This week we're going to take a look at a bunch of Marvel comics that feature The Avengers, Earth's Mightiest Heroes, as guest stars. I was thinking of just doing a straight-up Avengers Week, but that's not very imaginative, is it? So we'll take a look at comics where The Avengers make an appearance, but aren't the headline stars.
It's always interesting to see different interpretations of characters that you know and love (well, that I know and love anyway). Often geeks like myself have such an ingrained sense of who the characters are that any deviation from the standard portrayal of said characters seems like a horrible anal violation. "Captain America would never say that!" I have often screamed on crowded buses.
So this week we'll take a look at how other people portray The Avengers - folks like Claremont and Millar, who don't normally write them. And let me stop you: I know Mark Millar writes The Ultimates. They are not The Avengers. They are Mirror Universe Avengers. All they are missing are goatees and daggers.
But I digress. Let us begin Earth's Mightiest Guest Stars Week!
21 comments:
Cool idea. I love The Avengers and have had serious Earth's Mightiest Heroes withdrawal ever since the New Avengers took over, so this'll be fun.
Are we going to see that awesome Avengers cameo from "Born Again", or would that be too soon after the (appropriately selected) "Fuck yeah!" moment from the same storyline?
Eh, don't tell me. I want to be surprised.
You could also do a "Wolverine guest stars in titles of lesser popularity" week.
And this you'll find mighty useful in your career:
http://tinyurl.com/9dslu
Last, but not least, I think the moment is ripe for a Morrison & Quitely perfection in comics week.
I don't remember the issue, the series or the writer, but to this day I will never forget when Captain America was acting like a bigot towards Wolverine. My teenage mind slowly realized that this hairy foul mouthed smoking punk with claws was more popular than my beloved Captain America and therefore, Cap had to be the bad guy so Wolverine could moan about being discriminated against.
Hmmm....comics where Avengers guest star...
Does New Avengers count?
(rimshot)
Thank you! I'll be here all week!
The Ultimate Nick Fury has the goatee. Not sure about the dagger, though.
And it's so nice to have a place where I can post a comment like that and not feel like too much of a geek.
Wolverine guest stars in titles of lesser popularity
You'd need a lot more than a week ...
I wouldn't mind an eventual Avengers week, though.
Throw in one of the Secret Wars II issues, the Avengers seemed to show up in that book every other page, to warn the Beyonder, fight him, and then stew about the Beyonder, then to warn him, then fight him... at least, that's how it felt.
Fossen: I always loved the cover of Deadpool #27: "Featuring Wolverine in his most gratuitous guest appearance- EVER!"
And indeed, the plot, about DP's therapist, Dr. Bong (no, seriously) telling him "A HERO MUST DIE!" for his patient's head to clear up, is definitely gratuitous.
A variation to the "Wolverine guest stars in titles of lesser popularity" week would be the "Wolverine guest stars in titles of waning popularity" week.
In fact, at some time in the '90s the ol' Canucklehead had a R&B hit 'Boost your Sales (is All I wanna Do)'
I demand that you throw in the Spider-Man issue (I cannot recall with certainty that it was Amazing Spider-Man but Erik Larsen drew the cover) where Sandman sees milita-men, feels out of his league, and calls in his teammates, the Avengers. Just as Captain America pep talks Sandman that he could have smashed evil without calling in the cavalry, Sandman demonstrates why Cap should preface his statements less and make his point quicker.
I've got my fingers crossed for the Spider-man issue where Sandman calls in the Avengers for help, then quits the team afterward because he thinks he's been reprimanded by Capt. America for asking for help.
I'd love to see a "Spider-Man Guest-Starring In the Second Issue" Month.
Fantastic Four vol. 1 #26 - "The Avengers Take Over!" may be my favorite Avengers' guest appearance. All the Avengers & FF vs. the Hulk. Awesome.
Speaking of the Hulk, the first few Peter David / Gary Frank issues had Hulk & Juggernaut vs. an Avengers B-Squad (including Sersi & Crystal). Great-looking, fun comics.
I liked Mark Waid's first Captain America story, in which the Avengers riff on why Cap (believed dead) was The Man.
New Mutants #40: Avengers vs. Magneto, when he was a good guy. Excellent fight.
I rather liked Claremont's take on The Avengers, when he wrote them. (Such as the Annual (#10?) vs. the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants)
when Captain America was acting like a bigot towards Wolverine
Secret Wars. Can't remember which issue. Paraphrased quote from Wolverine: "Terrorists - that's what the big army calls the little army!"
Wonder if THAT line would get through these days...
Secret Wars? Captain America was referencing Magneto, who is the archetype for mutant terrorists and mutant terrorism.
So no... no bigotry there.
and Jim Shooter did write that line and he must have been on crack at the time.
oh and Ultimate Captain America is just Captain America with less estrogen.
Dammit Dr Pants!
I just demanded the same issue.... but I didn't spoil the ending!
You spoiled the ending.
Dirty pants...
If there's not a nod to Born Again in this whole shebang, I will personally fly out to Washington State and smack Campbell upside his beautiful head.
Me, I like the earliest story where Spidey tries to join the Avengers. You know, the one that's the template for all the Spidey/Avengers run-ins that have happened since then?
Good comic.
So what I did was, when I was reading MK Spider-Man with the Avengers in it, I just put it down and re-read the old, good one instead...then picked up MKSM again and continued on. Simple!
"bfafd". Oh, I'm bfafd, all right! You've never seen anyone so bfafd!
The worst villain in existance who actually has powers is Dr. Bong (snicker).
He played a bunny in an emo concert & accidently got his hand severed off. Surprisingly, he's somewhat sane.
He actually just acts evil & plugs himself because his secret identity is an acclaimed journalist.
He sucks
go to http://marveldirectory.com/individuals/d/doctorbong.htm to see his suckiness
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