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Avengers: Prime #1-5
Avengers: Prime
In recent times, the Marvel Universe has experienced a period of great unrest. In the wake of the catastrophic siege of Asgard, Captain America, Iron Man and the Mighty Thor have been scattered across all the Nine Realms. Now, these former brothers in arms must put aside their differences to tackle a deadly foe that threatens to tear their world apart. Collects Avengers Prime #1-5.
Hardcover
First published April 1, 2011
11 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Brian Michael Bendis
4,409 books2,574 followersA comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
August 18, 2014
This isn’t so much a comic story as it is a counseling session for Iron Man, Thor and Steve Rogers (Who usually goes by Captain America but is still operating under his own name after coming back from the dead.) These three were once the core of the Avengers and key players among the superheroes in the Marvel universe, but they’ve had some issues. Steve and Tony Stark had a political disagreement about oversight of super powered types that turned into a full blown civil war so things are a bit tense between them. Thor has been off dealing with his own issues and drifted away from his old friends.
But Marvel’s got The Avengers movie coming out next year so we need to start getting these guys together in some comic books pronto. When superheroes need to work out some stuff, they don’t go retreats to talk about their feelings, they get sucked into other medieval style dimensions and have to fight for their lives. That’s how the healing begins.
This was a light weight story in a lot of ways, but it’s kind of fun if you’re a Marvel fan. I liked that Tony is stuck using an old version of his armor (The one he wore in the comics of my youth and still my favorite.), and that he constantly bitches about how outdated it is. I also like that you can plop Steve Rogers down into an alternate dimension with nothing but the clothes on his back, but in about fifteen minutes he’ll have whipped much ass and equipped himself with a sword and armor as well as picking up a hot elf woman.
My favorite bit was the guys having a conversation around a camp fire about who did or didn’t hook up with a certain female super hero years ago.
Not ground breaking but does a good job of laying some groundwork for the three of them to start interacting again.
But Marvel’s got The Avengers movie coming out next year so we need to start getting these guys together in some comic books pronto. When superheroes need to work out some stuff, they don’t go retreats to talk about their feelings, they get sucked into other medieval style dimensions and have to fight for their lives. That’s how the healing begins.
This was a light weight story in a lot of ways, but it’s kind of fun if you’re a Marvel fan. I liked that Tony is stuck using an old version of his armor (The one he wore in the comics of my youth and still my favorite.), and that he constantly bitches about how outdated it is. I also like that you can plop Steve Rogers down into an alternate dimension with nothing but the clothes on his back, but in about fifteen minutes he’ll have whipped much ass and equipped himself with a sword and armor as well as picking up a hot elf woman.
My favorite bit was the guys having a conversation around a camp fire about who did or didn’t hook up with a certain female super hero years ago.
Not ground breaking but does a good job of laying some groundwork for the three of them to start interacting again.
January 31, 2022
5.9/10
Thor, Iron Man and Captain America are transferred into a weird place. Each of them will have their own adventure which will lead to a life lesson. Eventually all of them will have to join forces to save the people of this place and maybe also save a friendship.
Thor, Iron Man and Captain America are transferred into a weird place. Each of them will have their own adventure which will lead to a life lesson. Eventually all of them will have to join forces to save the people of this place and maybe also save a friendship.
August 5, 2012
3.5 stars
I'm pretty sure you're not going to gain a deeper understanding of the Marvel universe by reading this, but it has some fun stuff in it, so I guess that makes it ok. I think this is more of a good side story than anything else.
After the events of Siege, Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man get swept away to another world. Each of them kind of go on a journey of 'discovery', and then meet up to fight off the bad guy...er, girl who put them there to start with.
It's nothing earth-shattering, but Bendis' sense of humor shines through enough to make up for what the plot was lacking.
I'm pretty sure you're not going to gain a deeper understanding of the Marvel universe by reading this, but it has some fun stuff in it, so I guess that makes it ok. I think this is more of a good side story than anything else.
After the events of Siege, Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man get swept away to another world. Each of them kind of go on a journey of 'discovery', and then meet up to fight off the bad guy...er, girl who put them there to start with.
It's nothing earth-shattering, but Bendis' sense of humor shines through enough to make up for what the plot was lacking.
October 10, 2021
"i hope you will allow me the chance to earn your friendship back. i don't deserve it... i just hope you let me. i'm not half as good at- at anything as i am when i'm doing it next to you." :)))))
i mean, everybody knows i'm a sucker for stony =)
3.5 stars!
i mean, everybody knows i'm a sucker for stony =)
3.5 stars!
September 22, 2021
This was a blast to read through!
It starts with Iron man, Cap and Thor getting together after Siege arguing about what has happened till now and then going to some realms which have been mixed up. Thor fights Enchantress, Tony fights a dragon named Fafnir and Steve meets the dark elf and a woman named Mageth and its an epic war on all sides and they finally learn the truth and what has happened and the one behind it: HELA! And she has a powerful weapon and so the trinity have to team up and take down the Goddess of Death!
Its an epic read with death army, goblins and elves and dwarves and even Dragons and with the big 3 of Avengers in the middle and fighting like no other. It was such a great read and I was smiling throughout reading it seeing their battle come to an end and the friends fighting together the evil forces and everything maybe behind them and the ending was so good!
A new dawn for the Avengers and the art by Davis was so good, feels nostalgic but then again its full of action and even romance and tidings of great things to come! An epic end to this era of Avengers!
It starts with Iron man, Cap and Thor getting together after Siege arguing about what has happened till now and then going to some realms which have been mixed up. Thor fights Enchantress, Tony fights a dragon named Fafnir and Steve meets the dark elf and a woman named Mageth and its an epic war on all sides and they finally learn the truth and what has happened and the one behind it: HELA! And she has a powerful weapon and so the trinity have to team up and take down the Goddess of Death!
Its an epic read with death army, goblins and elves and dwarves and even Dragons and with the big 3 of Avengers in the middle and fighting like no other. It was such a great read and I was smiling throughout reading it seeing their battle come to an end and the friends fighting together the evil forces and everything maybe behind them and the ending was so good!
A new dawn for the Avengers and the art by Davis was so good, feels nostalgic but then again its full of action and even romance and tidings of great things to come! An epic end to this era of Avengers!
August 12, 2020
I adore this book! Honestly, it's one of the best if you love the relationship between Steve and Tony.
This is post Civil War, so Steve, Tony and Thor are still on shaky ground with each other.
Still, it's post Siege as well so they're recovering.
This book has an adorable Tony Stark flirting outrageously with Steve Rogers. It has Tony Stark being damsel-ed and Steve coming to his rescue as a knight in shining armor. It has trolls, fight scenes, I think there was even a dragon.
I adore this book and I highly recommend it.
This is post Civil War, so Steve, Tony and Thor are still on shaky ground with each other.
Still, it's post Siege as well so they're recovering.
This book has an adorable Tony Stark flirting outrageously with Steve Rogers. It has Tony Stark being damsel-ed and Steve coming to his rescue as a knight in shining armor. It has trolls, fight scenes, I think there was even a dragon.
I adore this book and I highly recommend it.
December 11, 2023
I’m a big fan of the art of Alan Davis and his visuals on this series are absolutely stunning.
The best endorsement I can make for this story is - - - remember when superhero comics were fun, just fun, first and foremost? Bendis takes the iconic characters that made up the original Avengers (Iron Man, Thor, and Steve Rogers - but without the Captain America costume) and makes fun of them in a respectful way that is very entertaining. What would those early days of the Avengers be without internal squabbles?, and the arguments here between Steve and Tony are priceless!
The story begins following the end of the Siege epic and Steve Rogers has become the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., in charge of United States security.
A result of the aftermath is the fall of the city of Asgard, now in ruins on Earth. When searching the rubble of Heimdall’s observatory, the three heroes are individually transported to different areas within the Nine Realms.
Tony Stark, in useless armor, makes the mistake of trying to name drop his relationship with Thor, not realizing that the Asgardian lord is despised by the band of ogres that capture him. Steve Rogers fights through an elven village and finds a romantic interest in the Elven woman Mageth.
Thor is confronted first by The Enchantress and later by Hera, the goddess of Death. All three heroes find their way back to one another and (of course) triumphantly end all threats.
I read this in the original monthly issues, which I purchased back in 2011/2012, stored them, and never got back to read these until just now.
The best endorsement I can make for this story is - - - remember when superhero comics were fun, just fun, first and foremost? Bendis takes the iconic characters that made up the original Avengers (Iron Man, Thor, and Steve Rogers - but without the Captain America costume) and makes fun of them in a respectful way that is very entertaining. What would those early days of the Avengers be without internal squabbles?, and the arguments here between Steve and Tony are priceless!
The story begins following the end of the Siege epic and Steve Rogers has become the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., in charge of United States security.
A result of the aftermath is the fall of the city of Asgard, now in ruins on Earth. When searching the rubble of Heimdall’s observatory, the three heroes are individually transported to different areas within the Nine Realms.
Tony Stark, in useless armor, makes the mistake of trying to name drop his relationship with Thor, not realizing that the Asgardian lord is despised by the band of ogres that capture him. Steve Rogers fights through an elven village and finds a romantic interest in the Elven woman Mageth.
Thor is confronted first by The Enchantress and later by Hera, the goddess of Death. All three heroes find their way back to one another and (of course) triumphantly end all threats.
I read this in the original monthly issues, which I purchased back in 2011/2012, stored them, and never got back to read these until just now.
December 31, 2022
Написаното за Обсада важи с пълна сила и за този брой, явяващ се директно негово продължение. Все пак акцентът падна върху трима от каноничните за шайката на Отмъстителите герои - Капитан Америка, Тор и Железния човек (т.е. избегнато бе обичайното стълпотворение от знайни и незнайни персонажи), историята беше доста по-компактна и имаше приятен фентъзи привкус. 4/5.
July 10, 2013
This may not be a 5-Star book in all senses, but my enjoyment of it made it so for me. The trifecta of Thor/Tony/Steve ends up transported to a twisted version of Asgard's 9 Realms just following the victory over Norman Osborn and co in the Siege storyline. It is a great book for realizing that the Avengers really comes down to these 3. The things that have happened to them in the last while have torn them apart but maybe something may change for them. I enjoyed this tremendously, and would love it if they put these 3 together all the time again. Highly recommended, and even has a genuine laugh or 2.
August 14, 2020
This was a pretty fun little self-contained story of thor, Tony, and Steve trapped in a far away land trying to get back to humanity. Works especially well if veen reading since house of M. Fun and well done if not a little cheesy and predictable. A 3.5 out of 5.
June 12, 2020
Asedio había vuelto a reunir a Thor, Iron Man y Steve Rogers para hacer frente a Norman Osborn después de la destrucción de Asgard, pero aunque los tres habían vuelto a luchar uno junto a otro, aún quedaban por resolver asuntos entre ellos, especialmente entre Tony y Steve, que no habían vuelto a coincidir desde el final de la Guerra Civil, donde ambos habían estado liderando posiciones enfrentadas, y en cuanto tienen la oportunidad, vuelven a discutir...
