Review - Avengers: Under Siege

Assembling a new incarnation of the Masters of Evil, Baron Zemo leads a devastating assault on the Avengers’ headquarters. As most of the Avengers fall at the hands of the Masters, the responsibility of stopping Zemo and his henchmen falls squarely on the pint-sized shoulders of the Wasp.

Avengers: Under Siege collects Avengers #270-277, written by Roger Stern and illustrated by John Buscema.

Often hailed as one of the greatest Avengers storylines of all-time, Under Siege is an absolutely brutal arc that is best known for portraying the crushing defeat of the Avengers at the hands of the Masters of Evil. The calculating and conniving Baron Zemo concocts the perfect plan to bring the heroes down. Upon putting together his team, he storms the Avengers Mansion while the heroes are away and methodically picks them off one by one as they return to their headquarters. It’s a visceral narrative that includes a lot of intense action and is unusual in its depiction of how easily (and pitilessly) the villains overcome the heroes. In some ways, it’s a precursor to what we’d see in the ‘90s with events such as The Death of Superman and Knightfall.

What is most impressive about Under Siege isn’t just its action, but rather its remarkable character work and its ability to weave it into the mayhem. The Wasp is arguably the star of the show. At the time of this storyline, she is the leader and chairwoman of the Avengers. This has caused some tension within the team, particularly from Hercules. He feels emasculated by the Wasp’s orders and childishly refuses to acknowledge her authority. His lack of respect for the Wasp ultimately plays right into enemy hands. Similarly, Black Knight’s apparent unrequited feelings for the Wasp make him an easy target for the Masters. Despite feeling inadequate as a leader and uncertain of her capabilities, the Wasp proves herself in a spectacular conflict against Titania and the Absorbing Man. With the help of Ant-Man (spoiler… I guess), she manages to take them down and this drastically turns the tide in the war between the Avengers and the Masters. Another character who stands out is Captain Marvel. Though she’s detained for a good chunk of the arc, once she manages to escape (on her own I might add), she returns to the fight with a fury and loses her cool as she chases down Moonstone. It’s a rather small moment, but it’s an important one. Thus far, Captain Marvel had been amongst the most levelheaded members of the team, so this brief spate of anger shows that she is as infallible as her teammates. On the subject of Moonstone, she too receives some attention when it comes to development. While most of the villains are fairly one-dimensional, Moonstone is notable for her attempts to undermine Zemo’s authority. It sets her apart as one of the more independent and intelligent members of the Masters.

John Buscema’s art is top-notch in Under Siege. Given the severity of what is going on story-wise, he manages to create really evocative panels. He errs on the side of subtlety during the more gruesome moments of the narrative (i.e. the scenes where the Masters assault Jarvis and Hercules). The action is superb as well, especially the sequence where the Wasp and Ant-Man take down Titania and Absorbing Man. However, what I recall most is the really gorgeous work that is put into depicting the emotions of the characters involved. Buscema really captures the fury and toxicity of Hercules’ character each time he bristles at being seen or treated as subordinate to the Wasp. Captain Marvel’s fury-filled pursuit of Moonstone towards the end is another great example of this emotiveness. However, the panel that is forever seared into my mind is the close-up of the Wasp after she’s taken down Titania and Absorbing Man. With her steely gaze and slight sneer, she declares that the Avengers will have their revenge on the Masters of Evil for what they have done. It’s absolutely chilling and my hat goes off to Buscema for creating such an unforgettable shot.

Of the Avengers storylines I’ve read, Under Siege is quite possibly the best of the bunch. It’s got everything you need – an epic (and brutal) battle between heroes and villains, intricate character work, and outstanding artwork. It’s also surprisingly quite accessible. You don’t need to have read every Avengers issue in existence to understand or enjoy it. Beyond that, it also puts its female characters front and center. The Wasp, Captain Marvel, and Moonstone (even Titania to some degree) all get to be multi-dimensional individuals who play crucial roles in this arc. Of course, as a Monica Rambeau fan, I’ll always be biased towards anything that features her.

RATING: A

Review: The Ultimates Volume 1 - Super-Human

In the aftermath of Magneto’s attack on Washington, General Nick Fury assembles a team of uniquely qualified individuals to combat any future superhuman threats to humanity. Though the S.H.I.E.L.D.-sponsored Ultimates become the face of heroism in America without ever having thrown a punch, they are put to the test when they must bring down one of their own while the entire world is watching.

The Ultimates Volume 1: Super-Human collects The Ultimates #1-6, written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Bryan Hitch.

Overall, Super-Human is best described as a mixed bag. At its best, it is a cinematic masterpiece that unfolds seamlessly over the course of six issues. At its worst, it seems as if it is written from a frat boy perspective with laughable dialogue and questionable sexist moments. Boiling it down solely to its storyline, this trade gives us an essential reimagining of the Avengers, one which proved so iconic that it served as the primary source material to the early films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It begins with a flashback to World War II, where we see the apparent death of Captain America. It’s atmospheric and captures the tone we associate with that era, which is obviously a testament to Bryan Hitch’s skill as an artist. From there, we’re taken to the present day with Nick Fury assembling a S.H.I.E.L.D.-sponsored superhero squadron. This team – consisting of Iron Man, Giant Man, Wasp, Thor and an unthawed Captain America – become overnight celebrities thanks to the public relations savvy of Betty Ross and a harrowing battle against the Hulk. It’s a truly impressive narrative due to its sheer simplicity and creative reimagining of the Avengers as a government-sponsored military strike force. In fact, some of the most interesting moments occur during downtime when we see the machinations that go into such an operation. Bureaucracy, manipulation of public opinion and (mis)use of science all make for fascinating themes within the mythos of the Avengers. Its pacing is admittedly slow, but once we get to the action in the fifth issue it’s positively explosive.

Bryan Hitch’s art is part of what makes it so easy to describe this collection as filmic. He strives for realness in his work, which is successful a great deal of the time. We see him capable of rendering accurate versions of George W. Bush and Shannon Elizabeth, as well as a Samuel L. Jackson-fied Nick Fury. This also ensures a kind of grittiness to his work and this edge creates a distinctive aesthetic for the world in which the Ultimates operate. Hitch should also be commended for his redesigns of the Ultimates – Giant Man, Wasp and Captain American in particular look really chic and streamlined in the ultra-modern looks Hitch depicts them in. If that weren’t enough, he’s also highly skilled at illustrating action sequences. Devoid of its dialogue, the fifth issue’s Ultimates vs. Hulk battle is a non-stop grudge match that’s tightly choreographed and detailed within every centimeter of the panels.

Where Super-Human loses me at points is the characterization and dialogue crafted by Mark Millar. Millar seems like he’s trying so hard to be irreverent, funny and contemporary with his work here, but instead it comes across as immature and incites more eye rolls than it does laughs. Captain America becomes wholly unlikeable for this very reason. He’s a jerk, plain and simple. He lacks the endearing qualities and quirks that make him so beloved in the main universe. Instead he comes across as a hyper-masculine meathead who is down to sucker punch anyone he deems as an annoyance. Cap is such a DB that he makes Iron Man come across rather favourably, though admittedly Millar doesn’t do much to actually make Tony seem like anything more than an eccentric. Millar’s biggest misstep is issue five. Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk and goes after his one-time girlfriend, prompting the Ultimates to go after him in order to prevent this from happening. Millar depicts Hulk’s motivations as being rather simple – he’s horny and he’s angry. With the former, it’s implied that the Hulk’s reasons for acquiring Betty are sexual. This seems to indicate that what he wants to do is assault her, which is extremely unsettling. What is more disturbing is that this motivation appears to be played off as humorous. The Hulk wanting to sexually assault someone is not funny, neither is the Wasp using her breasts as a distractionary tactic. We also get some weird dialogue with the Hulk expressing his desire to use Giant Man’s skull as a toilet bowl (ew). Millar uses a lot of crude humour that’s very unfunny due to the implications behind them and the level of immaturity that it seems to carry with it. Then there's issue six, which depicts a violent domestic dispute between Hank and Jan. Its sheer level of aggressiveness is really shocking. Millar's dialogue for the event really borders between being exploitative and depicting the realities of abuse. It's difficult to really judge whether the sequence serves to draw focus towards a very important and very prescient issue (i.e. domestic abuse) or whether it's there for shock value. There’s a reason there’s a parental advisory label on the back of this trade. It’s certainly not intended for the same audience that the MCU films are.

I really want to like Super-Human and in many ways I actually do. However, there’s a lot of creative decisions that were made that seem out of place and rather questionable for a series that reimagines the Avengers. Bryan Hitch’s artwork is certainly a reason to celebrate this book. His aesthetic is on point and provides a kind of grit that really draws the reader in. Furthermore, the basic elements of Millar’s conception of the Ultimates are really smart and relevant. His portrayal of this team as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents was really a marvelous idea and the way in which he managed to seamlessly weave Bruce Banner and Hank and Janet Pym into the organization is truly inspired. The pacing and plot are similarly very engaging. It pays homage to the Avengers’ very first issue, while also modernizing and expanding upon it. Sadly, the dialogue and character choices really hinder this collection from an otherwise well-deserved high score. Needless to say, I’m not much of a fan of Millar’s vision of Captain America and the humour he settles on for this series.

RATING: C+

Review: Avengers - The Private War of Doctor Doom

Following their recent victories against Kang and the Squadron Supreme, the Avengers return home and are faced with the task of settling on a new roster. No sooner do they announce their line-up than the once-dead Wonder Man returns to the fold. Then, they must face off against Atlantean menace Attuma in his latest plot to best Namor the Sub-Mariner.

Avengers: The Private War of Doctor Doom collects Avengers #150-156 and Annual #6, and Super-Villain Team-up #9, written by Steve Englehart, Gerry Conway and Bill Mantlo with art by George Perez and John Buscema.

This collection follows the events of The Serpent Crown and almost immediately sees the departure of Hellcat and Moondragon (boo!), as well as Avengers mainstay Thor. With their new roster, the Avengers must investigate the circumstances behind the resurrection of Wonder Man. At the same time the Living Laser is busy plotting his revenge on the Avengers and intends to use the unstable Nuklo to do so. After that, the Avengers are captured by Attuma and are forced to attack Namor’s Hydrobase. When they arrive, however, they discover the base is being run by Doctor Doom and they are swiftly bested by the Fantastic Four foe. In order to defeat Attuma, they must form an uneasy alliance with Doctor Doom.

As a trade, The Private War of Doctor Doom is densely plotted and is continuity heavy with plenty of references to past events. It lacks excitement and depth, as it falls into the rather generic box of “supervillains trying to take over the world using some kind of experimental device.” The collection begins with a tedious re-telling of the Avengers’ rosters’ various origins and then transitions into the re-introduction of Wonder Man. Understandably, his return creates conflict between Scarlet Witch and the Vision since the latter’s brain patterns were based off of Wonder Man’s. While there may be a smidgen of tension between the newlyweds throughout this trade, that’s about it for character development. The dialogue for the Beast is strong and we get some really great action scenes involving Scarlet Witch on a solo mission, but everyone else feels depressingly generic and they all fade into the background over the course of the collected issues. It also feels dated, given the fact that these stories occur during a time period when Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver were canonically viewed as the children of the Whizzer and Miss America.

The highlight of this collection is the art done by George Perez and the late John Buscema. Perez delivers dynamic work that features an active expressiveness, while also showing off his skill at drawing the male form (we get a rather strong panel of Namor flying through the air towards the end). Buscema, meanwhile, has a distinctive moodiness to his style that emphasizes some of the more emotional aspects to these characters. Notably, there’s a series of panels in which the Scarlet Witch is distraught and turns for comfort from the Wasp when she’s given the cold shoulder by her husband.

Avengers: The Private War of Doctor Doom isn’t the most impressive collection of stories featuring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. It’s an awkwardly plotted series of stories that follow on the heels of Steve Englehart’s remarkable run on The Avengers. Where his stories often included social commentary and soapy interpersonal drama, The Private War of Doctor Doom restores the status quo of paint-by-numbers supervillain conflicts. Attuma and Doctor Doom make for great opponents for the Avengers, but the narrative never attempts to do something new with them. It’s also mildly irritating that Hellcat and Moondragon were written out, since both had been standouts in the preceding trade Avengers: The Serpent Crown. Though we get some notable art from Perez and Buscema, The Private War of Doctor Doom is skippable.

RATING: C-

Top 10: Greatest Women of Marvel Comics

When it comes to strong heroines, Marvel has some of the most diverse leading ladies in the superhero genre. These women have graced the small screen, big screen and, of course, the pages of countless comic books. While they don't always get as much love as their male counterparts (or even their rivals at DC Comics), there's no denying that Marvel's superheroines are fierce and fabulous.

Having previously counted down the Top 10 Greatest Women of the X-Men and the Top 10 Greatest Women of DC Comics, this entry focuses on the women from Marvel proper. To encourage fairness and a little more objectivity, this list has been compiled using the votes from The Women of Marvel Poll.

10. Firestar

REAL NAME: Angelica Jones

FIRST APPEARANCE: Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #193 (1985)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Microwave Radiation Manipulation, Flight

When she was thirteen years old, Angelica Jones was recruited and trained by the former villain Emma Frost to become an assassin for the Hellfire Club. Upon learning of her mentor's true intentions, Angelica emancipated herself and transformed herself into the heroine known as Firestar. After a lengthy tenure with a group of teen heroes called the New Warriors, Firestar became a member of the Avengers and later served as a mentor for the next generation of superheroes.

Originally created for the seminal Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends cartoon as a replacement for the Human Torch, Firestar's popularity guaranteed her transition into the comic book canon. Though she's most well-known for her appearances in the aforementioned series, her stints with the New Warriors, Avengers, Marvel Divas and, most recently, the X-Men have cemented her place in the Marvel Universe as a beloved icon.

09. Elektra

REAL NAME: Elektra Natchios

FIRST APPEARANCE: Daredevil Vol. 1 #168 (1981)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Master Martial Artist

When Elektra Natchios was still in college, her father was gunned down by terrorists. The embittered Elektra then trained to become a martial artist in order to avenge her father's death. After completing her training in China, she returned to America where she was employed by New York City's Kingpin as his chief assassin. Though she would later meet her end at the hands of the villain known as Bullseye, Elektra was resurrected and dedicated her life to repenting for her past sins.

As one of the deadliest women in the Marvel Universe, Elektra is as beautiful as she is dangerous. She has been a key player in both Daredevil and Wolverine's comics, as well as headlining several of her own mini-series and ongoing series. If her illustrious comic book career weren't enough, Elektra has also been adapted into numerous video games and even appeared in two live-action films portrayed by Jennifer Garner.

08. Scarlet Witch

REAL NAME: Wanda Maximoff

FIRST APPEARANCE: X-Men Vol. 1 #4 (1964)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Probability Manipulation

Raised as a gypsy, Wanda Maximoff and her brother Pietro became indebted to the mutant terrorist Magneto after he saved them from a lynch mob. Taking on the codename Scarlet Witch, Wanda used her unique gifts to further Magneto's agenda. However, she gave up her life of crime and instead became one of the longest running members of the Avengers.

With just over five decades of comic book appearances under her crimson-hued belt, there's no denying that Scarlet Witch is an icon. Equally reviled and loved for her cooky history, this probability-altering mutant has been a member of the Avengers for longer than most of her contemporaries. She's powerful, beautiful and a little bit batty. Still, fans can't get enough. Thanks to appearances in X-Men: Evolution, Avengers: United They Stand and her upcoming appearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron, she's become one of the most recognizable heroines in Marvel's stable.

07. Wasp

REAL NAME: Janet van Dyne

FIRST APPEARANCE: Tales to Astonish Vol. 1 #44 (1963)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Size Manipulation, Flight, Bio-Electric Energy Blasts

Once a flighty socialite, Janet van Dyne was transformed into the winsome Wasp thanks to her then-boyfriend Hank Pym's experiments. She was a founding member of the Avengers and went on to become one of the longest running leaders for the team. Over the years Janet would endure her fair share of drama in her personal life, but her zest for life and resourcefulness have made her an incredible superhero.

While she may have once been the weakest link on the Avengers, Wasp's evolution into one of the team's chairpersons has mirrored that of Storm from the X-Men. She's smart, she's sassy and she's got a wardrobe so huge that it would put Carrie Bradshaw to shame. With her appearances in cartoons like Avengers: United They Stand and Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, she has ruled the small screen and her legacy will no doubt be felt later this year in Ant-Man.

06. Spider-Woman

REAL NAME: Jessica Drew

FIRST APPEARANCE: Marvel Spotlight Vol. 1 #32 (1977)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Superhuman Strength, Speed, Stamina, Agility, Reflexes and Senses, Flight, Bio-Electric Energy Blasts, Resistance to Poison and Radiation, Ability to Adhere to Walls

At a young age, a sickly Jessica Drew was injected with an irradiated spider serum that cured her and subsequently gave her superhuman abilities. After the death of her mother, Jessica was captured by the terrorists known as HYDRA and was brainwashed into becoming an assassin for them. Upon regaining control of her memories, she took on the codename Spider-Woman and sought to make up for her past sins as a superhero. Though she would work professionally as both a private investigator and bounty hunter, her most famous job title would be that of an Avenger.

As one of the heroines responsible for ushering in the wave of female-led titles in the late-1970s, Spider-Woman's self-titled series became one of the longest-running comics starring a woman published by Marvel. Though she would spend years in publication limbo, she was later brought back into the fold by Brian Michael Bendis as a member of the Avengers. With a snazzy new costume and her first ongoing series in years, Spider-Woman's stock couldn't be higher.

05. Captain Marvel

REAL NAME: Carol Danvers

FIRST APPEARANCE: Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1 #3 (1968)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Superhuman Strength, Speed, Stamina and Durability, Flight, Energy Absorption and Projection

While working for NASA, Carol Danvers was caught in an explosion that turned her into an alien-human hybrid. With a bevy of superpowers at her disposal, she became the costumed heroine known as Ms. Marvel. After fighting solo for several years, Carol became a key member of the Avengers and even joined the X-Men for a time. Now going by the codename Captain Marvel, Carol continues to pursue her goal of being the best superhero in the universe.

As one of Marvel's very first attempts at making a female counterpart to a well known hero à la Supergirl, Carol Danvers' popularity as Ms. Marvel exceeded that of her predecessor. Her original series posited her as Marvel's premiere feminist heroine, thus establishing her as the company's potential equivalent to DC Comics' Wonder Woman. She's been a favourite in video games and has appeared in adaptations such as The Super Hero Squad Show and Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. She also holds the distinction of being the very first heroine to headline her own Marvel Studios film, with her movie tentatively scheduled for a 2018 release.

04. Black Cat

REAL NAME: Felicia Hardy

FIRST APPEARANCE: The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #194 (1979)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Probability Manipulation, Expert Martial Artist, Master Thief

Following in the footsteps of her father, platinum-haired Felicia Hardy became the master thief known as Black Cat to break her father out of prison. An occasional thorn in Spider-Man's side, she found the web-slinger irresistible and maintained a flirtatious relationship with him despite her criminal pursuits. Black Cat would eventually give up her wayward ways, thus becoming Spider-Man's ally and part-time lover.

