In celebration of the Avengers’ 60th anniversary, Marvel Comics gave Paul Levitz and Alan Davis a chance to revisit the beloved characters set in a bygone era. Titled The Avengers: War Across Time, this series leans into the original era the Avengers were introduced in – a time when Beatlemania was sweeping the globe, and the characterization of each superhero is far different than in the modern era. This week the collected trade paperback is coming to bookstores and comic shops with all five issues featuring a team of Giant-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and Wasp. They’re up against Kang, but over the course of the series, they must also fight Sindri and the Lava Men!
The first thing you’ll notice when you open The Avengers: War Across Time is the iconic Avengers lineup. Set after the events of Avengers #11, the team is headed to New York after Kang created a robot replica of Spider-Man, wreaking havoc in the city. We soon learn Kang is at it again, and this time he’s created a Hulk replica powered by a Hulk heart from the future! The zany sci-fi antics permeate the entire run, with time portals being used and the Avengers even witnessing their history unfold before them.
This is for fans of the classic era of Avengers, right down to a very horny Wasp flirting with everyone and the by-the-book Captain America. There’s a different vibe with this team in part because they’re all pretty new to this team thing. Surprises from the classic comics appear like Iron Man’s roller skates popping out of his boots or Aunt May getting rescued by a hero in a tight situation. The characters sound like the classic versions and act as such too. Levitz makes sure we’re aware of key details we may have forgotten, like how the Avengers don’t know Tony Stark is inside the Iron Man suit. It leans heavily on the unique nature of this version of the team, which sets it apart from the modern era.
Kang is a real plotting of plans in this collection.
Credit: Marvel
The most surprising character trait is Wasp, who is shockingly thirsty throughout the run. Right off the bat, she’s hitting on Captain America and Thor. Then later, she’s asking Giant-Man to sleep with her and later still flirts with Iron Man right in front of Giant-Man. You don’t typically see characters act like that these days, but it was a defining trait of the old days.
The biggest takeaway is how good the art and action are in The Avengers: War Across Time. This book is packed with action from nearly cover to cover, and Alan Davis does not disappoint. His style suits this anniversary celebration as it is reminiscent of an older time, and Rachelle Rosenberg’s colors include that classic comic charm. In the first issue alone, you get Giant-Man vs. Hulk, Captain America vs. Hulk, Wasp vs. Hulk…you get the idea. Each hero gets to fight him individually, with impressive moments throughout. Possibly the coolest moment is when Hulk flips Giant-Man into a pile of police cars. It’s the kind of fight comics reminiscent of Jack Kirby’s iconic Thing vs. Hulk showdown issue. There are multiple creative fight scene moments, all worth checking out.
The biggest weakness in this collection is partly due to it being a prequel comic. The stakes never feel very high since we know they’ll all make it out alive. The ending also leaves much to be desired, with Kang never getting much of a loss in the grand scheme of things. He has his fair share of scenes in the book, but in the end, he’s mostly making up plans on the fly and is way too sure of himself in the process. The final moments allow the Avengers to see their legacy continue into the future, but it doesn’t feel like a win for them since they are actively confused by what they see. It’s an ending that doesn’t quite hit the mark.
The Avengers: War Across Time is a great fight comic and a great celebration of classic Avengers comics. You’ll get the general feel of how the comics read back in the day with tons of Alan Davis art. If that’s what you’re expecting, it delivers big time.
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