Para verse de pronto arrastrados a un lugar extraño y dispersos por una versión retorcida de Asgard, con Steve Rogers apareciendo junto a los elfos oscuros, Tony Stark teniendo que hacer frente a los ogros seguidores del dragón Fafnir, y Thor se encuentra enfrentado a su vieja enemiga, Amora, la Encantadora... pero solo para darse cuenta de que ella no es el enemigo, y que más allá, los tres vengadores en el que puede ser su peor momento, tienen que hacer frente a la propia Hela, dispuesta a dominar lo que ha quedado de los Nueve Mundos después de la caída de Asgard.
Evidentemente, de cara a la Edad Heróica y todo lo que debía pasar en Vengadores, había que limar las asperezas entre los tres héroes principales de la franquicia, y el planteamiento de Bendis, en este caso, fue muy acertado. Y además, acompañado por los lápices de un dibujante clásico, el mismísimo Alan Davis, que consigue darle a esta historia (que en España se publicó como Vengadores: Las Guerras Asgardianas) un aire elegante y clásico que le sienta muy bien.
Para verse de pronto arrastrados a un lugar extraño y dispersos por una versión retorcida de Asgard, con Steve Rogers apareciendo junto a los elfos oscuros, Tony Stark teniendo que hacer frente a los ogros seguidores del dragón Fafnir, y Thor se encuentra enfrentado a su vieja enemiga, Amora, la Encantadora... pero solo para darse cuenta de que ella no es el enemigo, y que más allá, los tres vengadores en el que puede ser su peor momento, tienen que hacer frente a la propia Hela, dispuesta a dominar lo que ha quedado de los Nueve Mundos después de la caída de Asgard.
Evidentemente, de cara a la Edad Heróica y todo lo que debía pasar en Vengadores, había que limar las asperezas entre los tres héroes principales de la franquicia, y el planteamiento de Bendis, en este caso, fue muy acertado. Y además, acompañado por los lápices de un dibujante clásico, el mismísimo Alan Davis, que consigue darle a esta historia (que en España se publicó como Vengadores: Las Guerras Asgardianas) un aire elegante y clásico que le sienta muy bien.
November 3, 2019
Loved it.
So, you know how Disassembled, Civil War, Secret Invasion, Dark Reign and Siege is kind of one great big Bendis epic where each event builds on the last?
This is the conclusion. An epilogue of sorts. It’s a satisfying resolution to 6 years of storytelling.
It’s awesome, light, fast and fun. There are some great character moments. I love how Bendis let’s his characters sit around and bullshit now and then. It’s not just exposition and fights. He let’s the story breathe. The art is very good. There are some epic splash pages of combat and Hela looks very cool.
Everything about this feels satisfying and good, and it definitely sets the stage for the Age of Heroes.
I think it would be tragic for someone to have read all of the major events starting with Disassembled and to miss out on the pleasure and satisfaction of this story.
5/5
So, you know how Disassembled, Civil War, Secret Invasion, Dark Reign and Siege is kind of one great big Bendis epic where each event builds on the last?
This is the conclusion. An epilogue of sorts. It’s a satisfying resolution to 6 years of storytelling.
It’s awesome, light, fast and fun. There are some great character moments. I love how Bendis let’s his characters sit around and bullshit now and then. It’s not just exposition and fights. He let’s the story breathe. The art is very good. There are some epic splash pages of combat and Hela looks very cool.
Everything about this feels satisfying and good, and it definitely sets the stage for the Age of Heroes.
I think it would be tragic for someone to have read all of the major events starting with Disassembled and to miss out on the pleasure and satisfaction of this story.
5/5
February 21, 2020
This is a story where the main three Avengers,Steve Tony and Thor,are taken by a rogue portal to a twisted world(universe?),due to the destruction of Asgard and its Bifrost.
They had split from each other due to the differences in beliefs and now have to come back together in order to survive a hostile world,and battle to liberate it from Hela's cruel dictatorship.
Steve finds himself in the company of a kind elf lady,who he grows soft feelings for but eventually has to go back.Tony has a run in with a dragon and some goblins with a serious grudge against Thor and ends up getting away....naked.And Thor himself, starts by battling Amora,but quickly devolves into fighting Hela and her twilight sword.
Good story and easy to keep up with.
They had split from each other due to the differences in beliefs and now have to come back together in order to survive a hostile world,and battle to liberate it from Hela's cruel dictatorship.
Steve finds himself in the company of a kind elf lady,who he grows soft feelings for but eventually has to go back.Tony has a run in with a dragon and some goblins with a serious grudge against Thor and ends up getting away....naked.And Thor himself, starts by battling Amora,but quickly devolves into fighting Hela and her twilight sword.
Good story and easy to keep up with.
October 30, 2017
Cuando vi en la tapa que lo escribía Bendis me dispuse a ver todo lo malo que podía tener esta historia, y si bien es un historia simple y directa, la dinámica entre los personajes es muy buena. Después de tantas sagas oscuras y conflictivas fue muy bienvenido el tono más distendido y de reconciliación.
El arte de Alan Davis, aunque se nota su experiencia y madurez, sigue siendo prácticamente el mismo que en los 90s, con lineas simples y composiciones muy dinámicas, con viñetas muy fuera de lo común, a mi particularmente me parece muy bueno.
El arte de Alan Davis, aunque se nota su experiencia y madurez, sigue siendo prácticamente el mismo que en los 90s, con lineas simples y composiciones muy dinámicas, con viñetas muy fuera de lo común, a mi particularmente me parece muy bueno.
December 31, 2022
Директно продължение на "Обсада", като целта на приключението е да се сдобрят Човекът-Ютия и Капитан САЩ (с помощта на Тор). Сценарият е малко по-добър от миналия комикс, а артът, макар и конвенционален, е добър. Дори има и забавен момент, когато двама обсъждат взаимоотношенията си с определена дама, а се оказва, че третият е имал такива с нея.
Бива, но нищо впечатляващо, 4.
Бива, но нищо впечатляващо, 4.
December 29, 2023
Sinto que bendis trabalha mais os herois B e C do que os grandões visto que aqui o vilão é a Hela e não teve um grande diferencial e os personagens utilizados não foram dos mais interessantes, acho que no fundo as histórias do thor não me cativam tanto e me sinto mais desinteressado
September 12, 2018
It was an ok book, you get to know a little bit more about Thor Odinson though so I guess that's kinda cool.
If you are a big fan of Thor though you will probably like this.
If you are a big fan of Thor though you will probably like this.
Read
December 31, 2022Redactare - TBC
July 29, 2014
Okay, superhero time continues….
This is something in the neighborhood of the 12th graphic novel or superhero novel I’ve read in the past couple of months. I’ve also got a few more in a stack of them to get through soon. I’m just about heroed out.
I was thinking just before I started writing this, that in some ways, I think I enjoy book reviews more than I do writing blog posts. I used to just blog all my reviews, but then I slowly realized that I like reading my reviews more than anyone else does. So these have slowly become more and more personal to me over time, partially because I know I’ll come back and read these in the future and then either laugh at my wittiness, or weep at my ineptitude.
Assboogers.
So, what was I doing? Oh yes, reviewing something. Avengers Prime. So, in this story, Asgard (home of Thor) has crashed on earth. I know there is some backstory there, but I don’t know what the hell it is. I’m sure one day those graphic novels will be on sale at Books a Million for $5 too, but it isn’t there now, so I don’t know what it’s all about.
And with Asgard lying in a broken heap somewhere non-descript, Thor, Captain America (minus his Cap outfit – more backstory I don’t understand) and Iron Man all get whooshed away into, um, not Asgard, but something like the suburbs of Asgard, which isn’t on earth, and crashed up.
Once there, Iron Man’s armor stops working, Captain America makes out with an elf woman, and Thor gets his ass kicked by pretty much everyone he meets.
And this brings up one of my biggest issues with Thor, I like the guy, a lot. He had long hair, and he spoke in Jacobian English, and he used to fight the Hulk all the time (never a clear winner then either). He was crude, chivilarous, woefully out of touch, but a genuinely nice god.
Except he kept giving his brother, Loki, a free ride for all the crap he always caused.
Oh yeah, the dropped a line in there somewhere that said Loki was dead now. Then they moved on. Go figure.
I forgot what I was talking about again…. Oh, my problem with Thor. Well, it’s been a problem since the beginning of comics, I think. It’s that you got this total badass that can wipe the floor with pretty much anyone who feels like starting something. So how do you compensate for that when he’s on a team with Captain America and Iron Man?
I mean, some bozo attacks the avengers mansion, a guy with vague or unspecified powers, and in order to prove he’s threat, he has to take out the toughest guy on the team.
Same thing that happened to Worf all the time on Star Trek. Thor gets his ass kicked. Now everyone knows this is a big threat. The problem with that, of course, is that it leads to Thor getting thumped over and over again by guys that aren’t that tough.
How does that happen? Well, either said bad guy has got one of the twenty gazillion artifacts that grant near infinite power (that’s what happened in this storyline), or our resident badass just didn’t realize how tough the bad guy was, and got their ass kicked because they ‘weren’t ready.’
Sometimes, they just weaken the character. Superman has been weakened a few times. Thor has too, I think, or everyone else in the Marvel Universe got tougher.
I read comics for a brief time about 7 or 8 years ago, Thor had just been rebooted after he’d been killed a few years prior. The writer of the mag said he needed to power him up at the time, so he had him inherit the Odinforce (the super-cosmic might that made Thor’s father more of a Cosmic entity, like Galactus), and less like a typical hero.
Again, probably made him too strong, so they broke his hammer and did some magic whammy that made all that superforce he got from his dad get taken away.
All that means this… this whole storyline feels like it was of the mold of someone who isn’t that mighty, becoming very mighty, and whipping Thor, then Iron Man and Cap have to put aside their differences (more references to storylines I’m only vaguely familiar with, in this case, the Marvel Universe’s Civil War, where Cap and a bunch of heroes went to war with Iron Man and a bunch more of heroes) in order to win.
So, a bunch of warriors just show up when Thor makes a speech, then they don’t even have to do anything because the bad guy shows up to fight them. Then, Thor wins! I think someone else that was going to kill him earlier changed their mind, and then helped him. Never explained, but whatever, I only get about 60% of any comic storyline anyway, because the other 40% is references to backstories I don’t know anything about.
In the end. Thor gets the magic artifact that gives him the power over all reality, and he chooses to stick it in his pocket and not even fix Asgard (remember, it crashed into the earth). He said if he fixed it, somehow he wouldn’t be a good guy, or something. It really made no sense.
Still, I loved it, because the art was pretty good.
Really, that’s all I need.
This is something in the neighborhood of the 12th graphic novel or superhero novel I’ve read in the past couple of months. I’ve also got a few more in a stack of them to get through soon. I’m just about heroed out.
I was thinking just before I started writing this, that in some ways, I think I enjoy book reviews more than I do writing blog posts. I used to just blog all my reviews, but then I slowly realized that I like reading my reviews more than anyone else does. So these have slowly become more and more personal to me over time, partially because I know I’ll come back and read these in the future and then either laugh at my wittiness, or weep at my ineptitude.
Assboogers.
So, what was I doing? Oh yes, reviewing something. Avengers Prime. So, in this story, Asgard (home of Thor) has crashed on earth. I know there is some backstory there, but I don’t know what the hell it is. I’m sure one day those graphic novels will be on sale at Books a Million for $5 too, but it isn’t there now, so I don’t know what it’s all about.
And with Asgard lying in a broken heap somewhere non-descript, Thor, Captain America (minus his Cap outfit – more backstory I don’t understand) and Iron Man all get whooshed away into, um, not Asgard, but something like the suburbs of Asgard, which isn’t on earth, and crashed up.
Once there, Iron Man’s armor stops working, Captain America makes out with an elf woman, and Thor gets his ass kicked by pretty much everyone he meets.
And this brings up one of my biggest issues with Thor, I like the guy, a lot. He had long hair, and he spoke in Jacobian English, and he used to fight the Hulk all the time (never a clear winner then either). He was crude, chivilarous, woefully out of touch, but a genuinely nice god.
Except he kept giving his brother, Loki, a free ride for all the crap he always caused.
Oh yeah, the dropped a line in there somewhere that said Loki was dead now. Then they moved on. Go figure.
I forgot what I was talking about again…. Oh, my problem with Thor. Well, it’s been a problem since the beginning of comics, I think. It’s that you got this total badass that can wipe the floor with pretty much anyone who feels like starting something. So how do you compensate for that when he’s on a team with Captain America and Iron Man?
I mean, some bozo attacks the avengers mansion, a guy with vague or unspecified powers, and in order to prove he’s threat, he has to take out the toughest guy on the team.
Same thing that happened to Worf all the time on Star Trek. Thor gets his ass kicked. Now everyone knows this is a big threat. The problem with that, of course, is that it leads to Thor getting thumped over and over again by guys that aren’t that tough.
How does that happen? Well, either said bad guy has got one of the twenty gazillion artifacts that grant near infinite power (that’s what happened in this storyline), or our resident badass just didn’t realize how tough the bad guy was, and got their ass kicked because they ‘weren’t ready.’
Sometimes, they just weaken the character. Superman has been weakened a few times. Thor has too, I think, or everyone else in the Marvel Universe got tougher.
I read comics for a brief time about 7 or 8 years ago, Thor had just been rebooted after he’d been killed a few years prior. The writer of the mag said he needed to power him up at the time, so he had him inherit the Odinforce (the super-cosmic might that made Thor’s father more of a Cosmic entity, like Galactus), and less like a typical hero.
Again, probably made him too strong, so they broke his hammer and did some magic whammy that made all that superforce he got from his dad get taken away.
All that means this… this whole storyline feels like it was of the mold of someone who isn’t that mighty, becoming very mighty, and whipping Thor, then Iron Man and Cap have to put aside their differences (more references to storylines I’m only vaguely familiar with, in this case, the Marvel Universe’s Civil War, where Cap and a bunch of heroes went to war with Iron Man and a bunch more of heroes) in order to win.
So, a bunch of warriors just show up when Thor makes a speech, then they don’t even have to do anything because the bad guy shows up to fight them. Then, Thor wins! I think someone else that was going to kill him earlier changed their mind, and then helped him. Never explained, but whatever, I only get about 60% of any comic storyline anyway, because the other 40% is references to backstories I don’t know anything about.
In the end. Thor gets the magic artifact that gives him the power over all reality, and he chooses to stick it in his pocket and not even fix Asgard (remember, it crashed into the earth). He said if he fixed it, somehow he wouldn’t be a good guy, or something. It really made no sense.
Still, I loved it, because the art was pretty good.
Really, that’s all I need.
December 3, 2021
В 2010 году, когда пепел «Гражданской войны» наконец рассеялся, перед Marvel возникла задача - срочно помирить Тони Старка и Стива Роджерса. Исключительно по этой причине Бендис выпустил небольшую лимитку «Avengers Prime», где попытался превратить весь эпический экзистенциальный конфликт в одну бесконечную шутку.
ТОНИ: Слушай, у меня к тебе очень важный вопрос. У тебя что-то было с Адской Кошкой?
СТИВ: Нет.
ТОНИ: А она говорит, что было.
СТИВ: Нет
ТОР: У меня было.
Немая сцена. Классический Бендис.
Итак, после завершения «Осады» Стив, Тони и Тор приходят на руины Асгарда, чтобы проверить функциональность Биврёста. Всех троих засасывает в радужный телепорт, после чего они разбросаны по девяти мирам. Беспомощный Тони в разряженном бронекостюме попадает в плен к воскресшему дракону Фафниру, где ему приходится вспомнить все свои навыки болтуна-трикстера. Кэпа («я будто в отпуске») ждёт короткий бой с темными эльфами, а также любовь прекрасной и синекожей Леди Мэджит. Пока товарищи развлекаются, Тор встречает Чаровницу, теряет молот, а потом узнаёт, что Хела вырвалась наружу, обрела Сумеречный Меч и теперь намерена превратить все девять планскейпов в одну сплошную преисподнюю.
Возможно, подобный эпилог - лучший вариант для завершения самой тёмной эпохи в истории издательства Marvel. Мило, забавно, инфантильно, на чилле, с шутейками про ролевиков-толкинистов. Но я прекрасно помню, что, впервые прочитав эту лимитку, испытал легкий гнев и саркастическое разочарование.
ТОНИ: Слушай, у меня к тебе очень важный вопрос. У тебя что-то было с Адской Кошкой?
СТИВ: Нет.
ТОНИ: А она говорит, что было.
СТИВ: Нет
ТОР: У меня было.
Немая сцена. Классический Бендис.
Итак, после завершения «Осады» Стив, Тони и Тор приходят на руины Асгарда, чтобы проверить функциональность Биврёста. Всех троих засасывает в радужный телепорт, после чего они разбросаны по девяти мирам. Беспомощный Тони в разряженном бронекостюме попадает в плен к воскресшему дракону Фафниру, где ему приходится вспомнить все свои навыки болтуна-трикстера. Кэпа («я будто в отпуске») ждёт короткий бой с темными эльфами, а также любовь прекрасной и синекожей Леди Мэджит. Пока товарищи развлекаются, Тор встречает Чаровницу, теряет молот, а потом узнаёт, что Хела вырвалась наружу, обрела Сумеречный Меч и теперь намерена превратить все девять планскейпов в одну сплошную преисподнюю.
Возможно, подобный эпилог - лучший вариант для завершения самой тёмной эпохи в истории издательства Marvel. Мило, забавно, инфантильно, на чилле, с шутейками про ролевиков-толкинистов. Но я прекрасно помню, что, впервые прочитав эту лимитку, испытал легкий гнев и саркастическое разочарование.
June 26, 2011
Good writing from Bendis - which is saying something, because when Bendis is at his best, his writing rocks the house. I'm not convinced this is his best work - it doesn't feel like the epic, world shattering stuff of some previous Events, but as far as putting three characters into conflict and really examining how they'd react and interact, we have a winner.
The conflict - the bizarre situation in which they find themselves after Siege - is pretty interesting and unusual, and the suspense of finding out exactly where they are and what happened is great.
I miss Bendis' trademark sense of humour here. He uses Tony Stark as much as makes sense, but it feels like he's taking the other characters *very seriously* and while this is probably the *right* thing to do with these guys, it's more sombre than I'd have liked. Perhaps Bendis is using this story to make up for all the hell he's put these guys through with each other over the years.
I'd like to say nice things about Davis' art but it's not up to the level I've come to expect with Bendis' work. It's tolerable and doesn't hinder the storytelling - sometimes it even conveys the majesty of the scene/character/action - but when it's not in extreme close-up, it seems sloppy/unfinished and definitely distracts.
The conflict - the bizarre situation in which they find themselves after Siege - is pretty interesting and unusual, and the suspense of finding out exactly where they are and what happened is great.
I miss Bendis' trademark sense of humour here. He uses Tony Stark as much as makes sense, but it feels like he's taking the other characters *very seriously* and while this is probably the *right* thing to do with these guys, it's more sombre than I'd have liked. Perhaps Bendis is using this story to make up for all the hell he's put these guys through with each other over the years.
I'd like to say nice things about Davis' art but it's not up to the level I've come to expect with Bendis' work. It's tolerable and doesn't hinder the storytelling - sometimes it even conveys the majesty of the scene/character/action - but when it's not in extreme close-up, it seems sloppy/unfinished and definitely distracts.
December 2, 2011
As someone who isn't entirely up to speed with things, reading this as a standalone works nicely. What I got from it? Steve and Tony broke up for a while, said some nasty things, and Thor left them to it while he went to sort out his own things, and by the end of this the humans are back together and their best bro is right there with them. Tony naked on a horse? Hilarious. As far as the bigger picture goes, I can't really comment on how well this fits in, but as a one-off it was light-hearted and fun, and full of things I love, so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2020
In the aftermath of 'Siege', which saw the fall of Asgard, the Avengers have reassembled. However, some divisions remain between the leading members Steve Rogers, Tony Stark and Thor. These three are forced to put their differences aside when they are cast out into the Nine Realms to confront Hela, the Goddess of Death.
This book could easily be called 'Avengers Bromance' as it's all about rebuilding the bonds of friendship between Steve, Tony and Thor.
Marvel spent most of the early 2000s tearing the Avengers apart ('Disassembled', 'House of M', 'Civil War' etcetera) but with the movies of the MCU heading towards the first Avengers film it was imperative to return to the original core characters as friends and allies. This book then serves a very functional purpose and is perhaps a bit too transparent in being driven by brand recognition rather than story imperatives.
That said, there is something deeply satisfying to a longtime Avengers fan in seeing these particular three separated off to fight as comrades in arms once more. And as a fan of Norse mythology, it was nice for them to be confronting elements from that as the Nine Realms begin to fold in upon themselves following the fall of Asgard.
For me the highlight was seeing Steve battling a group of elves from whom he takes a set of blue scalemail armour and a shield. There's even a brilliant panel where artist Alan Davis has shadows and light fall on Steve in just the right way so that, for a moment, he is Captain America again (probably worth pointing out to the uninitiated that Steve wasn't Cap at this point - Bucky was, if I rememeber right).
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com/ *
This book could easily be called 'Avengers Bromance' as it's all about rebuilding the bonds of friendship between Steve, Tony and Thor.
Marvel spent most of the early 2000s tearing the Avengers apart ('Disassembled', 'House of M', 'Civil War' etcetera) but with the movies of the MCU heading towards the first Avengers film it was imperative to return to the original core characters as friends and allies. This book then serves a very functional purpose and is perhaps a bit too transparent in being driven by brand recognition rather than story imperatives.
That said, there is something deeply satisfying to a longtime Avengers fan in seeing these particular three separated off to fight as comrades in arms once more. And as a fan of Norse mythology, it was nice for them to be confronting elements from that as the Nine Realms begin to fold in upon themselves following the fall of Asgard.
For me the highlight was seeing Steve battling a group of elves from whom he takes a set of blue scalemail armour and a shield. There's even a brilliant panel where artist Alan Davis has shadows and light fall on Steve in just the right way so that, for a moment, he is Captain America again (probably worth pointing out to the uninitiated that Steve wasn't Cap at this point - Bucky was, if I rememeber right).
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com/ *
August 24, 2023
Shortly after the events of Siege, Steve Rogers and Tony Stark are helping Thor sort through the wreckage of Asgard when they start arguing about everything that's happened in the past couple years: Tony and Steve started the New Avengers together, Tony and Steve both had emotional and mental breakdowns causing them to act drastically out of character and fight each other, Tony arrested Steve, Steve died, Tony hunted his former Avengers for sport, Tony's sketchy funding methods resulted in all his assets being handed over to the Green Goblin, Steve got better, Green Goblin attacked Asgard. In the midst of this argument, Tony, Steve, and Thor are inconveniently transported to different parts of the Nine Realms. Tony fights a dragon, Steve has a fling with an elf woman, and they both remember how fond they are of each other and become friends again.
