Avengers: Unleashed, Vol. 2: Secret Empire

Avengers (2016) (Collected Editions)

by Mark Waid, Alex Ross (Cover Art), Mike Del Mundo (Illustrator)

Collecting Avengers (2016) #7-11.

Doctor Doom: Avenger?! The impossible is real! Doom has turned to the light side in a fresh suit of armor as the Infamous Iron Man. And now he is about to take Shell-Head's place in the Avengers -or, to hear Victor tell it, they're joining him! But how will Earth's Mightiest Heroes react to one of its greatest villains joining their ranks?

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2017

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another crossover event interrupts the flow of the book. Couldn't we have just skipped these? They don't tie into the main Secret Empire story much at all. We don't even get why some heroes like Odinson and Deadpool were part of the evil Avengers even though there's an entire issue devoted to that team. The Secret Empire laid an egg right in the midst of what was shaping up to be a great book in volume 1.

Iron Doom shows up for a couple of issues and the villain from the .1 issues returns illustrated by Phil Noto. Then we get an issue showing where Thor was at during Secret Empire but not how she got there or back. The Thor issue was very well written. Then an issue devoted to the evil Avengers. Mike del Mundo's art did not work well here. There were a ton of splatter effects and I couldn't make out those panels at all. They were way too busy. Then something happened to Peter Parker and the Baxter Building closed even though they just got there. I'm not very happy about that. I like Peter Parker with money. I've had enough of the Charlie Brown version of Peter Parker to last a lifetime. Hopefully Mark Waid will be left alone to tell his own stories for a while now.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is in three parts (not literally; I didn't tear it up) the first two issues collected being a fantastic story where the new Iron Man (aka Victor von Doom) comes to the Avengers for help.

The second part consists of two Secret Empire tie-in issues which were less great but still readable.

The third part and final issue collected deals with the aftermath of Secret Empire and has some great character moments between the various members of the team. Most importantly, perhaps, it contains Sam Wilson's decision about what he's going to do with his life now he's no longer Captain America.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, despite the almost inevitable crossover effect.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was basically a book of one shots. No through narrative here. Plus I’m not sure why this volume is called Secret Empire as I don’t recall anything I read here really tying into that event. First issue has them team up with Infamous Iron Man. I really enjoyed that run so it was cool seeing him here. Then we get to Avenger X retuning. I thought this would be the main arc of this volume but no, they wrap that up in that one issue. The next Issue was a gift and a curse. A gift because it was an awesome story with Jane Foster Thor on another planet/dimension. A curse because you never learn how she got there or how she left. Then a random issue with a villain team of “Avengers” running a mission together and I’m not even sure what the mission was. Then the final issue has the team split off in twos having some insightful convos. Spidey and Wasp finally getting along. Hercules and Vision talking about immortality and Sam Wilson and Jane Foster Thor talking about him wanting to pass leadership of the Avengers to her because he’s not Captain America anymore. All of these were solid I guess except for villain Avenger issue.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Read as single issues]
Another relaunch, another set of event tie-ins. Can you hear my enormous sigh from here?

But before we get there, we get some more fun Avengers solo stories as the team deals with the (self-enforced) addition of the Infamous Iron Man to the team. His interactions with Nadia Pym are wonderful, and I'm glad that we get a bit more context for Iron Doom outside of his own book. These issues also deal with the lingering story of Avenger X from the Waid/Kitson mini-series that ran alongside the first six issues of the series. Then we hit the Secret Empire tie-ins - the Thor issue is pretty good, giving some context as to where she was for the majority of the event, and the issue that focuses on Hydra's Avengers is very good indeed, but the epilogue issue is pretty forgettable.

The artwork can't be faulted however, with Phil Noto tackling the main Avengers stories while Mike Del Mundo returns for the Secret Empire tie-ins. Visually this book has knocked it out of the park, but I still feel like the storylines aren't living up to the potential of either the team or the writer - Mark Waid can do better than this, and we all know it.

