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Young Avengers (2013) #1-3
Young Avengers Omnibus
Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s groundbreaking, critically acclaimed epic is collected in one gorgeous oversized hardcover! The Young Avengers are reinvented for the 21st century as Wiccan, Hulkling and Kate “Hawkeye” Bishop unite with Kid Loki, Marvel Boy, Prodigy and Ms. America. Someone has to save the entire multiverse. They’re someone. No pressure, right? As cosmic horror emerges from the shadows of the past, the Young Avengers race desperately across dimensions — but once they take on the gig to save reality, they may never be able to go home again! Meanwhile, Kid Loki is up to something. Surprise, I know. Fight scenes! Kissing! Fake IDs! Kissing! Drama! Conflict! Plentiful feels! (a.k.a. “meaningful emotional character beats” for people who aren’t on tumblr.) And oh yeah, nightclubs! Read it!
COLLECTING: Young Avengers (2013) 1-15, Marvel Now! Point One (2012) 1 (Young Avengers Story)
COLLECTING: Young Avengers (2013) 1-15, Marvel Now! Point One (2012) 1 (Young Avengers Story)
360 pages, Hardcover
First published December 16, 2014
95 people are currently reading
912 people want to read
About the author
Kieron Gillen
1,472 books1,907 followersKieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
December 20, 2014
If you don't love this, you hate happiness and puppies.
July 8, 2019
4.5/5
Might actually die for these kids
Might actually die for these kids
February 15, 2023
Noh-Varr: Exploratory does have multiple meanings. The Kree are efficient like that.
Kate Bishop: Wait-- hold up! Am I the only person on the team who's straight?
America Chavez: Princess. I've seen the way you look at me. You're not that straight.
Damn I love the Young Avengers. I really want them to get a new series, but in the meantime I'll read the older run.
I'm back in my comic book era and it's here to stay!
August 26, 2021
3.5 stars.
As always, Jamie McKelvie's art continues to be both beautiful and easy to follow. I enjoyed the clever meta nature of a lot of panels, and had fun with the overarching adventure plot. This would be a great story to casually re-read now that I know the characters and the ultimate direction of the plot.
I did have some of the same issues I found with Gillen and McKelvie's The Wicked and the Divine, where neither the characters nor their relationships held much meaning for me. I kept feeling like I was missing something, that I had somehow skipped a volume that would give me the explanation I needed. Like The Wicked and the Divine, I feel that a description or summary of this series makes it seem exactly the sort of thing I would like, but the potential is never fully lived up to.
As always, Jamie McKelvie's art continues to be both beautiful and easy to follow. I enjoyed the clever meta nature of a lot of panels, and had fun with the overarching adventure plot. This would be a great story to casually re-read now that I know the characters and the ultimate direction of the plot.
I did have some of the same issues I found with Gillen and McKelvie's The Wicked and the Divine, where neither the characters nor their relationships held much meaning for me. I kept feeling like I was missing something, that I had somehow skipped a volume that would give me the explanation I needed. Like The Wicked and the Divine, I feel that a description or summary of this series makes it seem exactly the sort of thing I would like, but the potential is never fully lived up to.
February 12, 2018
Ah man! I really wanted this to be 5 stars. It's Gillen & McKelvie and I've put them on a pedestal with some of my other favourite creative teams like Loeb/Sale, DnA, etc. I didn't read Gillen's Kid Loki yet although I own the Omnibus and its on my to-read list. I may give this a re-read afterwards, but I just couldn't connect to the story. The art, colors and lettering were great.
I'd really recommend checking out their works like Wicked & Divine, Phonogram or any of Gillen's other works. This just didn't hold up to what I've seen from them previously.
I'd really recommend checking out their works like Wicked & Divine, Phonogram or any of Gillen's other works. This just didn't hold up to what I've seen from them previously.
December 22, 2021
i know a lot of ppl love this edition of the young avengers but i’ll be honest?? i liked the first run of young avengers better. this was still fun to read!! and i love america chavez and her interactions with kate but yeah idk!!
January 5, 2022
marvel really did say 'we're gonna give the gays everything they want' and they did
February 26, 2022
I loved absolutely everything about this. I would sell my soul for them.
July 31, 2018
Τhis omnibus has a lot of interesting and new techniques to story telling, panel layout and communication. It really helps convey the tone of the teenage superhero, with all the whiny, angsty, relationship drama that changes at the drop of a cell phone. Well done there. However, the characters are really weak and uncompelling, essentially because of: 1. Very little background is given about each character going into this 2. There's just a lot of whining occurring by the angsty teens through this (although this may be truly accurate) and I think it is to the detriment of the characters and the readers attachment to them. I found myself really not liking any of the characters at the end; not to say I disliked all of them, I just didn't find myself actually rooting for any of them. The story was okay, like I said, it was original and I didn't have a clue what was going to happen next but ultimately it still kind of fell flat. I think part of this was because so much was centered around pushing the relationships instead of actually developing the story; in short it was clear it was more about everyone's angst than actually saving the world or universe, which lets be honest, when you're reading a marvel comic, saving the day is a large key element that needs to be addressed.
August 3, 2024
I love them all! I love the young avengers! I specifically love kate bishop! i will consume any and all kate bishop media to ever exist! why are my comics at home this is so sad I can’t reread the kate bishop series because its not with me!
June 7, 2023
I read this back in 2016 and I still remember how much I LOVED THIS. So that’s automatically 5 stars from me dawg. I do want to read it again sometime :)
November 16, 2015
This book collects issues 1-15 and the Marvel Point 1 origin of the 2013 Young Avengers series.
I absolutely loved Kieron Gillen's recent runs of Journey into Mystery & Thor, which included Loki being reincarnated as a young pre-teen. It completely shook up the dynamic between the brothers and reinvented Loki in a new and fun way. So, when I saw that the character would become part of the new run of Young Avengers, I didn't hesitate to preorder the trades as they became available.
Happily, Loki doesn't disappoint. He's still the mischievous trickster from mythology and comic canon, but readers are kept wondering whether he's on the side of good, evil or just himself throughout. We learn that these young heroes used to fight for good, but stopped being heroes when some of their friends were killed. Loki uses his reputation for lying to his advantage to manipulate them into uniting as a new team. Supposedly, his motivation is to correct a spell cast by Wiccan that has gone horribly wrong. But, Loki has never been one for altruism.
While I loved Loki, I did have some problems with this series. First, this team is introduced quickly and with almost no background. This can also be said of Loki, if readers have not read JiM. Second, I wasn't sure which "reality" this was taking place in, as "Earth-212" is name-dropped in contrast to "Earth-Earth." Being a newbie to comics, this was problematic. Third, I don't like half of these so-called heroes. America Chavez is the biggest problem for me - frankly, she's mean. Wiccan (the son of Scarlet Witch, same powers) and his boyfriend Hulkling (a Skrull?) are a cute couple, but they whine a lot. I did like the remaining two: Noh-Varr (Marvel Boy/Protector, only now young for some reason) and Kate Bishop (a female Hawkeye). They are more charismatic and upbeat, and I hope they get more screen time.
I had hoped some of these issues would be resolved as the series progressed, but that never really happened. There is a lot of movement in this series, but not much development. The characters run around using their powers, but accomplish very little. The series never measures up to the prior Young Avengers series, which was fantastic. This series feels like it is aimed at very young readers.
What saved the series for me is that readers do get some insight into Loki’s motivation and a resolution of the overarching story. So far, this series hasn’t been renewed in the wake of Secret War. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing. This group really isn't strong enough, at least anymore, to carry a regular series. However, they have a lot of potential to spice things up when teamed with adult heroes America is going to be a regular in the New Avengers, and Kate Bishop was a big part of Fraction’s Hawkeye series and hopefully his post-Secret Wars adventures. I loved Loki’s Agent of Asgard series, and truly hope that gets renewed sooner rather than later.
