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The Avengers Omnibus
The Avengers Omnibus, Vol. 3
Earth's Mightiest Heroes assemble under the titanic talents of Roy Thomas, John Buscema, Sal Buscema, Gene Colan, and Barry Windsor-Smith. It's page after page of Avengers classics beginning with the wedding of the Wasp and Yellowjacket. Then, Hawkeye transforms into Goliath, Ultron returns, Kang and the Grandmaster introduce the Squadron Sinister, the Black Panther infiltrates the Sons of the Serpent, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch return-and that's just the beginning! The barbarian Arkon invades, the Lady Liberators are formed, the Squadron Supreme makes the scene and the Black Panther's origin is told. This oversized Omnibus, collecting the stories that defined the Avengers and featuring every original letters page, is a must for every diehard Avengers fan! COLLECTING: AVENGERS (1963) 59-88, INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) 140, MARVEL SUPER-HEROES (1967) 17
768 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1971
6 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Roy Thomas
4,521 books273 followersRoy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 28, 2020
When I was reading the Marvel Masterworks: Avengers collections, I had lauded Roy Thomas taking over the book, even if Stan Lee would only let the book go gradually and then wouldn't let Thomas use the Avengers "big guns" like Thor, Iron Man and eventually Captain America, because from a business perspective those characters all had their own books, and the thought was likely that readers wouldn't want to read a team book with those characters in it as well (we all know what people think of that now.) In addition, when Thomas took over the book, he was soon teamed with comics legend John Buscema and started what is now considered a classic run on the book. In the Marvel Masterworks collection that precedes the issues of The Avengers that appear in this collection, Thomas introduces us the both Ultron and the Vision, who would have a major impact on The Avengers mythos going forward. Eventually during Thomas' run, he would script the classic "Kree-Skrull War" story arc that would lead to things like The Infinity Gauntlet among other future story arcs and again, largely impact The Avengers in the decades that followed.
The issues in The Avengers Omnibus, Vol. 3 were published between the Ultron/Vision story arc and the Kree-Skrull War arc and originally appeared in collected form in the Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers, volumes 7-9. Marvel has included all of the forewords written by Thomas for the three volumes in this collection, so you get to hear from the man himself. However, for the most part the issues in this collection don't rise to the level of Ultron/Vision with a few exceptions (there is a return battle between a new indestructible Ultron and the Avengers) as well as the first appearance of the Grandmaster and the Squadron Supreme/Sinister in an arc that also involves the classic Avengers villain Kang. However, there are many missteps in this volume as well, especially when Thomas tried to address social issues, such as racism and feminism. Included in this volume are the letters pages from these issues of The Avengers one of which includes a response to Thomas' "Sons of the Serpent" arc from an African-American man who took umbrage with some of Thomas' premises. Of course, cue the white outrage afterward, with Thomas himself feeling the need to "defend" himself (he should have just kept his mouth shut) and a letters page filled with white tears. These are interesting historical artifacts and I am glad Marvel decided to print them. It shows us that Thomas wasn't as woke as he thought he was at the time by addressing these issues, although perhaps we should commend him a little for trying. However, Thomas' efforts aren't nearly as impressive as those of Don McGregor in the pages of Jungle Action where he would attempt to address racial issues using the Avenger Black Panther, only to have Marvel pull the rug out from under him by cancelling the book.
Ultimately, I don't think this is indicative of Thomas' best work on The Avengers even though for much of this collection he has John Buscema on pencils (and the resulting issues are amazing from an artistic perspective) and when he doesn't he has John's capable brother Sal and a young Barry Windsor-Smith in tow, among others. However, for Avengers completests this is required reading--even if the Yellowjacket stuff doesn't make any sense, and there's no reason to have Hawkeye change his superhero identity either. This edition is choppy, and ultimately you're going to get good and bad. Thomas' run on the book was extensive and I guess it can't always be gold.
The issues in The Avengers Omnibus, Vol. 3 were published between the Ultron/Vision story arc and the Kree-Skrull War arc and originally appeared in collected form in the Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers, volumes 7-9. Marvel has included all of the forewords written by Thomas for the three volumes in this collection, so you get to hear from the man himself. However, for the most part the issues in this collection don't rise to the level of Ultron/Vision with a few exceptions (there is a return battle between a new indestructible Ultron and the Avengers) as well as the first appearance of the Grandmaster and the Squadron Supreme/Sinister in an arc that also involves the classic Avengers villain Kang. However, there are many missteps in this volume as well, especially when Thomas tried to address social issues, such as racism and feminism. Included in this volume are the letters pages from these issues of The Avengers one of which includes a response to Thomas' "Sons of the Serpent" arc from an African-American man who took umbrage with some of Thomas' premises. Of course, cue the white outrage afterward, with Thomas himself feeling the need to "defend" himself (he should have just kept his mouth shut) and a letters page filled with white tears. These are interesting historical artifacts and I am glad Marvel decided to print them. It shows us that Thomas wasn't as woke as he thought he was at the time by addressing these issues, although perhaps we should commend him a little for trying. However, Thomas' efforts aren't nearly as impressive as those of Don McGregor in the pages of Jungle Action where he would attempt to address racial issues using the Avenger Black Panther, only to have Marvel pull the rug out from under him by cancelling the book.
