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Champions (2016) (Collected Editions)
Champions, Vol. 4: Northern Lights
Collects Champions (2016) #19-21 and Infinity Countdown: Champions #1-2.
A fresh era begins as Ironheart and the Unstoppable Wasp join the Champions! The team has grown, but the mission stays the same — fighting to make the world a better place for all! But the super villain known as the Master has plans, too: he's determined to save Earth from itself! And the Champions are going to…help?! But the Champions are on a collision course with Alpha Flight! Could Ms. Marvel have to battle her idol, Captain Marvel? And who is the new hero Snowguard? Plus: Nova no more?! And the events of Infinity Countdown are felt as the battle for the Power Stone sends the Champions into outer space, where they'll fight for — Thanos! Strange allegiances and sacrifices will be made…and one young hero is about to lose everything.
A fresh era begins as Ironheart and the Unstoppable Wasp join the Champions! The team has grown, but the mission stays the same — fighting to make the world a better place for all! But the super villain known as the Master has plans, too: he's determined to save Earth from itself! And the Champions are going to…help?! But the Champions are on a collision course with Alpha Flight! Could Ms. Marvel have to battle her idol, Captain Marvel? And who is the new hero Snowguard? Plus: Nova no more?! And the events of Infinity Countdown are felt as the battle for the Power Stone sends the Champions into outer space, where they'll fight for — Thanos! Strange allegiances and sacrifices will be made…and one young hero is about to lose everything.
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2018
26 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Jim Zub
948 books321 followersJim Zub is a writer, artist and art instructor based in Toronto, Canada. Over the past fifteen years he’s worked for a diverse array of publishing, movie and video game clients including Disney, Warner Bros., Capcom, Hasbro, Bandai-Namco and Mattel.
He juggles his time between being a freelance comic writer and Program Coordinator for Seneca College‘s award-winning Animation program.
He juggles his time between being a freelance comic writer and Program Coordinator for Seneca College‘s award-winning Animation program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 18, 2020
Jim Zub and Sean Itaaske take over the book, sending the team to Zub's native Canada. You know what that means, Alpha Flight. They pick up a new member, Snowguard who is still a completely blank sleight by the end of this with similar powers to Snowbird. I dig Itaaske's clean art style. Then the Champions head to space to take down Nova's nemesis, Warbringer in the Infinity Countdown: Champions mini. I'll give Marvel a pass for putting this in both this and Infinity Countdown: Companion because it really belongs here. Other than a Thanos cameo, there's not much to relate it to Infinity Countdown and it just feels like two regular issues of the series as Zub writes this as well. All in all it's a pretty good start for Zub's run.
March 25, 2019
Champions is now written under Jim Zub, and it's getting better.
Story: So this starts off with introducing a new character. Snowguard, which I believe she is brand new, as I have never heard of her, joins the ranks of the Champions. However, we learn about her origins and such in title. When the champions are attacked by a bunch of robots and nova seriously injured they look to a foe for help...on top of that Alpha team with Captain Marvel might come face to face with the Champions. If that's not bad enough by the end the Champions must face off against Thanos...things are not looking to pretty here.
Art: Mostly solid. I actually enjoyed alot of the art at the start. However, when it crosses over the infinity war countdown stuff with Thanos the art looks a bit sketcher. Little bit lineish and messy. However, there's some epic shots, including a fatal shot and a badass scene with Thanos. The art is very vibrant and colorful.
Enjoyment: The fights are great. Big and explosive and the kids powers are all unique and fun. I also think the Thanos face off give this series a lot of upper stakes. The first time the kids actually face something they can't easily beat. I also think the pacing is pretty good and always moving at a nice steady pace.
What Didn't work: I think something about this team is still missing. It just feels bigger now, with Riri and Wasp joining the team. Then a new teammate. It's growing in size, but maybe too big? I think things like Teen Titans work with 5-6 core members, this is almost 8 now. Also crossovers don't always work, and it felt forced here to something major happening to two characters. One being kind of silly.
Overall, enjoyable. Stronger than the last one I read, volume 2. I hope he continues to push on since I do like most of Zub stuff. I hope to connect more to the characters as I read on! A 3 out of 5.
Story: So this starts off with introducing a new character. Snowguard, which I believe she is brand new, as I have never heard of her, joins the ranks of the Champions. However, we learn about her origins and such in title. When the champions are attacked by a bunch of robots and nova seriously injured they look to a foe for help...on top of that Alpha team with Captain Marvel might come face to face with the Champions. If that's not bad enough by the end the Champions must face off against Thanos...things are not looking to pretty here.
Art: Mostly solid. I actually enjoyed alot of the art at the start. However, when it crosses over the infinity war countdown stuff with Thanos the art looks a bit sketcher. Little bit lineish and messy. However, there's some epic shots, including a fatal shot and a badass scene with Thanos. The art is very vibrant and colorful.
Enjoyment: The fights are great. Big and explosive and the kids powers are all unique and fun. I also think the Thanos face off give this series a lot of upper stakes. The first time the kids actually face something they can't easily beat. I also think the pacing is pretty good and always moving at a nice steady pace.
What Didn't work: I think something about this team is still missing. It just feels bigger now, with Riri and Wasp joining the team. Then a new teammate. It's growing in size, but maybe too big? I think things like Teen Titans work with 5-6 core members, this is almost 8 now. Also crossovers don't always work, and it felt forced here to something major happening to two characters. One being kind of silly.
Overall, enjoyable. Stronger than the last one I read, volume 2. I hope he continues to push on since I do like most of Zub stuff. I hope to connect more to the characters as I read on! A 3 out of 5.
March 4, 2019
The introduction of Snowguard and the classic villain involved; secondly the team get caught up in a Warbringer vs Thanos dispute.. things will never be the same. As the darkness that seeps into many Marvel books begins to overwhelm the over the top optimism, the series feels better for it. A wonderful Thanos scene will delight his fans in this volume.
September 20, 2018
[Read as single issues]
It’s all change for the Champions! A new creative team brings with it new adventures and new team members as the Champions battle both The Master Of The World and Alpha Flight before heading off-world to battle Nova’s old foe Warbringer, and the Mad Titan himself!
I was surprised to see Champions continuing after Mark Waid; or, more accurately, that Marvel didn’t take it as an opportunity to relaunch it with a new number one to go alongside the new creative team of Jim Zub and Sean Izaakse. That said, if any series deserved renewed attention after a creative shake-up it’s this book, because it’s a completely different animal to what it was before, in very good ways.
Zub handles these characters with ease, giving them unique voices and roles to play in the series whereas before they kind of all blended together aside from maybe Viv Vision. The addition of Nadia Pym and Riri Williams to the proceedings could have made things more cluttered, but it’s barely noticeable to the point that the introduction of new team member Amka midway through the first arc is welcome instead of a worry. Zub makes the characters human, gives them very human reactions to what they’re experiencing, and allows them to grow even over the course of just three issues.
Sean Izaakse is an artist I’ve had my eye on for a while now. After some fill-in work here and there and a short run on Uncanny Avengers (also with Zub, coincidentally), I’ll readily snap up anything he draws because he has such a timeless quality to his work. It feels effortless yet full of energy, and he never seems to skimp out on backgrounds or the smaller details so the world he crafts feels more real. I just can’t tear my eyes away.
The Champions also got a two issue Infinity Countdown mini which was written by Zub, and the fact that it’s collected here as well as in the Infinity Countdown Companion should tell you that it’s actually pretty important to their series, even if it’s not to Infinity Countdown as a whole. This story brings back Nova’s old foe Warbringer from his solo series, and has some extremely important developments for both him and Riri Williams which reverberate through into Champions #22.
It’s a fun mini that accomplishes a lot in only two issues, and pitting these characters against Thanos of all people is quite harrowing, but it’s not particularly relevant to the main event. The first three issues of this trade show that Zub can nail these characters in their own book, and there’s no surprise that he does the same here, aided on art by Emilio Laiso, who has a similar style to Sean Izaakse, if not quite as distinct or as visually compelling.
