The Essential Avengers Vol. 1 by Stan Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Launched in September 1963, the Avengers were Marvel's answer to the Justice League. However, there were some marked differences from the Justice Leagues. For starters, neither of Marvel characters, Spider-man or the Fantastic Four found their way into the Avengers. Instead, the Avengers featured characters who didn't actually have their own comic book but shared their titles with other characters. The first line up included Iron Man from Tales of Suspense; Ant Man, the Wasp, and the Incredible Hulk from Tales to Astonish, and Thor from Journey Into Mystery.

The first line up comes out almost through serendipity as a result of the mechanizations of Thor's brother Loki to frame the Hulk. They decide to form a team, but quickly it becomes clear that the Avengers are no Super Friends. After the 2nd Issue, the Hulk leaves and by the third issue, the Hulk has joined with Namor to fight his former allies.

The Avengers are a team that struggles for cohesiveness with personality conflicts cropping up everywhere. Wasp even suggests that Thor get a crew cut!

However, in Issue 4, the Avemgers changes forever with the re-awakening of Captain America, who subsequently joins the team. The whole feel of the Avengers changes and the next thirteen issues are delightful as a truly great Avengers team goes to war on evil.

In Issue 17, after yet another battle with the Masters of Evil, Iron Man, Giant Man, and Wasp decidesto take leaves of absence while Thor flies off for "The battle of the Gods," and the remaining Avengers choose three new team members in former bad guys Hawkeye, the Scarlet Witch and her brother Quicksilver with Captain America leading the team.

The last 7 issues leading up to Issue 24, feature an Avenger team where personality conflicts come fast and furious as Quicksilver and Hawkeye have an eye on replacing Cap, and the Avengers' reputation is put at risk thanks to the work of the Enchantress, and finally Cap quits in frustration but comes back when he realizes the Avengers need him.

There is much not to like about the book. Even at its height, the Avengers are not the nicest group in comics. When Ant Man summons the Avengers based on information received from the ants, he's laughed to scorn. When Iron Man misses a meeting of the Avengers, a board of inquiry is convened and he's given a one week suspension by Thor and Ant Man. And when you get into the last seven issues, I had moments where I wanted to smack Hawkeye swarmy arrogant face.

That said, there are two great reasons why this book earns five stars. A secondary reason is the villains. The Masters of Evil are a great team, as led by Baron Zemo, and the Enchantress does pretty well on her own with the aid of Powerman. In addition to that, a visit from the Mandarin and the Swordsman are highlights.

The second and overwhelming reason is Captain America. Captain America has no special powers or even a nifty bow and arrow, but he is the heart of the Avengers, and the true natural born leader. He gets testy at Hawkeye (who wouldn't?) and the contempt of the new male Avengers for him, but the fact is that he's the go-to guy, the role model. He has some moments of moodiness, but there's no one better to have by your side in battle. There's no one who's a better Inspirational leader than Captain America. And that's why the Avengers are able to continue to beat foes even after the massive power loss that Issue 17 represented.

Cap made the Avengers a great team when he joined in Issue 4, and he kept it a great team despite its comparative weakness after Issue 24. Add to that a good Commie-smashing issue and an issue where prayer was referenced repeatedly in a mainstream comic, and this book is a winner.



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