As Jason Aaron’s run of “The Avengers” hits issue #50, we also get a milestone issue of #750. That’s a whole lot of avenging, so how does Marvel celebrate? With nearly 90 pages of comic to wrap up current events, set up new ones, and shake up not only Marvel history, but the entire Marvel multiverse.
There’s a lot, so let’s dig in.
Written by Jason Aaron & Christopher Rucchio
Illustrated by Ed McGuinness, Steve McNiven, David Baldeon, and Javier Garron
Colored by Alex Sinclair, David Curiel, Matt Hollingsworth, Rachelle Rosenberg, Israel Silva, and Frank D’armata
Lettered by VC’s Cory PetitCOMMEMORATING LEGACY #750! Supersize extravaganza of Earth’s mightiest action and surprises! Witness the jaw-dropping conclusion of “World War She-Hulk!” Learn the true purpose of the prehistoric Avengers! Uncover the shocking secret of the Iron Inquisitor! Behold the most powerful collection of super-psychopaths that any Earth has ever seen! Watch the Avengers recruit some shocking new members! And follow the Ghost Rider on a quest for vengeance across the Multiverse that will spark an all-new era in Avengers history! Plus: A bonus story featuring Thor by Christopher Ruocchio and Steve McNiven!
This is a big issue, so it gives us plenty to cover. In fact, the story is broken up into multiple parts, which it alternates through as the story progresses so we can keep up with the developments of each one. So not only do we have the conclusion and aftermath to the “World War She-Hulk” story arc, but we also get Ka-Zar’s time traveling journey (including the prehistoric Avengers), Doctor Doom and Mephisto hatching their machinations, the Avengers considering expanding their membership, Ghost Rider’s own issues, Deathloks from the future coming with dire warnings, and so much more.
Oh, and the Squadron Supreme is there too, so that story’s going to come into play again at some point.
Yeah, that’s a lot of story to fit into a single issue, but never once did it feel bogged down. By providing bite-sized pieces at a time, we can see how each story progresses, how the various beats and plot points connect, and how it’s all building up to create new story arcs and new comics spinning off from the events therein.
Most importantly: ever last one of these various stories is engaging and entertaining. We can enjoy seeing the aftermath of “World War She-Hulk” play out for the various characters involved, including the effects it has on Jen herself and the fallout for Gorilla-Man. We can get invested as Robbie Reyes looks into his powers and the Avengers promise to watch after his brother should anything happen. And seeing Doom gather villains from throughout the multiverse to wreck havoc across worlds? Now that’s just building up a group of villains and creating a suitable Avengers-level threat.
Not once reading this comic did I feel any of the storylines were anything less than interesting (and I normally don’t care for Ka-Zar, but his time traveling adventure just kept getting better), nor did I wonder when the issue would end. Every character was interesting, the dialogue was solid across all speakers, and I was invested in each of their individual struggles.
What can I say? Jason Aaron has proven once again why he’s one of Marvel’s top talents when it comes to making comics that are just plain fun and exciting.
The artwork does tend to shift between artists as we go from story to story, but no matter who is handling the pencils, it’s consistently solid work. The changes are mostly when characters travel between worlds in the multiverse, which serves a great effect of visually indicating to readers that they’re in a different plane without needing to spell it out for us. For instance, Earth-818 uses leaner designs with more detailing lines, along with a more subdued color scheme. But frankly? It’s great artwork no matter which world we’re looking at.
For the most part, we get the Javier Garron artwork that’s been a big part of this “Avengers” run. The characters are often drawn with bold, muscular designs that make them feel larger than life (emphasis on the “muscular” for characters like She-Hulk and Odin) while still keeping the overall designs clean. When combined with the bright color work, they pop off the page and quickly draw our eyes.
Continued belowSpeaking of character designs, wow are we ever getting a treat with this issue. Not only do we get a variety of multiversal baddies (including a new armored villain with an impressive suit) but we also get to see a wide array of heroes lost to time, and with all their designs, I wish we got to see more of them. To name a few, we’re given a Samoan Ghost Rider who rides a flying shark, a t-rex Starbrand, and a samurai with the spirit of vengeance. (And also 3-D Man, for some reason.) Practically any one of these characters is worthy of at least a mini-series spinoff, and I want to know all their stories. Just the splash page showing them all is enough to spark the imagination, as they’re all illustrated with creative designs that are filled with personality.
And look, I’m doing my best to avoid spoilers, but the story points that would be spoilers to mention are exciting too, taking characters in new directions and introducing story arcs that I can’t wait to see play out.
At the end of the comic, we get a side story featuring Thor and a young boy whose identity would also be a spoiler. (Okay, spoiler alert: it’s a young Arthur Pendragon.) It’s a short one, with Christopher Ruocchio penning a tale of gods and aliens as Thor takes on a swarm of Brood, and discussing what it means to be worthy of something. It’s short, but well-written, providing good pacing and ample fear as we start by seeing a young boy fleeing from aliens.
But the artwork for this side story is particularly impressive. Steve McNiven makes great use of shadows and darkness, while adding ample detail to characters and scenery alike. Even with Thor’s old design, with the blue tights and silver circles on his shirt, seems impressive and mighty under his pencils, showing off his musculature in nice detail while bringing out the action and impact of the fight. The intricate linework on the Broods’ chitinous bodies is exceptional, and when Thor smites several of them with lightning from his hammer, well, I’d like to frame that page and hang it on my wall.
So even if that last bit doesn’t add much to the overall story, damn it looks good!
All in all, “Avengers” #50 is a fitting anniversary issue in every way. It’s fast-paced, engaging, builds on the entire “Avengers” mythos and the Marvel Universe as a whole, and every page is a treat. With all the new stories, characters, and surprises thrown at us, it’s a blast to read from the first page to the last.
Final Verdict: 8.9 – An anniversary issue that builds on Marvel’s history, sets up big threats and big stories, and takes characters in exciting new directions, all while being generally easy to read and a feast for the eyes. What’s not to love?