This new creative team has breathed new life into the Champions. With a short and sweet storyline that impacts every member of the team, even the newest ones, and an event tie-in that is the definition of important to the series, plus two rising star artists, Champions has shot right back up my reading list to the very top.
It’s all change for the Champions! A new creative team brings with it new adventures and new team members as the Champions battle both The Master Of The World and Alpha Flight before heading off-world to battle Nova’s old foe Warbringer, and the Mad Titan himself!
I was surprised to see Champions continuing after Mark Waid; or, more accurately, that Marvel didn’t take it as an opportunity to relaunch it with a new number one to go alongside the new creative team of Jim Zub and Sean Izaakse. That said, if any series deserved renewed attention after a creative shake-up it’s this book, because it’s a completely different animal to what it was before, in very good ways.
Zub handles these characters with ease, giving them unique voices and roles to play in the series whereas before they kind of all blended together aside from maybe Viv Vision. The addition of Nadia Pym and Riri Williams to the proceedings could have made things more cluttered, but it’s barely noticeable to the point that the introduction of new team member Amka midway through the first arc is welcome instead of a worry. Zub makes the characters human, gives them very human reactions to what they’re experiencing, and allows them to grow even over the course of just three issues.
Sean Izaakse is an artist I’ve had my eye on for a while now. After some fill-in work here and there and a short run on Uncanny Avengers (also with Zub, coincidentally), I’ll readily snap up anything he draws because he has such a timeless quality to his work. It feels effortless yet full of energy, and he never seems to skimp out on backgrounds or the smaller details so the world he crafts feels more real. I just can’t tear my eyes away.
The Champions also got a two issue Infinity Countdown mini which was written by Zub, and the fact that it’s collected here as well as in the Infinity Countdown Companion should tell you that it’s actually pretty important to their series, even if it’s not to Infinity Countdown as a whole. This story brings back Nova’s old foe Warbringer from his solo series, and has some extremely important developments for both him and Riri Williams which reverberate through into Champions #22.
It’s a fun mini that accomplishes a lot in only two issues, and pitting these characters against Thanos of all people is quite harrowing, but it’s not particularly relevant to the main event. The first three issues of this trade show that Zub can nail these characters in their own book, and there’s no surprise that he does the same here, aided on art by Emilio Laiso, who has a similar style to Sean Izaakse, if not quite as distinct or as visually compelling.
This new creative team has breathed new life into the Champions. With a short and sweet storyline that impacts every member of the team, even the newest ones, and an event tie-in that is the definition of important to the series, plus two rising star artists, Champions has shot right back up my reading list to the very top.
April 15, 2019
Jim Zub's Champions starts off on the weaker side, with a wholly average story about the Champions' interactions with a surprise super-villain who may or may not be doing the right thing and may or may not be doing it in the right way and may or may not be doing it for the right reason. It's got a bit more depth than the typical superhero story, but still the focus is mostly on fighting and not nearly as much on character as was the case in Mark Waid's run. We also get the intro of a new young hero who gets pretty much no characterization.
The second story, which is part of the "Infinity Countdown", is much better, in large part because Zub has been given the OK to deliver some real repercussions to some of his characters. As a result, this story feels much stronger.
Overall, call it a 3.5, but I rounded down because the longer story is the weaker one.
The second story, which is part of the "Infinity Countdown", is much better, in large part because Zub has been given the OK to deliver some real repercussions to some of his characters. As a result, this story feels much stronger.
Overall, call it a 3.5, but I rounded down because the longer story is the weaker one.
September 28, 2019
The unique feel the Champions had, has been thrown out the window. Now, this is a generic superhero team, battling evil and such.
By the end, we had some turning points for a couple of characters. That’s nice, but the rest of the story was just pointless and, let’s be honest, forced change doesn’t turn a regular story into a meaningful one, unless said change is at the root of the arch, which was not.
