Review:
The historically large roster of Avengers characters spans the whole range of hero recognizability, from the widespread cultural awareness of Captain America and Hulk, with their TV shows and feature films, to the more obscure. But all come from somewhere, all were shaped by something outside themselves, all are motivated in some way.
This beautiful collection of seven one-shot stories retells and reinterprets the origins and motivations of nine heroes. All are striking standalone stories, with some more notable standouts rising above the rest.
Top of the pile are the two titular chapters, reprinting Mythos: Hulk and Mythos: Captain America. Both are written by Paul Jenkins, and drawn / painted by Paolo Rivera. Both are deeply moving but in different ways. Captain America's Steve Rogers suffers childhood tragedies but has a natural survival instinct. Yet he is almost swindled into the Super Soldier program and accepts his duty. In the end he comes full circle and embraces those childhood challenges, and the people that made them so challenging, with a sweet reunion.
For all the melancholy in Mythos: Captain America, the Mythos: Hulk story contains the real tragedy. Filled with love, loss, betrayal, pride, anger, all painted in cleverly shifting tones and palettes. You will grieve for Dr Banner's dying humanity, and wonder if he is the real monster, not Hulk.
The origin tales of Ant Man and Wasp, and of Vision, are by different creative teams, yet they mesh very well with the flavor of the Hulk and Captain America stories. The visuals by Stephanie Hans (Ant Man and Wasp) and Stefane Perger (Vision) continue with a style of line and color evocative of watercolor paintings. The stories are also in roughly the same thematic space, with complexity and nuance in abundance. Vision's struggle with purpose in life and eventually outgrowing his creator is well-told. Ant Man and Wasp dealing with love and loss, courage, fame and obligation is at times funny, other times deeply moving.
Also of note is the discovery of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch by Magneto and their struggle with right and wrong, loyalty and betrayal.
Such a wonderful collection of reimagined yet faithful origin tales!
Description:
Avengers origins, updated and reimagined! It's a fully painted retelling of the earliest days of the gamma-powered Hulk! Witness Steve Rogers' transformation from a weakling with a heart of steel into Captain America! Revisit the unlikely courtship of the astonishing Ant-Man and the winsome Wasp! Can a lifetime of good deeds make up for Luke Cage's years spent on the other side of the law? See Pietro and Wanda Maximoff grow from children on the run to Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Tasked with destroying the Avengers, the android Vision must defy his creator. And finally, join Thor for a timeless family drama played out against a cosmic backdrop.
Collects: Mythos: Hulk and Captain America; and Avengers Origins: Ant-Man & The Wasp, Luke Cage, Quicksilver & The Scarlet Witch, Vision and Thor
Authors: Paul Jenkins, more
Artists: Paolo Rivera, Stephanie Hans, Stefane Perger, more
Published By: Marvel Universe
Published When: Dec 18 2012
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-0785148609
Pages: 208 pages
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