after all. I loved all the cameos and crossovers that weren't incorporated in the movie franchise yet. I wish Nat had more lines in this one, but we Nat stans are sadly used to that by now (and impatiently waiting for the much deserved solo movie). The villain was quite well-crafted and enjoyable as well as the older characters I didn't have a chance to get to know before, like the original Guardians. Last but not least, the illustrations were absolutely amazing. All in all, I had a blast reading this and it definitely made my day.
August 9, 2020
It was better than I was expecting from a mainstream 70s comic book, and the bad guy turning out to be just a guy wearing Bermuda shorts, living in the suburb, must have been cheeky and original at the time. He was still downright all powerful and all. He basically loses because of ennui, I guess. Also the good guys having to take public transit to get to the bad guy because their super jet had been grounded must have been edgy and camp, I suppose. Now, I mostly just notice the intense sexism. Wow, is The Korvac Saga ever sexist.
January 10, 2022
Se hace pesado de leer como cualquier comic de superhéroes de la época, además de ver lo que pasa te lo va contando el narrador.
Pero está interesante y se desarrollan los personajes de verdad. En realidad son como muchas mini historias que ocurren mientras está Korvac de fondo maquinando sus cosas. Y el final es muy bueno.
El dibujo ha sido un poco meh
Pero está interesante y se desarrollan los personajes de verdad. En realidad son como muchas mini historias que ocurren mientras está Korvac de fondo maquinando sus cosas. Y el final es muy bueno.
El dibujo ha sido un poco meh
January 25, 2018
The writing and art invokes a sense of nostalgia.
More importantly, it signifies the things to come! As in the mega crossovers to plague Marvel year after year. With great ambiguities and artistic conveniences carelessly woven into the Marvel universe.
More importantly, it signifies the things to come! As in the mega crossovers to plague Marvel year after year. With great ambiguities and artistic conveniences carelessly woven into the Marvel universe.
May 3, 2020
Honestamente, Marvel tiene mucho mejores historias y villanos más creativos.
Fueron los inicios y aún faltaba para que evolucionara este universo, pero la calidad que puedo resaltar no se encuentra en la narración y mucho menos en los diálogos sino en las ilustraciones y diseños.
Una historia que recomendaría para niños o jóvenes que empiezan a leer el mundo de Marvel.
Fueron los inicios y aún faltaba para que evolucionara este universo, pero la calidad que puedo resaltar no se encuentra en la narración y mucho menos en los diálogos sino en las ilustraciones y diseños.
Una historia que recomendaría para niños o jóvenes que empiezan a leer el mundo de Marvel.
February 21, 2020
One of my favorite stories from when I first started reading comic books in the late '70s. It has not aged very well.
July 31, 2020
The Korvac Saga!
An epic Marvel tale, told when epic tales didn't need to be a miniseries crossing over 42 on-going titles to get the whole story, which doesn't make any sense. No way!
It begins in a Thor annual, guest starring the Original Guardians of the Galaxy, and gains momentum as it sails through the regular issues of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, The Avengers! (Guest starring the Original Captain Marvel and the Original Ms. Marvel!
Now, I ask you, "What more could you possibly ask for?"
Just don't sit there! Go and read it! Enjoy!
An epic Marvel tale, told when epic tales didn't need to be a miniseries crossing over 42 on-going titles to get the whole story, which doesn't make any sense. No way!
It begins in a Thor annual, guest starring the Original Guardians of the Galaxy, and gains momentum as it sails through the regular issues of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, The Avengers! (Guest starring the Original Captain Marvel and the Original Ms. Marvel!
Now, I ask you, "What more could you possibly ask for?"
Just don't sit there! Go and read it! Enjoy!
December 28, 2015
The dialogue is cringe-worthily chauvinistic when it comes to women, and treats every non-superhero as merely cardboard comedy relief, or caricatures. The one exception might be Moondragon. The only thing that kept me reading was "Michael's" humorous casual wear, shorts and all. Maybe he was showing off his quads once he got a new body? Who knows.
May 9, 2016
A classic Avengers story with an immeasurably powerful villain who is ultimately done in by the forces of good (and a little deus ex machina). There's some interesting characterization here and there, but not a great amount of depth overall. The biggest problem was the big bad's massive change in appearance, power, and personality (with little explanation). The best part was the ambiguous ending.