[Oneirosophos · Rating 1 out of 5]

50% tie-ins, 50% stupid stories.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

In many ways, this volume embodies everything that's wrong with modern Marvel. It's horribly fractured, with five different single issue stories, with almost no continuity between them, not even the same group of characters. The problem is Marvel's constant and obsessive crossing over between their titles. So issues 9 & 10 both crossover with the Secret Empire event, but I really only know that because of the title of the volume. There's no explanation of how Thor ended up on some weird alien planet (in #9) or how a group of evil Avengers replaced our protagonists (in #10) or what happened to them (afterward). And, the crossovers don't end there. It looks like a big, annoying reset button was hit over in Amazing Spider-Man, but again what it is, I don't know, nonetheless #11 is all about that.

Somehow, amidst this rubble, there are two good issues.

Trying-to-be-good Dr. Doom is one of the best things to come out of post-Secret Wars Marvel (really, one of the few good things that has happened in a universe that's been wildly reeling toward mediocrity since, as revealed by their plunging sales), and he's the heart of issue #7, along with his delightful interactions with the Avengers.

Then, in #11, we get interesting interactions between our various Avengers, which is the sort of thing that Waid excels at, but which just doesn't appear enough in this volume.

And between? Dull stories. Some fight against a super-Adaptoid like lady (#8), a mostly pointless Thor story (#9, and why does Waid keep using Avengers to tell solo Thor stories?), and a story about evil Avengers that should be delightful based on the cast, but somehow isn't (#10).

Yawn. I dunno why Waid's Avengers continues to be not great.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rereading some great books scripted by Mark Waid. I want to call out for acclaim the quality of his dialogue and narration. Plots are great, but Waid is appropriate and funny, with great attention to character.
Before I return this, I want to reread the Jane Foster/Thor solo story in this book, a sweet separate story with colorful painted art by Mike DelMundo. It's a sweet vignette narrated by an alien who grows into friendship with Thor. I recommend it as a "done in one" tale, but also as an example of the strength and collaborative greatness of Waid.
Plus I love the character moments in the rest of these stories. I enjoyed this run, thanks, Fulton County Public Library.
Great to see Phil Noto art in two stories, too.
Recommended.

[Marco · Rating 3 out of 5]

- You have communications earbuds. Use them frequently.
- Hey! I don't have one!
- You have nothing to say that anyone wishes to hear. Vision, feel free to use him as a human shield.

[Travis Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still like this avengers team, it is a good group. However, this book is broken into 4 stories so it is not super cohesive ( to me anyways).

The first story brings in Avenger X vs the avenger team and the new iron man he is on the cover so its not a spoilers, its doctor doom. The story was fun and well done.

The second story was a thor stand alone where she helps some alien fight their oppressor and it was fine but seems isolated but maybe it is not in the long run (weakest of the stories but not bad.

The 3rd story is another team ( there are a boat load now) where Doc Oct leads deadpool, Taskmaster, black ant, Thor (odinson), Vision, and Scarlet witch. I think I'm out of the loop so I was shocked to see this team but I like them. They take on some aliens that are trying to breakout of the force field that now surrounds earth.

The last story is back to our avenger team and actually has some nice moments including Vision and Hercules discussing immortality, Thor and falcon taking about leadership, and Parker and the new wasp trying to get along. The art is great in all the stories, really like it. Still on board with the avengers team

[Iris Nevers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are heating up in the current run of Avengers!

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would get confusing if you haven't read the other stuff going on at the time. First, the Infamous Iron Man hangs out with the team for a couple of issues. He and Nadia get along well. (I still call bullshit on anyone seeing a guy in gray armor with a green hood and cape and saying "Is that Iron Man?" At best they'd say "Why does Doctor Doom's armor kind if look like Iron Man's?") Then a one-off of Thor on an alien world. Then, suddenly, we're in not-so-Secret Empire where there's a new team of Avengers led by the Superior Octopus. Then, suddenly again, we're back with the original team, but they have to leave the Baxter Building because of events in Amazing Spider-Man.

