The original “Avengers Forever” series from Kurt Busiek, Roger Stern, and Carlos Pacheco is one of the most important Avengers stories of all time. The series celebrated the vast continuity of Avengers and help patch up a few retcons that needed to be filled from years of publication history. Marvel scribes Busiek and Stern crafted an impressive narrative that saw a distinct version of the Avengers face up against old foes. Marvel has just resurrected “Avengers Forever” with a new creative team. With so many different plot holes and characters opened up since the release of the original series, will Jason Aaron, Aaron Kuder, and Carlos Magno be able to homage the original title while introducing new elements? Find out in our review of the second installment of the new “Avengers Forever” title!
Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by Aaron Kuder and Carlos Magno
Inked by Scott Hanna, Roberto Poggi and Cam Smith
Colored by Guru-eFX
Lettered by VC’s Cory PetitVENGEANCE IN THE WASTELAND! On an alternate Earth ravaged by the multiversal Masters of Evil, Ghost Rider Robbie Reyes has been taken prisoner by the planet’s dark wastelords, the brutal War Machines. And what the Rider endures at their hands will change him forever – into the most unbridled force for vengeance any universe has ever seen. That’s unless Ant-Man, Tony Stark and his bunch of ragtag heroes can pull off the mother of all rescues.
“Avengers Forever” #2 shows off some of the best parts of Jason Aaron’s writing from the opening page. Aaron gets deep and emotional with Ghost Rider, portraying the characterization of Robbie Reyes in more depth than an average “Avengers” issue. Aaron continues to increase the stakes in the scene until the violence is so pronounced that the “Avengers Forever” #2 script starts hinting at elements of horror. The supernatural elements disorient readers enough that the issue cannot be read by the faint of heart. Aaron’s dedication to this plot thread would give readers the idea that the title would be mundane but Aaron slowly introduces new facets to the script. Robbie’s struggle to survive is made more powerful by the fact that he’s in a scary new place fighting a brand new villain as well.
Aaron’s approach to “Avengers Forever” #2 corrects some of the pacing issues from the first chapter. Aaron almost dealt with too much plot that distracted from the mechanics of the new mini-series. Aaron’s focus on Ghost Rider gives the second issue a more intimate feel that makes it easier to acclimate into the new world Aaron is building for the issue. Aaron even uses the issue to finally pay off a massive plot thread surrounding Robbie Reyes that he has been building towards since the start of Aaron’s “Avengers” run. Also, it is quite remarkable to consider some of the issue’s connections and differences with the original series. The continuity clean-up with Ghost Rider here ends up feeling like a huge Yellowjacket or Kang revelation from the original “Avengers Forever.”
Artists Aaron Kuder and Carlos Magno both have different styles than the conventional comic book artist. Kuder uses all elements of the page to create the most engaging image possible. Ghost Rider’s battle with a certain villain here crushes into the border panels of the page to evoke the most tension Kuder and Magno possibly could hear from the art side of things. This is a dark issue with a lot of dour prison scenes that all look great here from a visual standpoint. Magno and Kuder drop the panel borders in some of these scenes to make the prison time flow naturally between scenes on the page. The last page is really ambitious in a sudden change of perspective that pays off an element of the first issue incredibly well. This creative team has a great relationship that pays off on the fascinating, fist-bump-worthy final page of the series.
One really important item here that must be addressed is how Aaron ends up adding to the Avengers lore. Readers are going to need to be familiar with at least the modern “Avengers” title to be able to comprehend some of the twists of the series. New fans that have not experienced these characters before will not understand the importance behind Aaron expanding some of the lore. It can be difficult to recommend certain comics because of the deep backstory behind the various characters. This would be a good place for a new reader to start and maybe even come back to in a few years to pick up on plot details that they missed. The fact that “Avengers Forever” #2 can be enjoyed on multiple levels is a testament to how great this second issue is. It should be clearly stated that if you read the original “Avengers Forever” before this new title you will have a better experience and pick up on even more nuance than the average reader.
“Avengers Forever” #2 draws on the best part of comics to expand The Avengers property in a fascinating direction. Jason Aaron’s cast is now fleshed out and ready to go deeper into the mini-series. Aaron’s remixed Avengers heroes look beautiful thanks to the art from Aaron Kuder and Carlos Magno. Issue #2 lays the groundwork for further issues and greatly enhances the scope of what “Avengers Forever” is trying to accomplish. “Avengers Forever” #2 is an important issue for Ghost Rider and Avengers fans that should not be missed. Aaron, Kuder, and Magno have a special collaboration that helps this tense issue close in on greatness.
Final Verdict: 9.0 – “Avengers Forever” #2 offers a dizzying Avengers revelation that evokes the greatness of the original series!
