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Review: Defenders Epic Collection- Ashes, Ashes…

ComicBookWire

Quick Summary

Pros: The volume has some fun and compelling battles. The characters and character development are fantastic, especially if fans have read the previous volume. The character struggles are packed with emotion and meaning. The artwork looks nice and is a good complement to the narrative.

Cons: One of the story arcs is lackluster. An aspect of another story feels rushed.

Overall: This is a solid volume on its own but an even better continuation to the Defenders series. It has the action and far-out plotlines one would expect. However, it also has some amazing characters, character development, and emotional appeal. The volume is a treat for anyone who wants to get invested with a compelling team of characters. Anyone who read the previous volume and is looking to see that story continue should keep reading here.

Story

Defenders Epic Collection: Ashes, Ashes…, by J.M. DeMatteis, is a compelling and worthwhile continuation to the narrative and positive story elements started in the previous collection (Review). It has the action and supernatural flair that the previous volume did so well. However, it thoroughly expands on the characters and turns their personal stories and growth into one of the best aspects of this series. Their struggles here are emotional and meaningful and the way they are approached is impressive. I would recommend that readers interested in this volume check out the previous one first and then, if they enjoy it, jump confidently into this one. 

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The majority of the longer story arcs in Ashes, Ashes… feel similar to those in the previous volume, in that they have the Defenders go up against some sort of strange of supernatural threat. These encounters are typically exciting and feature some fun action from the main characters. They also have the dark twist and mystical flair that help define this comic from its competitors.

However, the main draw in Ashes, Ashes… does not come from the action-packed drama, it comes from the character drama. This volume details the plight of a man so wracked with loss that he is losing his will to live, the decisions of a man without a purpose in life, a woman in search of her father, the survival of personalities ripped from a normal life, the story of someone dealing with their own death, multiple blossoming romances, and a change in leadership for the Defenders. There is enough interpersonal and intrapersonal drama going on here that there doesn’t even need to be an antagonist to make any of these stories interesting. In fact, the first two issues of this collection, which really dive into Devil-Slayer and Patty’s personal struggles, were two of my favorite issues of this collection, possibly the series. J.M. DeMatteis also approaches all of this drama in a way that makes you feel for characters, even if you don’t approve of what they are doing, which makes the entire situation all the more interesting.

As an added bonus, all this personal drama actually leads to real development taking. By the end of this volume, Son of Satan and Devil-Slayer have realized that they can develop lives of their own, Patty has realized that she has a real family and that she is free to live a normal life, and Beast has assembled a new team of Defenders. There is even a marriage to top off the collection. All of this progression is great but is amplified far further if readers have seen what the Defenders went through in the previous volume.

Not everything about Ashes, Ashes… is great though. The brief clash with the Avengers is somewhat gimmicky and feels too similar to previous clashes between superpowered teams. In addition, Patty and Daimon’s marriage feels a little sudden, even if it is charming otherwise. Luckily, these negatives are pretty minimal and do not have a major impact on the total appeal of the volume.

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Art

The artwork in Ashes, Ashes… looks good and is definitely an improvement from its predecessor. The pages are still well-laid out and structured in a way that flows. However, Don Perlin’s pencils look even better. They come across as more detailed and imaginative, allowing the visuals to express the creativity already present in this comic. They particularly look better when it comes to characters, which is important in a volume that is as character-driven as this one. There are a few places where a new inker’s work doesn’t match as well with these pencils but problems like that are only found in a few places. For the most part, the artwork in this collection looks good and works well with this comic.

Continuity

Defenders Epic Collection: Ashes, Ashes… continues the story from Epic Collection: The Six-Fingered Hand (Review).

The story here continues in Defenders Epic Collection: The New Defenders.

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

Previous Volume Review

All Defenders Reviews

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