June 6, 2024
El camino hasta llegar hacer que el nombre de Los Vengadores tuviese ese reconocimiento popular (obviamente magnificado por las películas del UCM), fue sin duda una carrera de fondo editorial para Marvel. Pero la década clave sin duda fueron los 70. Reuniendo a talentos creativos y gráficos clave que empezaban a aprovechar el concepto de poder reunir a los grandes héroes de la compañía y esa necesidad de hacerlos enfrentarse a amenazas colosales fuera del ámbito de los Team-Up´s de rigor.
Así se llega a lo conocido como La Saga de Korvac. Un gran momento para los Vengadores haciendo frente a su "propio Galactus". Pero hay que matizar mucho, porque lo que hoy en día entenderíamos como una "épica de carácter cósmico", puede que diste mucho de lo que significaba en los 70". Porque para empezar, hablando de la dinámica editorial. Los Vengadores se concretan en una "narrativa río", por la cual todo es una sucesión de capítulos que bien pueden tener continuidad con algo ya mostrado previamente, o presentar detalles a explorar o introducir personajes de última hora para compartir espacio con otras tramas. Todo esto derivaba a redirigir a los lectores a otros cómics coetáneos de la compañía al hacer referencia constante en los diálogos y cartuchos de texto. Esta serialización lograba un gran interés del lector de la época. Pero a la hora de abordar tramas más ambiciosas como esta "Saga de Korvac", si bien fueron ejercicios necesarios para hacer evolucionar el medio. A día de hoy trasmiten esa frustrante sensación de que con un poco habrían logrado todo lo que de verdad debe de hacer grande estas historias más allá de su valor puramente histórico.
En estas páginas tenemos introducciones como las de Gyrich. Un enlace directo con el Gobierno Estadounidense que ofrece una enemistad con los Vengadores que estos no pueden resolver a golpe o disparo de rayo repulsor, bionergético y/o mágico. La aventura de Thor desviado en el tiempo al futuro remoto con los Guardianes de la Galaxia, que darán a conocer a una imperfecta versión del gran enemigo de este recopilatorio. Otras amenazas a mayores como un Atlante furibundo o la duda ante la re encendida concubina de Ultron, Yocasta... Y sí, en todo esto se establece la "saga de Korvac". Una amenaza que comienza a erigirse sin que ni Los Vengadores ni los Guardianes de la Galaxia sepan exactamente de qué se trata. Pero el enfrentamiento es inevitable.
El caso es que Korvac, no es un villano cualquiera de por aquel entonces. En jugadas creativas constantes. Se comienza con un hombre máquina megalomaníaco con sus "lacayos del mal", una amenaza de opereta para rellenar números. Pero el villano logra redefinirse a sí mismo por completo, y regenerándose con capacidades cósmicas, renace como un nuevo ser con unos planes más ambiciosos de remodelar la ETERNIDAD misma (recordemos que la Eternidad es un ser consciente en el universo Marvel). Pero esto lo hará desde una tranquila casita en un barrio residencial compartiendo vida con una pareja con la que construir ese nuevo mañana. Tras algún estallido inicial de furia hiper masculinizada. Korvac comienza a explicar al lector que en su escala cósmica de comprensión, busca un nuevo orden elemental, Sus ambiciones más pasionales de su mal estado híbrido con la maquinaria badoon se han dejado de lado e incluso querría rehuir el conflicto con los héroes más poderosos de la tierra. Realmente Korvac aparece para tratar de erigirse como una presencia más conceptual y reflexiva en la tradición de la mejor parcela cósmica Marvelita donde seres como el Silver Surfer tratan de no perderse en la fría inmensidad de la eterna noche espacial. Pero al final, por muchas ambiciones creativas de Jim Shooter. La Saga de Korvac se ve supeditada a la necesidad de poder tener a los superhéroes en viñeta llegando antes a los puños que la razón (ya habrá tiempo después para reflexionar). La escala de esta saga se reduce a intentar presentar esos planos de existencia superior en "proyecciones tridimensionales" en el salón de la casa de Korvac y Carina. Estamos ante una forma narrativa de cómic aún en ciertos "pañales", que también tenía mucho que rendir a esa lucrativa industria a centavos dejados en los mostradores de los kioscos y demás.
