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Avengers Epic Collection
Avengers Epic Collection, Vol. 18: Heavy Metal
Collects Avengers (1963) #286-303, Avengers Annual (1967) #17.
The old order really changeth! The Avengers are pushed to their limits - first by all-out war against the Super-Adaptoid and his android army, then by the monstrous mutation of Marrina - Namor's wife! It ends in heartbreak for the Sub-Mariner, torment for the Black Knight and anguish for Captain Marvel - giving Doctor Druid his moment to take control. But what is Druid's secret agenda? Who is the beautiful woman in his dreams? And what does it all have to do with Kang the Conqueror? The answers will leave the Avengers in shambles - meaning Jocasta must recruit a crew of reserves to fight the Evolutionary War! But out of the ashes of the X-Men's Inferno, a new team rises - and Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman will answer the cry of "Avengers Assemble!"
The old order really changeth! The Avengers are pushed to their limits - first by all-out war against the Super-Adaptoid and his android army, then by the monstrous mutation of Marrina - Namor's wife! It ends in heartbreak for the Sub-Mariner, torment for the Black Knight and anguish for Captain Marvel - giving Doctor Druid his moment to take control. But what is Druid's secret agenda? Who is the beautiful woman in his dreams? And what does it all have to do with Kang the Conqueror? The answers will leave the Avengers in shambles - meaning Jocasta must recruit a crew of reserves to fight the Evolutionary War! But out of the ashes of the X-Men's Inferno, a new team rises - and Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman will answer the cry of "Avengers Assemble!"
510 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2020
10 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Walter Simonson
1,263 books174 followersWalt Simonson is an American comic book writer and artist, best known for a run on Marvel Comics' Thor from 1983 to 1987, during which he created the character Beta Ray Bill. He is also known for the creator-owned work Star Slammers, which he inaugurated in 1972 as a Rhode Island School of Design thesis. He has also worked on other Marvel titles such as X-Factor and Fantastic Four, on DC Comics books including Detective Comics, Manhunter, Metal Men and Orion, and on licensed properties such as Star Wars, Alien, Battlestar Galactica and Robocop vs. Terminator.
He is married to comics writer Louise Simonson, with whom he collaborated as penciller on X-Factor from 1988 to 1989, and with whom he made a cameo appearance in the 2011 Thor feature film.
He is married to comics writer Louise Simonson, with whom he collaborated as penciller on X-Factor from 1988 to 1989, and with whom he made a cameo appearance in the 2011 Thor feature film.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 31, 2022
Another curate’s egg collection of late 80s Avengers stories, this time dealing with dismantling Roger Stern’s status quo after his departure as writer. Stern quit rather than follow through with an editorially mandated storyline where Captain Marvel (the first black female character to join or chair the Avengers) would be unable to handle leading the team.
So that’s the story we get from first Ralph Macchio and then Walt Simonson. In fairness to Simonson in particular it’s not as bad as it could have been - Marvel is undermined by the deluded Doctor Druid, a pompous old coot who’s being manipulated in turn by a slinky Lady Kang - who’s playing the same trick on her fellow Kangs too. Simonson has a whale of a time with all of the double crossing and convoluted plots, even though the stories he’s setting up only actually pay off when he takes over Fantastic Four.
And this is the defining feature of this period of the Avengers - once Stern’s final plot (a dull robot-villains-team-up affair) is over, Avengers becomes a clearing house for plots and characters started or finished elsewhere in the Marvel U. Simonson starts off with some old Alpha Flight loose ends, sets up his own pet plots and breaks up the team, then jumps into an Inferno crossover which also deals with Reed and Sue Richards while they take a break from the FF.
Simonson’s writing is always bubbly and entertaining so none of this is really a fatal problem, and there probably *should* be a Marvel book in which the “Universe” feels like one. But it does mean you get a giant size 300th issue in which the main story is Mr Fantastic and the Invisible Woman versus, of all people, Nanny and Orphan-Maker.
That one ends with a new team including the two FF strays and Gilgamesh The Forgotten One, entertainingly characterised by Simonson as a simple guy who just wants to punch monsters. What the plan was is anyone’s guess as Walt promptly leaves and Macchio comes back for a story designed to, yes, promote someone else’s book.
The stories are all over the shop but this collection is helped by being almost entirely Buscema & Palmer art - stable, smooth and classy work though even they can’t do much with Gilgamesh’s ridiculous helmet. Nobody’s idea of a classic Avengers run but never self important either, and the high points, like a Jarvis-eye-view of Inferno, are infectious fun.
So that’s the story we get from first Ralph Macchio and then Walt Simonson. In fairness to Simonson in particular it’s not as bad as it could have been - Marvel is undermined by the deluded Doctor Druid, a pompous old coot who’s being manipulated in turn by a slinky Lady Kang - who’s playing the same trick on her fellow Kangs too. Simonson has a whale of a time with all of the double crossing and convoluted plots, even though the stories he’s setting up only actually pay off when he takes over Fantastic Four.
And this is the defining feature of this period of the Avengers - once Stern’s final plot (a dull robot-villains-team-up affair) is over, Avengers becomes a clearing house for plots and characters started or finished elsewhere in the Marvel U. Simonson starts off with some old Alpha Flight loose ends, sets up his own pet plots and breaks up the team, then jumps into an Inferno crossover which also deals with Reed and Sue Richards while they take a break from the FF.
Simonson’s writing is always bubbly and entertaining so none of this is really a fatal problem, and there probably *should* be a Marvel book in which the “Universe” feels like one. But it does mean you get a giant size 300th issue in which the main story is Mr Fantastic and the Invisible Woman versus, of all people, Nanny and Orphan-Maker.
That one ends with a new team including the two FF strays and Gilgamesh The Forgotten One, entertainingly characterised by Simonson as a simple guy who just wants to punch monsters. What the plan was is anyone’s guess as Walt promptly leaves and Macchio comes back for a story designed to, yes, promote someone else’s book.
The stories are all over the shop but this collection is helped by being almost entirely Buscema & Palmer art - stable, smooth and classy work though even they can’t do much with Gilgamesh’s ridiculous helmet. Nobody’s idea of a classic Avengers run but never self important either, and the high points, like a Jarvis-eye-view of Inferno, are infectious fun.
October 6, 2023
This volume of Avengers contains the time period where the title was plagued by editorial over-management and where the Avengers stories start to decline. From here onwards, the title switches from writer to writer, with inconsistent quality and no opportunity for any rich long term storytelling. The title only recovers in 1998 with Kurt Busiek's excellent run.
Although the first story in this collection is technically Roger Sterns final story, he only writes the beginning of it before he leaves the title. Roger Stern's Avengers run is largely considered one of the best, and he did a lot of character development on Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau) and had her eventually take leadership of the Avengers. Editorial wanted Captain America to come back and resume leadership which Roger Stern didn't want to do. He wrote a memo expressing his concerns, and Marvel editorial made the incredibly stupid decision to fire him from the title. Ralph Macchio then finished the story.
The story in question is the one which the volume is named after: Heavy Metal, which is contained in Avengers #286 to 290. In this story, the Super Adaptoid gathers a team of robot-themed villains in order to obtain a device which will give him ultimate power of all of reality. It's actually a pretty good story despite the change in writer halfway through. In this story, you can see the start of Monica Rambeau being shown as having trouble with leading the Avengers, especially with Dr. Druid constantly undermining her.
After this, the Avengers get a new writer in the great Walter Simonson, famous from his character defining Thor run. Walter Simonson's first story had Namor's wife Marrina transform into a huge sea monster which the Avengers had to defeat. His second showed that Dr. Druid was being manipulated by Nebula, who had infiltrated the Council of Cross-Time Kangs in order to steal their weapons and locate an Ultimate Weapon outside of the time stream. She had seduced and brainwashed Dr. Druid into obtaining leadership over the Avengers and having them help her obtain the weapon. During these stories, between #291 and #297, Sterns Avengers lineup is dismantled one by one. Captain Marvel (Monica), Dr. Druid, Namor, Thor, She-Hulk and Black Knight all leave throughout the story leaving the Avengers broken up.
