The Avengers Debut! A Comic Book Review of the Marvel Masterworks Collection!
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Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, Captain America, Ant-Man and the Wasp Unite!
The Avengers Volume 1 was one of the first four collections when Marvel Comics began publishing its Marvel Masterworks series in 1987. Since then the company has come out with new editions and reprints that vary, contain fewer stories or bonus material, and have different covers. This review will focus on the 2003 trade paperback version that Marvel published in partnership with Barnes & Noble, as that is the book I am holding in my hands!
The Coming Of The Avengers!
This Marvel Masterworks volume contains the first 10 issues of The Avengers, which debuted in 1963 when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby brought together Thor, Iron Man, The Hulk, Ant-Man and the Wasp to battle Thor's evil half-brother Loki. From the start Lee and Kirby seemed determined to throw everything into the series but the kitchen sink. The membership began changing in the second issue, a tradition that has continued until today.
Each adventure veers wildly from scene to scene, with the characters always racing off somewhere and the fights being over-the-top in the Kirby style. Ant-Man becomes Giant-Man, Iron Man changes his suit, the Hulk leaves and then is chased by the other Avengers, leading to a fight with the Sub-Mariner. And that's only the first three issues!
One gets the sense when reading this books that Stan and Jack were having a lot of fun, and that joy is evident throughout.This is a great collection for anybody who loves old comics!
Each adventure veers wildly from scene to scene, with the characters always racing off somewhere and the fights being over-the-top in the Kirby style. Ant-Man becomes Giant-Man, Iron Man changes his suit, the Hulk leaves and then is chased by the other Avengers, leading to a fight with the Sub-Mariner. And that's only the first three issues!
One gets the sense when reading this books that Stan and Jack were having a lot of fun, and that joy is evident throughout.This is a great collection for anybody who loves old comics!
Buy This Book on Amazon!
Amazon offers various editions of Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1. So take your pick!
Captain America Joins...The Avengers!
Avengers No. 4 is easily the most important of the stories collected in this volume, even more than the debut of the team in the first issue. Given the unimaginative title ''Captain America Joins...The Avengers!'', Lee and Kirby re-introduce the comic-book character from the 1940s (Kirby was co-creator of Captain America back then).Captain America had been in suspended animation, frozen in a block of ice, since the final days of World War II, and he recounts how his young partner Bucky had been killed trying to disarm a Nazi missile (Lee has said that he killed off Bucky because he simply disliked kid sidekicks).
This had a huge impact on the series, because the grief-stricken Captain America almost immediately became the emotional center of the book, with his search for his old WWII enemy Baron Zemo pushing the storyline. (The scene shown here is from Avengers No. 6, included in this Marvel Masterworks, of course!) Captain America would go on to become one of Marvel's most-popular characters in the decades since his reappearance.
Avengers No. 4 on eBay!
Avengers No. 4 is one of the true collector's items from the early 1960s because of the re-introduction of Captain America. Here is your chance to own a part of comic-book history!
The Ten Initial Adventures!
The first 10 issues of the Avengers were so action-packed it would be hard to capture the flavor and drama of the stories on one short paragraph, so I've decided to list each issue separately. Enjoy!
- Avengers No. 1: The team comes together after Loki use the Hulk in a diabolical plot against his half-brother Thor. Best scene is when the Hulk hides out at a circus dressed as a clown!
- Avengers No. 2: Ant-Man becomes Giant-Man as the Space Phantom disguises himself as The Hulk to fight the rest of the Avengers. At the end of the issue, The Hulk resigns from the team because he says the others hate him.
- Avengers No. 3: Iron Man debuts his familiar red-and-yellow suit as the Avengers try to track down The Hulk. The Hulk teams up with the Sub-Mariner for a wild battle with the heroes!
- Avengers No. 4: The Avengers, still looking for The Hulk, come across Captain America frozen in a block of ice. There's a return bout with the Sub-Mariner as the Avengers help repair a spaceship so an alien can go home.
- Avengers No. 5: The Avengers fight the Lava Men, foes of Thor, with the help of The Hulk!
- Avengers No. 6: Baron Zemo, the Nazi whose plans put Captain America in the deep-freeze and killed Bucky, leads the Masters of Evil (The Black Knight, The Mysterious Melter, and the Radioactive Man) against the Avengers in an attempt to destroy Captain America!
- Avengers No. 7: Baron Zemo joins forces with the Executioner and the Enchantress to fight the Avengers.
- Avengers No. 8: The Avengers fight Kang the Conqueror from the future. Kang would later become one of the Avengers most enduring foes. This is the last issue that Kirby drew.
- Avengers No. 9: Baron Zemo tries once more for vengeance, and with the aid of The Executioner, The Enchantress plants ally Wonder Man in the Avengers ranks to betray the team from within. Wonder Man turns against Baron Zemo and seemingly dies in the end (Actually, Wonder Man would return a dozen years later). Don heck took over as the artist of the series with this issue.
- Avengers No. 10: Baron Zemo, the Executioner and the Enchantress (yes, once again!) team up with Immortus to battle the Avengers!
Avengers Comics on eBay
EBay has really leveled the playing field for collectors of all stripes by making it possible to buy a hard-to-find or rare item from anybody, anywhere. This has happened with comic books as well, so if you are interested in collecting the Avengers you should be able to find many choices available on eBay. Check it out!
Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Ant-Man and Wasp!
In 1963 Stan Lee and Jack Kirby brought together a quintet of Marvel Comics' finest super-heroes to create The Avengers. New members joined the team over the years, and at times each of the original members took leaves of absence. But the founding Avengers are still some of the best characters that Marvel has ever produced and they are still going strong decades later! The original line-up above is taken from the first page of Avengers No. 1, as included in the Marvel Masterworks book.
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Captain America and The Avengers For Your Wall!
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Marvel Masterworks vs. Marvel Essentials
The Marvel Masterworks series has fewer stories in each book, but they are published in wonderful full-color that presents the tales in all their original glory. The Marvel Essentials series of books publish the stories in black-and-white, on lesser quality paper, but each collection contains more than twice as many stories.
Is the Marvel Masterworks series better than the Marvel Essential series? Why or Why Not?
Yes, the Marvel Masterworks series is the way to go!
No way! the Marvel Essential series is a much better buy!
christopherwell says:
The cheaper edition makes it WAY easier to afford the old stories!
Marvel Masterworks at Amazon!
The Marvel Masterworks series is a great way to explore the early history of the Marvel Comic universe. The stories may not have the depth of some of today's series, but they sure were fun! Here's your opportunity to own some:
Marvel Essentials at Amazon
I am more partial to the Marvel Masterworks series because the comics are reprinted in color, but the Marvel Essential series is such a great bargain that I highly recommend you checking out these books as well:
The Avengers with Rick Jones
Here is a shot of the Avengers from the Marvel Masterworks showing how within a few issues of the comic's debut the cast of characters had changed: The Hulk left, to be replaced by Captain America; Giant-Man replaced Ant-Man; Rick Jones became an unofficial mascot; and Iron Man changed his suit of armor.
Own a Poster Of Avengers No. 10!
Captain America, Iron Man and Giant-Man
Stan Lee, Creator of the Avengers!
A profile of the Man Who Started the Marvel Age!
Here is a really nice lens about Stan Lee, who created and wrote the first issues of the Avengers!
Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man
This edition of the Marvel Masterworks contains Spider-Man's introduction and origin in Amazing Fantasy No. 15 as well as the first 10 issues of Amazing Spider-Man. In almost every issue in this collection there is a new development that would add to the depth of the series and make Spidey the most-beloved character in the Marvel Universe. I think so highly of Spider-Man's early adventures I dedicated a squidoo lens to this collection. If you are interested in the early days of the Marvel Universe, I highly recommend this!
Comic Book Heaven!
Check out Geppi's Entertainment Museum!
If you are a fan of comic books then you should visit Geppi's Entertainment Museum in Baltimore. Founded by Stephen Geppi, president and chief executive officer of Diamond Comics Distributors, this place has one of the best comic-book collections on display anywhere! I wrote a separate lens on Geppi's that provides more details on the museum. Please check it out!
Own Your Own Blog!
My Other Comic Book Lenses
Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Iron Fist and More!
If you liked this review, please check out the other reviews I've done on various comic books!
A Review of the New York Comic Convention 2011
Thousands of Comic Book Fans in One Place!
One of the big highlights of the 2011 comic convention in New York was the stand devoted to The Avengers movie as well as the accompanying panel with some of the actors that star in it. My daughter and I were able to attend the convention, and wrote a review of our day there. It was a blast, and we highly recommend a visit to the convention next year for any true comic book fan!
Don't Forget To Order Marvel Masterworks The Avengers Volume 1
What Do You Think?
Here's your chance to discuss this book, Spider-Man, comic books, this lens or anything else on your mind! Thanks for stopping by!
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sabrebIade
Feb 15, 2012 @ 8:49 pm | delete
- In the picture above, why does Rick Jones look like the Avengers are taking him to jail?
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rauspitz Feb 7, 2012 @ 10:20 pm | delete
- I remember buying and reading the Avengers back then along with the Fantastic Four, Spiderman and the X-Men. It was great stuff!
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Close2Art
Dec 13, 2011 @ 10:43 am | delete
- Stan Lee sold out to Disney, 'nuff said....but anyway, great lens, love silverage, bronze, and copper age Marvel comics, I don't get into the new artwork or feel of the comics, just isn't like it use to be. Great lens!!! Blessed
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goldenrulecomics
Dec 13, 2011 @ 7:47 pm | delete
- I know exactly what you mean. I've tried to get my children interested in today's comics but they refused. They like the old stuff better as well!
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christopherwell
Oct 5, 2011 @ 3:13 pm | delete
- Good lens!
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by goldenrulecomics
I was a big, big fan of comics back in the 1960s and 1970s, and still have thousands of Marvel comics and DC comics in my attic. The Avengers was one... more »
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