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Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers #17
Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers, Vol. 17
Jim Shooter and an unparalleled team of avenging artists - George Pérez, John Byrne, Jim Starlin and more - bring you Earth's Mightiest Heroes at their best! This Marvel Masterworks volume is packed from cover to cover with classic encounters staged on a truly massive scale: Jim Starlin's defining Thanos War, Ultron's revenge, the cosmic Korvac Saga - it's a dizzying array of iconic adventures! Luckily, the Avengers aren't alone as they face these challenges - they're joined by the Guardians of the Galaxy, the amazing Spider-Man and the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing! Also featuring Adam Warlock, Gamora, the Collector, the Lethal Legion, Count Nefaria, a new look for Wonder Man, and the unfolding secret origins of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch! COLLECTING: AVENGERS (1963) 164-177, ANNUAL (1967) 7, MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE ANNUAL (1976) 2, MATERIAL FROM AVENGERS: THE KORVAC SAGA TPB (1991)
352 pages, Hardcover
Published August 22, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 14, 2022
This volume contains a lot of cosmic adventures that are fun to read, but these comics show their age.
September 11, 2022
This volume collects (amongst other things) the now-considered-classic ‘Korvac Saga’. Honestly, I’ve never seen what all the fuss was about with this one. Sure, the ideas behind it are quite good… but the actual execution is pretty shoddy. Story-wise, it’s a shambles, with three writers all chipping in various bits and a number of different editors sticking their oars in. Art-wise, it’s not much better, with several different pencillers and even more inkers in the mix. There are some very good artists involved but, quite honestly, none of them are producing their best work here.
I’m probably upsetting some purists here but I’m afraid I have to be the one pointing out the Emperor has no clothes where the much-vaunted Korvac Saga is concerned.
The best issues collected here are those featuring the (largely forgotten) three-part Count Nefaria story. John Byrne’s guest pencils on these issues are easily the best artwork in this volume.
All-in-all, for me, this collection was undeniably enjoyable but really nothing special.
I’m probably upsetting some purists here but I’m afraid I have to be the one pointing out the Emperor has no clothes where the much-vaunted Korvac Saga is concerned.
The best issues collected here are those featuring the (largely forgotten) three-part Count Nefaria story. John Byrne’s guest pencils on these issues are easily the best artwork in this volume.
All-in-all, for me, this collection was undeniably enjoyable but really nothing special.
April 4, 2018
Ultron building up over the years is real good.
Of course it's a little bit to too much cringe-worthy at the beginning, with previous appearances, but over the years it gets better and better and ok, we can excuse the cringing dialogue because "old times".
Other than that it's good. I think my favourite issues were with Ultron trying to steal Janet's life-force and transfer it to his own robot-wife, tricking Ant-Man into helping him achieve that too. Awesome stuff!
And now, he's back for more evildoing and that was great too! Solid artwork as well. Good stuff!
Of course it's a little bit to too much cringe-worthy at the beginning, with previous appearances, but over the years it gets better and better and ok, we can excuse the cringing dialogue because "old times".
Other than that it's good. I think my favourite issues were with Ultron trying to steal Janet's life-force and transfer it to his own robot-wife, tricking Ant-Man into helping him achieve that too. Awesome stuff!
And now, he's back for more evildoing and that was great too! Solid artwork as well. Good stuff!
November 23, 2023
Y después de Nuevos Mutantes, zambullida rápida en Vengadores y seguimos camino hacia Secret Wars. ¿Por qué desde el volumen 17 (números 164 a 177) y no desde el 1? Porque mi objetivo es seguir leyendo hacia delante, comenzar desde el 1 suponía muchos números de los primeros tiempos, y aunque en algunos momentos me encantan, ahora mismo no me apetecía nada tener a los superhéroes discutiendo todo el rato y volver a los cómics de los 60, y con el número 164 comenzó la edición de Forum en España, así que me pareció un punto de incorporación bastante bueno para incluir Vengadores en esta lectura masiva que planeo.
En este tomo vamos a ver una etapa de transición artística en la colección, y es que para ser un número relativamente pequeño de cómics, vamos a ver muchos equipos creativos en ella. Jim Shooter, John Byrne, George Pérez, Marv Wolfman, Sal Buscema, David Michelinie, Bill Mantlo, Dave Wenzel... todos ellos van a ir pasando por estas páginas, aunque Jim Shooter sea quien lleva la voz cantante en estos números, unos más afortunados que otros, con un John Byrne al que da gusto ver, un George Pérez muy disfrutable, y un Dave Wenzel bastante menos afortunado. Y pese a este baile, en estos números vamos a tener dos de los elementos más recordados en la historia de los Vengadores: la Saga de Nefaria y la Saga de Korvac (evidentemente son sagas cortitas, nada de doce números). En la primera, Shooter y Byrne recuperan a Nefaria después del mítico estallido del avión que había costado la vida a Ave de Trueno en los primeros números de Claremont en Patrulla-X, y que consigue hacerse con unos superpoderes que le hacen llegar a enfrentarse frente a frente al mismísimo Thor, después de manipular a Power Man (Erik Josten, no Luke Cage), Torbellino y el Láser Viviente y robarles parte de sus poderes. Y después de un par de números un poco de relleno y el planteamiento de la Saga de Korvac (incluida la llegada a la Tierra de los Guardianes de la Galaxia originales), esta etapa va a llegar su cúspide con la aparición del Coleccionista y el enfrentamiento de los Vengadores con Michael/Korvac, una especie de dios instalado en un barrio residencial de Queens, y que lleva a uno de los equipos de Vengadores más numerosos del a historia a una completa debacle.
Otro de los detalles a tener en cuenta, es la creciente alineación del equipo, que cada vez incorpora más miembros en este tomo, en el que además, el gobierno (representado por Henry Peter Gyrich), cancela el estatus gubernamental de los Vengadores. Aquí vamos a tener al Capitán América y Iron Man (ya tirándose los trastos a la cabeza), Thor, la Visión, la Bruja Escarlata, Chaqueta Amarilla, la Avispa, la Bestia, el Hombre Maravilla, Pantera Negra, Mercurio, Ojo de Halcón, Miss Marvel, el Capitán Marvel, Yocasta, Hércules, la Viuda Negra, Dragón Lunar, y los Guardianes de la Galaxia originales (Vance Astro, Yondu, Halcón Estelar, Martinex, Charlie-27 y Nikki).
Y bueno, pues la historia... se deja leer y es entretenida. Por supuesto, el dibujo de Byrne y el de Pérez hacen ganar enteros, pero Shooter mantiene una dinámica bastante cargante, donde todos los héroes son extremadamente irascibles con sus compañeros de equipo, una réplica de las relaciones del grupo en tiempos de Lee, y que para más inri, en el propio texto dicen "Ya no discutimos todo el rato..." para luego discutir todo el rato. En fin.
Seguimos.
En este tomo vamos a ver una etapa de transición artística en la colección, y es que para ser un número relativamente pequeño de cómics, vamos a ver muchos equipos creativos en ella. Jim Shooter, John Byrne, George Pérez, Marv Wolfman, Sal Buscema, David Michelinie, Bill Mantlo, Dave Wenzel... todos ellos van a ir pasando por estas páginas, aunque Jim Shooter sea quien lleva la voz cantante en estos números, unos más afortunados que otros, con un John Byrne al que da gusto ver, un George Pérez muy disfrutable, y un Dave Wenzel bastante menos afortunado. Y pese a este baile, en estos números vamos a tener dos de los elementos más recordados en la historia de los Vengadores: la Saga de Nefaria y la Saga de Korvac (evidentemente son sagas cortitas, nada de doce números). En la primera, Shooter y Byrne recuperan a Nefaria después del mítico estallido del avión que había costado la vida a Ave de Trueno en los primeros números de Claremont en Patrulla-X, y que consigue hacerse con unos superpoderes que le hacen llegar a enfrentarse frente a frente al mismísimo Thor, después de manipular a Power Man (Erik Josten, no Luke Cage), Torbellino y el Láser Viviente y robarles parte de sus poderes. Y después de un par de números un poco de relleno y el planteamiento de la Saga de Korvac (incluida la llegada a la Tierra de los Guardianes de la Galaxia originales), esta etapa va a llegar su cúspide con la aparición del Coleccionista y el enfrentamiento de los Vengadores con Michael/Korvac, una especie de dios instalado en un barrio residencial de Queens, y que lleva a uno de los equipos de Vengadores más numerosos del a historia a una completa debacle.
Otro de los detalles a tener en cuenta, es la creciente alineación del equipo, que cada vez incorpora más miembros en este tomo, en el que además, el gobierno (representado por Henry Peter Gyrich), cancela el estatus gubernamental de los Vengadores. Aquí vamos a tener al Capitán América y Iron Man (ya tirándose los trastos a la cabeza), Thor, la Visión, la Bruja Escarlata, Chaqueta Amarilla, la Avispa, la Bestia, el Hombre Maravilla, Pantera Negra, Mercurio, Ojo de Halcón, Miss Marvel, el Capitán Marvel, Yocasta, Hércules, la Viuda Negra, Dragón Lunar, y los Guardianes de la Galaxia originales (Vance Astro, Yondu, Halcón Estelar, Martinex, Charlie-27 y Nikki).
Y bueno, pues la historia... se deja leer y es entretenida. Por supuesto, el dibujo de Byrne y el de Pérez hacen ganar enteros, pero Shooter mantiene una dinámica bastante cargante, donde todos los héroes son extremadamente irascibles con sus compañeros de equipo, una réplica de las relaciones del grupo en tiempos de Lee, y que para más inri, en el propio texto dicen "Ya no discutimos todo el rato..." para luego discutir todo el rato. En fin.
Seguimos.
February 12, 2018
This has to be one of the greatest collections of Avengers comics available today. This collection houses issues #164-177 as well as Annual #7 and Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2. These issues include three different storyarcs: "Nefaria Supreme", "The Final Threat", and "The Korvac Saga". These were published between October 1977-November 1978. Jim Shooter wrote almost all the issues with the exception of "The Final Crisis" which was written by Jim Starlin (who also did the art for those issues) and #169 (which is a one-off not tying into any of the three main stories here).
"Nefaria Supreme" is a three issue arc that has Count Nefaria creating a super-villain team called the Lethal Legion who try to rob a bank and the Avengers show up to stop them. What they don't know is that Nefaria team of scientist's have found a way to channel the Lethal Legion's powers into Nefaria, making him an unstoppable force. It's a great little action-packed story to start the collection off with and holds it own with the two other arcs.
"The Final Threat" is a storyarc comprised of two different series Annuals that features the return of Thanos, Moondragon, and Adam Warlock. Thanos has gathered the energies of the Soul Gems (we know them now as Infinity Gems) and intends to snuff out the stars themselves to appease Death, the love of his life, and Warlock needs the Avengers help to stop the whole blamed thing. Spider-Man and The Thing show up eventually to also lend their help. It's a two-issue powerhouse of a story that actually is a pretty huge moment in Marvel history.
"The Korvac Saga" is the meat of this collection, taking up issues #167-177 (with the exception of #169). It starts off with the Avengers being called into space by S.H.I.E.L.D. to investigate a mysterious space station that has appeared. They find the Guardians of the Galaxy who have traveled from the 31st century chasing a cyborg villain named Korvac who intends to kill one of their own, Vance Astro and dooming the future of humanity. The Avengers agree to help them and what follows is widely considered to be one of the greatest Avengers stories in the comic's history. It includes Avengers past and present (15 of them!), but it's not just some gimmicky reunion thing, the story here is top notch as is the artwork by the legendary George Perez. This is essential reading for any Avengers or Marvel Comics fan.
There is a slew of bonus material in this collection including a weird epilogue created for the trade paperback version of The Korvac Saga in 1991. The only thing missing here that I wished they'd included was Thor Annual #6 because it lays a bit of the groundwork for The Korvac Saga, but you won't be lost by not reading it. Honestly this is one of the best Marvel graphic novels I've ever read, something that should not be missed by anyone especially Avengers fans.