No wonder this title didn’t last too long after Mark Waid left.
By the end, we had some turning points for a couple of characters. That’s nice, but the rest of the story was just pointless and, let’s be honest, forced change doesn’t turn a regular story into a meaningful one, unless said change is at the root of the arch, which was not.
No wonder this title didn’t last too long after Mark Waid left.
May 15, 2019
Not as strong as previous story arcs.
June 30, 2021
And once again, splitted by a crossover. Fortunately, a GOOD event.
January 10, 2019
Not great. I just finished several Champions books in a row, and it seems that the writers do not like writing about the Champions that much. This book starts a brand new direction according to the blurbs, and so we immediately have the group team up with a different group and then introduce a new character. I suppose that is a new direction. That arc ends pretty quick and then there is a tie-in to a larger Infinity event I have yet to read. The tie-in is better about using the whole team than the main book was. This kind of killed my Champions high I was riding and I may wait awhile to bother with vol. 5
July 19, 2023
Alpha Flight has never been my favorite of Marvel's many creations but I've always had a soft spot for them and have a pretty good knowledge of their original series. Here, we've got an homage to their kind of stories as the Champions have to deal with the Master of the World. Unfortunately, the Master of the World isn't doing anything villainous (or so it appears). No, he's planning on fixing climate change with his super technology. The Champions thus find themselves in an ethical dilemma that ends up with the discovery he's abusing native peoples to do his "fix." I also like we have a Snowbird equivalent who is actually Native.
March 21, 2023
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2019
3.5 Stars.
Young Eskimo girl Amka and her brother have discovered a secret base of sorts in the middle of the tundra. What she finds there will change her life forever...
Taking out their new mobile bunker (think flying sky base) the Champions are committed to being a global force for change and justice. Their first assignment? Checking on reports of increased ice growth in the Arctic, with intent to lessen global warming. What they find there is a probe attack that is led by "The Master", who claims he is only defending his work from being stopped. He has a very unique plan... using alien tech he received over 40,000 years ago, he will work to heal as much of the Earth as possible, so then its nice for him when he overthrows it and takes over. (Talk about hubris, right?! LOL) They do decide to help him though.
But when Alpha Flight shows up to shut The Master down, a skirmish breaks out. But who is in the right: the team that wants to shut down a villain because he his ultimate goal is world domination despite the benefit now, or the team who wants to believe in the greater good even if obtained through less than ideal purposes? It's all for a mute point. The Master destroys his own work and runs AND Amka, having freed the wintery spirit she found in the base at the beginning of the Volume, has now bonded with it and become Snowguard, new member of the Champions, with the power of channeling animal traits to enhance her physical abilities (ie channel a bird, get wings to fly).
The final two issues included here deal with the Champions role in the Infinity Countdown crossover. I've discussed that in entirety on my review for that title, but the important aftereffect to take away and lead into the story in the next Volume is that Nova has had his helmet taken from him by Nova Command. What will his role be in the future?
Overall a solid Volume, but very transitional into whatever comes next for our group of young heroes. Recommend, though only if you've been following the team already.
Young Eskimo girl Amka and her brother have discovered a secret base of sorts in the middle of the tundra. What she finds there will change her life forever...
Taking out their new mobile bunker (think flying sky base) the Champions are committed to being a global force for change and justice. Their first assignment? Checking on reports of increased ice growth in the Arctic, with intent to lessen global warming. What they find there is a probe attack that is led by "The Master", who claims he is only defending his work from being stopped. He has a very unique plan... using alien tech he received over 40,000 years ago, he will work to heal as much of the Earth as possible, so then its nice for him when he overthrows it and takes over. (Talk about hubris, right?! LOL) They do decide to help him though.
But when Alpha Flight shows up to shut The Master down, a skirmish breaks out. But who is in the right: the team that wants to shut down a villain because he his ultimate goal is world domination despite the benefit now, or the team who wants to believe in the greater good even if obtained through less than ideal purposes? It's all for a mute point. The Master destroys his own work and runs AND Amka, having freed the wintery spirit she found in the base at the beginning of the Volume, has now bonded with it and become Snowguard, new member of the Champions, with the power of channeling animal traits to enhance her physical abilities (ie channel a bird, get wings to fly).