Overall, this omnibus is definitely worth the purchase for Young Avengers fans, even if it’s not as strong as the previous incarnation. And Loki fans should enjoy seeing his adventure as a child continue, if only for a little while. Recommended.
Young Avengers Collections:
Young Avengers
Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways
Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers
Young Avengers Presents
Dark Reign: Young Avengers
Young Avengers: Style>Substance
Young Avengers Volume 2: Alternative Cultures (Marvel Now)
Young Avengers Volume 3: Mic-Drop at the Edge of Time and Space (Marvel Now)
I absolutely loved Kieron Gillen's recent runs of Journey into Mystery & Thor, which included Loki being reincarnated as a young pre-teen. It completely shook up the dynamic between the brothers and reinvented Loki in a new and fun way. So, when I saw that the character would become part of the new run of Young Avengers, I didn't hesitate to preorder the trades as they became available.
Happily, Loki doesn't disappoint. He's still the mischievous trickster from mythology and comic canon, but readers are kept wondering whether he's on the side of good, evil or just himself throughout. We learn that these young heroes used to fight for good, but stopped being heroes when some of their friends were killed. Loki uses his reputation for lying to his advantage to manipulate them into uniting as a new team. Supposedly, his motivation is to correct a spell cast by Wiccan that has gone horribly wrong. But, Loki has never been one for altruism.
While I loved Loki, I did have some problems with this series. First, this team is introduced quickly and with almost no background. This can also be said of Loki, if readers have not read JiM. Second, I wasn't sure which "reality" this was taking place in, as "Earth-212" is name-dropped in contrast to "Earth-Earth." Being a newbie to comics, this was problematic. Third, I don't like half of these so-called heroes. America Chavez is the biggest problem for me - frankly, she's mean. Wiccan (the son of Scarlet Witch, same powers) and his boyfriend Hulkling (a Skrull?) are a cute couple, but they whine a lot. I did like the remaining two: Noh-Varr (Marvel Boy/Protector, only now young for some reason) and Kate Bishop (a female Hawkeye). They are more charismatic and upbeat, and I hope they get more screen time.
I had hoped some of these issues would be resolved as the series progressed, but that never really happened. There is a lot of movement in this series, but not much development. The characters run around using their powers, but accomplish very little. The series never measures up to the prior Young Avengers series, which was fantastic. This series feels like it is aimed at very young readers.
What saved the series for me is that readers do get some insight into Loki’s motivation and a resolution of the overarching story. So far, this series hasn’t been renewed in the wake of Secret War. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing. This group really isn't strong enough, at least anymore, to carry a regular series. However, they have a lot of potential to spice things up when teamed with adult heroes America is going to be a regular in the New Avengers, and Kate Bishop was a big part of Fraction’s Hawkeye series and hopefully his post-Secret Wars adventures. I loved Loki’s Agent of Asgard series, and truly hope that gets renewed sooner rather than later.
Overall, this omnibus is definitely worth the purchase for Young Avengers fans, even if it’s not as strong as the previous incarnation. And Loki fans should enjoy seeing his adventure as a child continue, if only for a little while. Recommended.
Young Avengers Collections:
Young Avengers
Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways
Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers
Young Avengers Presents
Dark Reign: Young Avengers
Young Avengers: Style>Substance
Young Avengers Volume 2: Alternative Cultures (Marvel Now)
Young Avengers Volume 3: Mic-Drop at the Edge of Time and Space (Marvel Now)
April 6, 2021
Y sí señores, cosas como esta son las que convierten el cómic en un arte. Y los Jóvenes Vengadores de Kieron Gillen y Jamie McKelvie son auténtica música. Ojo, no una sinfonía clásica, son sintetizadores y percusión, Spandau Ballet, los Beatles, Real McCoy y Jean-Michel Jarre, todo en uno. Es como si Kieron Gillen hubiera cogido parte del espíritu de Grant Morrison, lo hubiera pasado por la batidora con un toque de buen bourbon y mucho espíritu liberal y de reivindicación sexual y esa mezcla la hubieran tirado hacia una aurora boreal para que McKelvie la pintara.
