Written by Roy Thomas.
Art by John Buscema; Sal Buscema; Gene Colan; Barry Windsor-Smith; Frank Giacoia; & Howard Purcell.
Collection Front Cover Art by John Buscema & Paul Mounts.
Collection Back Cover Art by Sal Buscema; Sam Grainger; & Paul Mounts.
SUMMARY:
In 2015, Marvel Comics released this 456-page compendium reprinting 1968-70’s Avengers # 57-76, along with the debut of Dane Whitman’s Black Knight in Marvel Super-Heroes # 17. Starting with the Vision’s own debut, he leads the Avengers (Hawkeye; Wasp; Giant-Man; & new member Black Panther) into a showdown with Ultron. Captain America & Iron Man join the team’s investigation into the Vision’s past. Also explained is Hank Pym’s amnesia linked to his creation of Ultron.
The next arc has the brash Yellowjacket emerge in a sudden romance with the Wasp, as several guest stars attend their wedding. Hank Pym’s ongoing identity crisis is seemingly resolved. Doctor Strange then accompanies Black Panther, Vision, Hawkeye, & the Black Knight on an adventure into Wakanda that gives Black Panther’s teammates some valuable insights.
Black Widow’s abduction motivates Hawkeye to try his hand as ‘Goliath; (the team’s new Giant-Man). Hawkeye’s murky past with hoodlum brother Barney Barton and mercenary ex-mentor, the Swordsman, is also revealed. Thor’s vast might is sorely needed in the Avengers’ subsequent rematch with Ultron. Forced into playing games with Kang the Conqueror means the team faces both the debuting Squadron Sinister and the Golden-Age Invaders.
Tag-teaming with the Kree’s Captain Mar-vell, Rick Jones resurfaces to help the team challenge Scorpio. It’s then up to the Black Panther to thwart the Sons of the Serpent once they’ve targeted his private life. Quicksilver seeks out the Avengers to rescue his sister, the Scarlet Witch, following her abduction by Arkon (a mystical warrior from another dimension). In closing, the supernatural origin of Dane Whitman’s Black Knight is revisited.
REVIEW:
In blazing color, exploring these Silver Age exploits of The Avengers becomes an old-school Marvel fan’s dream. Behold … The Vision delivers well-packaged nostalgia and lives up to all expectations. This collection is highly recommended!
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The original covers are presented in a full-page format. Another full-page cover is from 1969’s King-Size Avengers Annual # 3 (by John Buscema & Frank Giacoia), though there apparently isn’t any story material in this particular volume. Also provided is full-page, unused cover art for Marvel Super-Heroes # 17 (from Howard Purcell & Dan Adkins).
There is also a black-and-white, full-page photo taken of artist John Buscema’s artwork from the first page of Avengers # 58. Other black-and-white visuals are sampled from pages 19-20 from Issue # 58 (by John Buscema & George Klein).
Next up is unused sketch work for the Avengers # 66 cover (by Barry Windsor-Smith & Syd Shores). Black-and-white artwork featuring Ultron on page 11 of Avengers # 68 (by Sal Buscema & Sam Grainger) is provided. Lastly, there is a Black Panther scene from page 17 of Avengers # 74 (by John Buscema & Tom Palmer).
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 10 Stars
