Avengerous Tales 2.40 - Avengers #146-#147

To read Avengerous Tales 2.39, go here!

 

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

To read Avengerous Tales 2.38, go here!

 

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

To read Avengerous Tales 2.37, go here!

 

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 2.35 - 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

To read Avengerous Tales 2.32, go here!

 

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

To read Avengerous Tales 2.31, go here!

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

To read Avengerous Tales 2.30, go here!

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 2.23 - Avengers #116-#117

To read Avengerous Tales 2.22, go here!

Before I start discussing the Avengers today, we need to discuss another comic: The Defenders.

See, the previous issue of The Avengers was basically a set up for a big crossover with The Defenders, which focused on the adventures of another set of heroes who defend instead of avenge, I guess?

 

Oh well exCUSE ME.  P.S. Namor, Ken called, he wants his magic earring back.

Avengerous Tales 2.20 - Avengers #110-#111

To read Avengerous Tales 2.19, go here!

A special note for Hawkeye fans: you may want to keep a copy of your Fraction and/or Duggan TPBs at hand while you read this review to remind yourself of why you like this character.

Avengerous Tales 2.19 - Avengers #108-#109

To read Avengerous Tales 2.18, go here!

We spin the Wheel of Artists for the last time today.  Dave Cockrum, Joe Sinnott, and Don Heck are the artists for Issue 108, and then our old buddy Mr. Heck once again takes over as the regular artist for the next few issues.

As a side note, we find out this issue that Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne recently “““died.”””  Just in case it comes up again in future issues, I figure I should mention it now.

Avengerous Tales 2.18 - Avengers #106-#107

To read Avengerous Tales 2.17, go here!

It seems the Avengers are having trouble pinning down a regular artist: Issue 106 brings us the combined work of Rich Buckler and George Tuska, while 107 is by Jim Starlin, George Tuska, and Dave Cockrum.  I’d say I miss having a regular artist, but with my luck, when they DO get a regular artist I won’t like him and will yearn for the days when Marvel just threw The Avengers at whoever was available.

Avengerous Tales 2.17 - Avengers #104-#105

To read Avengerous Tales 2.16, go here!

 

We have lots of goodbyes to say in this review.  I hope you brought your Bat-hanky. *sniff*

Avengerous Tales 2.16 - Avengers #102-#103

To read Avengerous Tales 2.15, go here!

And we’re back to the floating head covers.  Great.  Also, like the last story, Roy Thomas is responsible for the script but not really the story idea.  That credit goes to Chris Claremont, who we’ll be talking more about down the road, although the comic just says this is “based on an idea from Chris Claremont,” so I don’t know if he provided Thomas with a full synopsis or just turned to him one day over coffee and was like “hey, wouldn’t it be cool if…?” and then let Thomas run with it.

Avengerous Tales 2.15 - Avengers #100-#101

To read Avengerous Tales 2.14, go here!

I am going to need so many tags for this.
 

Avengerous Tales 2.14 - Avengers #98-#99

To read Avengerous Tales 2.13, go here!

A brief sojourn to Thor #196-#197 before we begin this Avengerous Tale:

Asgard was under attack from a being called Mangog, which Odin himself created because he’s a genocidal a-hole, but that’s a long story and we’re not going to get into it right now.  The point is, Mangog’s on a rampage, and to protect the rest of the universe, Odin breaks the Rainbow Bridge and whisks Asgard away to a separate dimension.

Avengerous Tales 1.34 - Avengers #63-#64

To read Avengerous Tales 1.33, go here!

I don’t know why Hank would continue being Yellowjacket when that’s the identity he took in a weird fit of schizophrenic self-hatred, but those covers are awesome.  Much better than the Random Floating Head covers we’ve been getting lately.

***This review contains a tiny discussion of emotional abuse, so if that bothers you, skip the paragraph after I start swearing up a storm.

Avengerous Tales 1.33 - Avengers #61-#62

To read Avengerous Tales 1.32, go here!

A quick pit stop at Dr. Strange #178 before we begin today’s tale:

With his dying breath, the villain Asmodeus utters a spell that will cause the fire giant Surtur and the frost/ice giant Ymir (whom you may recognize from both Norse mythology and Thor comics) to come wreak havoc on Earth in one hour.  The only people who know how to break that spell are the Sons of Satannish, who are being held prisoner in the sixth dimension by a jerk named Tiboro.  Strange doesn’t really want to go there alone, so he tracks down our old pal the Black Knight—whose sword contains mystical properties—and enlists him as a road trip buddy.

And everything seems to go great.  Dr. Strange and the Black Knight defeat Tiboro, who agrees to release the Sons of Satannish.  Problem solved, right?  Well…

 

Avengerous Tales 1.32 - Avengers #59-#60

 

 

To read Avengerous Tales 1.31, go here! 

Hey kids, remember when this comic thought it was competent enough to have a discussion about racism?  Remember how well that went?  Well today they’re going to try to tackle mental illness!  Won’t that be fun?!!

***This review contains depictions and extensive discussions of emotional and physical abuse, a couple of brief scenes that could be interpreted as attempted sexual assault, and gross misrepresentation of schizophrenia.  If you’d prefer to avoid that, feel free to enjoy some adorable fanart while slamming canon’s fingers in the door.  Actually, you’ll probably want to do that anyway.