Mi lectura de La Saga de Korvac puede ser más inquisitiva que cualquiera que sea más coetáneo con su fecha de publicación. Dejo muy claro que no niego la importancia capital en lo que será la historia editorial de Los Vengadores. Pero sí que ya en su momento, es complicado defenderlo como una "saga cósmica épica"... Y esto nada tiene que ver con que hubiese necesitado de trasladar la acción a un erial en el espacio como será la saga del Guntelete del Infinito y demás. Sencillamente, la dinámica narrativa de la cabecera aún no amparaba el que sus sagas argumentales epatasen de verdad (aunque es cierto que veníamos de la Guerra Kree-Skrull, la cual yo pienso que ha cobrado gran relevancia a posteriori con todo lo que ha acabado generándose en décadas más actuales).
Así se llega a lo conocido como La Saga de Korvac. Un gran momento para los Vengadores haciendo frente a su "propio Galactus". Pero hay que matizar mucho, porque lo que hoy en día entenderíamos como una "épica de carácter cósmico", puede que diste mucho de lo que significaba en los 70". Porque para empezar, hablando de la dinámica editorial. Los Vengadores se concretan en una "narrativa río", por la cual todo es una sucesión de capítulos que bien pueden tener continuidad con algo ya mostrado previamente, o presentar detalles a explorar o introducir personajes de última hora para compartir espacio con otras tramas. Todo esto derivaba a redirigir a los lectores a otros cómics coetáneos de la compañía al hacer referencia constante en los diálogos y cartuchos de texto. Esta serialización lograba un gran interés del lector de la época. Pero a la hora de abordar tramas más ambiciosas como esta "Saga de Korvac", si bien fueron ejercicios necesarios para hacer evolucionar el medio. A día de hoy trasmiten esa frustrante sensación de que con un poco habrían logrado todo lo que de verdad debe de hacer grande estas historias más allá de su valor puramente histórico.
En estas páginas tenemos introducciones como las de Gyrich. Un enlace directo con el Gobierno Estadounidense que ofrece una enemistad con los Vengadores que estos no pueden resolver a golpe o disparo de rayo repulsor, bionergético y/o mágico. La aventura de Thor desviado en el tiempo al futuro remoto con los Guardianes de la Galaxia, que darán a conocer a una imperfecta versión del gran enemigo de este recopilatorio. Otras amenazas a mayores como un Atlante furibundo o la duda ante la re encendida concubina de Ultron, Yocasta... Y sí, en todo esto se establece la "saga de Korvac". Una amenaza que comienza a erigirse sin que ni Los Vengadores ni los Guardianes de la Galaxia sepan exactamente de qué se trata. Pero el enfrentamiento es inevitable.
El caso es que Korvac, no es un villano cualquiera de por aquel entonces. En jugadas creativas constantes. Se comienza con un hombre máquina megalomaníaco con sus "lacayos del mal", una amenaza de opereta para rellenar números. Pero el villano logra redefinirse a sí mismo por completo, y regenerándose con capacidades cósmicas, renace como un nuevo ser con unos planes más ambiciosos de remodelar la ETERNIDAD misma (recordemos que la Eternidad es un ser consciente en el universo Marvel). Pero esto lo hará desde una tranquila casita en un barrio residencial compartiendo vida con una pareja con la que construir ese nuevo mañana. Tras algún estallido inicial de furia hiper masculinizada. Korvac comienza a explicar al lector que en su escala cósmica de comprensión, busca un nuevo orden elemental, Sus ambiciones más pasionales de su mal estado híbrido con la maquinaria badoon se han dejado de lado e incluso querría rehuir el conflicto con los héroes más poderosos de la tierra. Realmente Korvac aparece para tratar de erigirse como una presencia más conceptual y reflexiva en la tradición de la mejor parcela cósmica Marvelita donde seres como el Silver Surfer tratan de no perderse en la fría inmensidad de la eterna noche espacial. Pero al final, por muchas ambiciones creativas de Jim Shooter. La Saga de Korvac se ve supeditada a la necesidad de poder tener a los superhéroes en viñeta llegando antes a los puños que la razón (ya habrá tiempo después para reflexionar). La escala de esta saga se reduce a intentar presentar esos planos de existencia superior en "proyecciones tridimensionales" en el salón de la casa de Korvac y Carina. Estamos ante una forma narrativa de cómic aún en ciertos "pañales", que también tenía mucho que rendir a esa lucrativa industria a centavos dejados en los mostradores de los kioscos y demás.
