The Avengers, much like their JLA counterparts at DC, are meant to be the greatest heroes of their respective universes, allowing for a roster that typically includes the mightiest do-gooders taking center stage. The Savage Avengers is not that team. Basically acting as a Conan the Barbarian title with some of Marvel’s most ruthless antiheroes and hard-luck crusaders thrown in, Savage Avengers by Gerry Duggan Vol. 2 is a bloody, brazen and fun book that ends the 2019 run of this title. Though it diverges from the polished heroics one expects of an Avengers title, it proves to be an unapologetically fun ride.
Collecting Savage Avengers #13–28 and Empyre: Savage Avengers, this finale sees Conan and an ever-growing roster of unlikely allies unite against sorcerer Kulan Gath. Wolverine, Black Widow, Hellstrom, Brother Voodoo, and Magik rally around Conan’s crusade, while the Punisher steps in when Gath’s sinister plan spills over into the global drug trade. Black Knight, Juggernaut, Spider-Man, Rhino, Deadpool, and Doctor Strange make worthwhile appearances, and while a stint in Ryker’s Island throws Conan into the path of the King in Black’s symbiote invasion, the team unites to confront Gath’s growing power, culminating in a final battle that threatens the entire planet.
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I’ve really enjoyed this run, even though this volume feels more like “Conan Team-Up” than an Avengers title. The final issues pay off with a chaotic, over-the-top romp that’s become a staple of this title. Gerry Duggan leans into wacky, high-energy storytelling, complete with cannibalism, jailbreaks, and even an impromptu alliance with Deadpool during the King in Black invasion. It’s clear reading this why Duggan would be recruited to take over the X-Men title following Hickman’s departure; he has a strong narrative knack for fun character beats mixed with over-the-top superheroics. While a few artists are present throughout these 15 issues, Patch Zircher and Kev Walker’s deft handling of action manage to deliver both the gory spectacle, complemented well by Java Tartaglia’s appealing colors. Admittedly, Conan purists may find the modern Marvel trappings jarring, and the savage violence is toned down by the time the final issue wraps up. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure having Conan in the Marvel 616 makes sense, but the book was so fun and intense that it’s easy to look beyond the canon issues.
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Like many Marvel TPBs of this nature, it includes some nice inked and sketch pages from the run, as well as a handful of variant covers, all of which get the full-page reprinting.
Savage Avengers continues to find a place in Marvel’s monthly lineup, and this concluding chapter from the 2019 run establishes why it has a fanbase. These issues deliver a fun, blood-soaked romp that showcases an engaging lineup of heroes and scoundrels. The story doesn’t shy away from outrageous gags while still delivering on brutal battle sequences. Though it may sometimes feel closer to team-up fan fiction than a traditional Avengers book, its impudent blend of humor, action, and character moments make Savage Avengers Vol. 2 worthy of a spot on your comic shelf.
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