TCCDM Dig & Flip: Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers, Vol. 1 (2002)
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Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers, Vol. 1
Stan Lee (Writer), Jack Kirby (Illustrator)
(2002)
(First issues #1-10)
Hardcover, 240 pages
It's all about the nostalgia. Especially if you were a kid growing up in the early 60s. But it's still enjoyable and entertaining, even if you weren't. This Marvel Masterworks volume contains the first ten issues of The Avengers comic book that Marvel created in 1963, in all its colorful, innocent glory. The Marvel Masterworks are hardbound, look and feel classy, and bring to mind the old Time/Life books many of your parents might have picked up, now collecting dust on their shelves. These offerings can be pricey, but you can often find used volumes for much less. And the dust jackets can be just as cool, holding Easter Eggs for those who take an extra moment to look. If you tilt the book at a certain angle, famous comic book heroes and villains appear, along with beautiful swirling designs. The extra mile is a nice touch.
As for the stories within, we meet a new team of superheroes. Iron Man (whose drawing quickly changes from the initial clunky Tin Man look to a design much more efficient). The hammer-wielding Thor. Ant-Man, who can quickly change his size from giant to minuscule. And his partner, The Wasp. (The Wasp is the only female of the bunch and a bit of a wiseacre.) The Hulk, who we meet in the first few issues, is written out of the later ones for reasons explained. And we also get Captain America.
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Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers, Vol. 1
(inside)
The dynamics amongst the characters are all a work in progress. And it's fun and a bit charming how they bond and banter with light-hearted encouragement or teasing remarks as they work out the bumps and kinks in their social tree.
The super-villains are just as entertaining. Evil-doers like Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil. Or the more famous anti-hero, Sub-Mariner, whose longevity in the Marvel world had longer legs. The action mostly revolves around crazy-mad villains wanting to be in charge of the world and The Avengers trying to thwart their plans. Plenty of smile-makers and eye-rollers lie within. As well as a much more innocent time when it was easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Plus the colorful panel drawings are fire. Don't overthink it. Just let Stan Lee and Jack Kirby grow their own. "A splendid time is guaranteed for all."
"Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" - The Beatles (1967)
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