All-Out Avengers, much like Marvel’s underrated Non-Stop Spider-Man, smartly places its mission statement right in the title. In this miniseries — from Derek Landy, Greg Land, Jay Leisten, Frank D’Armata, and Cory Petit — the Avengers are placed into one do-or-die mission after another. The only problem is, they don’t remember how or why this all began!
Each issue begins with a striking splash page that establishes the issue’s big threat and premise, then launches right into the battle at hand. Every one of these feels like it has been strategically designed to make readers as hyped as possible. We’re talking Doctor Doom wielding Mjolnir and Cap’s shield, two Red Skulls torturing Captain America, and even more wild surprises that start each chapter at full volume. It’s hard to imagine going up from these opening salvos, but each issue still manages to deliver a fun done-in-one story that also carries on an overarching plotline: Why don’t the Avengers have memories?
In a fun twist, the omniscient narrator of the book reveals themselves to be an actual character within the story, offering color commentary and their thoughts on each hero as the series progresses. It’s a fun twist on typical comics narration that also makes it so that this book could easily be someone’s first Avengers story, and they wouldn’t have a hard time catching up. In many ways, this would be a fun book for someone to pick up after being enthralled by the movies and wanting to find a kind of “gateway” Avengers story.
If there’s one thing I’d ding this story on, it’s the fact that each issue follows a roughly similar template. Big first page setting up the stakes, protracted fight in which the Avengers have to reach the Macguffin of the issue, and then a tease that the Avengers are beginning to ask questions that our mystery narrator doesn’t want answered. Each of these battles tends to end with something of a deus ex machina, as well, typically in the form of a secret weapon or unseen double-cross that occurred between panels. The book still manages to be a great deal of fun, but there are a few elements of sameness that carry over in the first few issues.
Still, it’s easy to lose yourself in these big battles. Pretty much every issue feels like it could be the finale of another larger crossover event. There’s plenty of quipping and big action beats. Thor smashes a Red Skull LMD’s jaw while calling it a “little bigot,” Hawkeye goes full John Carter on a swarm of attacking alien creatures, Spider-Man punches Blade so hard that he finally takes off his shades. It’s a wild ride from start to finish.
Upon completing All-Out Avengers, there’s a definite feeling that things are just getting started, and I imagine many readers will eagerly seek out Avengers Beyond to learn what’s next. On its own, All-Out Avengers is a fun series of action-packed vignettes, wrapped in a neat little mystery.
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