PUNISHER'S COSPLAY and COMICS: MARVEL CATCH UP

MARVEL CATCH UP - AVENGERS Volume 1 Premier edition hard back graphic novel (Collects Avengers #1-6)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Art: John Romita Jr

Published by Marvel Worldwide

Review by Stewart Loud

The Siege is over, Norman Osborn's been locked up and the American President has put former Captain America, Steve Rogers in his place as America's top cop in charge of organising the super hero community. One of the first things Steve does is put together an all star main Avengers team to inspire confidence and security in the public and what a team it is!

Led by lesbian ex S.H.I.E.L.D. Commander Maria Hill, this team collects together a fantastic line up of Marvel's most iconic and well loved characters as well as classic original Avengers. Thor, Spider-man, Hawkeye (Not Ronin any more. Yes!!!), Wolverine, Captain America (Bucky Barns), Spider-woman, Iron Man and Noh-Varr AKA Marvel Boy.

Since this is the first story after the end of the explosive Siege climax with Asgard and The Sentry, I half expected the first few issues to be a fairly calm affair explaining a bit of the political landscape since Norman Osborn was disposed and showing the heroes reflecting on the events that led them to this moment. I couldn't have been more wrong! Kicks off spectacularly almost from the very beginning with an end of the universe, space time continuum as we know it, time travelling extravaganza! Seriously, the level of mayhem and destruction in these six comics is on a par with World War Hulk, it's got that much going on.

Plenty of humour as well with lots of quick panels separate from the focus of the conversation or action, showing the heroes joking and chatting among themselves. John Romita Jr does some of the best work of his I've seen with some truly jaw dropping double page spreads of football riot scale super human clashes that you'll want to spend ages looking over and spotting all the characters involved. By the end it introduces a couple of disturbing plot devices and ideas that could possibly be involved with future world shattering Marvel events.

It's funny, it's exciting, it's intriguing, it looks brilliant and it reads in every way like a comic about Marvel's premier super hero team should. Loved every page of it and volume 2's still in the bloody post!

SCORE 9/10

Here are some links to my other Marvel Catch up reviews:

Avengers volume 2 (#7-12 and #12.1)

Secret Avengers Volume 1: Mission To Mars (#1-5)

Secret Avengers Volume 2: Eyes Of The Dragon (#6-12)