¿Suena raro? ¿Igual un poco pedante? Pues leedlo, y luego me contáis.
Después de un tiempo en impasse tras La Cruzada de los Niños y de que Marvel decidiera (por fin) que los personajes que tenía entre manos eran demasiado buenos para guardárselos a Heinberg en exclusiva, en la Casa de las Ideas decidieron darle una nueva oportunidad a los Jóvenes Vengadores, y lo hicieron dándole la colección a Kieron Gillen, que venía de triunfar en el mercado independiente y que ya en Marvel había estado al frente de Journey into Mistery, la serie protagonizada por el joven Loki, con un resultado auténticamente espectacular. Y Gillen vino acompañado de un montón de buenas ideas y del que había sido su compañero en el mercado independiente, Jamie McKelvie. A los ya clásicos Wiccan, Hulkling (convertidos en parte principal del equipo) y Ojo de Halcón, Gillen unió a su personaje fetiche, Loki, y un par de no tan viejos conocidos, Marvel Boy (que aquí decide llamarse simplemente Noh-Varr) y una recientísima y prácticamente desconocida América Chávez, a los que más tarde se uniría Prodigio, de los Nuevos-Nuevos Mutantes y Academia-X. Todo comienza cuando, en un esfuerzo por hacer feliz a Hulkling, Wiccan decide escanear todas las realidades y traer de vuelta a la difunta madre de su novio, pero lo que hace es traer un parásito dimensional llamado Madre, capaz de poner bajo su mandato a los adultos, y que se convierte en el enemigo principal (y único prácticamente) de los Jóvenes Vengadores en esta saga. Y a pesar de que el argumento pudiera parecer sencillo, el tándem de Gillen y McKelvie consigue una obra redonda, inolvidable y con un uso de los lápices y la narrativa magistrales en los que el propio dibujo, las líneas, los espacios en blanco y hasta los cajones de texto se convierten en parte integrante de la historia.
En fin, una obra para disfrutar con la mente abierta, sin prejuicios de ningún tipo (y que en 2013, cuando se publicó, levantó bastantes ampollas por cómo enfocó la vida sexual de personajes tan jóvenes), y que se merece mucho más bombo y platillo del que ha conseguido tener.
¿Suena raro? ¿Igual un poco pedante? Pues leedlo, y luego me contáis.
Después de un tiempo en impasse tras La Cruzada de los Niños y de que Marvel decidiera (por fin) que los personajes que tenía entre manos eran demasiado buenos para guardárselos a Heinberg en exclusiva, en la Casa de las Ideas decidieron darle una nueva oportunidad a los Jóvenes Vengadores, y lo hicieron dándole la colección a Kieron Gillen, que venía de triunfar en el mercado independiente y que ya en Marvel había estado al frente de Journey into Mistery, la serie protagonizada por el joven Loki, con un resultado auténticamente espectacular. Y Gillen vino acompañado de un montón de buenas ideas y del que había sido su compañero en el mercado independiente, Jamie McKelvie. A los ya clásicos Wiccan, Hulkling (convertidos en parte principal del equipo) y Ojo de Halcón, Gillen unió a su personaje fetiche, Loki, y un par de no tan viejos conocidos, Marvel Boy (que aquí decide llamarse simplemente Noh-Varr) y una recientísima y prácticamente desconocida América Chávez, a los que más tarde se uniría Prodigio, de los Nuevos-Nuevos Mutantes y Academia-X. Todo comienza cuando, en un esfuerzo por hacer feliz a Hulkling, Wiccan decide escanear todas las realidades y traer de vuelta a la difunta madre de su novio, pero lo que hace es traer un parásito dimensional llamado Madre, capaz de poner bajo su mandato a los adultos, y que se convierte en el enemigo principal (y único prácticamente) de los Jóvenes Vengadores en esta saga. Y a pesar de que el argumento pudiera parecer sencillo, el tándem de Gillen y McKelvie consigue una obra redonda, inolvidable y con un uso de los lápices y la narrativa magistrales en los que el propio dibujo, las líneas, los espacios en blanco y hasta los cajones de texto se convierten en parte integrante de la historia.
