There’s no mistaking Marvel’s Mech Strike experiment is for the young and the young at heart. The original concept launched in 2021 featuring each Avenger with their own giant mech-suit. This week, Marvel is kicking it up a notch in Mech Strike: Monster Hunters by upgrading the concept with magic.
This spiritual successor series is by Christos Gage and Paco Diaz and continues to bring the mech fun that deserves a toy line all its own. It’s also new-reader friendly, dropping readers into the action and introducing each hero with helpful bios quickly and efficiently. There’s also a nice recap as to why there are Avenger mech suits at all and some well-timed callbacks to the original series.
As the preview shows, there’s also plenty of action. It all kicks off as there’s a threat taking place on the Latveria border and while that’s Dr. Doom’s land to rule, the threat is affecting people in Transylvania. The preview actually gives away a big reveal showing Venom, Green Goblin, Loki, and Dr. Doom all with magical suits of power. It’s a threat that’s a level up for our Avengers who only have metallic (albeit large) suits.
Diaz’s designs are pretty fun, leaning into the weirdness associated with threats Doctor Strange usually faces. They’re chaotic and all over the place, sure, but you know kids will love them. The mech suits look a little flat by comparison to the original series, but they look super fun as if they are toys. The visuals will back up the imaginations of the kiddos who will like this series.
Venom looks hungry.
Credit: Marvel
Your age is definitely a factor in how much you’ll like this book. This isn’t some complex diatribe on Dr. Doom’s ego or some thought experiment about superheroes taking on too much power. It’s just bonkers, blockbuster-style action fun. It accomplishes that and then some, but if you’re looking for something more you’ve come to the wrong place.
If you’re wondering if this series is in canon, it’s not – although it does use characterizations that are in canon. That means the characters think and talk like they would from the current timeline. That makes it a bit easier to enjoy knowing full well this is a wacky side adventure.
Similar to the original series, Mech Strike: Monster Hunters is bubblegum blockbuster fun. It’s not trying to be anything more than that, so if you’re up for some outlandish non-canon ideas involving Avengers in crazy mechs, you’ll dig this. The kids will love it.
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