There are a lot of comics out there, but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we’re taking a look at a world where there NEVER came a day unlike any other, when Earth’s mightiest heroes DIDN’T unite against a common threat, “Heroes Reborn” by Jason Aaron, Ed McGuinness, Dale Keown, Federico Vincentini, and plenty of others over at Marvel Comics. While the faces might look familiar, the world is very different for Blade, as he treks through a new America that never knew the Avengers. While this brave new world might have its benefits, there is just enough wrong that intervention is necessary. If you like fun mashups, not quite dystopian worlds, and supreme squadrons, then “Heroes Reborn” is the book for you! Join us as we tell you why you should be joining Blade on his quest to make things right.
Who is this by?
Exploring a new world means that you’re going to need a solid team to guide you on your way. Luckily, “Heroes Reborn” has a team that knows how to balance the over-the-top superhero action with enough tongue-in-cheek fun to make you want to keep exploring the world. “Heroes Reborn” is written by Jason Aaron (“Thor: God of Thunder,” “Avengers,” “Wolverine and the X-Men,” “Southern Bastards”), who is currently one of the top creatives at Marvel studios. While Jonathan Hickman is building a mutant utopia on Krakoa and Al Ewing is creating operatic space adventures of gods and emperors, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are in the hands of Jason Aaron.
Joining Aaron is a strong team of creators, blending some old names in with new rising stars. Ed McGuinness (“Ultimate Spider-Man,” “Ultimate Avengers,” “Superman,” “Wolverine and the X-Men”) joins Aaron as the main artist of “Heroes Reborn” #1 and the backup stories of subsequent issues. McGuinness has a solid support staff including Mark Morales (“Avengers,” “Dawn of X,” “Invincible”) on inks and Matthew Wilson (“Black Panther,” “Conan the Barbarian,” “Dawn of X”) on colors. VC’s Cory Petit (“All New X-Men,” “Daredevil,” “Immortal Hulk”) provides the letters. Each issue brings in a new art team, with McGuinness being the guiding force of the overall story of Blade trying to set things right. Each artist makes the issue feel like a unique title, including Dale Keown (“Asgardians of the Galaxy,” “Hulk,” “Shazam,”) and Federico Vincentini (“Way of X,” “Amazing Spider-Man”).
What’s it all about?
“Heroes Reborn” takes place in an alternate version of Earth-616, an Earth where the Avengers never assembled. Instead, The Squadron Supreme of America defends America and its leader, Phil Coulson. While other members of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes exist, many are the people they were before they became heroes (and others have gone the other way, becoming villains.) In any case, only one person remembers the world that existed with the Avengers, Blade, and he’s trying to bring that world back.
Each issue of “Heroes Reborn” focuses on an individual member of The Squadron Supreme of America, showing the domino effect of how the world Blade woke up in exists. It seems that one event, in particular, might have been responsible for creating this world. Captain America remained frozen.
What makes it so great?
In many ways, “Heroes Reborn” is Jason Aaron doing what he does best, creating big over-the-top superhero setpieces. There’s a lot to like about Jason Aaron, who has a really good handle on creating a tone for a superhero comic. Aaron seems to love all aspects of superhero melodrama, knowing how to balance the overwrought and sometimes melodramatic soapiness of superheroes with moments of fun levity or extreme fist of metal corniness. In “Heroes Reborn,” he gets to play with many of these elements, creating a world that’s not quite a dystopia but certainly one with less than savory elements. Plus, Aaron is just having a blast making fun mashups of some of Marvel’s favorite villains. Aaron is creating a truly wild new world to explore, from The Black Skull (a symbiote-infected Hydra leader) to Dr. Juggernaut (a villain that speaks to my soul). Aaron’s script highlights many of the things that have made him stand out as a creator, but what sells the idea of a new world is the art team.
While McGuinness might have come to fame at the height of removing some of the silly frills of the superhero comic, he is proving to be a good collaborator for Aaron’s dynamic action. McGuinness creates engaging splash panels that show off the Squadron Supreme’s powers while also creating unique designs for the mashup villains. While I’ve already mentioned Dr. Juggernaut, the All-Gog is for sure a strong contender for best design. Each issue of “Heroes Reborn” focuses on a new member of The Squadron Supreme of America, giving each issue a distinct feel as new art teams take over. In a way, it feels like Marvel’s attempt to do an entire universe with one creative team, and it largely works. Each issue has its fun style and tone, with McGuinness being the common factor at the end of each issue. Overall, combining Aaron with new artists on each issue is a smart move because it helps sell the idea of a new alternate version of Earth.
How can you read it?
“Heroes Reborn” is published weekly by Marvel Comics through mid-June and can be picked up at your local comic shop or can be read digitally on platforms like Comixology or Marvel Unlimited. Like other events, “Heroes Reborn” also features several tie-in titles about what other Marvel characters have been up to as Blade tries to get things back to normal. The third issue of the series comes out this week, so there are no trade paperbacks of this title.