Often inaccurately cited as Marvel's answer to Catwoman, Black Cat was actually originally created as a nemesis for Spider-Woman but debuted as a Spider-Man antagonist instead. As one of Spider-Man's most famous enemies and allies, Black Cat's legacy has spanned over three decades' worth of comic appearances. Her roles in cartoons such as Spider-Man: The Animated Series and The Spectacular Spider-Man have further helped to make her a fan-favourite.

03. Black Widow

REAL NAME: Natalia Romanova

FIRST APPEARANCE: Tales of Suspense Vol. 1 #52 (1964)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Expert Martial Artist and Marksman

Natalia Romanova was recruited into a special project developed by the KGB when she was still a child. She was trained in deception, martial arts and was brainwashed into becoming a spy for the Russian government. Under the moniker of Black Widow, she faced off against heroes like Iron Man and Spider-Man while forging a partnership with then-villain Hawkeye. Since then Natalia has switched sides and has gone on to become one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top agents, as well as one of the most recognizable members of the Avengers.

Originally debuting as a villain, Black Widow successfully made the transition to hero following her tenure as Daredevil's partner in his self-titled ongoing series. She would go on to become a member of the Avengers, a team which she would lead for a short time during the 1990s, and would even headline several books of her own. Despite this, she operated on the fringes of the Marvel Universe and never quite found a following until she appeared in the movie Iron Man 2. Her subsequent roles in The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier have cemented her place on the A-list, making her Marvel's premiere filmic heroine.

02. Invisible Woman

REAL NAME: Susan Storm-Richards

FIRST APPEARANCE: Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #1 (1961)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Invisibility, Force Field Generation

When Reed Richards and his best friend Ben Grimm planned a trip into space, his girlfriend Susan Storm and her brother Johnny tagged along with them. This mission into the stars would forever change their lives, as they would be bombarded by cosmic rays that transformed them into the superheroes known as the Fantastic Four. Originally adopting the codename Invisible Girl, Susan would use her abilities to battle despotic sorcerers, alien invaders and subterranean monsters. Since then, she's honed her abilities to become one of the most powerful heroes in the universe.

As Marvel's First Lady, Invisible Woman was the first ever female superhero created during Marvel's Silver Age. Often cited as the glue that holds the group together, this legendary heroine has braved countless missions as a member of the Fantastic Four and weathered unimaginable setbacks in her personal life. She is a survivor and a proud mama bear that will do whatever it takes to protect her family. On top of that, she has appeared in all four of the Fantastic Four's television adaptations and was featured in the big screen adaptation Fantastic Four, as well as its sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. While the reception of these adaptations have varied over the years, Invisible Woman's status as an icon has not.

01. She-Hulk

REAL NAME: Jennifer Walters

FIRST APPEARANCE: Savage She-Hulk Vol. 1 #1 (1980)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Superhuman Strength, Speed, Agility, Stamina and Durability, Enhanced Healing Factor

After being shot by enemies of her father, criminal defence lawyer Jennifer Walters received a blood transfusion from her cousin Bruce Banner in order to save her life. Unbeknownst to Jennifer, her cousin was the Hulk and his irradiated blood resulted into her transformation into the green-skinned Amazon known as She-Hulk. Unlike her famous cousin, She-Hulk embraced her newfound abilities. She would go on to become a member of the Avengers and temporarily served as the Thing's replacement on the Fantastic Four.

Much like Spider-Woman before her, She-Hulk was created by Marvel to maintain a copyright over a female version of an existing male hero. As a solo heroine, She-Hulk holds the unique distinction of having two of the longest-running female-led ongoing series at Marvel. Her lengthy memberships with the Avengers and the Fantastic Four have also helped to establish her as an icon. This fan-favourite is beloved for her humorous qualities, with her ability to break the fourth wall and apparent inability to make any of her comics last becoming recurring jokes for the Jade Giantess. While she may not be as much of a household name as some of the other women on this list, she has a devoted fanbase and a legacy that proves she deserves to be number one.