The final two issues included here deal with the Champions role in the Infinity Countdown crossover. I've discussed that in entirety on my review for that title, but the important aftereffect to take away and lead into the story in the next Volume is that Nova has had his helmet taken from him by Nova Command. What will his role be in the future?
Overall a solid Volume, but very transitional into whatever comes next for our group of young heroes. Recommend, though only if you've been following the team already.
November 22, 2018
Champions Vol. 4: Northern Lights - 4.5/5 ★'s
I absolutely adore the Champions. There is no doubt about that. I believe they are growing to be my favorite team of superheroes ever. I may be biased because I love everyone on the team. Nova is my favorite hero of all time. Miles Morales is fantastic. Ms. Marvel is wonderful. Amadeus is awesome. Plus, Ironheart and the Wasp join the Champions? Awesome!
Champions Vol. 4 has a new writer. I did like what Mark Waid did with the first three arcs but I feel like Jim Zub has a lot to offer. The story itself is great. It is the origin story of a brand-new character called Snowguard. To be honest, at first I wasn't a big fan but now that I've had time to process this story she is growing on me. Every character has their own voice which is much needed and I love it. I've always felt that with a character like Viv Vision it'd be hard to make her not flat. However, even as an android, she has a lot of fun human (but non-human) personality. I feel like I have to mention the infinity countdown issues as well. While they weren't the best, they are VERY important. It makes me sad to read them because, well... look at the fifth sentence I wrote at the top.
The art is great as well! It is very stylish and bright. It fits really well with the team. I think it stands up just as much as the art did in the original three volumes. It's gorgeous.
I love Champions! I think we've got something really strong going here and I'm sure it can only get stronger. I'm very excited to continue reading it. If you are on the fence of whether or not you should buy this... go ahead and buy the gosh darn thing already! ;)
I absolutely adore the Champions. There is no doubt about that. I believe they are growing to be my favorite team of superheroes ever. I may be biased because I love everyone on the team. Nova is my favorite hero of all time. Miles Morales is fantastic. Ms. Marvel is wonderful. Amadeus is awesome. Plus, Ironheart and the Wasp join the Champions? Awesome!
Champions Vol. 4 has a new writer. I did like what Mark Waid did with the first three arcs but I feel like Jim Zub has a lot to offer. The story itself is great. It is the origin story of a brand-new character called Snowguard. To be honest, at first I wasn't a big fan but now that I've had time to process this story she is growing on me. Every character has their own voice which is much needed and I love it. I've always felt that with a character like Viv Vision it'd be hard to make her not flat. However, even as an android, she has a lot of fun human (but non-human) personality. I feel like I have to mention the infinity countdown issues as well. While they weren't the best, they are VERY important. It makes me sad to read them because, well... look at the fifth sentence I wrote at the top.
The art is great as well! It is very stylish and bright. It fits really well with the team. I think it stands up just as much as the art did in the original three volumes. It's gorgeous.
I love Champions! I think we've got something really strong going here and I'm sure it can only get stronger. I'm very excited to continue reading it. If you are on the fence of whether or not you should buy this... go ahead and buy the gosh darn thing already! ;)
June 14, 2019
Embora este seja o primeiro encadernado que a Panini Comics Brasil esteja lançando com os Campeões, ele é o quarto da série. Isso porque a editora lançou a fase anterior, de Mark Waid e Humberto Ramos, na revista mensal e extinta Homem Aranha & Os Campeões. A fase que estreia neste encadernado é de Jim Zub, roteirista que ficou famoso por sua série independente e medieval Skullkickers. Realmente Zub sabe trabalhar melhor a individualidade de cada personagem de uma forma mais dinâmica que Mark Waid, contudo o plano de fundo e motivações da série e da equipe estavam mais sob controle com Waid. Zub apresenta aos leitores uma nova personagem inuktitut, i. a., esquimó, chamada Guarda da Neve. No primeiro arco a equipe tem um combate com o Mestre do Mundo e uma participação obrigatória da Tropa Alfa. O segundo arco é um tie-in com a saga Guerras Secretas, na verdade, uma minisssérie. Essa é a parte ruim do encadernado, que vai acabar com terríveis consequências para Riri Williams, a Coração de Ferro, Sam Alexander, o Nova, e para o Hulk, Amadeus Cho, provocando mudanças nos personagens. A série regular dos Campeões sindo em uma outra direção criativa: ótimo. A minissérie ligada à Guerras Secretas: bem marromenos.