"Nefaria Supreme" is a three issue arc that has Count Nefaria creating a super-villain team called the Lethal Legion who try to rob a bank and the Avengers show up to stop them. What they don't know is that Nefaria team of scientist's have found a way to channel the Lethal Legion's powers into Nefaria, making him an unstoppable force. It's a great little action-packed story to start the collection off with and holds it own with the two other arcs.
"The Final Threat" is a storyarc comprised of two different series Annuals that features the return of Thanos, Moondragon, and Adam Warlock. Thanos has gathered the energies of the Soul Gems (we know them now as Infinity Gems) and intends to snuff out the stars themselves to appease Death, the love of his life, and Warlock needs the Avengers help to stop the whole blamed thing. Spider-Man and The Thing show up eventually to also lend their help. It's a two-issue powerhouse of a story that actually is a pretty huge moment in Marvel history.
"The Korvac Saga" is the meat of this collection, taking up issues #167-177 (with the exception of #169). It starts off with the Avengers being called into space by S.H.I.E.L.D. to investigate a mysterious space station that has appeared. They find the Guardians of the Galaxy who have traveled from the 31st century chasing a cyborg villain named Korvac who intends to kill one of their own, Vance Astro and dooming the future of humanity. The Avengers agree to help them and what follows is widely considered to be one of the greatest Avengers stories in the comic's history. It includes Avengers past and present (15 of them!), but it's not just some gimmicky reunion thing, the story here is top notch as is the artwork by the legendary George Perez. This is essential reading for any Avengers or Marvel Comics fan.
There is a slew of bonus material in this collection including a weird epilogue created for the trade paperback version of The Korvac Saga in 1991. The only thing missing here that I wished they'd included was Thor Annual #6 because it lays a bit of the groundwork for The Korvac Saga, but you won't be lost by not reading it. Honestly this is one of the best Marvel graphic novels I've ever read, something that should not be missed by anyone especially Avengers fans.
September 23, 2024
Marvel Masterworks - The Avengers Vol. 17 (2015), escritor Jim Shooter, Jim Starlin, arte John Byrne., George Perez, Sal Buscema, Dave Wenzel. Calificación 4/5 estrellas.
Avengers #164-166 escritor Jim Shooter, arte John Byrne. Calificación 4/5 estrellas.
Lo he leído en dos años tres veces esta historia.
Gran arte de John Byrne en The Avengers con Capitán America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, The Beast, The Wasp, The Vision, Wonder Man, Thor, Black Panther y Yellowjacket contra el conde Nefaria, el solo podía contra todos ellos. Pero la cantidad de Avengers terminaron con este sobrepotenciado villano.
Aquí es esta historia el conde Nefaria es como Superman en contrá de The Avengers.
Si la idea es Superman vs. Avengers, para mi Superman acabaría con estos Avengers. Derrotaria a Thor y fácilmente a los otros.
Nefaria detiene Mjolnir con su mano izquierda y golpea a Thor, en JLA/Avengers eso mismo hizo Superman y dejó noqueado a ricitos de oro.
Avengers Annual #7 y Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2. Con la historia de Thanos y su deseo de destruir estrellas. Thanos vs. Adam Warlock, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Thor, The Beast, Captain Marvel, Moondragon, Spider-Man y The Thing.
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.
Avengers #164-166 escritor Jim Shooter, arte John Byrne. Calificación 4/5 estrellas.
Lo he leído en dos años tres veces esta historia.
Gran arte de John Byrne en The Avengers con Capitán America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, The Beast, The Wasp, The Vision, Wonder Man, Thor, Black Panther y Yellowjacket contra el conde Nefaria, el solo podía contra todos ellos. Pero la cantidad de Avengers terminaron con este sobrepotenciado villano.
Aquí es esta historia el conde Nefaria es como Superman en contrá de The Avengers.
Si la idea es Superman vs. Avengers, para mi Superman acabaría con estos Avengers. Derrotaria a Thor y fácilmente a los otros.
Nefaria detiene Mjolnir con su mano izquierda y golpea a Thor, en JLA/Avengers eso mismo hizo Superman y dejó noqueado a ricitos de oro.
Avengers Annual #7 y Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2. Con la historia de Thanos y su deseo de destruir estrellas. Thanos vs. Adam Warlock, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Thor, The Beast, Captain Marvel, Moondragon, Spider-Man y The Thing.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2023
Great volume of the Avengers Masterworks collection.
Thanos returns, Count Nefaria elevates himself into a top-tier villain, the omnipotent power of Michael Korvac is unleashed, Ultron returns yet again, and the Collector gains a ton of characterisation, making him a much more interesting character than before.
Writer Jim Shooter perhaps tries to juggle too many characters at once, (the Guardians of the Galaxy, the majority of the Avengers at that time, plus Captain Marvel, Ms Marvel, Wonder Man Two-Gun Kid and Jocasta? Soooo many characters!) but he has a real knack for writing epic stories. The Korvac Saga is famous for a reason! There's just such a tremendous sense that the stakes are high.
As for the art... It's absolutely phenomenal. Jim Starlin, John Byrne, Sal Buscema, George Pérez and David Wenzel? You'd struggle to get a better selection of artists anywhere. I had to stop reading at several points just to admire the artwork!
Definitely a high point for the Avengers comic book.
Thanos returns, Count Nefaria elevates himself into a top-tier villain, the omnipotent power of Michael Korvac is unleashed, Ultron returns yet again, and the Collector gains a ton of characterisation, making him a much more interesting character than before.
Writer Jim Shooter perhaps tries to juggle too many characters at once, (the Guardians of the Galaxy, the majority of the Avengers at that time, plus Captain Marvel, Ms Marvel, Wonder Man Two-Gun Kid and Jocasta? Soooo many characters!) but he has a real knack for writing epic stories. The Korvac Saga is famous for a reason! There's just such a tremendous sense that the stakes are high.
As for the art... It's absolutely phenomenal. Jim Starlin, John Byrne, Sal Buscema, George Pérez and David Wenzel? You'd struggle to get a better selection of artists anywhere. I had to stop reading at several points just to admire the artwork!
Definitely a high point for the Avengers comic book.
April 17, 2023
Not a big fan of the Avengers but I am a big fan of the X-Men so I thought it was about time I read about Hank McCoy’s time with the team.
My highlights, from a Beast point of view:
The team battles Count Nefaria in these issues, leading to a nice moment for Beast to express his anger considering what happened with Nefaria and Thunderbird. Still playing—not the verbose scientist dropping literary references here, there, and everywhere—the bantering Daffy Duck role.
Things are getting more interesting, finally. Bringing Gyrich into the book adds an interesting dynamic of the government-sanctioned heroes having to actually answer to the government. And Gyrich actually has some good points, which is an essential feature of any good antagonist. I know there’s some famous stuff happening here but I don’t care much for the cosmic side of things. The showdown with Korvac is good, though.
My highlights, from a Beast point of view:
The team battles Count Nefaria in these issues, leading to a nice moment for Beast to express his anger considering what happened with Nefaria and Thunderbird. Still playing—not the verbose scientist dropping literary references here, there, and everywhere—the bantering Daffy Duck role.
Things are getting more interesting, finally. Bringing Gyrich into the book adds an interesting dynamic of the government-sanctioned heroes having to actually answer to the government. And Gyrich actually has some good points, which is an essential feature of any good antagonist. I know there’s some famous stuff happening here but I don’t care much for the cosmic side of things. The showdown with Korvac is good, though.
September 21, 2020
This is my era of the Avengers: having just started dipping my toes into what Marvel was publishing, stumbled across this great team book written by Jim Shooter (whose work on Legion of Superheros I had read), and a couple of new artists (and future legends) named George Perez and John Byrne. I was hooked! Make Mine Marvel!
November 28, 2023
Lots of great stuff in here! Count Nefaria, Ultron, Korvac. Fantastic enemies all, and the character stuff was good as well. The Korvac Saga, while it did give me some things to chew on, didn't quite stick the landing for me, but the build up was great, as was this volume as a whole.
December 20, 2022
Considered one of the best Avengers stories of all time, but very much of its time. A fair story lifted up by a strong ending
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews