Classic Review: Marvel Masterworks- Avengers Vol. 6

Quick Summary

Pros: The stories here are interesting and exciting. Specifically, Vision’s introduction to the world is great. The writing is better than ever and is able to wonderfully capture the mood of each issue. The artwork looks beautiful and works well with the writing.

Cons: Motivations and plot points are glazed over in some places.

Overall: This is another upswing in quality for the Avengers series, one which produces some great results. The stories collected here feature a wonderful combination of entertaining writing and beautiful artwork. In addition, a few of the chapters really stand out as memorable tales from this era, especially those surrounding the introduction of Vision. Fans who have been enjoying this series should not stop reading now and readers looking for some compelling stories from this era may want to check this volume out.

Story

The previous Marvel Masterworks: Avengers collection saw the quality level of these Silver Age stories stagnate and struggle to rise above mediocrity. Luckily, Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 6 shows that this creative slump was only temporary. In this volume, Roy Thomas and John Buscema seem to have refined their ability to write these heroes and are able to use this refined ability to craft some seriously entertaining stories. Here, readers are introduced to new Avengers, witness time-travel shenanigans, and even see one of the most deadly enemies that these heroes have faced. However, the pinnacle of this collection, and a high point for the series as a whole, ends up being the introduction of Vision, which is a great read and an important moment in the history of Marvel Comics. All in all, this collection has a lot of appeal and very little holding it back.

(spoilers start here)

Right from the start, it is hard to deny how exciting the stories in Avengers Vol. 6 end up being. The Collector comes back even more menacing than before, Ultron’s plan is well thought out and poses a significant threat to the heroes, and the encounter with the evil-Avengers is awesome. It helps that most of these stories also don’t rely too heavily on creating ridiculous scenarios where the Avengers are forced to fight one another, though this does still happen a few times. This allows the villains to stand out as powerful entities in their own right, which improves the appeal of these stories.

However, the best chapters here surround the introduction of the Avenger’s newest member, Vision. His entrance to the world of comics and, then, to the Avengers makes some of the most enjoyable issues in this series. Even his character offers a lot to the team, as he has a bizarre connection to their past, a strange relationship to Hank Pym, a strange relationship to one of the team’s greatest villains, and a backstory ripe for further examination. Hopefully, Avengers Vol. 7 allows him to shine even more than this collection already allowed.

In addition, Avengers Vol. 6 also sees a general improvement in the creators’ ability to capture the atmosphere required by each story arc. Black Panther’s introduction starts out with the tension of a heist and goes on to ramp up this tension as T’Challa is accused of a crime he didn’t commit. The time-travel arc begins with a freighting castle and a general atmosphere of fear that goes on to help enhance the otherworldliness of the Avenger’s trip through the ages. Finally, Vision’s introductory chapter begins and ends with somber situations and narration that give readers an immediate picture of what this character is about. Thus far, I’m really enjoying these improvements to this series and am looking forward to seeing more as the creators become even more comfortable with writing these characters.

The only significant flaws in Avengers Vol. 6 come from places where plot points or motivations are just glazed over. For example, Jarvis’s betrayal starts out as desperation yet switches to mind-control for no adequately explained reason. Then, he is welcomed back into the Avengers’ confidence a bit too quickly. However, even these types of problems are at a minimum, especially considering the age in which these stories were published.

(spoilers end here)

Art

As mentioned above, in Avengers Vol. 6, it feels like writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema are really coming into their own with the Avengers. This more successful collaboration leads to both better writing and better artwork. Buscema’s work here is as detailed and creative as before, creating some great looking pages.

However, where John Buscema really shines in capturing the atmosphere of each issue. Earlier in this review, we discussed how the mood of each chapter is established early on and how the establishment of this mood leads to a more enjoyable reading experience. Sweeping shots of intimidating castles, somber shots of the pouring rain, and even just dynamic pictures of the individual members of the Avengers all provide wonderful intros to chapters that will then go on to elaborate on the initially presented topic. Buscema’s artwork is terrific in the way it compliments the story and works well throughout this collection.

Continuity

Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 6 continues the story from Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 5 (Review).

The story here continues in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 7.

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

• The first issue of Iron Man’s solo series is referenced in a narration bubble. This issue is collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 4.
• Black Panther’s story, at the beginning of this collection, continues from Captain America #100, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Captain America Vol. 2.
• The first issue of this collection shows Hulk on his way to Asgard. This story is told in Tales to Astonish #101, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk Vol. 3.
• The story of Wonder Man was told back in Avengers #9, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review).
• Black Panther’s history with Klaw is explained in Fantastic Four #53, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 5 (Review).
• Radioactive Man’s fight with Thor in Journey into Mystery #93, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Thor Vol. 1.
• The original The Masters Of Evil assembled in Avengers #6, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review).
• The time travel device used in Avengers #56 originally appeared in Fantastic Four #5, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 1 (Review).
• Rama Tut’s meeting with Doctor Doom took place in Fantastic Four Annual #2, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 2 (Review). Later on, he appeared as Kang the Conqueror in Avengers #8, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review).
• The annual issue, in this collection, shows the original Avengers. Specifically, it shows when Hulk departs the team in Avengers #2 and references when Captain America shows up in Avengers #3, both of which are collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review).
• X-Men #45 continues the story from X-Men #44, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men Vol. 5.