January 9, 2019
I thought this was an improvement on Waid's run on the Champions, but still not a great book overall. I don't mind comics with politically commentary, but it's so heavy handed here that it feels like an episode of Captain Planet. Feeding into that problem is that it seems like most of the character drama from this (and Waid's run) turns into "These silly teens think they can change the world! They'll have to learn it's harder than that."
I think there are other current Marvel series, like Runaways, Spider-Gwen, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, etc... that feel like they have more authentic teen/pre-teen characters. It's a shame, because I think most of these characters here really do have a lot of potential, but the Champions format doesn't seem to be bringing our the best of them. The art was solid throughout, no real complaints there, but nothing transcendent either.
I think there are other current Marvel series, like Runaways, Spider-Gwen, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, etc... that feel like they have more authentic teen/pre-teen characters. It's a shame, because I think most of these characters here really do have a lot of potential, but the Champions format doesn't seem to be bringing our the best of them. The art was solid throughout, no real complaints there, but nothing transcendent either.
August 1, 2019
Muito chateado por saber que lá fora essa série foi cancelada por falta de venda.eu amo a arte e amo os assuntos abordados em relação aos personagens se sentirem pertencentes a um grupo ou ao fato de oq é ser um herói em questão...em relação aos tien-ins de guerras infinitas (gerry dugan vc é o cara💕) eles são mais importantes para o próximo volume de campeões do que para o entendimento em si de guerras infinitas pelo que eu senti...
January 17, 2020
Well, this was interesting. I’m usually a big fan of any appearances of Alpha Flight, but there just wasn’t enough of them for me to get really excited about here. And the Infinity Countdown tie-in chapters were just the start of something. So, nothing bad really, just not enough of anything. End result? Frustrating.
May 7, 2021
I really enjoy it when the Champions get involved with other Marvel teams and larger storylines. The trip to Canada gains them a new member and allows an interaction with Alpha Flight. Then the Infinity Countdown picks up and they are drawn into the dangers of a fight with Warbringer. I really enjoyed the Thanos cameo and the Nova Corp.
December 13, 2021
A slight upgrade?
Still seems like a sandbox for them to test out multicultural characters. Check out the First Nation, Snowguard. Would normally get shuffled into Alpha Flight books, but they gave it a shot in this. Ends with a shakeup that will probably make them more their own characters and not Nth generation 'same name' heroes.
Still seems like a sandbox for them to test out multicultural characters. Check out the First Nation, Snowguard. Would normally get shuffled into Alpha Flight books, but they gave it a shot in this. Ends with a shakeup that will probably make them more their own characters and not Nth generation 'same name' heroes.
July 4, 2022
An ok story as we get to see the Champions team up with Alpha Flight to take down a villain. It was ok story about the stuff around the Spirit of the North was really cool and the art around that character was really beautiful. Also we get a new hero named Snow Guard out of it. Finally we a get a short story with the Champion take on Thanos which was ok and was just to short for my taste.
January 1, 2019
(Read in single issues)
I recently binged the Champions and I really remember disliking Snowguard because she felt too shooed in and the villain in the story arc bothered me SOOOO much
I recently binged the Champions and I really remember disliking Snowguard because she felt too shooed in and the villain in the story arc bothered me SOOOO much
January 20, 2022
The addition of Snowguard is amazing, need more of her.