Mi lectura de La Saga de Korvac puede ser más inquisitiva que cualquiera que sea más coetáneo con su fecha de publicación. Dejo muy claro que no niego la importancia capital en lo que será la historia editorial de Los Vengadores. Pero sí que ya en su momento, es complicado defenderlo como una "saga cósmica épica"... Y esto nada tiene que ver con que hubiese necesitado de trasladar la acción a un erial en el espacio como será la saga del Guntelete del Infinito y demás. Sencillamente, la dinámica narrativa de la cabecera aún no amparaba el que sus sagas argumentales epatasen de verdad (aunque es cierto que veníamos de la Guerra Kree-Skrull, la cual yo pienso que ha cobrado gran relevancia a posteriori con todo lo que ha acabado generándose en décadas más actuales).
August 31, 2025
Ho riletto la saga di Korvac poco più di un mesetto fa, dopo aver saputo della scomparsa di Jim Shooter. L'avevo apprezzata moltissimo la prima volta, e la seconda non è stata da meno.
La vicenda comincia dopo che i Vendicatori, nell'esplorare una mastodontica stazione spaziale comparsa nell'atmosfera terrestre, incontrano i Guardiani della Galassia (non vi aspettate la formazione più moderna a cui ci ha abituato James Gunn, però), che peraltro avevano già collaborato con Thor in un suo annual che apre il volume.
Proprio allora, assieme a lui i Guardiani avevano sventato i piani del malvagio Korvac, che dal 31esimo secolo è quindi fuggito nel passato, con un unico obiettivo: uccidere il leader dei Guardiani, il Maggiore Vance Astro, quando all'epoca era ancora un bambino, e prevenire così la formazione del team.
I Vendicatori decidono pertanto di collaborare con gli eroi del futuro, i quali nell'ombra faranno da scorta al giovane Vance (con la sua controparte futura nella stazione in orbita, onde evitare paradossi temporali), mentre loro indagheranno per stanare Korvac... Ma questo non sarà l'unico problema a cui dovranno trovare risposta: perché Thor va e viene, comportandosi ogni volta come se fosse stato assente dal gruppo per mesi? Come mai sempre più componenti dei Vendicatori stanno scomparendo senza lasciare traccia? C'entra forse il misterioso e semidivino "Nemico" di cui hanno sentito parlare? E, cosa più importante, come faranno a evitare che l'austero e inflessibile burocrate Henry Gyrich, l'agente del National Security Council che fa da intermediario tra il governo federale e i Vendicatori, revochi lo status di priorità di cui godono?
Uno degli aspetti più pregevoli della saga di Korvac è che la vicenda progredisce in un modo squisitamente organico: infatti, non tutti gli episodi si occupano direttamente della trama principale, vale a dire della "minaccia innominata" di Korvac (la cui inquietante presenza, comunque, incombe perennemente sugli eroi), ma i Vendicatori si ritrovano a dover gestire impellenti emergenze come la riattivazione improvvisa di Jocasta (la ginoide che Ultron ha creato come sua compagna diversi numeri prima) e l'assalto dell'atlantideo Tyrak il Terribile (è proprio registrato così all'anagrafe) al porto.
Ciononostante, ogni episodio aggiunge un tassello al puzzle, o mostrando cosa succede nel frattempo all'insaputa dei protagonisti, oppure perché questi riescono a fare importanti e decisivi passi avanti nel risolvere i vari misteri in cui si imbattono, finché il quadro completo (a quel punto già noto al lettore, e solo successivamente compreso anche dai protagonisti) non si rivela dinnanzi ai loro occhi, con un colpo di scena davvero magistrale e inaspettato nella sua semplicità.
Korvac è poi forse uno degli antagonisti più complessi e interessanti mai comparsi nelle storie dei Vendicatori, un "cattivo" (se così si può definire) non convenzionale che rende questa storia davvero memorabile.
La vicenda comincia dopo che i Vendicatori, nell'esplorare una mastodontica stazione spaziale comparsa nell'atmosfera terrestre, incontrano i Guardiani della Galassia (non vi aspettate la formazione più moderna a cui ci ha abituato James Gunn, però), che peraltro avevano già collaborato con Thor in un suo annual che apre il volume.
Proprio allora, assieme a lui i Guardiani avevano sventato i piani del malvagio Korvac, che dal 31esimo secolo è quindi fuggito nel passato, con un unico obiettivo: uccidere il leader dei Guardiani, il Maggiore Vance Astro, quando all'epoca era ancora un bambino, e prevenire così la formazione del team.
I Vendicatori decidono pertanto di collaborare con gli eroi del futuro, i quali nell'ombra faranno da scorta al giovane Vance (con la sua controparte futura nella stazione in orbita, onde evitare paradossi temporali), mentre loro indagheranno per stanare Korvac... Ma questo non sarà l'unico problema a cui dovranno trovare risposta: perché Thor va e viene, comportandosi ogni volta come se fosse stato assente dal gruppo per mesi? Come mai sempre più componenti dei Vendicatori stanno scomparendo senza lasciare traccia? C'entra forse il misterioso e semidivino "Nemico" di cui hanno sentito parlare? E, cosa più importante, come faranno a evitare che l'austero e inflessibile burocrate Henry Gyrich, l'agente del National Security Council che fa da intermediario tra il governo federale e i Vendicatori, revochi lo status di priorità di cui godono?
Uno degli aspetti più pregevoli della saga di Korvac è che la vicenda progredisce in un modo squisitamente organico: infatti, non tutti gli episodi si occupano direttamente della trama principale, vale a dire della "minaccia innominata" di Korvac (la cui inquietante presenza, comunque, incombe perennemente sugli eroi), ma i Vendicatori si ritrovano a dover gestire impellenti emergenze come la riattivazione improvvisa di Jocasta (la ginoide che Ultron ha creato come sua compagna diversi numeri prima) e l'assalto dell'atlantideo Tyrak il Terribile (è proprio registrato così all'anagrafe) al porto.
Ciononostante, ogni episodio aggiunge un tassello al puzzle, o mostrando cosa succede nel frattempo all'insaputa dei protagonisti, oppure perché questi riescono a fare importanti e decisivi passi avanti nel risolvere i vari misteri in cui si imbattono, finché il quadro completo (a quel punto già noto al lettore, e solo successivamente compreso anche dai protagonisti) non si rivela dinnanzi ai loro occhi, con un colpo di scena davvero magistrale e inaspettato nella sua semplicità.
Korvac è poi forse uno degli antagonisti più complessi e interessanti mai comparsi nelle storie dei Vendicatori, un "cattivo" (se così si può definire) non convenzionale che rende questa storia davvero memorabile.
July 28, 2019
Por fin me animé a leer una de las sagas más clásicas e icónicas de los vengadores, actualmente y aún llevando más de 30 años de su creación se considera uno de los mejores clásicos de Jim Shooter, la saga se desarrolla en las historias de los vengadores a lo que me refiero es que el villano principal Michael Korvac aparece mientras se estaba desarrollando otra misión diferente; como toda historia clásica hay que verla desde su contexto en el tiempo de publicación, obviamente para una persona que ha leído tramas modernas esta le parecerá aburrida, pero si lo vemos en el propósito de ese tiempo fue innovadora y profunda, Por qué? porque rompe el cliché que se seguía realizando en esa época de publicaciones el villano debe ser un ser supremo que desea la destrucción o el control y nuestros superhéroes están para detenerlo y quedar ellos como la salvación, en esta serie sin entrar a spoilers , las intenciones del villano son diferentes que al final genera cargas éticas terribles sobre lo ocurrido que el lector logra apreciar, lo que más me gustó fue la aparición de todos los que se habían alguna vez asumido el cargo de Avenger hasta ese momento y también la aparición de Ultron y el coleccionista, cuando terminas de leer la saga y analizas el propósito del guionista te das cuenta del porque es una saga icónica que seria muy interesante ser tomada en el UCM actualmente, pero desafortunadamente lo que baja de calidad la historia es los estilos del dibujo algunos se nota el detalle de George Pérez y otros se nota baja calidad que quita el clímax de las batallas hasta en la batalla final se pierde ese clímax por lo mal dibujado por eso bajo de clasificación al cómic.
October 14, 2023
This volume has one of the few times I've actually stopped reading the story just to savour the artwork. George Pérez has improved a lot since his debut and David Wenzel's work is pretty darn special too.
As for Jim Shooter's writing... well I enjoy it a lot, but there are some things that feel a bit glossed over. Just little things like how Jocasta starts hanging out with the team even though hardly anybody even notices her unless her powers are required. Nobody even questions why she's there, despite her practically being an enemy a few issues ago. Same goes for Two-Gun Kid. Numerous sources say he joins the team in issue #176, but he just asks to go home and I guess off-panel somewhere they make him a reserve or honorary member or something like that? Who knows.
Anyway, onto the meat of the book. The Korvac Quest. The Guardians of the Galaxy are a welcome addition, even though we don't really learn much about them at all. Michael Korvac is an interesting villain, mostly because he's so unassuming yet so ridiculously powerful at the same time. The duel with Starhawk early on is an excellent showcase of just how dangerous he is, and afterwards there's a palpable sense of urgency, panic and dread as the team try and discover more about him.
There are some problems with Shooter trying to juggle so many characters at once, but it's great fun overall!
As for Jim Shooter's writing... well I enjoy it a lot, but there are some things that feel a bit glossed over. Just little things like how Jocasta starts hanging out with the team even though hardly anybody even notices her unless her powers are required. Nobody even questions why she's there, despite her practically being an enemy a few issues ago. Same goes for Two-Gun Kid. Numerous sources say he joins the team in issue #176, but he just asks to go home and I guess off-panel somewhere they make him a reserve or honorary member or something like that? Who knows.
Anyway, onto the meat of the book. The Korvac Quest. The Guardians of the Galaxy are a welcome addition, even though we don't really learn much about them at all. Michael Korvac is an interesting villain, mostly because he's so unassuming yet so ridiculously powerful at the same time. The duel with Starhawk early on is an excellent showcase of just how dangerous he is, and afterwards there's a palpable sense of urgency, panic and dread as the team try and discover more about him.
There are some problems with Shooter trying to juggle so many characters at once, but it's great fun overall!
June 5, 2020
Better than most of the Avengers stories that came before it, but still not quite good. The Korvac Saga shows signs of interpersonal intrigue, but lacks a real fleshing out of its characters. The most sympathetic personalities in the book are likely the villain and his lover, and neither is prominent enough to raise up what is otherwise too bland a text to easily recommend.
Flashes of Iron Man butting heads with Captain America and Woman Man's awkward attempts at romance aren't enough to make up for overly broad dialogue and characterizations. This problem is compounded as more and more characters are crammed into the book, eventually moving so many current and former Avengers into the spotlight that it's difficult for any of them to shine.
There were a couple of moments that I did really enjoy. The final confrontation is appropriately harrowing, though it just made me wish we'd gotten more of a focus on Michael Korvac in the prior issues. Scarlet Witch was a great, if brief, scene.
There's a lot of potential here, but ultimately I didn't find much of it to have been realized in this volume.
Flashes of Iron Man butting heads with Captain America and Woman Man's awkward attempts at romance aren't enough to make up for overly broad dialogue and characterizations. This problem is compounded as more and more characters are crammed into the book, eventually moving so many current and former Avengers into the spotlight that it's difficult for any of them to shine.
There were a couple of moments that I did really enjoy. The final confrontation is appropriately harrowing, though it just made me wish we'd gotten more of a focus on Michael Korvac in the prior issues. Scarlet Witch was a great, if brief, scene.
There's a lot of potential here, but ultimately I didn't find much of it to have been realized in this volume.