The art in the two issues illustrated by Phil Noto is kind of terrible. I don't mind his covers, but his interior art is never good. The art by Mike del Mundo is better, but still not to my taste. Your mileage may vary.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collects Avengers (2016) issues #7-11

This was a strange collection. There is an issue that features the newly reformed Dr. Doom asking the Avengers for help with a lame mission. Then, a villain returns from Mark Waid's recent "Avengers: Four" story. Next, we have a "Secret Empire" tie-in story in which we find out where Thor was sent. That is followed up by another "Secret Empire" tie-in story about Hydra Cap's Dark Avengers. The final issue in this collection deals with the fallout of "Secret Empire." The stories in this collection don't run together smoothly. It's sad when flagship books become back-burner titles.

[Gary Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Great Marvel Readthrough, pt 163


A clunky collection of one-offs and filler stories.

[Khabeer Rashad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had good monents

[Emmett Spain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lame and uninvolving with art that’s not to my tastes, this was a weak end to a weak run.

[Fizzgig76 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reprints Avengers (5) #7-11 (July 2017-November 2017). Doctor Doom has joined the Avengers and the Avengers aren’t sure they like it. While a side team lead by Doctor Octopus patrols the planet and Thor battles in another dimension, the Avengers find the greatest threat to the team might not be villains…but bankruptcy.

Written by Mark Waid (with additional writing by Jeremy Whitley, Avengers: Unleashed Volume 2: Secret Empire is the third collection of the fifth volume of Avengers. The series follows Avengers Unleashed Volume 1: Kang War One and the conjunction series Avengers: Four. The collection features art by Phil Noto and Mike Del Mundo and ties in with Marvel’s Secret Wars event series.

I loved the Avengers growing up. It was always a weird collection of Marvel heroes trying to work together and essentially becoming friends as they become teammates. Even the most jaded characters like Sersi and Moondragon were made part of the team and it somehow always works out. Unfortunately, a lot of this fun is missing from the Avengers, and the series also has no flow in its storytelling.

The series is a jumbled mess. The first two issues have Doom joining the team, but then nothing ever comes of it (and he disappears after the second issue). The series then dips into the Secret Empire storyline with no explanation of what is occurring. There is a standalone Thor issue that isn’t really set-up (nor is the resolution explained…Thor just shows up again in Avengers #11). Avengers #10 features a Doctor Octopus “evil” Avengers on a mission that once again isn’t relevant to the events of the previous issues of the collection…it is all just random.

I am also not sold on the art. Both Phil Noto and Mike del Mundo have done good work on titles and even within this title there are some great visual moments, but in general, the art is rather inconsistent like the writing. It also can be difficult to follow the action and the story as a result…something that dooms a comic since it is based around the coming together of visuals and storytelling.

This is another sign of the problem with a lot of comic books today. The series seems aimless and subjected to too many outside forces (while not telling competent, self-contained stories within the “Big Events” that shape series). If I were a new reader and picked up any of these issues, the title would scare me off…losing a potential new customer forever. Fans of the movies won’t recognize the characters, but fans of the comics also find that the characters are for the most part unrecognizable…the attempts by Marvel to appeal to both sides fail both sides. Avengers returned to its original numbering after this volume (starting with Avengers #672) and began the “No Surrender” storyline.

[Rolando Marono · Rating 2 out of 5]