Ultimately, I don't think this is indicative of Thomas' best work on The Avengers even though for much of this collection he has John Buscema on pencils (and the resulting issues are amazing from an artistic perspective) and when he doesn't he has John's capable brother Sal and a young Barry Windsor-Smith in tow, among others. However, for Avengers completests this is required reading--even if the Yellowjacket stuff doesn't make any sense, and there's no reason to have Hawkeye change his superhero identity either. This edition is choppy, and ultimately you're going to get good and bad. Thomas' run on the book was extensive and I guess it can't always be gold.
September 2, 2018
What an eclectic mix of stories. Some random thoughts:
Classic art by John and Sal Buscema
The women are clearly moved to the background and when they are highlighted it usually involves tears and emotions. Ironically, there is a story where the women band together to demand equality, although that turns out to not be quite what you might think.
There's a multi-part arc dealing directly with racism.
Reading the origin of the Black Panther was a treat, especially to see how much of it made it into the movie.
This volume also contains the debut of YellowJacket and Goliath, although the reason for YJ isn't too believable.
Some of the stories seem random, gathering together some odd villains, creating a new name and attacking the Avengers. Thomas attempts to tie together some of these stories into an overarching plot, but it feels cobbled together and is all delivered via exposition at the end.
Arkon, Squadron Supreme, Black Night, Kang, Ultron, Red Wolf and Man-Ape all make appearances as well. Again, eclectic.
Classic art by John and Sal Buscema
The women are clearly moved to the background and when they are highlighted it usually involves tears and emotions. Ironically, there is a story where the women band together to demand equality, although that turns out to not be quite what you might think.
There's a multi-part arc dealing directly with racism.
Reading the origin of the Black Panther was a treat, especially to see how much of it made it into the movie.
This volume also contains the debut of YellowJacket and Goliath, although the reason for YJ isn't too believable.
Some of the stories seem random, gathering together some odd villains, creating a new name and attacking the Avengers. Thomas attempts to tie together some of these stories into an overarching plot, but it feels cobbled together and is all delivered via exposition at the end.
Arkon, Squadron Supreme, Black Night, Kang, Ultron, Red Wolf and Man-Ape all make appearances as well. Again, eclectic.
December 6, 2019
4.0
This was so much fun to get my hands on and brought me back to my childhood. I read a number of the Avenger comics when I was younger, but I never went this far back into the storyline. It was really interesting to see some of the origins and earlier tales of some of my favorite super heroes. The book itself is a mixture of some groundbreaking social commentary that was so well written that it still made me think deeply today, a few shining story arcs that made me want to keep reading, an usual assortment of interesting but unconnected stories, some stories that didn't fit at all and some very bad stories that at least made me laugh at their ridiculousness. Although I didn't love every story, I definitely loved the trip down memory lane and looking through the lens of society as it was viewed in a much different time from my own life.
This was so much fun to get my hands on and brought me back to my childhood. I read a number of the Avenger comics when I was younger, but I never went this far back into the storyline. It was really interesting to see some of the origins and earlier tales of some of my favorite super heroes. The book itself is a mixture of some groundbreaking social commentary that was so well written that it still made me think deeply today, a few shining story arcs that made me want to keep reading, an usual assortment of interesting but unconnected stories, some stories that didn't fit at all and some very bad stories that at least made me laugh at their ridiculousness. Although I didn't love every story, I definitely loved the trip down memory lane and looking through the lens of society as it was viewed in a much different time from my own life.
September 1, 2023
Some highs, some lows, but overall a great collection of stories.
Roy Thomas' writing is strong for the most part. The artwork from the John & Sal Buscema, Gene Colan, and Barry Windsor-Smith is great and is a lot more experimental than it previously was, with full page and splash page drawings and some really out-there creations.
For me, the highlight was the run of issues from #63-71, featuring villains such as Egghead, Ultron, Kang the Conqueror and the Grandmaster.
Roy Thomas' writing is strong for the most part. The artwork from the John & Sal Buscema, Gene Colan, and Barry Windsor-Smith is great and is a lot more experimental than it previously was, with full page and splash page drawings and some really out-there creations.
For me, the highlight was the run of issues from #63-71, featuring villains such as Egghead, Ultron, Kang the Conqueror and the Grandmaster.
June 11, 2024
Roy Thomas has been a favorite writer of mine, and the artists in this omnibus are wonderful as well.
It was good to see Kang, Squadron Sinister, and Squadron Supreme.
It is still hard to read stories where v the men tall down to women. Thankfully, one issue finally let's the woman fight back against the men's putting them in positions of making coffee or "stand back and let the men folk take care of the bad guys."
But overall, I liked this volume.
It was good to see Kang, Squadron Sinister, and Squadron Supreme.
It is still hard to read stories where v the men tall down to women. Thankfully, one issue finally let's the woman fight back against the men's putting them in positions of making coffee or "stand back and let the men folk take care of the bad guys."
But overall, I liked this volume.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews