Avengerous Tales 2.45 - Avengers #155-#156

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Before we get started today, I need to provide a quick synopsis of Super-Villain Team-Up #9, where the cliffhanger from last issue was picked up.  The Avengers are all fitted with controlling collars and are compelled to attack Hydro-Base, where Doctor Doom of all people is trying to help get the Hydro-men back to normal.  (I assume this is because he was captured by Namor’s cousin Namorita, and she’s making him do her bidding.)  Meanwhile, the Beast has gone to Whizzer and Wonder Man for back-up, and they both agree to help find and free the Avengers.  Also Namor was enslaved by Doom and is dying or something.

Avengerous Tales 2.44 - Avengers Annual #6-Avengers #154

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Dangit, Yellowjacket, watch where you’re divebombing before you crash into Nuklo.

Avengerous Tales 2.43 - Avengers #152-#153

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CHICKEN HEAD!  BWAHH!

Avengerous Tales 2.42 - Avengers #150-#151

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Let’s just hope that the 150^th issue is more exciting than the 100^th.  Well, it certainly can’t be worse than the 200^th! 

Avengerous Tales 2.41 - Avengers #148-#149

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Cover by Jack Kirby!  COVER BY JACK KIRBY!  COVER BY JACK KIRBY!!! 

Also, bless both these cover artists for not putting the nose on Iron Man’s mask.  I don’t know if they forgot it or just straight-up refused to do it, but either way, I’m sure we’re all grateful.

Avengerous Tales 2.40 - Avengers #146-#147

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Just a reminder—the previous issue was created by Tony Isabella, Scott Edelman and Don Heck rather than the usual creative team of Steve Englehart and George Pérez.  In this first issue, we also get an art assist from Keith Pollard before returning to our regular folks.

Avengerous Tales 2.39 - Avengers #144-#145

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One, I know this is supposed to be Hellcat’s big badass debut, but it just looks like she’s falling on her butt.  Two, I was really surprised to find out Hellcat was a ‘70s invention.  The name just sounds so ‘90s xxxtreme.

Avengerous Tales 2.38 - Avengers #142-#143

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Was this cover artist incapable of showing dangerous scenes without a damsel in distress?  The Scarlet Witch is hardly in this issue, and she’s certainly never in more peril than anyone else.  What is this nonsense?

Avengerous Tales 2.37 - Avengers #140-#141

To read Avengerous Tales 2.36, go here!

I’m sure you won’t be the least bit surprised to learn that one of these covers has a big fat lie on it.  Comics, amirite?

 

Avengerous Tales 2.36 - Avengers #138-#139

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Prescription: Death doesn't tell me very much.  How often am I supposed to take death?  How many deaths can I safely take at one time?  What are the potential side effects of death?  Does death have any contraindications?

I don't think Whirlwind has ever even seen a medical school...

Avengerous Tales 2.35 - Avengers #136-#137

To read Avengerous Tales 2.34, go here!

 

Before we dive in, I should explain something about Issue 136—it’s a reprint.  See, during the 1970s, Marvel’s creators seemed to have trouble meeting their deadlines from time to time.  When that happened, rather than delaying the book, Marvel would usually print a replacement story that had absolutely nothing to do with whatever ongoing storyline was happening.  In this case, however, they’re reprinting a story from Amazing Adventures #12, originally published in 1972, rather than giving us a new story.

Either way, it was kind of jarring and irritating.  Still, since it’s in an Avengers comic and features both an Avenger and a future Avenger, I’m going to review it anyway.
 

Avengers 2.34 - Avengers #135-Giant-Size Avengers #4

To read Avengerous Tales 2.33, go here!

 

Dang, we’ve been having a lot of giant-size specials lately, haven’t we?  Also, instead of Sal Buscema and Joe Staton on artwork, we have our old friend George Tuska instead.  Hi, George!

Avengers 2.33 - Avengers #133-#134

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Okay guys, chill out already.  The Secret of the Hooded One really isn't all that exciting.

Avengerous Tales 2.32 - Avengers #132-Giant-Size Avengers #3

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I guess Steve Englehart got a hand cramp halfway through working on these next two issues, because while the plot is credited to him, our current editor and former writer Roy Thomas has once against picked up the pen and provided us with pleasure and punches aplenty.

Avengerous Tales 2.31 - Avengers #130-#131

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1. What is going on with Vision’s anatomy here?

2. There’s a villain called the Slasher?  Sweet.  Nice to have another shipper on deck.

Avengerous Tales 2.30 - Avengers #129-Giant-Size Avengers #2

To read Avengerous Tales 2.29, go here!

So, uh, remember at the end of my last review when I wanted Marvel to stop picking on the Swordsman?  Well, I think they took that request rather differently than I was hoping…
 

Avengerous Tales 2.29 - Avengers #127-#128

To read Avengerous Tales 2.28, go here!

Between the last issue and this one, Captain America made good on his vow to give up that particular secret identity, so we won’t be seeing him in The Avengers for a while.  You can check out Captain America #176 if you want the details (and/or Cap’s origin story), but the rest of us have tuxes to rent and flowers to sneeze over—there’s a wedding in the offing!

 

(Today’s issues feature art by Sal Buscema and Joe Staton.)

Avengerous Tales 2.28 - Avengers #126-Giant-Size Avengers #1

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It's secret origins time!  Yippee!

Avengerous Tales 2.27 - Avengers #124-#125

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We got ourselves some guest artists for today’s issues—John Buscema and Dave Cockrum.

Avengerous Tales 2.26 - Avengers #122-#123

To read Avengerous Tales 2.25, go here!

I really want a Zodiac story where we see them auditioning someone for Ophiucus but he’s such a loser that they kick him out, and Ophiucus is really mad and wants revenge but he’s still a loser so he doesn’t even try until he gets bit by a radioactive snake charmer and gains the power to control reptiles or something and then he goes on a rampage.

Marvel, you are not allowed to steal this idea.  If you want it, you have to pay me, and by ‘pay me’ I mean ‘gimme an Avengers movie where they don’t spend 50+% of the time hating each other.’  (What, me bitter?)