March 13, 2022
snowguard ❤️❤️
July 30, 2022
Good but not great. I have issues with inconsistencies between teams - aka Alpha Force members not matching who is currently part of Alpha Force.
September 30, 2022
Sigh. Another volume, another crossover. This one works better than the others though.
December 15, 2020
70/100.
Este volumen se compone de cinco números, divididos en dos historias distintas: 'Northern Lights' (Champions #19, #20 y #21) e 'Infinity Countdown: Champions' (#1, #2).
En la primera de ellas, se presentan algunos cambios en el grupo de héroes que, capitaneado por Ms Marvel, lo componen, además de ella: Miles Morales (Spiderman), Sam Alexander (Nova), Amadeus Cho (Hulk) y Viv (Vision) —los miembros del equipo original—, Nadia Van Dyne (Wasp) y Riri Williams (Ironheart).
Ahora con Riri Williams en su equipo, las novedades tecnológicas están a la hora del día. Por ello, los Campeones ahora tendrán misiones globales. En la primera de ellas, se dirigen al Polo Norte para investigar por qué uno de sus artilugios se ha apagado. Cambio climático, aventuras, un villano de tercera fila, pero ¿resultón? y el tono cómico, naive y de aventuras que tanto caracteriza a los Campeones.
Por su parte, la segunda de ellas, 'Infinity Countdown: Champions', se inscribe en el evento de turno de Marvel. Warbringer es una amenaza bastante grande, así que Nova, Spiderman, Ms Marvel, Viv Vision, Ironheart, Waspa y la nueva integrante del equipo, Snowguard, unen sus fuerzas para tratar de pararlo. Además, Thanos hace una aparición estelar.
Pensaba que solo me iba a gustar la primera por tener ese toque tan naif que busco en la serie, pero las consecuencias de la segunda, una historia un poquito más seria, pueden ser bastante interesantes en el futuro. Buen volumen.
Este volumen se compone de cinco números, divididos en dos historias distintas: 'Northern Lights' (Champions #19, #20 y #21) e 'Infinity Countdown: Champions' (#1, #2).
En la primera de ellas, se presentan algunos cambios en el grupo de héroes que, capitaneado por Ms Marvel, lo componen, además de ella: Miles Morales (Spiderman), Sam Alexander (Nova), Amadeus Cho (Hulk) y Viv (Vision) —los miembros del equipo original—, Nadia Van Dyne (Wasp) y Riri Williams (Ironheart).
Ahora con Riri Williams en su equipo, las novedades tecnológicas están a la hora del día. Por ello, los Campeones ahora tendrán misiones globales. En la primera de ellas, se dirigen al Polo Norte para investigar por qué uno de sus artilugios se ha apagado. Cambio climático, aventuras, un villano de tercera fila, pero ¿resultón? y el tono cómico, naive y de aventuras que tanto caracteriza a los Campeones.
Por su parte, la segunda de ellas, 'Infinity Countdown: Champions', se inscribe en el evento de turno de Marvel. Warbringer es una amenaza bastante grande, así que Nova, Spiderman, Ms Marvel, Viv Vision, Ironheart, Waspa y la nueva integrante del equipo, Snowguard, unen sus fuerzas para tratar de pararlo. Además, Thanos hace una aparición estelar.
Pensaba que solo me iba a gustar la primera por tener ese toque tan naif que busco en la serie, pero las consecuencias de la segunda, una historia un poquito más seria, pueden ser bastante interesantes en el futuro. Buen volumen.
