West Coast Avengers #1

West Coast Avengers (1984)

by Roger Stern, Bob Hall (Illustrator), Brett Breeding (Illustrator)

The Avengers make their West Coast debut! Newlyweds Hawkeye and Mockingbird check out a California compound while awaiting the arrival of their team. Enter the mysterious Shroud! Plus, Tigra and Iron Man join the Cali-crew!

Genres: Comics, Comic Book

32 pages, Comic Book

First published September 1, 1984

About the author

Roger Stern is an American comic book author and novelist.

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5 stars.
The formation of the West Coast Avengers! I found it kinda weird that Vision was the one to ring up the potential members and not their new leader, Hawkeye. But I suppose that’s another little hint at a future (main?) Avengers story line.
Anyway, even before the new team has settled, there is an intruder! It was sort of funny how this was a new estate...sorry, compound and it was so easily broken into.

[Christian Zamora-Dahmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this mini-series. I can’t believe it took me this long to get to this era of the Avengers, when it actually was in par with my favorite run of the Teen Titans and the Legion. Of course, back then we didn’t get Marvel books where I live (definitely that’s the big reason why), but I’m so getting enamored with this version of the Avengers, and the fact that they’re not just punches, but also characters working out their own personal stuff.
I do think that this is something that is missing in most of these days’ narrative. When it’s all about epic battles, massive events, and “they will never be the same”, they forgot what it was to actually treat these characters with some love and joy, and that this approach made these fantastic heroes all so relatable.
Anyway, it’s not that all comic books are bad these days, it’s just that narrative could take a clue from some other times.

[Richard Kenneth Conde · Rating 4 out of 5]

West Coast Avengers v1 #1

0.75 USD @ September 1984

"Avengers Assemble!"

Writer: Roger Stern
Penciler: Bob Hall
Inker: Brett Breeding
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Julianna Ferriter
Editor: Mark Gruenwald
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Synopsis: Hawkeye and Mockingbird is in the premises of the new West Coast Avengers compound in California. With a suggestion from the current Avengers Chairman, Vision, Hawkeye will open up a West Coast branch of the Avengers and start recruiting. We see various superheroes in the comic books unknown to them, are being recruited for the West Coast branch. Simon Wiliiams was notified while in a shooting of an action movie in the desert. Jim Rhodes who was Iron Man at the time was notified while on patrol. Tigra was notified while in the office of Jessica Drew. As Tigra left, Jessica Drew was slightly worried, and made a phone call to have someone follow up on Tigra. Tigra and Iron Man arrived at the same time. They were welcomed by Hawkeye and Mockingbird who gave them a tour of the facility. As they were in the deeper levels of the central command of the new West Coast Avengers compound, an intruder alarm went off. The intruder managed to shroud the video surveillance and defense mechanism, and Hawkeye ordered for them to split up and get this intruder. Hawkeye giving orders didn't sit well with Jim Rhodes/Iron Man. The Shroud managed to take down Mockingbird, and escape Iron Man, but as he escaped through one of the windows a newly arrived Wonder Man tackled him from outside. As Wonder Man was about to commence pummeling him, Tigra recognized it was her friend the Shroud, and stepped in between Simon Williams and the Shroud. The Shroud explained he was told by Jessica Drew to follow up on Tigra as she was worried. This just cheered up Hawkeye even more as now they have six superheroes around and he extended an invitation to the Shroud who declined as being an Avenger would be contradictory to his mission plan on infiltrating crime groups. And as the Shroud departed, Hawkeye gathered the remaining superheroes to explain to them the West Coast Avengers.

Comments: I read this story back in the mid 80's when I purchased it as a back issue. I have to say that I don't recall the story other than Hawkeye was opening up a new branch on the west coast and that the members recruited were his wife, Mockingbird, Tigra, and Simon Williams. I forgot all about Rhodey, and definitely forgot about the Shroud's appearance. This is a good premise and gathering for a new supergroup. Although at issue's end, I am not all that impressed with the membership. After all, it's not as powerful a team, with Simon Williams as their only powerhouse. Even though they had Iron Man, Rhodey was still very uncomfortable being with other superheroes, kind of having an inferiority complex, because he is not Tony Stark, and he feels they only relate to the Iron Man that they knew. He was the replacement. Another thing, Rhodey did not take Hawkeye's ordering in a good way, so this can be trouble in future issues. I am not sure if Rhodey has been encountering the "migraines" from the armor as it is patterned after Tony's brain waves and not his. Tigra was very unsure of herself, and was somewhat negative about the superheroing business. Simon arrived at the end so I haven't seen his reaction other than slight confusion. The best part, even though there was dated dialogue (and somehow the Marvel Bullpen still hasn't capture the voice of women actually talking as women when they are talking to their significant other), is Hawkeye and Mockingbird. They jest among each other but you can tell this husband and wife team is ready to go and start this new endeavor.

[Phoebes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finalmente! Finalmente un albo in cui Hawkeye non è antipatico e insopportabile, ma tutto sommato simpatico! Sarà che finalmente si distanzia dagli altri Avengers e crea un team tutto suo? Oppure che finalmente ha trovato l’amore, e infatti si è sposato con Mockingbird? Fatto sta che una volta tanto è contento di quello che fa, anche se sente un po’ il peso della responsabilità di dover essere ora lui il team leader.
Si per sé quini un albo non particolarmente accattivante, ma sicuramente l’ideale per conosce un po' meglio con Hawkeye perché il Nostro appare finalmente come un personaggio piacevole!
http://www.naufragio.it/iltempodilegg...

[Julio Bonilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

That's the spirit, fearless leader! Just remember, it can only get better from here!
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Hawkeye forms the West Coast Avengers. I must have been 1 when this issue came out. Just reading this concerning WandaVision.

[Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Due to legal reasons we can only have six members so no dual personalities

A fun Avengers spin off that lays the groundwork for the longer West Cost run, I like dynamics between everyone it’s nice. Hawkeye and Mockingbird are sweet and kinda have this underdog feel to them as a team.
I think where this comic shines is using the villain The Blank, he’s got a really cool design and powers but he’s not in a whole lot of things. Graviton is a pretty serious threat but at the same time he’s just so silly.
Fun read but the longer run is way better.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an article about this group and it peeked my interest. I remember reading the main series a long time ago and really enjoyed it. It was nice to see how it started.

[Ramón S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The start of the West Coast Avengers.
Let's see how it works.