Avengers: Prelude to Infinity, Jonathan Hickman

"It’s the buildup to the biggest event of 2013! First, Hyperion and Captain Universe begin the godlike education of the transformed Savage Land children. But when the High Evolutionary stakes his claim on the Children of the Sun, Hyperion learns the true cost of the decisions he’s made — as the techno-titan Terminus returns! Then, the prelude to INFINITY begins as all of Earth’s Origin Sites go active — and the planet begins communicating with something much more ancient than humans. And when alien races fleeing an intergalactic terror crash to Earth, Captain Universe and Manifold must take a trip across the universe. Whatever happened to Ex Nihilo, Abyss, Starbrand and Nightmask? As the Avengers recruit more members to deal with the mounting threat, the Builders enter the Marvel Universe — and INFINITY is upon us.  Collecting AVENGERS (2012) #12-17."



I think that it's probably fair to say at this point that I am unashamedly pro-Hickman's run on Avengers, even if there is a hard-core contingent of fans who believe his style of long-play, character presence heavy stories. Just as there were people who said that Bendis 'ruined' Avengers (he didn't), or Johns 'ruined' Avengers (still no), there are now some who seem convinced that any Avengers story that wasn't written, drawn and inked in either the 1960s or by Kurt Busiek doesn't count. So, Jonathan Hickman has 'ruined' Avengers, in the sense that he has expanded the cast, introduced interesting new characters, and crafted an ongoing series of arcs that require attention and comprehension skills beyond recognising who punched who.

Complicated doesn't always mean cerebral - it's a mistake that Doctor Who has suffered from over the last few years - but in this case it often works. It's certainly true that the huge number of characters who are now Avengers means that not everyone gets the spotlight every issue, but in creating new characters who all feel like they could hold their own for years to come Hickman reinvigorates the franchise, and has set it in a bold new direction. This isn't Bendis's street level team, but a cosmic crowd. Any team that can boast Hulk, Thor, Hyperion, Captain Marvel, Starbrand, Captain Universe as just the most over-powered of their membership is going to be powerhouse, so throwing in what would have been the New Avengers in years past, as well as the more classic line ups, allows for a greater rang of stories - note the difference between the battle with Terminus, the assault on the origin site in Canada, and Shang Chi vs. ninja's in a Chinese casino.

It's certainly true that character development in the overly monologuey style beloved of Bendis, the kind that requires you to pick up comic after comic to see the seeds sown in one chat play out, but reading this in trade makes it a better proposition. I can only imagine how unejoyable it may feel to get so little out of one issue, but that's, sadly, modern comics.

Also Try:
Jonathan Hickman, The Manhattan Projects
Jonathan Hickman, Secret Warriors
Brian Michael Bendis, New Avengers

The Korvac Saga, Jim Shooter

"He hails from an unimaginable era: the 31st century. Fleeing through the timestream from the pursuing team of futuristic defenders known as the Guardians of the Galaxy, Korvac the Machine Man has established a secret presence on present-day Earth in the self-created persona of the mysterious Michael. Through such an unassuming guise, Korvac contemplates the elements of a universe he thirsts to command. Yet despite the subtlety of Michael's machinations, the world's greatest super-team - the mighty Avengers - catches wind of his cosmos-conquering scheme, thus drawing the two titanic forces into inevitable conflict."








I picked this up rather randomly in a little second hand Sci-Fi bookshop at the top of the street I work on, a shop notable more for it's devoted attempt to replicate the Black Books experience. To say that its proprietors are disinterested is to do them a grave disservice, they have elevated the idea of apathy to a laconic art form, barely shifting from their amply cushioned positions to extend an ungrateful hand for the cash that disturbs them from the daily routine of opening up, reading and closing time.

That having been said, they always have a weird array of old comics and an excellent back catalogue of trade paperbacks and pulp fiction. Having never read the Korvac saga before, or indeed much early Avengers, it was worth picking up a cheap pocketbook version just to get to grips with a character who is bigger in impact than in actual appearances.

In fact, the only real reference I've ever seen to him was a two part story in Avengers Academy where Korvac reappeared to fight almost every Avenger and trashed them with ease.

What's surprising about the Korvac saga is how little of it is actually related to Korvac. His appearance is scattered through multiple comics before he actually meets the Avengers - battles against the Collector, team-ups with the Guardians of the Galaxy, even Ultron shows up before we actually see Korvac. So whilst the actual fight sequence is amazing, an excellent demonstration of how overpowered the Avengers are by the cosmically fuelled being, it's a little bit of a let down.

In fact, the majority of the book is pretty dull really, which is definitely not what I expected. It doesn't help that the original Guardians of the Galaxy are one of the most dull teams to ever appear in comics, certainly if you have only the experience of seeing them appear alongside the far more interesting (and, importantly, starring) Avengers.

Ultimately, despite its status as a 'classic' this is an unsatisfying and laboured read, one which is hampered by an all over the place cast and a slow burn narrative that drags rather than exciting. Try other stuff first.

Also Try:
Christos Gage, Avengers Academy
Jonathan Hickman, Avengers
Stan Lee, Fantastic Four
Dan Abnett, Annihilation 

Avengers: The Last White Event, Jonathan Hickman

"The Avengers must scramble to deal with the threat of another Universal SYSTEM. The New Adam is transformed, and his true self revealed. And the most dangerous hero on Earth is created. The Avengers face off against the World Breaker. Discover the imminent threat to the Avengers World. Watch the first hints of the hidden connections between the events of Avengers and New Avengers. COLLECTING: Avengers 7-12."












These are incredibly handsome books - I commented about that on the last one of these, but they are just incredibly beautiful. Hickman has such a talent for the creation of spectacular designs, and nowhere is this clearer than here, where he can cut loose with stuff and Marvel seem content to build their branding around him. Even his creator owned work like Manhattan Projects, East of West and God is Dead don't have the same cohesive structure of Avengers.

The actual story is somewhat less stellar. It's a quick read, that boils down to a lot of punching. Hickman is more concerned with giant actions affecting the Universe at large than giant consequences for the characters. To quote Andrew Wheeler's review of Infinity over at comicsalliance:

"Hickman doesn’t seem to enjoy writing character moments. It’s not where he takes the action. He’s an odd contrast to Brian Michael Bendis, whose character moments are typically so strong that he sometimes spends issue after issue building on them before he remembers to tell a story."

Considering that outside of the last 18 months or so BMB has written nearly every Avengers story for the past decade, that is a HUGE transition.

I still find myself terribly enjoying the book though, for all its lack of focus and love of action set pieces over anything like development. And I enjoy the large scale of cast, something which seemingly everyone else hates. I just wish we could get more Smasher, so luckily for me the next volume sets up Infinity, a space based event where the Shi'ar, and thus Smasher, are prominent.

Also Try:
Jonathan Hickman, The Manhattan Projects
Brian Michael Bendis, New Avengers vol. 1

Avengers: Avengers World, Jonathan Hickman

"The greatest heroes in comics together on one unbeatable team. The Avengers ""go large,"" expanding their roster and their sphere of influence to a global and even interplanetary level. When Captain America puts out his call -who will answer? Big threats, big ideas, big idealism these are the Avengers NOW!"














The first volume of the all new Avengers run by Jonathan Hickman is something I've been waiting for since the first issues was released. I picked it up as a comic but decided it was more cost effective to wait for the trade instead, so as this was released in mid-week I decided to treat myself today.

It was well worth it. Whilst not a decompressed storyteller in the style of Bendis, Hickman's Avengers run is one which is best enjoyed when you can see the bones of the whole arc. Unlike his Manhattan Projects, a comic which exists to be read monthly, this is a more epic, focussed run. Whilst some of the talking-head tropes of Bendis's run still exist, especially in how Tony and Steve interact in choosing the team, this is much more action focussed. Unlike many books on the shelves now Avengers is a comic that can be read monthly - the first six issues include three one-and-done origin stories (for Smasher, Hyperion and Captain Universe) as well as a three issue introduction to the new team.

The biggest controversy here is the expanded roster of the Avengers to include mission specific teams, including Shang Chi, Cannonball and Smasher. Whilst Cannonball is an established character in the X-Men and Shang Chi has a long history, if no real pedigree or status in the Marvel Universe, it's Smasher who's my early favourite new Avenger.

The first human member of the Shiar's Imperial Guard, she's one of many 'Smasher' class heroes, which nicely brings in the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe. If Bendis was all about street level heroics, then Hickman seems to be about every level - five of the characters included in the team could be classed as individual heavy hitters, yet they mix alongside Hawkeye and Black Widow - essentially, the Avengers movie team.

The book itself is of a different style to the standard Marvel Premiere edition design that they've used for whole Bendis era. It's obviously Hickman designed, showcasing his flair for branding and mechanics - it's a lovely book and stands out from the rest of the shelf, although its bare spine and blue on white treatment lends it a little too much of an Image title feel.

Definitely pick this up, it looks to be going some really good places. I can't wait to get the next volume!

Also Try:
Brian Michael Bendis, New Avengers
Jonathan Hickman, The Manhattan Projects
Matt Fraction, Hawkeye
Grant Morrison, New X-Men

Captain America; Hail Hydra, Jonathan Maberry

"From the dark days of World War II to the Heroic Age, witness the brutal battle between Captain America and the immortal evil known as Hydra! How far back has the gruesome group been killing its way to capture the secrets of eternal life? What can Steve Rogers do to halt its sinister spread when the horrific hordes of the undead rise to stop him? Find out as award-winning horror novelist Jonathan Maberry (DOOMWAR) teams with five different artists to capture five different time periods - including Sergio Cariello (Lone Ranger), Tom Scioli (Godland), Phil Winslade (Wonder Woman), Kyle Hotz (ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST - WRAITH) and Graham Nolan (X-MEN FOREVER)! Guest-starring the Falcon, Black Panther, Nomad, Nick Fury and the Avengers! Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA: HAIL HYDRA #1-5."







Because I've been picking up the Brubaker run of Cap stories I figured I would give this one a shot - the art looked nice and it was about Hydra, who are usually fun to see beaten up. But I definitely wasn't expecting this book to be quite so good.

Let me go further than that. This is the single best Captain America book I've read. Better than Brubaker.

It has everything you could want from a Captain America book - opening with a mission to destroy a Nazi science project reanimating the dead and continuing through the ages, from Classic Avengers, to Cap and Falcon, through the Busiek era and finally to the Heroic Age Cap. Each issue stands as a chapter in the ongoing war against Hydra and their mission to overcome death and create a new race of immortals.

It adds significantly to the Capt Mythos, positing that the Lazarus serum introduced here is what kept Cap alive alongside the Super Soldier Serum. Whilst it conveniently ignores Nick Fury's Infinity Formula, something that one would imagine would be of use to anyone gathering together materials for an elixir of youth, it ties in all sorts of great ideas, such as Thor being a target for his God blood.

But its the art that really makes it - a collection of excellent, but lesser known, artists each take the different ages and its great to see the different styles next to one another. Tom Scioli in particular draws one of the most fascinating versions of the first Avengers team I've ever seen. His art is so atypical of conventional superhero looks, yet so Kirby-esque in its design that it can look almost ridiculous - giants heads and massive smiles leave everyone looking like Puppet Master, but for some reason it works perfectly for a storyline that is all about the boundaries of science. It's made me want to hunt down more stuff by Scioli, because I absolutely love his art here, and that's a pretty fantastic thing for me to find.

If you're at all a fan of Captain America, Marvel or just great comics you need to read this.

Also Try:
Captain America: Winter Soldier, Ed Brubaker
Secret Warriors, Jonathan Hickman
Wolverine: Enemy of the State, Mark Millar