We’re rounding the corner on milestone issues these days. Action Comics reached #1,000, Thor reached #700, and this week Avengers hits issue #700. Comic fans have so much to be grateful for these days with so many good comics coming out, and this is yet another.
So what’s it about?
Read the preview.
Why does this matter?
Not only is this a historic milestone issue, but it also kicks off multiple story threads to be explored in Avengers and possibly in other series as well. If you like comics that kickstart a new direction, you’ll wanna read this one.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Hmmm, who could he be talking to? Credit: Marvel Comics
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this issue since issue #699 (or #9 if you’re counting the renumbering) seemed to be setting up a new direction with Namor as the main villain. On top of that, the first arc of this series got the general team together, but the threat seemed certain and the new direction began. Boy, was I wrong. This issue takes the threat level and adds new and interesting ones right on top of the Namor dilemma of the last issue. In one fell swoop, Jason Aaron has given this story a triple threat for the heroes to deal with moving forward. He’s also made this series more political and also insanely fun in a superhero sort of way. By the end of this issue you’ll not only see the ramifications of a superhero team that is no longer tied to one nation, but also the ramifications of a country like Russia developing a team of their own. I’m more excited than ever to be reading Avengers and this issue has set the excitement level to 11.
The crazy thing is all that excitement and layering of complexity on the story is only half of this extra-sized issue. Two other stories can be found here. One is about Ghost Rider and a wild night of self-discovery and the other is about Wasp saving another hero. Both stories offer different kinds of tales and in turn offer up new directions for the characters within. Frazer Irving draws the Ghost Rider tale giving ample weirdness to the tale that suits Ghost Rider and the other character he spars with. The last story is drawn by Andrea Sorrentino and is perfectly suited to his style with a darker, edgier tone. These stories add to the package and make the book really feel like a milestone.
The main art team here is David Marquez and Ed McGuiness who do a great job with the big action and build up that opens this book. Marquez takes the first swing and you’ll barely notice when McGuiness takes over thanks to a well-timed cut. Marquez’s scenes focus on the political elements and the setup while McGuiness gets to play around with the in your face action sequences. Together they make this book feel larger than life.
Seems like a nice guy. Credit: Marvel Comics
It can’t be perfect can it?
It is true the opening scenes are exposition heavy, laying on the political climate for two sides too heavily. The book can be slow in these scenes with the main driving force to turn the page being the fact that you know there are so many more pages to this extra-sized issue. Given how massive this book is and how exciting the new direction this series is going in though, I doubt many will be bothered much by this.
Is it good?
I had a blast reading this issue and running through my mind where the story may go from here. Jason Aaron and the incredible artists have managed to write a milestone issue that feels important while also laying down the groundwork for exciting future stories.
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