This blatantly exists solely to resolve the bad blood between Tony and Steve as quickly as possible. It's saved by Alan Davis's beautiful pencils. Tony is way jokier than he usually is but he's been through a lot so I assumed he was going through some sort of existentialist crisis and is covering it with sarcastic humour (and I'm sure it has nothing to do with this comic being released immediately after the release of Iron Man 2).
This blatantly exists solely to resolve the bad blood between Tony and Steve as quickly as possible. It's saved by Alan Davis's beautiful pencils. Tony is way jokier than he usually is but he's been through a lot so I assumed he was going through some sort of existentialist crisis and is covering it with sarcastic humour (and I'm sure it has nothing to do with this comic being released immediately after the release of Iron Man 2).
June 29, 2024
With the exception of a "fan fiction" type sexual innuendo jokes, this was another fine read by writer Brian Michael Bendis. If it's good it's good, and I have no problem saying that. If I pay my money and I feel ripped off at the end, well, then I'll say that too. His dialogue is only occasionally bad here, but Alan Davis' gorgeous artwork helps lift this book to heights of greatness. I really, really enjoyed reading this. Without giving too much away, this is a tale of how three estranged friends (Iron Man, Thor and Steve Rogers, the original Captain America) make amends...while fighting bad guys. Rock and roll.
I have also come to a conclusion: When Bendis is paired with top artistic talent, then things go more smoothly. A lot of the people that drew the old New Avengers series were subpar at best. This mini-series and the ongoing, adjective-less Avengers with John Romita, Jr., were great reads because everything was top notch. I also feel that Bendis was maybe trying harder to put more story in each issue here than he has in the past as well. Perhaps he should dial down the number of books that he writes in a month to better hone his craft, or at the very least as a sort of quality control. He would make a good editor and co-plotter for sure. Who knows, maybe Bendis isn't so bad...is he? This is the last of the recent vintage Avengers collected editions in my marathon, so it will be some time until we find out.
I have also come to a conclusion: When Bendis is paired with top artistic talent, then things go more smoothly. A lot of the people that drew the old New Avengers series were subpar at best. This mini-series and the ongoing, adjective-less Avengers with John Romita, Jr., were great reads because everything was top notch. I also feel that Bendis was maybe trying harder to put more story in each issue here than he has in the past as well. Perhaps he should dial down the number of books that he writes in a month to better hone his craft, or at the very least as a sort of quality control. He would make a good editor and co-plotter for sure. Who knows, maybe Bendis isn't so bad...is he? This is the last of the recent vintage Avengers collected editions in my marathon, so it will be some time until we find out.
October 4, 2022
"ALL THOSE THINGS I SAID AND DID -- I'M -- I'M SO SORRY. I KNOW THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, BUT I HOPE YOU WILL ALLOW ME THE CHANCE TO EARN YOUR FRIENDSHIP BACK. I DON'T DESERVE IT... I JUST HOPE YOU LET ME. I'M NOT HALF AS GOOD AT -- AT ANYTHING AS I AM WHEN I'M DOING IT NEXT TO YOU."
- Tony Stark to Steve Rogers.
This takes place immediately after the Siege event. I read Siege some years ago and remember nothing. I was somewhat confused, but no more so than usual.
Despite some unfamiliarity, I still cruised through this book in about two hours, and I'm a pathetically slow reader.
Thor, Cap and Iron Man are teleported away from the ruins of Asgard, currently lying in ruins on the North American plains (Kansas?), to another of the none realms. Thor misplaces his hammer, Tony gets beat down by a dragon and Steve meets an attractive purple medicine woman. Poor Cap just can't catch a break.
While I decline to spoil anything, I found this to be fun and accessible, even if Asgard isn't a topic I care much about.
Three stars.
- Tony Stark to Steve Rogers.
This takes place immediately after the Siege event. I read Siege some years ago and remember nothing. I was somewhat confused, but no more so than usual.
Despite some unfamiliarity, I still cruised through this book in about two hours, and I'm a pathetically slow reader.
Thor, Cap and Iron Man are teleported away from the ruins of Asgard, currently lying in ruins on the North American plains (Kansas?), to another of the none realms. Thor misplaces his hammer, Tony gets beat down by a dragon and Steve meets an attractive purple medicine woman. Poor Cap just can't catch a break.
While I decline to spoil anything, I found this to be fun and accessible, even if Asgard isn't a topic I care much about.
Three stars.
August 5, 2022
"all those things... all the things i said and did-- i'm-- i'm so, so sorry. i know that's not enough, but i hope you will allow me the chance to earn your friendship back. i don't deserve it... i just hope you let me. i'm not half as good at-- at anything as i am when i'm doing it next to you. and that's the truth." oh Tony, you are melting my heart :'''')
so, the plot is not really interesting - Cap, Thor and Tony found themselves stranded in a distorted version of Jotunheim and have to fight hela in order to get back to earth - but boy oh boy does the character development make up for it!
Steve and Tony have a (long overdue) confrontation about... well, pretty much everything that happened between them since Civil War: A Marvel Comics Event up till the most recent catastrophe (the Siege on asgard). it was a breath of fresh air and a very appreciated break from all the tension and the fighting between them and i do hope this is just the beginning of them fixing their bond. it will probably take a while to rebuild the trust, and maybe some things that have been said and done will never be truly forgotten, but i am in for this journey!!
so, the plot is not really interesting - Cap, Thor and Tony found themselves stranded in a distorted version of Jotunheim and have to fight hela in order to get back to earth - but boy oh boy does the character development make up for it!
Steve and Tony have a (long overdue) confrontation about... well, pretty much everything that happened between them since Civil War: A Marvel Comics Event up till the most recent catastrophe (the Siege on asgard). it was a breath of fresh air and a very appreciated break from all the tension and the fighting between them and i do hope this is just the beginning of them fixing their bond. it will probably take a while to rebuild the trust, and maybe some things that have been said and done will never be truly forgotten, but i am in for this journey!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2017
https://osrascunhos.com/2017/10/20/vi...
Asgard foi transportada para a Terra no seguimento de uma catástrofe. Simultaneamente, Capitão América, Homem de Ferro e Thor são dispersos pelos nove reinos – nove reinos conturbados e carregados de inimigos de Thor que ao soar do seu nome não hesitam em atacar.
Tratando-se dos novo reinos o tipo de criaturas que encontram é diverso – desde dragões que aguardam uma vingança contra Thor, a elfos divididos, e a ogres furiosos ou rainhas demoníacas.
Cada um dos super-heróis tenta enfrentar (com pouco sucesso na primeira volta) os inimigos que encontra – excepto o Homem de Ferro que se encontra preso numa versão ultrapassada do seu fato, a versão mais antiga e, por isso, com menos capacidades. Ao ser transportado para os nove reinos perdeu toda a energia e Stark não pára de falar mal do fato antigo.
A presença nos nove reinos justifica o encontro com uma série de monstros diferentes que irão possibilitar diferentes batalhas, visualmente esplendorosas. Com grandes perspectivas sobre cenas de batalha e paisagens estranhas, este volume é mais forte visualmente do que em termos de narrativa (ainda que algumas imagens não sejam muito perfeitas, e algumas cores não funcionem tão bem, causando uma excessiva concentração cromática).
O Homem de Ferro permanece igual a si mesmo, neste caso, refilando constantemente consigo mesmo por ter sido apanhado em tal situação com aquele fato. Por sua vez, Thor oscila entre chorar a morte do irmão, Loki, e enfrentar as consequências das suas acções, mostrando-se mais fraco nestes novo reinos do que seria supor, enquanto o Capitão América tem tempo para se envolver rapidamente com uma Elfo com capacidades psíquicas.
Entre batalhas e desencontros, os três heróis lá conseguem por as diferenças de parte, e formar uma aliança para combater um mal comum, com o intuito de repor os nove reinos à normalidade.
Asgard foi transportada para a Terra no seguimento de uma catástrofe. Simultaneamente, Capitão América, Homem de Ferro e Thor são dispersos pelos nove reinos – nove reinos conturbados e carregados de inimigos de Thor que ao soar do seu nome não hesitam em atacar.
Tratando-se dos novo reinos o tipo de criaturas que encontram é diverso – desde dragões que aguardam uma vingança contra Thor, a elfos divididos, e a ogres furiosos ou rainhas demoníacas.
Cada um dos super-heróis tenta enfrentar (com pouco sucesso na primeira volta) os inimigos que encontra – excepto o Homem de Ferro que se encontra preso numa versão ultrapassada do seu fato, a versão mais antiga e, por isso, com menos capacidades. Ao ser transportado para os nove reinos perdeu toda a energia e Stark não pára de falar mal do fato antigo.
A presença nos nove reinos justifica o encontro com uma série de monstros diferentes que irão possibilitar diferentes batalhas, visualmente esplendorosas. Com grandes perspectivas sobre cenas de batalha e paisagens estranhas, este volume é mais forte visualmente do que em termos de narrativa (ainda que algumas imagens não sejam muito perfeitas, e algumas cores não funcionem tão bem, causando uma excessiva concentração cromática).
O Homem de Ferro permanece igual a si mesmo, neste caso, refilando constantemente consigo mesmo por ter sido apanhado em tal situação com aquele fato. Por sua vez, Thor oscila entre chorar a morte do irmão, Loki, e enfrentar as consequências das suas acções, mostrando-se mais fraco nestes novo reinos do que seria supor, enquanto o Capitão América tem tempo para se envolver rapidamente com uma Elfo com capacidades psíquicas.
Entre batalhas e desencontros, os três heróis lá conseguem por as diferenças de parte, e formar uma aliança para combater um mal comum, com o intuito de repor os nove reinos à normalidade.
June 26, 2019
I enjoyed this and the art was very good, but I also had the feeling this wasn't really necessary. I don't know that I want to use the term "cash grab", but I just feel as though this was something editors wanted rather than writers (or readers.) We get a story featuring the big three Avengers, Captain America, Thor and Iron Man, right after Siege, but more importantly, after Civil War. So there's a lot of friction between these three, especially Cap and Iron Man. And then Hel, the Goddess of Death attempts to take over all creation and the three have to stop her. Then they hug and make up, which seemed like an awful easy way to get over all the things that happened during Civil War.
Still, this wasn't bad and had some cool moments. If you're a huge Avengers fan check it out, but if not there are much better Avengers stories out there for the casual fan.
Still, this wasn't bad and had some cool moments. If you're a huge Avengers fan check it out, but if not there are much better Avengers stories out there for the casual fan.
February 11, 2021
Avengers Prime is just really, really fun. It's Avengers meets Lord of the Rings meets Norse Mythology and its just all around a good time. I don't have much to say about it except for how Steve always seems like such a sweet little vanilla boy and yet I am slowly realizing that he is just as much of a player as Tony. Who said nice guys finish last?? And Steve and Tony were just... I finally get it. The flirting here was next level. I think 90% of why this Siege followup exists is to patch up my favs relationship post-Civil War (the MCU could never), and let's be real, I'm not complaining. The plot with Hela was a bit confusing (love her though) until she was (not really spoiler alert) defeated and there was a bit of good ol' fashioned casual misogyny, but was I really in this for the plot? The answer is no, no I wasn't. Hence the five stars.
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