#298-300 take place during Inferno. The first issue is a great issue featuring Jarvis, before Captain America returns and gathers help from Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Thor, and Gilgamesh. In #300 these characters become the newly reformed Avengers. It's not the most exciting lineup, and unfortunately we don't see Walter Simonson's plans for them because he leaves the title after #300. Again, this was due to disagreements with editorial. From memory, I read that editorial wanted to bring Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman back to the Fantastic Four, which messed with Simonson's plans.
#301-303 are again written by Ralph Macchio, who fills in before John Byrne takes over the title in the next volume. This story contains the arrival of Super Nova, the last survivor of the planet Xandar, who is looking for Nebula since she destroyed his planet. This is one of those fights that could have been prevented with just a conversation, but it was still pretty entertaining. One of the more interesting parts of this story was Reed Richards tendency to give orders over Captain America due to him being used to being a team-leader. Captain America would get quite annoyed, but Richards finds it hard to change his nature.
This volume also contains an Annual which is part of the Evolutionary War crossover and not really worth discussing much. It takes place during the time where the Avengers are disbanded, so Captain America puts together a rag-tag group of replacement Avengers to battle the threat. The group contained the Grey Hulk which was pretty cool.
When recommending Avengers stories to people, I usually say to stop reading classic Avengers at 285 and then skip to Busieks 1998 run with the rebooted #1. That said, when revisiting these issues, they're actually pretty good despite the editorial interference. It's not as good as Roger Sterns run before it, but still worth reading. Plus, John Buscema's art is great!
Although the first story in this collection is technically Roger Sterns final story, he only writes the beginning of it before he leaves the title. Roger Stern's Avengers run is largely considered one of the best, and he did a lot of character development on Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau) and had her eventually take leadership of the Avengers. Editorial wanted Captain America to come back and resume leadership which Roger Stern didn't want to do. He wrote a memo expressing his concerns, and Marvel editorial made the incredibly stupid decision to fire him from the title. Ralph Macchio then finished the story.
The story in question is the one which the volume is named after: Heavy Metal, which is contained in Avengers #286 to 290. In this story, the Super Adaptoid gathers a team of robot-themed villains in order to obtain a device which will give him ultimate power of all of reality. It's actually a pretty good story despite the change in writer halfway through. In this story, you can see the start of Monica Rambeau being shown as having trouble with leading the Avengers, especially with Dr. Druid constantly undermining her.
After this, the Avengers get a new writer in the great Walter Simonson, famous from his character defining Thor run. Walter Simonson's first story had Namor's wife Marrina transform into a huge sea monster which the Avengers had to defeat. His second showed that Dr. Druid was being manipulated by Nebula, who had infiltrated the Council of Cross-Time Kangs in order to steal their weapons and locate an Ultimate Weapon outside of the time stream. She had seduced and brainwashed Dr. Druid into obtaining leadership over the Avengers and having them help her obtain the weapon. During these stories, between #291 and #297, Sterns Avengers lineup is dismantled one by one. Captain Marvel (Monica), Dr. Druid, Namor, Thor, She-Hulk and Black Knight all leave throughout the story leaving the Avengers broken up.
#298-300 take place during Inferno. The first issue is a great issue featuring Jarvis, before Captain America returns and gathers help from Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Thor, and Gilgamesh. In #300 these characters become the newly reformed Avengers. It's not the most exciting lineup, and unfortunately we don't see Walter Simonson's plans for them because he leaves the title after #300. Again, this was due to disagreements with editorial. From memory, I read that editorial wanted to bring Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman back to the Fantastic Four, which messed with Simonson's plans.
#301-303 are again written by Ralph Macchio, who fills in before John Byrne takes over the title in the next volume. This story contains the arrival of Super Nova, the last survivor of the planet Xandar, who is looking for Nebula since she destroyed his planet. This is one of those fights that could have been prevented with just a conversation, but it was still pretty entertaining. One of the more interesting parts of this story was Reed Richards tendency to give orders over Captain America due to him being used to being a team-leader. Captain America would get quite annoyed, but Richards finds it hard to change his nature.
This volume also contains an Annual which is part of the Evolutionary War crossover and not really worth discussing much. It takes place during the time where the Avengers are disbanded, so Captain America puts together a rag-tag group of replacement Avengers to battle the threat. The group contained the Grey Hulk which was pretty cool.
When recommending Avengers stories to people, I usually say to stop reading classic Avengers at 285 and then skip to Busieks 1998 run with the rebooted #1. That said, when revisiting these issues, they're actually pretty good despite the editorial interference. It's not as good as Roger Sterns run before it, but still worth reading. Plus, John Buscema's art is great!
January 5, 2024
La estancia de Roger Stern en Vengadores había terminado, y después del paréntesis de Heavy Metal, con Ralph Macchio de por medio, John Buscema y Tom Palmer continuarían en la colección con Walter Simonson en los guiones, y de cara al cercano número 300 de la serie, tocaba afrontar una descomposición del grupo para, aprovechando Inferno, presentar una nueva alineación del grupo precisamente en el 300.
Así que primero tocaba destruir, y Walter Simonson se ensañó con muchísima eficiencia en el equipo, desmontándolo pieza a pieza y convirtiendo en el eje de su trama a un inesperado protagonista, el Doctor Druida, un personaje secundario que iba a saltar a primera planta debido a su ambición y a la influencia de una misteriosa mujer que aparece en sus sueños y que le incita a hacerse con el liderazgo de los Vengadores. En una de las historias más crueles que se ha escrito nunca en el género, Simonson comenzaría convirtiendo en un monstruo a Marrina, la esposa de Namor, un leviatán destructivo que se va a convertir en una amenaza para el propio mundo, y que va a obligar a Namor a acabar con ella... utilizando la espada del Caballero Negro, lo que va a desatar la maldición de la sangre en este, que va a sucumbir a la maldición de la espada. Y además, la Capitana Marvel va a sufrir grandes daños en el enfrentamiento con Marrina, de modo que de pronto, el equipo se verá reducido a Hulka, Thor, el casi enloquecido Caballero Negro y el Doctor Druida, convertido en líder del equipo.
Poco a poco vamos a descubrir que la mujer que manipula al Doctor Druida, y de paso a una nueva visión mucho más amplia del Consejo de los Kangs, no es otra que Nébula, que busca hacerse con un arma celestial a la que solo los Vengadores podrán acceder en un momento determinado de la historia. Pero en su ansia por acceder al arma, Nébula va a provocar precisamente la destrucción del equipo, pues los Vengadores se disolverán... ya que simplemente, al final de esta historia, por un motivo o por otro, no quedan Vengadores.
Pero precisamente en este momento, los demonios del Limbo comienzan a lanzarse sobre Nueva York, y aunque de ello hablaremos más en las colecciones mutantes, el entorno de Inferno favorecerá una nueva reunión del grupo. Jarvis, convertido en el último vengador, se las verá a nivel de calle con las consecuencias que Inferno está teniendo en Nueva York, y tras ello, se pondrá en contacto con El Capitán (Steve Rogers, que por motivos de su propia serie, había dejado de ser el Capitán América para ser solo El Capitán), que volverá a la acción en Nueva York al tiempo que Nanny y el Creahuérfanos secuestran a Franklin Richards. El Capitán, Mister Fantástico, la Mujer Invisible, el eterno conocido como El Olvidado y que será llamado Gilgamesh, y Thor, colaborarán primero para rescatar a Franklin de Nanny, y luego del propio N'Astirh, que utilizará el poder de Franklin (su Niño Oscuro, en contraposición a Illyana Rasputín, la Niña Oscura), para mantener abiertos sus portales al Limbo...
Y así, volvíamos a tener Vengadores, cerrando Simonson la magnífica etapa de Roger Stern, y presentando una nueva, que prometía funcionar y traer muchas buenas sorpresas.
Así que primero tocaba destruir, y Walter Simonson se ensañó con muchísima eficiencia en el equipo, desmontándolo pieza a pieza y convirtiendo en el eje de su trama a un inesperado protagonista, el Doctor Druida, un personaje secundario que iba a saltar a primera planta debido a su ambición y a la influencia de una misteriosa mujer que aparece en sus sueños y que le incita a hacerse con el liderazgo de los Vengadores. En una de las historias más crueles que se ha escrito nunca en el género, Simonson comenzaría convirtiendo en un monstruo a Marrina, la esposa de Namor, un leviatán destructivo que se va a convertir en una amenaza para el propio mundo, y que va a obligar a Namor a acabar con ella... utilizando la espada del Caballero Negro, lo que va a desatar la maldición de la sangre en este, que va a sucumbir a la maldición de la espada. Y además, la Capitana Marvel va a sufrir grandes daños en el enfrentamiento con Marrina, de modo que de pronto, el equipo se verá reducido a Hulka, Thor, el casi enloquecido Caballero Negro y el Doctor Druida, convertido en líder del equipo.
Poco a poco vamos a descubrir que la mujer que manipula al Doctor Druida, y de paso a una nueva visión mucho más amplia del Consejo de los Kangs, no es otra que Nébula, que busca hacerse con un arma celestial a la que solo los Vengadores podrán acceder en un momento determinado de la historia. Pero en su ansia por acceder al arma, Nébula va a provocar precisamente la destrucción del equipo, pues los Vengadores se disolverán... ya que simplemente, al final de esta historia, por un motivo o por otro, no quedan Vengadores.
Pero precisamente en este momento, los demonios del Limbo comienzan a lanzarse sobre Nueva York, y aunque de ello hablaremos más en las colecciones mutantes, el entorno de Inferno favorecerá una nueva reunión del grupo. Jarvis, convertido en el último vengador, se las verá a nivel de calle con las consecuencias que Inferno está teniendo en Nueva York, y tras ello, se pondrá en contacto con El Capitán (Steve Rogers, que por motivos de su propia serie, había dejado de ser el Capitán América para ser solo El Capitán), que volverá a la acción en Nueva York al tiempo que Nanny y el Creahuérfanos secuestran a Franklin Richards. El Capitán, Mister Fantástico, la Mujer Invisible, el eterno conocido como El Olvidado y que será llamado Gilgamesh, y Thor, colaborarán primero para rescatar a Franklin de Nanny, y luego del propio N'Astirh, que utilizará el poder de Franklin (su Niño Oscuro, en contraposición a Illyana Rasputín, la Niña Oscura), para mantener abiertos sus portales al Limbo...
Y así, volvíamos a tener Vengadores, cerrando Simonson la magnífica etapa de Roger Stern, y presentando una nueva, que prometía funcionar y traer muchas buenas sorpresas.
August 31, 2021
Ah, os Vingadores, os mais poderosos heróis da Terra.
Mas hoje não.
Hoje, temos os Vingadores, os mais medíocres heróis da Terra.
A escalação da época contava com Thor, deus nórdico do trovão, Mulher Hulk, uma heroína baseada nas leis copyright, Cavaleiro Negro, já tinha um cara com escudo e outro cara de arco e flecha então sobrou a espada, Capitã Marval, quem se lembra de Mônica Rambeau, e, claro, o pior vingador de todos os tempos, Doutor Druida.
Quem será que teve a ideia de dar protagonismo pro Doutor Druida?
Os carecas queriam mais representatividade na época?
Não tem explicação.
Os Vingadores enfrentam o Heavy Metal, um coletivo de robôs chefiados pelo Superadaptóide composto pela mediocridade robótica da Marvel; um sentinela kree, Tess-1, Homem-Máquina o Andróide do Pensador Louco. É uma história bem sem graça, porque não há ameaça em nenhum dos vilões, então é bem sem graça.
Depois, o Doutor Druida se apaixona por uma Kanga; uma versão feminina do Kang que, na verdade, é a Nebula - neta do Thanos - que quer uma tal de Esfera do Tempo e usa suas seduções e poderes mentais para controlar o Doutor Druida e, através dele, os Vingadores.
Se tu ainda tem vontade de ler isso, tu merece ler essa porcaria.
Ao fim da história, os Vingadores terminam.
Com a Guerra do Alto Evolucionário, o Capitão - na época, não era América - junta um bando de desajustados e ex-membros dos Vingadores para deter o malévolo plano evolucionário do Alto Evolucionário, numa história pra lá de meia boca, mas que é o ponto menos mediano do volume.
Quando o Capitão volta à Nova Iorque, o Inferno mutante está acontecendo, e ele junta uma galera para ajudar a salvar Franklin Richards; Mulher Invisível, Senhor Fantástico, Thor e Gilgamesh, o Esquecido e segundo pior vingador de todos os tempos. Com o fim do Inferno, o pessoal resolve recomeçar os Vingadores e precisam enfrentar o Super-Nova, um xandariano gigante e enlouquecido.
Eu sabia que ia ser ruim, o Doutor Druida na capa já demonstrava isso, mas foi bem pior do que eu pensava, totalmente dispensável.
Mas hoje não.
Hoje, temos os Vingadores, os mais medíocres heróis da Terra.
A escalação da época contava com Thor, deus nórdico do trovão, Mulher Hulk, uma heroína baseada nas leis copyright, Cavaleiro Negro, já tinha um cara com escudo e outro cara de arco e flecha então sobrou a espada, Capitã Marval, quem se lembra de Mônica Rambeau, e, claro, o pior vingador de todos os tempos, Doutor Druida.
Quem será que teve a ideia de dar protagonismo pro Doutor Druida?
Os carecas queriam mais representatividade na época?
Não tem explicação.
Os Vingadores enfrentam o Heavy Metal, um coletivo de robôs chefiados pelo Superadaptóide composto pela mediocridade robótica da Marvel; um sentinela kree, Tess-1, Homem-Máquina o Andróide do Pensador Louco. É uma história bem sem graça, porque não há ameaça em nenhum dos vilões, então é bem sem graça.
Depois, o Doutor Druida se apaixona por uma Kanga; uma versão feminina do Kang que, na verdade, é a Nebula - neta do Thanos - que quer uma tal de Esfera do Tempo e usa suas seduções e poderes mentais para controlar o Doutor Druida e, através dele, os Vingadores.
Se tu ainda tem vontade de ler isso, tu merece ler essa porcaria.
Ao fim da história, os Vingadores terminam.
Com a Guerra do Alto Evolucionário, o Capitão - na época, não era América - junta um bando de desajustados e ex-membros dos Vingadores para deter o malévolo plano evolucionário do Alto Evolucionário, numa história pra lá de meia boca, mas que é o ponto menos mediano do volume.
Quando o Capitão volta à Nova Iorque, o Inferno mutante está acontecendo, e ele junta uma galera para ajudar a salvar Franklin Richards; Mulher Invisível, Senhor Fantástico, Thor e Gilgamesh, o Esquecido e segundo pior vingador de todos os tempos. Com o fim do Inferno, o pessoal resolve recomeçar os Vingadores e precisam enfrentar o Super-Nova, um xandariano gigante e enlouquecido.
Eu sabia que ia ser ruim, o Doutor Druida na capa já demonstrava isso, mas foi bem pior do que eu pensava, totalmente dispensável.
May 2, 2023
Collecting issues 286 - 303, plus Annual 17 from the Avengers. The stories come thick and fast in this volume. It starts off good, then descends into the okay. The opening story which deals with the Super Adaptoid collecting an army of scattered evil robots is a bid to collect ultimate power is inspired. After that we have a leftover bit of story line from Alpha Flight which deals with the fate of the alien hybrid Marina - if you've never heard of her, there is a reason. This spins into the first appearance of the Council of Cross-Time Kangs - which are good and bad- this is not a Kang concept that is used much after this story. It's a weird mixture of actual Kangs and people who have defeated Kang and stolen his technology. Whether you like it or not, it is an interesting idea, and the central story, the quest for the ultimate weapon was never fully examined after these issues.
Next we come to the stories which are not as good. This is mostly because they are part of the crossover event phase that dominated Marvel in the late 80s. Avengers Annual 17 is the end of the Evolutionary War crossover, which is significantly less interesting if you don't know the rest of the story. Then we have two issues dealing with the Inferno crossover, the first of which is actually interesting because it centers on the Avenger's butler, Jarvis. But the second story suffers from the same problem as the Annual. If you don't know the whole story, it makes no sense.
The book then rounds off with a trio of issues dealing with the last son of Xandar and the Nova Corps - Marvel's attempt at a Green Lantern Corps - who has come to Earth to look for the destroyer of his planet, only to learn, after much destruction, the villain has escaped through time. The whole thing has a real "surrender Dorothy" feel to it, and probably goes on for one issue too long.
Next we come to the stories which are not as good. This is mostly because they are part of the crossover event phase that dominated Marvel in the late 80s. Avengers Annual 17 is the end of the Evolutionary War crossover, which is significantly less interesting if you don't know the rest of the story. Then we have two issues dealing with the Inferno crossover, the first of which is actually interesting because it centers on the Avenger's butler, Jarvis. But the second story suffers from the same problem as the Annual. If you don't know the whole story, it makes no sense.
The book then rounds off with a trio of issues dealing with the last son of Xandar and the Nova Corps - Marvel's attempt at a Green Lantern Corps - who has come to Earth to look for the destroyer of his planet, only to learn, after much destruction, the villain has escaped through time. The whole thing has a real "surrender Dorothy" feel to it, and probably goes on for one issue too long.
December 25, 2020
When I decided to give this 2, it wasn't as the stories were necessarily bad, it was more that this felt like a weak point of Avengers history. The stories are reasonably ok, though most are unfortunately forgettable and feature Avengers rosters which are just as forgettable - I mean there's even a character referred to as the Forgotten One - and he's pretty much been forgotten since.
The opening arc "Heavy Metal" is a robot villain themed one. Unless your robot is named Ultron or Nimrod, these stories mostly don't have the necessary threat level or interesting enough villain to help carry the story. It does, however, finish off stronger than it started but 5 issues felt too long. The next storyline is pretty weak and feels like an excuse to write out a few characters from the team. Ultimately the "enemy" isn't a particularly interesting one and the more interesting parts of the storyline are the set-up for the next storyline. As for that next storyline, while it has some nice ideas with Cross Time Kangs, it feels too overwrought. It does have the benefit of writing out possibly the least likable Avenger member ever, so it has that going at least, but the big focus on that character makes these issues a chore to get through.
This is followed by a ragtag Avengers team assembled to take on the High Evolutionary. This feels like the highpoint of the collection. Captain America back leading a quirky lineup of former members that steps in to save the day. Maybe being outside of the mess of having to clear out a lineup that wasn't interesting to the creators helps make this a fun one off story. Then it's onto the Inferno crossover. There's a decent Jarvis story then it's back to mediocrity as the Avengers take on the Nanny and Orphan Maker and we get a new lineup out of it that unfortunately isn't much better than the previous one.
Unless you're an Avengers fan working their way through these Epic collections, you're better off finding another point in Avengers history to read.
The opening arc "Heavy Metal" is a robot villain themed one. Unless your robot is named Ultron or Nimrod, these stories mostly don't have the necessary threat level or interesting enough villain to help carry the story. It does, however, finish off stronger than it started but 5 issues felt too long. The next storyline is pretty weak and feels like an excuse to write out a few characters from the team. Ultimately the "enemy" isn't a particularly interesting one and the more interesting parts of the storyline are the set-up for the next storyline. As for that next storyline, while it has some nice ideas with Cross Time Kangs, it feels too overwrought. It does have the benefit of writing out possibly the least likable Avenger member ever, so it has that going at least, but the big focus on that character makes these issues a chore to get through.
This is followed by a ragtag Avengers team assembled to take on the High Evolutionary. This feels like the highpoint of the collection. Captain America back leading a quirky lineup of former members that steps in to save the day. Maybe being outside of the mess of having to clear out a lineup that wasn't interesting to the creators helps make this a fun one off story. Then it's onto the Inferno crossover. There's a decent Jarvis story then it's back to mediocrity as the Avengers take on the Nanny and Orphan Maker and we get a new lineup out of it that unfortunately isn't much better than the previous one.
Unless you're an Avengers fan working their way through these Epic collections, you're better off finding another point in Avengers history to read.
February 5, 2021
Avengers #286-303, Annual #17
This collection marks the end of 2 things, the Roger Stern run and the Avengers themselves. To understand the full scope of this collection, you need to have read the previous 2 - Under Seige and Judgment Day - which collects the Avengers from issue 264 and shows the number of incredible obstacles they had to face that leads to the team simply disbanding and leaving Jarvis to turn off the lights.