En fin, una obra para disfrutar con la mente abierta, sin prejuicios de ningún tipo (y que en 2013, cuando se publicó, levantó bastantes ampollas por cómo enfocó la vida sexual de personajes tan jóvenes), y que se merece mucho más bombo y platillo del que ha conseguido tener.
August 27, 2021
I still can't believe this is not a tv series yet, I would be drooling all over it like this casual diversity is crazy. Yes, my opinion is heavily influenced by how hot and how edgy teen Loki is, so whatcha gonna do about it? Send me to horny jail? Bitch I am already in and I am doing all the nasty stuff you can ever think of.
The real reason behind me reminiscing about it is trying to psyche myself up for finally watching the Loki tv series, but man, I can't believe there will be no chaotic-pan-casually-lying-down-in-the-middle-of-the-battle-to-repent Loki representation. Also!!! Have you seen kid Loki here and in Journey Into Mystery??? Have you seen the legs of this skinny legend?????? I wonder where THIS representation is, huh?
The real reason behind me reminiscing about it is trying to psyche myself up for finally watching the Loki tv series, but man, I can't believe there will be no chaotic-pan-casually-lying-down-in-the-middle-of-the-battle-to-repent Loki representation. Also!!! Have you seen kid Loki here and in Journey Into Mystery??? Have you seen the legs of this skinny legend?????? I wonder where THIS representation is, huh?
Read
March 1, 20194.5!! Gillade verkligen den här❤️❤️❤️
December 24, 2018
Jag tror att jag hade för lite koll för att gilla den här. Det var ganska förvirrande ibland. Men som sagt jag kom in med 0 förkunskap om Young Avengers.
April 26, 2021
Debería darle menos nota? Es posible
Qué las partes de Loki me han encantado? No lo dudo
así que evitad mi comentario no es objetivo 😋🤣
Qué las partes de Loki me han encantado? No lo dudo
así que evitad mi comentario no es objetivo 😋🤣
August 9, 2020
Gillen's Young Avengers has a lot going for it. The characterization is superb, and really helps to define these characters, supported by some timey-wimeyness that gives amazing scope to Billy's power. There are also great visuals in this book, courtesy Gillen's scripting and Jamie McKelvie's interpretation of the same.
I could read whole volumes like issues #14-15, which are just the heroes talking.
The problem with Young Avengers has always been the plot. The "Mother" monster is at the same time an abstract monstrosity who you can't really understand AND an overly icky one. But it's probably the abstractness which is the biggest problem, since she just comes across as a plot point, meant to mess with the protagonists whenever things get too cozy. The fact that she's strung out over 15 (well, 13) issues really doesn't help, though it reads better in this omnibus than the individual collections (or individual issues), where you just kept coming back to Mother again and again.
So, very enjoyable volume, but despite its amazing characterization and visuals, it's held back from true greatness by its story.
I could read whole volumes like issues #14-15, which are just the heroes talking.
The problem with Young Avengers has always been the plot. The "Mother" monster is at the same time an abstract monstrosity who you can't really understand AND an overly icky one. But it's probably the abstractness which is the biggest problem, since she just comes across as a plot point, meant to mess with the protagonists whenever things get too cozy. The fact that she's strung out over 15 (well, 13) issues really doesn't help, though it reads better in this omnibus than the individual collections (or individual issues), where you just kept coming back to Mother again and again.
So, very enjoyable volume, but despite its amazing characterization and visuals, it's held back from true greatness by its story.
June 28, 2022
4.5 stars round down. Just a fantastic read. I had read some of it a long time ago so I decided to just read the whole thing when I got the collection and I’m glad I did. This story is so much fun and it’s an absolute delight to read a story of a young super team made up of almost all Queer heroes. The love between Wiccan and Hulking has always inspired me and it warms my heart to see Marvel continue to dedicate comic time to their love in stories where they are the prominent feature. There is so much fun action here and some great cameos and plot points that push these characters into their next stories. I wish there had been more focus on America and her personal struggles though, they only give her some alone time near the end of the 15 comic run, but it was a big moment. She does get some great action throughout though so I can’t complain too much.
November 23, 2022
This was fun but I feel like it dragged on for way too long.
March 15, 2024
This is a run bogged down by its own weight. And even then, it isn't bad. The characters are pretty well-developed, especially as far as underused side characters go.
There is a beauty and a charm to the heart put into the story despite the convoluted plot and relationships within. It just doesn't quite outshine everything else.
McKelvie's art remains among my favorite of anyone working in comics. The supporting art in the epilogue is VERY bad, however.
There is a beauty and a charm to the heart put into the story despite the convoluted plot and relationships within. It just doesn't quite outshine everything else.
McKelvie's art remains among my favorite of anyone working in comics. The supporting art in the epilogue is VERY bad, however.
June 12, 2016
5/5 stars
ACCIDENTALLY IN LOVE (but not really accidentally)
Will there ever be a Young Avengers story I don’t enjoy? We’ll never know.
Well, as soon as I get my hands on the other stories we’ll know, but at this point in time, I’ve read 4 (technically 6) graphic novels centered around them, and I’ve loved every. Single. One.
The overall layout of these issues are impressive- some comics have introductions to the individual volume included, others just pages introducing individual comics within the volumes. The art is strong throughout, as is the plot (and all of the subplots that come with it). I just can’t escape the amazing.
This is literally just going to be mini ramblings that I didn’t include in the full individual volume reviews I’ve already done, so sorry in advance.
I suddenly started shipping Loki and David, which is brilliant. Always open to new ships, especially obscure ones with no fanfiction and/or fanart. I feel like they both give off that ‘I fucked up so I’m now going to run away from my problems’ vibe. Quite strongly, considering David does, indeed, run away from his problems, quite literally.
Loki broke me. I just want those last 2 pages framed and put on my wall so I can be reminded every time I wake up that Loki Laufeyson is a massive asshole who I love like a son. He’s not actually my son though, I refuse to be blamed for how much of an asshole he is. He’s sarcastic and heartbreaking and everything a masochist like me would want in a favourite character.
I feel like there wasn’t as much Kate in these, but at the same time she played a very prominent role. It’s just Billy tends to steal the scene with his constant angst and messing stuff up. I’m very negative about Billy, but he’s actually just a precious cinnamon roll, too good, too pure,
I’m literally looking at the last two pages again as I write this. It’s not fair.
I’d make out with America Chavez, though. Probably Loki too. Older Loki, not tiny baby Loki. Kate nailed the head on the nail (????) when she said that Older Loki looked like trouble. He goes from tiny baby to WOAH WHAT IS THIS in the space of a few panels.
I don’t really have much else to say. I’ll probably add to this review whenever I decide to read this, which’ll probably be quite regular from now on.
ANYWAY. SORRY. Please read Young Avengers. They deserve more love. And a third volume. *Glares at Marvel*
ACCIDENTALLY IN LOVE (but not really accidentally)
Will there ever be a Young Avengers story I don’t enjoy? We’ll never know.
Well, as soon as I get my hands on the other stories we’ll know, but at this point in time, I’ve read 4 (technically 6) graphic novels centered around them, and I’ve loved every. Single. One.
The overall layout of these issues are impressive- some comics have introductions to the individual volume included, others just pages introducing individual comics within the volumes. The art is strong throughout, as is the plot (and all of the subplots that come with it). I just can’t escape the amazing.
This is literally just going to be mini ramblings that I didn’t include in the full individual volume reviews I’ve already done, so sorry in advance.