September 23, 2024
Avengers: The Korvac Saga, Avengers #167-177, arte George Perez, Sal Buscema y Dave Wenzel, trama de Jim Shooter. Calificación de 3.5/5 estrellas.
Lo destacado fue el arte, la alineación de los Avengers a finales de los 70s. Salen sobrando por inecesarios los Guardians of the Galaxy, bueno ellos venían con Korvac.
El line up de los finales de los 70s The Avengers Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Wasp, Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man, The Vision, Hank Pym, Quicksilver, Hawkeye, Beast, Ms. Marvel y Moondragon.
Captain America como un borracho llama mercenario a Iron Man y lo reta a golpes. The Avengers pelean contra Ultron, Tyrak, The Collector.
La batalla en la casa de Korvac. Casi derrota a The Avengers y Guardians of the Galaxy.
Sale un rayo de Mjolnir sin querer y así sesina el cobarde Thor a Carina la mujer de Michael Korvac. Cuando Korvac traería orden al caos y muerte, estos Avengers meten la pata. Pero Moondragon para no hacerlos sentir mal sobretodo al Ricitos de Oro les borra los recuerdos a The Avengers.
Lo destacado fue el arte, la alineación de los Avengers a finales de los 70s. Salen sobrando por inecesarios los Guardians of the Galaxy, bueno ellos venían con Korvac.
El line up de los finales de los 70s The Avengers Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Wasp, Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man, The Vision, Hank Pym, Quicksilver, Hawkeye, Beast, Ms. Marvel y Moondragon.
Captain America como un borracho llama mercenario a Iron Man y lo reta a golpes. The Avengers pelean contra Ultron, Tyrak, The Collector.
La batalla en la casa de Korvac. Casi derrota a The Avengers y Guardians of the Galaxy.
Sale un rayo de Mjolnir sin querer y así sesina el cobarde Thor a Carina la mujer de Michael Korvac. Cuando Korvac traería orden al caos y muerte, estos Avengers meten la pata. Pero Moondragon para no hacerlos sentir mal sobretodo al Ricitos de Oro les borra los recuerdos a The Avengers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2020
The Judas Contract: Avengers edition. The Avengers fight an endless horde of unrelated villains until the abysmal last issue, where they end fighting the boring titular character. Overlong, contrived, mysoginist and sexist to the very bone (all the women are awfully mistreated and powerless), ridden of Marvel-type moments trying to hamfistedly show you that Th3Se Ar3 N0RmAl P3Opl3, N0t PoWeRFuL anD InVinCiBle SupErHerO3$11!!111!!! like the constant bitching of the invulnerable and all-powerful Wonder Man about him "not being enough manly to be an Avenger" (?) and the Bus scene, it's a chore to read. I'll give one half star more for the interesting Iron Man inner dialogue and the funny borderline Homoerotic relation between him and Captain America, but other than that it's awful. Nights of Wundagore followed this, and it was 2000% better in every possible way. Hell, even the "for historical purposes only" first 4-issues West Coast Avengers solo series was better than this!
March 17, 2022
Ho recuperato questa saga perché contiene una delle prime comparse dell'originale squadra dei Guardiani della Galassia, gruppo intrigante di cui venne interrotta la pubblicazione in Italia negli anni '90, lasciando inedita metà della collana americana dedicata.
Nel volume sono contenute una decina di storie del 1977 degli albi dei Vendicatori. La trama impiega del tempo a decollare effettivamente, mostrando per lo più solo scorci del nemico principale, ossia Korvac, avversario anonimo, stereotipato e pressoché sconosciuto, rivisitato in modo inaspettato per questa serie. La parte determinante dello svolgimento avviene negli ultimi tre capitoli, breve ma intensa. Si intravede il tentativo di trattare tematiche non banali e quell'accenno di filosofia credo rimanga il punto più interessante di tutto il racconto. Qualche "Deus ex machina" di troppo ma nel complesso una lettura piacevole.