El final del run de Waid en los Avengers y fue bastante decepcionante. Esperaba mucho de Waid cuando se anunció su incorporación a este equipo creativo, lamentablemente no destacó en nada y no sé si se debió a las elecciones editoriales o a sus propias habilidades, o quizá a que este run viene después de un maravilloso run de Hickman que les devolvió la sensación de un equipo épico, y aquí los tienes resolviendo problemas comunes, y enfrentando a los mismos enemigos de siempre.
Tenemos cinco historias sueltas, la primera empieza interesante pero se vuelve ridícula cuando enfrentan a las "villanas" de ese número. Me gustó la aparición de Infamous Iron Man pero no sé quién lo escribe peor si Bendis o Waid. También tanto en esa historia como en la segunda contra una villana "histórica" llamada Avenger X (nada de originalidad además tiene poderes genéricos y es uni dimensional) le dan mucho protagonismo a Nadya Pym, me gusta como personaje pero siento que su desarrollo no está siendo orgánico y la están desarrollando lo más rápido que pueda, como si quisieran forzar al público a aceptarla y adoptarla como sucedió con Miles, Kamala o Gwen; pero esos personajes tuvieron series muy interesantes por varios años y se ganaron el corazón del público orgánicamente.
El resto de historias, incluso el tie in con Secret Empire son muy olvidables. Quizá el último número donde vemos a Sam renunciar al manto de Capitán América y cuestionarse su rol con el equipo fue lo único interesante pero si quitas el resto de páginas de ese número tienes quizá ocho páginas llamativas.
El arte es brillante y colorido y Noto definitivamente es un gran ilustrador, pero un buen arte sin una buena trama o un buen guión no llega a ninguna parte y creo que Waid no tenía un plan claro a dónde llevar a sus personajes; por eso la mayoría de sus volúmenes son sólo historias sueltas. Esa fórmula hubiera funcionado bien como una contrapropuesta al run muy largo y todo conectado (no olvidemos que no bastaba con leer los 40 números de Avengers sino que había leer los 40 de New Avengers también) de Hickman, pero las historias cortas podían haber sido mucho más interesantes de lo que resultaron ser. Recicló muchos villanos, como Kang por ejemplo, y situaciones en las que ya hemos visto a estos personajes múltiples veces. Y cuando se anima a crear un villano, Avenger X por ejemplo, tiene cero originalidad.
Que bueno que aquí concluyó el run de Waid, lamentablemente voy al corriente del run de Aaron y tampoco es que mejorara mucho.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Faced with magical foes, the Avengers find themselves receiving aid from an unexpected source; Doctor Doom. Doom claims to have reformed in order to fulfil the role once played by Tony Stark, that of Iron Man.

I've not read the 'Secret Empire' storyline yet, so I can't honestly say how this book ties into it, but it rapidly becomes clear that this isn't a book with a coherent storyline of its own, but is rather a series of unrelated stories which, presumably, slot in among the more mainstream Avengers stories. In that respect it may be a nice bit of additional story for followers of the Avengers but to anyone, like me, not familiar with what was going on in the main stories at the time, it comes across as disjointed and distinctly unsatisfying to read.

The only reason I've decided to rate this as a three out of five instead of a two is the very tail-end of the book.
Here we get a brief story in which the Avengers split into groups for some downtime and, as a result, has some great character moments. We see Hercules explaining his experience of immortality to Vision, Thor explaining to Falcon that he's still a leader despite having renounced the title of Captain America, and Spider-Man and Wasp managing to briefly set aside their dislike for one another and have some fun.

* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com *

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Volume felt like a disconnected mesh of stories to finish out this run of the title, before the upcoming "No Surrender". Overall, not horrible, but not great either, especially with the 'just 'eh' artwork...
- Iron Man (Doctor Doom) joins the Avengers in the absence of Tony Stark, but the first mission isn't for him. Wasp must blend in with the campers at an all-girls camp, in an attempt to shut down a group of child sorceresses.
- Avenger X, a power stealing villain from the Avengers past returns, but is shut down by Doom, combination of magic and techology working together seamlessly.
- Thor awakens on another world and has a heart-tugging story with one of the natives as they work together to take down a violent firey tyrant.
- During the events of 'Secret Empire', the "Avengers" (Superior Octopus, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Thor, Taskmaster, Deadpool, and Black Ant) go on a mission destroying monsters.
- A final issue shows the everyday struggles of the popular heroes, and what they'd talk about in a casual setting.

Recommend only for completionists, otherwise skip this one.

[Alex E · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a couple of stand alone stories, we get mostly tie-ins for the Secret Empire event.

I've been waiting to see what Mark Waid does with this book, as he's one of my favorite modern day writers, but unfortunately, the flow of whatever he has planned was interrupted by Secret Empire. He does make the best of it though, as he fills in some of the gaps from the main story. Gaps such as, where has Thor been all this time? Who are the Avengers on Hydra's side? And who is gonna lead the proper team? Wait manages to make the volume interesting while at the same time giving us more details for the main event. I wouldn't say this volume is an essential tie-in however, but it was nice to round out the story with this one.

The art was a treat for me, however. I love Mike Del Mundo's art and here, it is presented really well - especially in the parts where it gets a bit more chaotic. I think Del Mundo's style is really stylistic, and the book is a good showcase for his abilities. Hopefully he stays on the book a while longer.

Overall, while not essential to Secret Empire, it was nonetheless a good read. Recommended for fans of the Avengers.

[Adan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, Waid’s on a roll! First, there were two issues where Dr Doom (as the Infamous Iron Man) teams up with Avengers and Nadia totally nerds out on him, and it’s adorable and hilarious. Then we get an issue explaining where Thor is while Secret Empire is going on, and it’s really sweet and heartwarming. Then, a great issue featuring Hydra’s Avengers team taking on an alien “threat”, which showed off Doc Ock being a pretty effective leader, and everybody else being pretty amoral. The last issue pairs off the Avengers and sets up the next evolution of the team. I especially liked the conversation between Vision and Hercules about how to deal with immortality (also, Nadia totally ragging on Spidey all the time). Great bunch of stories all around.

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is bad, I know I am reading the second volume not having read the first but I had no idea what was going on in these stories. This is almost certainly due to a Crossover in the middle that just happens. It is like you are watching a bunch of episodes of Star Trek but in the middle of them is a couple of Man From UNCLE episodes leaving you confused over what is happening.

Mark Waid is a great writer so I wonder how much his storyline was messed up by having to have a couple of issues nothing to do with what he was doing.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really can't imagine reading this Avengers in single issue format. This collection has five issues and they're all separate stories and they're all subpar, for the most part. Mark Waid is much better than this. I did enjoy his Nadia, especially her disdain for Spider-Man. The book overall just doesn't have a reason to be. The art was also lacking. Overall, this is not an Avengers book that will be remembered fondly.

[Christian La Pointe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Infamous Iron Man issues were great, the other three were disjointed, and didn't really have anything to do with one another. All in all I'd say this book didn't really feel like a continupus narrative and more like an anothology of filler issues in the missle of several interconnecting storylines with no compass to help readers find direction on how many of the issues connect.. if they do at all? I didn't read the series that tie into this aside from Infamous Iron Man, Iron Man and Iron Heart series from thr same era, and the Doom issues just barely tie into those series. I'd say overall the issues were fine as they are, but as a whole graphic novel the book isn't great.

[Scott Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Waid truly does know where he's going with this b00k then he's going for an incredibly slow build. I'm hoping this was an off-his-game moment from him due to the tie in with Secret Empire keeping it (this collection of issues) from resembling something even remotely cohesive.

[Jdetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some good issues here, including some with the quieter moments I was aching for in the last collection. Unfortunately, there's also two issues of Secret Empire crossovers which completely steal the momentum from the series. But the good far outweighs the bad, and Waid does such an amazing job with the characters, particularly Thor.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

i haven't read The Avengers since the start of Civil War. i don't know these characters and there is a v.strange story in the middle of the book w/ Black Ant (?), Odinson etc. that is apparently about something that ties to the rest of the book. Been ten years since i've read an Avengers book, may be another ten before i pick one up again.

[Krzysztof Grabowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

To co warto zobaczyć, to na pewno Dr. Doom w ekipie Avengers, walczący z magicznym zagrożeniem i tym swoim charakterystycznym sznytem, jaki ma zastąpić brak absencji Tony'ego Starka. Reszta to "łan-szat" oraz dodatki do Tajnego Imperium, niestety stanowiące typowe fillery, które psuły mi przed laty linię wydawniczą "Marvel NOW!" Nie jest to coś co musicie mieć koniecznie na półce...

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the first issue-and-a-half, this feels like a book that primarily serves to advertise other characters' books: Read the Wasp! Read Secret Empire! Read Thor!

The team doesn't seem to have an overarching purpose. Still, I thought it was entertaining enough.

[Zachariah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another comic destroyed by a stupid ass crossover. Seriously sick of this. It ruins so much. After the first promising volume, almost nothing happens in four issues but monsters of the week. I'm done.