This collection also finishes John Buscema's run - one of the best in Modern comics history in my opinion. His pencil work really defined the Avengers as seen today in TV and movies.
This collection has a wonderful issue showing how versatile Jarvis is as he battles Demons in the streets of NY in an Inferno crossover, and shows the rebirth of the Avengers as Captain America returns after a brief stint as the Captain - check out his book for that story.
I've seen so many reviews of this collection, downplaying the team as a bunch of runners-up but if you read the 3 in a row, you will see just how important and spectacular each Avenger was in their own way.
This collection marks the end of 2 things, the Roger Stern run and the Avengers themselves. To understand the full scope of this collection, you need to have read the previous 2 - Under Seige and Judgment Day - which collects the Avengers from issue 264 and shows the number of incredible obstacles they had to face that leads to the team simply disbanding and leaving Jarvis to turn off the lights.
This collection also finishes John Buscema's run - one of the best in Modern comics history in my opinion. His pencil work really defined the Avengers as seen today in TV and movies.
This collection has a wonderful issue showing how versatile Jarvis is as he battles Demons in the streets of NY in an Inferno crossover, and shows the rebirth of the Avengers as Captain America returns after a brief stint as the Captain - check out his book for that story.
I've seen so many reviews of this collection, downplaying the team as a bunch of runners-up but if you read the 3 in a row, you will see just how important and spectacular each Avenger was in their own way.
August 19, 2023
Uneven, but overall enjoyable collection of late 80s Avengers. I picked this up because of Walter Simonson, and the stories written by him shine among others.
The titular arc Heavy Metal, written by Roger Stern and Ralph Macchio, is forgettable, but after Simonson picks up the reins in issue #291, things start to get interesting. The time bubble and the Council of Cross-Time Kangs are zany ideas, but well executed. The breakdown of Avengers is fun to follow.
The tie-in to Evolutionary War, Annual #17, is mediocre.
As a big surprise, W. Simonson manages to write an exciting tie-in to the Inferno event in issues #298 through #300! If you have read it, you will know that the main event played out in the X-men books is abysmal.
The last three issues, again written by Ralph Macchio are memorable mainly because Reed and Sue Richards are part of the team, but the Super-Nova storyline is simplistic and could have been told in one issue instead of three.
I rate the book 3.0 stars on the average. Best Simonson issues are 4.0 stars.
The titular arc Heavy Metal, written by Roger Stern and Ralph Macchio, is forgettable, but after Simonson picks up the reins in issue #291, things start to get interesting. The time bubble and the Council of Cross-Time Kangs are zany ideas, but well executed. The breakdown of Avengers is fun to follow.
The tie-in to Evolutionary War, Annual #17, is mediocre.
As a big surprise, W. Simonson manages to write an exciting tie-in to the Inferno event in issues #298 through #300! If you have read it, you will know that the main event played out in the X-men books is abysmal.
The last three issues, again written by Ralph Macchio are memorable mainly because Reed and Sue Richards are part of the team, but the Super-Nova storyline is simplistic and could have been told in one issue instead of three.
I rate the book 3.0 stars on the average. Best Simonson issues are 4.0 stars.
February 25, 2021
Really enjoyed this! Honestly the worst parts where the crossover issues. The writers do their best to keep it part of the ongoing story, but I was enjoying it the way it was going. It was nice to read about the team being broken up in an organic way. They each leave the team for their own reasons, and it happens as part of the story. It doesn't feel forced. Another great Avengers Epic.
May 22, 2024
It's sad to see Roger Stern's run at writing the Avengers come to an end. Ralph Macchio tries his best as replacement, but to me a super-villain team composed of random robots just isn't that appealing. Walter Simonson comes next and his issues are incredibly bleak but ultimately pretty great.
John Buscema's art is awesome, as always.
John Buscema's art is awesome, as always.
January 25, 2021
Namor, Gilgamesh, Dr Druid, Mr Fantastic.... they wouldn’t be my first choice Avengers but the stories weren’t bad!
February 12, 2021
Pretty low key but a nice enough collection.
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