I suddenly started shipping Loki and David, which is brilliant. Always open to new ships, especially obscure ones with no fanfiction and/or fanart. I feel like they both give off that ‘I fucked up so I’m now going to run away from my problems’ vibe. Quite strongly, considering David does, indeed, run away from his problems, quite literally.
Loki broke me. I just want those last 2 pages framed and put on my wall so I can be reminded every time I wake up that Loki Laufeyson is a massive asshole who I love like a son. He’s not actually my son though, I refuse to be blamed for how much of an asshole he is. He’s sarcastic and heartbreaking and everything a masochist like me would want in a favourite character.
I feel like there wasn’t as much Kate in these, but at the same time she played a very prominent role. It’s just Billy tends to steal the scene with his constant angst and messing stuff up. I’m very negative about Billy, but he’s actually just a precious cinnamon roll, too good, too pure,
I’m literally looking at the last two pages again as I write this. It’s not fair.
I’d make out with America Chavez, though. Probably Loki too. Older Loki, not tiny baby Loki. Kate nailed the head on the nail (????) when she said that Older Loki looked like trouble. He goes from tiny baby to WOAH WHAT IS THIS in the space of a few panels.
I don’t really have much else to say. I’ll probably add to this review whenever I decide to read this, which’ll probably be quite regular from now on.
ANYWAY. SORRY. Please read Young Avengers. They deserve more love. And a third volume. *Glares at Marvel*
May 10, 2021
Buddy read with Gilles
Let's find out what all the fuss is about
Let's find out what all the fuss is about
August 30, 2016
This is fantastic. One of my favorite Marvel comics I've read in years, and a wonderful example of a writer/artist team working perfectly together. Gillen's script and McKelvie's art compliment each other so well that it's made me decide to read everything else they've done together.
Their Young Avengers run feels simultaneously modern and timeless, with a deeply emotional and yet wildly superheroic story that hits every note of what I love about comics. It reminds me of Scott Pilgrim mixed with some of the best Grant Morrison comics like Marvel Boy (who's actually in this) or parts of The Invisibles, full of teenage rebelliousness metaphorically captured by a big, insane premise encapsulating everything wrong with the world through a young person's eyes. Gillen has a great sense of humor about this stuff, and McKelvie's detailed, imaginative art brings it all to life with a flare rarely seen in mainstream comics.
Plus, the plot, for the most part, actually makes sense. At times it can leap forward a little too fast for my taste (the first issue launches into the main conflict with almost no setup), but once it settles into a groove, it doesn't let up. Young Avengers is also bolstered by the fact that the entire series only has one central villain, making it an easily digestible, graphic-novel-like story that even people unfamiliar with the characters (like me) can enjoy.
I really can't gush about this book enough. It's fresh and fast and never lets up for a second. I read the whole thing in one sitting, and was genuinely sad when it ended. I hope everyone reads this, because it deserves to go down as one of the best comic storylines of this century.
Their Young Avengers run feels simultaneously modern and timeless, with a deeply emotional and yet wildly superheroic story that hits every note of what I love about comics. It reminds me of Scott Pilgrim mixed with some of the best Grant Morrison comics like Marvel Boy (who's actually in this) or parts of The Invisibles, full of teenage rebelliousness metaphorically captured by a big, insane premise encapsulating everything wrong with the world through a young person's eyes. Gillen has a great sense of humor about this stuff, and McKelvie's detailed, imaginative art brings it all to life with a flare rarely seen in mainstream comics.
Plus, the plot, for the most part, actually makes sense. At times it can leap forward a little too fast for my taste (the first issue launches into the main conflict with almost no setup), but once it settles into a groove, it doesn't let up. Young Avengers is also bolstered by the fact that the entire series only has one central villain, making it an easily digestible, graphic-novel-like story that even people unfamiliar with the characters (like me) can enjoy.
