Classic Review: Avengers- Absolute Vision Book 2

Quick Summary

Pros: Many of the stories told here are exciting. The characters bring charm and humor to the entire volume. Vision’s presence helps develop an engaging and thought-provoking finale.

Cons: The two opening chapters are just average. Some portions of the book are a bit too heavy on exposition.

Overall: This volume continues the entertaining storytelling and charming personalities that have become such an important part of the Avengers series. The adventures here are fun, the characters are delightful, and there are even moments where the book dips into some compelling themes. The only downside is that there are a few points where the narrative is just average. Readers looking for fun Avengers stories, especially fans of Vision, should consider reading this collection.

Story

Avengers: Absolute Vision Book 2, by Roger Stern, maintains the satisfying level of quality seen in its predecessor. This collection tells several exciting and engaging stories. These range from thrilling battles with creepy aliens to a thought-provoking look into Vision’s attempt at leadership. Alongside this, personal interactions continue to bring charm and humor to the Avengers roster. There are places where the narrative stumbles a bit but it always manages to recover. Readers who enjoyed the previous volume will likely enjoy this one as well.

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Absolute Vision Book 2 contains plenty of entertaining story arcs. The battle against the Dire Wraiths takes the shapeshifting powers of the Skrulls and uses them to their full effect. It creates a creepy and sinister narrative where powerful enemies and unexpected betrayals keep the reader on their toes. Meanwhile, the fight against Maelstrom is exciting, as the foe poses a more significant threat than it initially appeared he would. The conclusion to this fight, which has the Avenger’s overload the villain with power, is also more unique and less expected than other solutions from this era.

Chief among the book’s best story arcs though is the one surrounding Vision. Throughout the entire volume, it is clear something is concerning Vision and that this will have an impact later in the volume. It helps build suspense throughout the read and ensure that there is more to come on the horizon. Then, at the collection’s conclusion, Vision is shown wrestling with the idea of taking personal control of all computers on Earth. It is a thought-provoking concept that raises questions regarding the morality of absolute power and the necessity of personal sacrifice for the common good. The entire arc is highly compelling and Vision’s decision near the end closes the book on a great note.

Absolute Vision Book 2 also continues the trend established by its predecessors and continues to focus on the personal lives of the Avengers. Readers have a chance to see interactions between current Avengers and former Avengers, see members of the team go out for lunch together, and even see Wasp start dating again. These personal touches are always fun to see, and I’m happy that they have continued in this series.

Though Absolute Vision Book 2 has many positives, it also experiences a few negatives along the way. The opening two chapters are mostly average and fail to stand out. In addition, there are places where a ton of exposition causes the narrative to drag. This is most obvious in the introduction of the Secret Wars event and in the introduction of the Eternals. However, none of these negatives are significant enough to take away from the book’s overall appeal.

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Art

The majority of the artwork in Absolute Vision Book Two is positive. Al Milgrom’s pencils create characters with expressive faces, ready to emphasize the vast variety of emotions found throughout this book. This is particularly important in the case of Vision, where the artwork goes a long way in cluing the reader in that something is amiss. Later on in the collection, Bob Hall’s pencils allow the science fiction portions of the story to properly convey their subject matter.

The only downside is that there are places where the inks, mostly provided by Joe Sinnott, do not pair well with the pencils. The inks come off lighter than normal and make the heroes seem less defined. To me, this made the action feel less bold and dramatic. 

Continuity

Avengers: Absolute Vision Book Two continues the story from Avengers: Absolute Vision Book One (Review).

The story here continues in Avengers: The Legacy of Thanos (Review).

This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:

