At Marvel Comics, the House of Ideas has been preparing for a new era of “Avengers.” The debut issue of the series was published this May featuring a classic roster of “Avengers” superheroes. Marvel is returning to the accomplished creative team behind “Black Cat” with Jed MacKay and C.F. Villa lending writing and art to the new comic book. We’ve seen the classic roster of heroes face off against new villains, fascinating Tribulation Events and an endearing plot threads opened with former “Avengers” foe Kang the Conqueror. Today we are going to explain why you can’t miss a single page of Marvel’s latest “Avengers” ongoing series!
Who’s this by?
Avengers is written by Jed MacKay. MacKay has had a long run at Marvel starting in the Spider-Man side of Marvel‘s publishing slate with “Spider-Verse” #2. “Spider-Verse” #2 features writing from an assortment of creators and art from Sheldon Vella, Kris Anka, David Lafuente and Francisco Herrera. Following work on the various Spider-Titles, MacKay switched over to “Daredevil” with the “Man Without Fear” featuring art from Danilo S. Beyruth. MacKay then started on Marvel’s “Black Cat” #1 for an ongoing series starting with artist Travel Foreman. MacKay began collaborating with C.F. Villa on the pages of Marvel’s “Black Cat” #11. “Black Cat” #11 was a thrilling chapter of the series where Black Cat was attempting to steal items from Tony Stark. With Villa’s adept facial work and page designs, it’s no wonder why he’s joining MacKay for this latest chapter of Marvel’s “Avengers.”
Marvel.com lists C.F. Villa’s first Marvel as “Lockjaw” #1 by Daniel Kibblesmith in 2018. Following Villa’s work on “Lockjaw” the artist switched over to another Marvel Comics solo ongoing with “Shatterstar” #1. “Shatterstar” #1 has additional art from Gerardo Sandoval and writing from Tim Seeley. Villa continued to work in the X-Office with “Uncanny X-Men” #18 written by Matthew Rosenberg. After concluding his X-Men work for a brief period, Villa joined MacKay for “Black Cat” #11 and the rest is history!
What’s it all about?
A select group of individuals are able to sense danger before it happens in a phenomena known as Tribulation Events. In the debut chapter of “Avengers” villain Kang the Conqueror reached out to the Avengers to warn them of the villainous Myrddin and The Twilight Court. Kang and Myrddin both seek a hidden block of time known as The Missing Moment. At some point in the future, Marvel villain Kang the Conqueror branches off in the timeline to become the villain Immortus. Marvel’s latest “Avengers” series is focused on fleshing out the relationship between The Avengers and Kang!
What makes it so great?
The most exciting aspect of “Avengers” from MacKay and Villa is the sheer amount of new ideas and twists on existing concepts that the creative team is exploring here. Watching Kang reach out to The Avengers for help in the first issue opened up a robust plot thread that the main “Avengers” comic book series is still exploring. In December 28, 2022 Marvel released a fascinating “Timeless” one-shot for 2022 also written by MacKay and illustrated by Patch Zircher, Salvador Larroca, Greg Land, establishing the foundations of Kang’s battle with Myrddin. When new creators launch “Avengers” titles, they don’t always have new characters and conflicts before the series even debuts. Part of the fun of this current “Avengers” run is watching the heroes catch up to speed with some of the information that the creative team has already doled out to their audience.
Artist C.F. Villa makes this “Avengers” run look incredibly dynamic. One of Villa’s greatest strength is laying out and designing a page. “Avengers” #3 opens with a beautiful page showcasing new villains, The Ashen Combine with silhouettes before boldly showing full slate of villains in dynamic poses. Villa depicts epic expressions of characters as well. It’s thrilling to watch Villa respond to recent continuity as well by delivering his interpretation of T’Challa’s latest Black Panther armor as well as Tony Stark’s new Iron Man suit. Villa’s art renders incredibly detailed looks at the Twilight Court and Myrddin in “Avengers” #2. In issue #2 there’s a wonderful page with Sam and a plain clothes man outside of Pittsburgh that features so much detail in local businesses and bathrooms. Villa even showcases this emotional scene with silhouettes again to render as much of the sentiment as possible.
Continued belowWhile there is so much subtext for Marvel’s “Avengers” series the main title features plenty of heart for Avengers like Carol Danvers and Tony Stark. In the first chapter of the series, the new team of “Avengers” comes together while MacKay slowly begins to implement plot threads with Kang. Watching Carol take the threat with Kang incredible seriously shows how perceptive she is as an Avenger amongst the rest of the cast. In the third chapter of “Avengers” the series finally acknowledges the premise of the title and showcases Earth’s Mightiest Heroes fighting a Tribulation Event with The Ashen Combine. At this point we will have to see if the “Avengers” have heeded Kang’s deadly warnings about impending Marvel threats to the Marvel Universe.
How can you read it?
“Avengers” is an ongoing series published monthly from Marvel Comics. The first collected volume of the series is called “Avengers by Jed MacKay Vol. 1: The Impossible City” and is on-sale January 9, 2024. Whatever you do, don’t miss the fascinating bond between Kang and The Avengers forged in the pages of Marvel’s newest volume centered around Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!