I really can't gush about this book enough. It's fresh and fast and never lets up for a second. I read the whole thing in one sitting, and was genuinely sad when it ended. I hope everyone reads this, because it deserves to go down as one of the best comic storylines of this century.
June 8, 2015
This was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the characters, and the art was really interesting with lots of use of white space in interesting ways (the technique really worked well in mother's realm). There was also a couple of really interesting "breaking through the boxes" moments and some breaking of the fourth wall.
What I enjoyed was the character interactions; the overall plot arc felt a little weak in comparison. The whole kids against the parents thing has been done and done and done, and I think a smaller, less reality-breaking story should have led up into the multiple crossing of the multiverses. I guess I can describe it as the pacing being off. For example, I think Mother appearing as the enemy was too sudden, and a bit more space to breathe would have been insidious and built the tension as they realized Billy had made a big oops.
The comic had an air of "trying too hard" to tap into the teenage cyber culture - it was hit or miss whether it worked. I have a feeling this story will get dated really, really quickly (and will be amusing as heck to read in 10 years for the wrong reasons). That said, it's definitely a modern comic, and some of the meta really worked.
I loved Miss America, but Kate Bishop was less effective in comparison and lost a bit of her OMPH. Teddy and Billy were sweet and the heart of the series, and Loki was a scene stealer. I didn't like Noh-varr, and I really felt the absence of Eli.
In short, the collection was worth the money, but I hope they manage to pace the next Young Avengers story better and find a more original plot next time.
What I enjoyed was the character interactions; the overall plot arc felt a little weak in comparison. The whole kids against the parents thing has been done and done and done, and I think a smaller, less reality-breaking story should have led up into the multiple crossing of the multiverses. I guess I can describe it as the pacing being off. For example, I think Mother appearing as the enemy was too sudden, and a bit more space to breathe would have been insidious and built the tension as they realized Billy had made a big oops.
The comic had an air of "trying too hard" to tap into the teenage cyber culture - it was hit or miss whether it worked. I have a feeling this story will get dated really, really quickly (and will be amusing as heck to read in 10 years for the wrong reasons). That said, it's definitely a modern comic, and some of the meta really worked.
I loved Miss America, but Kate Bishop was less effective in comparison and lost a bit of her OMPH. Teddy and Billy were sweet and the heart of the series, and Loki was a scene stealer. I didn't like Noh-varr, and I really felt the absence of Eli.
In short, the collection was worth the money, but I hope they manage to pace the next Young Avengers story better and find a more original plot next time.
April 26, 2021
AHHHH! This was so good! I don't really have any bad things to say about this, it had amazing art, characters, and relationships. Everyone on the young Avengers is LGBT and it's honestly so amazing to see Marvel taking that step. Even if Noh-Varr's sexuality is only mentioned in passing the whole team is still not straight except for maybe Eli and Cassie. But the storyline was great and I didn't find myself confused like a normal marvel plotline. 10/10
July 12, 2021
wow. loved that this was darker than the previous young avengers comics, and i loved getting kid loki and noh-varr. a few points were kind of confusing and i felt that i was missing something, though. the art style was pretty cool, although billy's hair was really annoying lol. don't know why there are like 12 art styles in this; it kind of threw me for a loop. overall it was really fun to read, and it kept me intrigued the whole time.
actual rating: 4.25
actual rating: 4.25
January 28, 2017
Wow, talk about a forward thinking comic book! People of colour! The multiverse! LGBTQ relationships! Asguardians! Therapy! Aliens! It really was a great read, an interesting story. The beginnings of inclusion in comic stories is just a nice cherry on top.
January 17, 2021
I don’t know about this...
I found some (most) parts of it confusing & the story didn’t really capture me.
It was an okay read though & the art was really beautiful.
I found some (most) parts of it confusing & the story didn’t really capture me.
It was an okay read though & the art was really beautiful.
November 2, 2023
(3,5)
honestly i didn’t really understand much in general but i liked that none of the young avengers were straight
honestly i didn’t really understand much in general but i liked that none of the young avengers were straight
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