• Hank Pym mentions fixing Vision in the past. This happened in Avengers #93, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 10 (Review).
• The Avenger’s number was limited at six back in Avengers #211, which will be collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 20.
• Hawkeye was cut from the Avengers back in Avengers #181, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 18 (Review). 
• Vision’s body was possessed back in Marvel Team-Up #130.
• Vision lost his arm in Vision and the Scarlet Witch #2, collected in Avengers: Vision and the Scarlet Witch. 
• Avengers #242 mentions a recent change in Thor’s life. This change is explained over the course of Thor #337-340, collected in Thor by Walt Simonson Vol. 1. 
• The conclusion of Avengers #242 leads into the Secret Wars event. This event is referenced a number of other times over the course of this collection.
• The Dire Wraiths are an enemy present throughout most of the Rom series. Specifically, their actions in Rom #48 and Rom #50 are mentioned here.
• Avengers #243 mentions the actions of the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four #255-256, collected in Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 3.
• Bova’s role in Quicksilver’s life is explained in Avengers #185-187, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 18 (Review). 
• Avengers Annual #13 mentions that the Hulk disappeared recently. This happened in Incredible Hulk #300, collected in The Incredible Hulk: Regression. 
• The Gammascope was created back in Incredible Hulk #285, collected in The Incredible Hulk: Pardoned. 
• She-Hulk’s origin is referenced. This origin is shown in She-Hulk #1, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Savage She-Hulk Vol. 1. 
• Captain America’s history with Arnim Zola can be seen in Captain America #209-212, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Captain America Vol. 11. 
• Avengers #247 references She-Hulk’s involvement in Fantastic Four #269, collected in Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 5. 
• The history of the Eternals, Deviants, and Celestials is mostly explained across the original Eternals series. This series is collected in The Eternals by Jack Kirby Vol. 1 (Review) and The Eternals by Jack Kirby Vol. 2 (Review).
• Thor’s involvement with the Eternals is shown in Thor 283-293 and Thor #300, collected across Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Vol. 18 (Review) and Vol. 19.
• The later history of Chronos and Alars is mostly explained across Jim Starlin’s run on Captain Marvel, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Vol. 3 (Review).
• References are made to a battle involving the Eternals from Iron Man Annual #6, collected in Iron Man Epic Collection: Duel Of Iron. 
• Thing’s encounter with Maelstrom is shown in Marvel Two-in-One #72.
• Avengers #249 references a previous battle against the Weathermen, from Avengers #210.
• Avengers #249 continues the story from Thor #349. This story is then continues in Thor #350. Both these issues of Thor are collected in Thor by Walt Simonson Vol. 2. 
• Starting in Avengers #249, a number of references are made to Captain America being busy with events from his own series. These are likely referring to the crisis that takes place across Captain America #296-301, collected in Captain America: Death of the Red Skull. 
• Avengers #250 mentions that the Fantastic Four are currently traveling through time. This started in Fantastic Four #272, collected in Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 5.
• Tigra’s encounter with Ghost Rider took place in Avengers #214, collected in Avengers: The Trial of Yellowjacket (Review).
• Iron Man references the West Coast Avenger’s recent fight against Graviton. This took place in West Coast Avengers #4.
• The negative impacts of Moondragon’s mind control are mentioned a few times. This is mostly in reference to Avengers #219-229, collected in Avengers: The Trial of Yellowjacket (Review).
• Avengers #251 mentions the Fantastic Four’s battle with Terminus in Fantastic Four #269, collected in Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 5.
• Samson’s origin story is mentioned. This origin is detailed in Incredible Hulk #141, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk Vol. 7. 
• Avengers #252 mentions a base in the desert once used by Thanos. This was originally shown back in Iron Man #55, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 2, or in Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Vol. 3 (Review).
  • This base was also part of a battle from Marvel Feature #12.
• The Black Knight previously teamed up with the Avengers in Avengers #225-226, collected in Avengers: The Trial of Yellowjacket (Review). 
• Vision’s body was previously taken over by:
  • Ultron in Avengers #58, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 6 (Review), and Avengers #66, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 7 (Review). 
  • The Mad Thinker in Avengers #135, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 14 (Review). 
• The Leader’s satellite was last seen in The Incredible Hulk #284, collected in The Incredible Hulk: Pardoned.
• Avengers #253 mentions a number of aspects from Quasimodo’s history. These include:
  • His creation in Fantastic Four Annual #4, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 6 (Review).
  • His encounter with the Silver Surfer and fight against the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four Annual #5, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 7 (Review).
• The curse on the Black Knight’s sword was broken in Doctor Strange #68, collected in Doctor Strange: Into The Dark Dimension. 
• The Black Knight briefly met Hercules back in Avengers #100, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 10 (Review).  
• Avengers #253 mentions a secret lab from Avengers Annual #9, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 18 (Review).