Review - Avengers: We are the Avengers

Description: 

What is it that makes one an Avenger? That's what this book starring characters from all across the Avengers' history will attempt to answer! Featuring tales of Iron Man, Captain America, the Thing, Iron Fist, Justice, Firestar, Squirrel Girl, Nova and the Young Avengers and more!

Collects: I Am an Avenger #1-5
Authors: Many (18 different contributors)
Artists: Many (at least 19 different contributors)
Published By: Marvel
Published When: May 25 2011
Parental Rating: PG

Review:

This is an extremely varied set of stories. There are 17 standalone tales in this TPB, ranging in length from a single page to a full-length 24-page three-parter. Each story is by a different creative team, a different writer and artist crew.

Each one uses a different artistic style and narrative approach. And the range of Avengers covered by these stories is impressive! Captain America, Ant-man, the Young Avengers, the Hulk, Stingray, Iron Fist, Squirrel Girl, the Pet Avengers, D-Man, even Jarvis. These are among the main protagonists of the stories. Lots of cameos, too, with Thor, Wolverine, Vison and more making smaller appearances in the larger stories of others.

So the reader should know going in that this is not a single coherent whole, either in terms of art or story. The thread that ties all of these together is: giving talented comics creators a relatively free hand to tell stories of different aspects of non-combat life as and Avenger.

The pinnacle comes early in the book. The second story in the whole collection, "The Books of the Iron Fist" by Duane Swierczynski and Jason Latour, is a moving, melancholy tale of heartache, breakup and loss. The creative frame of the narration is the couple, mid-separation, dividing the books on their bookcase. Swierczynski and Latour weave their beautiful tale out of this simple, human task. A powerful short story.

It is not "all downhill from there" but none of the other stories can reach that high. But there are still many fun and enjoyable little tales. Some of my favorites are:

"The Smashy Adventures of the Hulk" by Katie Cook, writer and artist both. The art is dead-simple in this one-pager, befitting the tongue-in-cheek approach to Hulk's five stages of grief.

"The Journal of Edwin Jarvis" written by Paul Tobin, art by David and Alvaro Lopez, is a sweet two-pager of Avengers butler Jarvis, the unique demands on his time and services, and the surprising rewards he finds in helping his friends.

"Rain Stops Play" by Alan Davis and Mark Farmer, a little three-page tale of the Young Avengers. Their youth is shown by contrast in stature, as Thor towers over them in his power and maturity. And he mentors them to grow in their own abilities as Avengers with nothing more than a meaningful look and a single word balloon. Oh yes, and his ability to turn the rain on or off and influence their choice of activity. A lesson in leadership worth further reflection.

There were several more forgettable tales, but none lasts long, as these are all quick-hit stories. Overall I give the collection 3 capes.

ISBN-13: 9780785151548
Language: English