Classic Review: Marvel Masterworks- Avengers Vol. 1

Quick Summary

Pros: This entire collection has a tremendous importance to the development of Marvel Comics as a whole, which is interesting to learn about. Stories in the collection’s second half are genuinely entertaining on their own.

Cons: Stories in the collection’s first half are mostly just average. Antiquated aspects of the writing stick out from a modern perspective, specifically the ridiculous sexism.

Overall: The stories collected here are a treat to read and a solid representation of the imagination of the Silver Age. They allow readers to peer into history and observe how some of their favorite characters and concepts have evolved over time. Most of the stories are also simply a blast to read, especially those focused on Captain America. Any fans interested in the history of Marvel Comics should check this book out.

Story

Looking back at classic comic books is often a fascinating experience. It allows a modern audience to see the origins behind integral features of pop culture and allows them to see how these features have evolved over time. Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1, by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Don Heck, is a prime example of such an experience. The stories told in this book are tremendously important to the history of comic books and most of them are also pretty fun to read as well. There are definitely a few points where the book feels dated or becomes less entertaining, but these problems are not significant enough to distract from the positives. Overall, this is one classic collection that is still worth reading today.

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Avengers Vol. 1‘s most significant positive is its place in the history of comic books. This collection sees the formation of the Avengers, the reintroduction of Captain America, and the initial battles with a variety of memorable villains. Numerous elements from these stories go on to have a huge impact on the Marvel comic book universe and even the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so seeing and learning about these origins is a tremendously satisfying experience for any Marvel fan.

However, when it comes to the actual entertainment quality of the individual stories, Avengers Vol. 1 stumbles a little bit. The first few chapters mostly end up just being average. They succeed in depicting some carefree action and in setting up plot points for the future but most of them are not overly memorable.

Luckily, things start to improve as the collection progresses. Captain America’s struggle for vengeance and his guilt over the death of his young partner are both tremendously compelling aspects of his character that are great to read about. Plus, the villains in the book’s second half, like Kang the Conqueror and Baron Zemo, hatch far more memorable schemes that lead to more enjoyable conflicts.

The downside to Avengers Vol. 1 is that many aspects of the writing style feel antiquated from a modern perspective. Scientific inaccuracies and mistakes in narration can be found throughout this book. While these are easy to look past, the ridiculous sexism is a little bit harder to escape. Every woman in this book is completely obsessed with two things, physical appearance and men. It makes this collection’s heroes and villains feel like parodies of actual people, rather than the compelling characters they are designed to be.

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Art

The artwork in Avengers Vol. 1 provides an experience that is just as entertaining as the story. Jack Kirby starts out the collection with the awesome character designs and thrilling bouts of action for which he is now famous. Specifically, I thoroughly enjoyed Kirby’s depictions of Thor and Captain America, two characters who really shine on every page they make an appearance. Avengers Vol. 1 also offers readers the unique ability to watch Kirby’s art evolve as the comic progresses. Refinements to Iron Man’s armor and some more creatively designed villains in the book’s second half give a sense that this comic is only just beginning to show what it is fully capable of. It also helps that Don Heck’s work in the final two chapters looks great as well and maintains the visual consistency of the series.

Continuity

Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 is the first volume in the Avengers series. Most of the characters are introduced here and no prior knowledge of them is necessary in order to understand this story.

The story here continues in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 2.

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

• All of the members of the Avengers have origin stories that are detailed elsewhere:
  • Iron Man’s origin is told in Tales of Suspense #39, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 1.
  • Ant-Man’s origin is told in Tales to Astonish #27 and Tales to Astonish #35, collected in Ant-Man/Giant Man Epic Collection: The Man in the Ant-Hill.
  • The Wasp’s origin is told in Tales to Astonish #44, collected in Ant-Man/Giant Man Epic Collection: The Man in the Ant-Hill.
  • Thor’s origin is told in Journey into Mystery #83, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Thor Vol. 1.
• The Teen Brigade was formed in Incredible Hulk #6, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk Vol. 1.
• Ant-Man’s ability to turn into Giant-Man is explained in Tales to Astonish #49, collected in Ant-Man/Giant Man Epic Collection: The Man in the Ant-Hill.
• Iron Man’s armor was updated in Tales of Suspense #49, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 1.
• Iron Man mentions his recent encounter with Angel. This took place in Tales of Suspense #49, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 1.
• Namor’s intense hatred toward humanity began in Fantastic Four Annual #1, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 2 (Review).
• The last adventure of Captain America, presented following his introduction in this collection, was not detailed in any comics before this time.
• Though Namor and Captain America knew each other in the past, they appear to not know each other in this collection. This can be explained by Captain America’s time in ice and by Namor’s amnesia, which was revealed in Fantastic Four #4, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 1 (Review).
• The events of Avengers #5 immediately follow a crossover between the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, which was detailed in Fantastic Four #25-26, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 3 (Review).
• Thor’s past encounter with the Lava Men is mentioned in this collection. This encounter took place in Journey into Mystery #97, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Thor Vol. 1.
• Avengers #6 has the Avengers take on enemies that they previously fought as individuals.
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp fought the Black Knight in Tales to Astonish #52, collected in Ant-Man/Giant Man Epic Collection: The Man in the Ant-Hill.
  • Iron Man fought the Melter in Tales of Suspense #47, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 1.
  • Thor fought Radioactive Man in Journey Into Mystery #93, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Thor Vol. 1.
• Paste Pot Pete was previously caught by the Human Torch in Strange Tales #110.
• The beginning of Avengers #7 immediately references Iron Man’s interactions with the Avengers in Tales of Suspense #56, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 2.
• Thor’s fight against Loki, Enchantress, and the Executioner took place in Journey into Mystery #103, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Thor Vol. 2.
• Kang the Conqueror was previously seen in Fantastic Four #19, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 2 (Review), where he fought the Fantastic Four. Later on, he had a conversation with Doctor Doom, in Fantastic Four Annual #2, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 4 (Review), which inspired him to return to the present as Kang the Conqueror.