December 29, 2019
I really enjoy this team-up. I don't know a ton about all of these characters individually, but reading this makes me want to read their solo titles, too. (Some of which I have, some of which are still on the list.) But seeing heroes who want to do good that goes beyond the basic "superheroing theatrics" is a refreshing take. This story was short and sweet (at only 112 pages), but it told a nice origin to a new team member. She basically reminded me of DC's Vixen. (It happens.) Basically, a solid adventure story, with just enough to also have a nice theme: Should you stop someone from doing something helpful if their motives are ultimately negative? Of course, in this case, the answer ended up being straightforward since said person was using a living being to power his "helpful" endeavor (rebuilding the melted polar caps). This graphic novel didn't go as deep with that question as it could have, but it didn't need to. It told a its story and gave us a new hero with a nice layer of thinking just below all of that. All in all, a really solid read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2022
Champions gets a new writer and it's still good, but the team is getting bloated. They shaved down by losing Cyclops, but then added in Riri, Wasp, and ANOTHER new member. The current Champions team is Spider-Man, Hulk, Nova, Viv, Ms Marvel, Ironheart, Wasp and Snowguard. We're quite a bit into Champions at this point and we've never really gotten to know Totally Awesome Hulk, besides "He's a Hulk. And he's smart." and with MORE new members, it seems unlikely we will. I've been intrigued enough by this team to want to check out Nova solo issues, and Ms Marvel and Ironheart, but never Hulk. That's a misfire.
Miles Morales (the reason I'm here in the first place) is also getting pushed further back. Does he even have a role in the outer space issues?
While there's still a lot to like, it's getting unwieldy. Although there's a moment at the end of this that makes it seem like we MIGHT be focusing back down again, so there's some reason for optimism.
Miles Morales (the reason I'm here in the first place) is also getting pushed further back. Does he even have a role in the outer space issues?
While there's still a lot to like, it's getting unwieldy. Although there's a moment at the end of this that makes it seem like we MIGHT be focusing back down again, so there's some reason for optimism.
March 17, 2022
Jim Zub takes the Champions in a different direction and adds a few new to the roster. He also has taken apart Ironheart and Nova by the end of this collection.
Damn. Harsh!
But he has upped the fighting, not always my favorite way to go, but I get it. It is a superhero comic, but some of my favorite issues of older titles were the ones that let the heroes play and get to know each other, like Snowguard. We were introduced to her, but we have no idea who she is really. It isn't Zub's fault, Waid did the same thing with a few of the others. I get that if you read EVERY Marvel comic published, you might know them, but . . . who can do that? Just a little more background every now and then wouldn't hurt.
Editors' fault, in my book. But that is nit-picking and I don't need to do that since this book was pretty amazing.
Damn. Harsh!
But he has upped the fighting, not always my favorite way to go, but I get it. It is a superhero comic, but some of my favorite issues of older titles were the ones that let the heroes play and get to know each other, like Snowguard. We were introduced to her, but we have no idea who she is really. It isn't Zub's fault, Waid did the same thing with a few of the others. I get that if you read EVERY Marvel comic published, you might know them, but . . . who can do that? Just a little more background every now and then wouldn't hurt.
Editors' fault, in my book. But that is nit-picking and I don't need to do that since this book was pretty amazing.
January 5, 2025
Three issues of the regular series from new writer Jim Zub sees the team, with new members Ironheart and the Wasp, travel to Canada to fight the Master of the World. Even though Alpha Flight is in space now, they still show up because Canada.
Then two issues of a crossover with Infinity Countdown where the team goes into space in pursuit of Warbringer, the Chutauri leader, and they encounter Thanos. For once, these crossover issues have actual ramifications for the team.
So when Alpha Flight shows up, I'm wondering why Snowbird is with them when Alpha Flight is located in space and her powers are tied to the magic of northern North America. Then they introduce a new character, a native woman with the same powers as Snowbird, and then, in the second story, she goes into space! Nobody thinks anything through anymore.
The art was decent.
Then two issues of a crossover with Infinity Countdown where the team goes into space in pursuit of Warbringer, the Chutauri leader, and they encounter Thanos. For once, these crossover issues have actual ramifications for the team.
So when Alpha Flight shows up, I'm wondering why Snowbird is with them when Alpha Flight is located in space and her powers are tied to the magic of northern North America. Then they introduce a new character, a native woman with the same powers as Snowbird, and then, in the second story, she goes into space! Nobody thinks anything through anymore.
The art was decent.
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