Nel volume sono contenute una decina di storie del 1977 degli albi dei Vendicatori. La trama impiega del tempo a decollare effettivamente, mostrando per lo più solo scorci del nemico principale, ossia Korvac, avversario anonimo, stereotipato e pressoché sconosciuto, rivisitato in modo inaspettato per questa serie. La parte determinante dello svolgimento avviene negli ultimi tre capitoli, breve ma intensa. Si intravede il tentativo di trattare tematiche non banali e quell'accenno di filosofia credo rimanga il punto più interessante di tutto il racconto. Qualche "Deus ex machina" di troppo ma nel complesso una lettura piacevole.
June 1, 2018
Despite it's historical importance, I just did not like the Korvac Saga. Korvac feels like a less weird (and therefore less interesting) version of the Beyonder. At least the Beyonder didn't know how to poop; Korvac just sits in his suburban home zapping people with his god brain. It's also a very odd arc. Korvac is mostly just a b-plot through most of it. And then in the last two issues the Avengers actually find and fight him. The a-plots for most of these issues are just dull generic super-hero stuff. The Avengers battle Ultron or a random Atlantean or chase Jocasta around.
The issue I liked the most was 174. It was written by Bill Mantlo rather than Jim Shooter, which is probably why I liked it. It's a fun Hawkeye centric issue and has a really great battle with the Collector. I also love the part in issue 176 where the Avengers have to take a bus to the NYC suburbs. That was great.
I did enjoy Thor Annual 6, which is really a prequel to the Korvac Saga. It's pretty basic super-hero stuff but it's fun. Grott the Man-Slayer is a great and funny villain; he should have been the breakout character not the dull Korvac.
The issue I liked the most was 174. It was written by Bill Mantlo rather than Jim Shooter, which is probably why I liked it. It's a fun Hawkeye centric issue and has a really great battle with the Collector. I also love the part in issue 176 where the Avengers have to take a bus to the NYC suburbs. That was great.
I did enjoy Thor Annual 6, which is really a prequel to the Korvac Saga. It's pretty basic super-hero stuff but it's fun. Grott the Man-Slayer is a great and funny villain; he should have been the breakout character not the dull Korvac.
March 15, 2021
I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this storyline. I first read it decades ago, as a young teen, and it made an impression then. Reading it now, it still stands up as a fine epic, with as many guest stars and villains across the 10 issues as you could wish for. The many intertwining plot threads and juggling of characters is superbly done.
The only thing that has dated a little is the dialogue and characterisation, which is very heavy handed at times and lacking modern subtlety.
The one thing I came away with most is just how much more content you got back in those days. 10 issues here would fill 50 now, story wise and the amount of art panels crammed onto each page.
This would make a fine Avengers movie, suitably updated of course.
Highly recommended.
The only thing that has dated a little is the dialogue and characterisation, which is very heavy handed at times and lacking modern subtlety.
The one thing I came away with most is just how much more content you got back in those days. 10 issues here would fill 50 now, story wise and the amount of art panels crammed onto each page.
This would make a fine Avengers movie, suitably updated of course.
Highly recommended.
September 2, 2023
Not really sure why is considered such a classic Avengers story. The titular Korvac is barely in it, and his motives are super unclear until they’re explained in an exposition dump by Moondragon. There are too many characters in this with not enough for anyone to really do. Two-Gun Kid is randomly sent back in time in a real Poochie kind of way. What was the point of Jocasta? Hercules? Black Panther? They’re just window dressing.
Bonus points for the Avengers needing to commandeer a city bus to get to Forest Hills, though. That’s an all-timer.
Bonus points for the Avengers needing to commandeer a city bus to get to Forest Hills, though. That’s an all-timer.
July 21, 2021
I do like this arc in general.
It could use:
Better scripting and dialog.
More consistency among the art teams.
Fewer interruptions to the main plot.
The sheer scale of this arc is awesome and the use of the guest characters is good, but there might be too large a cast of characters for many readers.
Michael Korvac is a good cosmic heavyweight, but needs more consistency in the presentation and use of his powers.
In all, a strong start but a mediocre finish.
It could use:
Better scripting and dialog.
More consistency among the art teams.
Fewer interruptions to the main plot.
The sheer scale of this arc is awesome and the use of the guest characters is good, but there might be too large a cast of characters for many readers.
Michael Korvac is a good cosmic heavyweight, but needs more consistency in the presentation and use of his powers.
In all, a strong start but a mediocre finish.
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