Written by Brian Michael Bendis.
Art by Frank Cho; Jason Keith; Artmonkeys’ Dave Lamphear & Natalie Lamphear.
Collection Cover Art by Frank Cho.
SUMMARY:
Released by Marvel Comics in 2007, this 168-page trade paperback complies Mighty Avengers # 1-6 of the same year. After Marvel’s first Civil War, Tony Stark/Iron Man (now commanding SHIELD) recruits Carol Danvers’ Ms. Marvel to lead a government-recognized Avengers roster. Effectively overriding Carol’s authority, Stark helps her choose veterans Wonder Man, Black Widow, and the Wasp, as well as the more unstable Sentry and Ares, for extra firepower and muscle.
As Earth faces an onslaught of inexplicable natural disasters, Iron Man’s physical form is shockingly usurped by Ultron’s latest A.I. incarnation: a virtually nude and idealized version of Janet Van Dyne – the Wasp. With Stark evidently dead, Black Widow now assumes temporary control of SHIELD while Ms. Marvel must quell rebellion within her team’s own ranks.
Aided by Hank Pym, the team must devise a way of thwarting Ultron’s devastating missile strike. Desperately devising a counter-assault against this feminized Ultron (whose primitive mindset is somewhat reminiscent of Star Trek: The Motion Picture’s V’Ger), Ms. Marvel realizes that an ultimate sacrifice by at least one teammate may be necessary.
The epilogue ends with an enigmatic tease of Marvel’s next epic crossover: Secret Invasion.
Note: This title is also available digitally and in hardcover. The series itself ran approximately three years: May 2007 – April 2010.
REVIEW:
The good news is that Frank Cho’s artwork is consistently high-caliber. Still, rather predictably, the one caveat would be relying upon too many semi-risqué glimpses of this Ultron – aside from a thin sheet of liquid metal. Case in point: the ‘sexy’ back cover image speaks for itself. Unfortunately, the flip side is that Cho’s visual style only distracts so much from an exceedingly blah Brian Michael Bendis storyline.
Given how this first arc is yet another reboot, too few of Bendis’ self-involved Avengers come off as likable enough to care about their success inevitably saving the day. More so, multiple game-changing plot twists are resolved with little to no explanation – as if Bendis even cares about plausibility. Case in point: the status quo (i.e., Stark’s miraculous return; an Avengers spouse not really murdered, etc.) is even conveniently restored just in time for the next arc.
The uninspired Mighty Avengers, Volume 1: The Ultron Initiative, suffice to say, is a decent read for franchise die-hards. One is likely better off finding this Avengers title at the library.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
In a full-page format, each Frank Cho cover precedes its issue. Also included are the double-page variant cover for Mighty Avengers # 1/New Avengers # 26, and Cho’s full-page Wizard Magazine # 180 promo cover. Lastly, Cho’s two-page sketchbook features Ares; Captain America; Wolverine; She-Hulk; Wasp; Iron Man; Hulk; Black Widow; Ms. Marvel; and Quicksilver.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars
