Avengers #17 is juggling quite a lot. It takes place after Blood Hunt and the end of the Krakoan Age, as the Avengers deal with the fallout. It begins a new story arc, with a new antagonist that has history with the Avengers. But the biggest draw is that the issue features Storm, who is trying to find her place in the world post-Krakoa. Will it be with the Avengers, especially considering the new threat that’s literally hurtling their way?
Though Blood Hunt has ended, Jed MacKay remains dedicated to exploring its fallout, especially with how it affected the Avengers, since Black Panther was turned into a vampire and the Bloodcoven soundly defeated Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in the opening stage of the vampire invasion. MacKay dedicates most of the issue to characters grappling with this fallout. Sam Wilson approaches Storm to join their ranks because he feels the Avengers could have helped the X-Men battle Orchis; Captain Marvel feels the Avengers failed to properly protect the Earth, and Iron Man is quick to dig to the root of her anger; the Vision and Scarlet Witch have a surprisingly moving conversation about the nature of life.
It’s a testament to MacKay’s storytelling skills that he can make these deep conversations just as compelling as any fight scene. Avengers #17 also continues MacKay’s tradition of working with some of the best artists in the comic book business; this time, it’s Valerio Schiti. Schiti’s illustrated some downright jaw-dropping comics with G.O.D.S. and Judgement Day for Marvel, and he doesn’t skimp on the spectacle here.
Actions as simple as Black Panther drinking coffee or Vision planting a tree let the reader drink in the detail Schiti puts on the page; you can see the weariness on T’Challa’s face, and the sorrow in Vision’s eyes. Storm especially benefits from Schiti’s work; her hair and clothes appear to flow with the wind, and a full page image depicts lightning splitting the sky behind her. Bryan Valenza adds extra oomph to the proceedings by coloring the sky a dark blue, which makes the bluish-white glow of Storm’s glowing eyes and the lightning stand out.
The issue also contains a backup story in the form of “Weapon X-Traction” by Ryan North, Javier Garron and Edgar Delgado which features Deadpool and Wolverine; it’s part six and I haven’t read the others so I freely admit to being a little lost. Still, that’s only a minor speed bump to an overall great issue – and the next issue is going to up the stakes, especially with who Storm and the Avengers are facing off against. Overall, Avengers #17 works as both the start of a new story arc and as a character piece.
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