Review: Mighty Avengers Volume 1 - No Single Hero

While the Avengers are off-world, Thanos sends one of his generals – Proxima Midnight – to conquer Earth. Though Proxima expects an easy victory, she soon finds opposition in the form of Luke Cage and his Heroes for Hire. With help from heavyweights like Spectrum and the Superior Spider-Man, these heroes prove that Proxima has her work cut out for her.

Mighty Avengers Volume 1: No Single Hero collects Mighty Avengers #1-5, written by Al Ewing and illustrated by Greg Land.

There have been many Avengers spin-offs since Marvel unleashed their cinematic universe onto the world, but none have been as inclusive or as dynamic as Ewing and Land’s Mighty Avengers. With a roster consisting of Luke Cage, White Tiger, Power Man, Spider-Man and Spectrum (my personal favourite), Ewing delivers an incredibly powerful iteration of the Avengers and immediately sets to work proving just how badass they are. He does so by setting up a threat that proves their worth, mirroring the beloved Avengers movie by having our heroes face off against an alien menace. He treats the characters seriously and never once underestimates their strengths, which is refreshing particularly considering his cast is comprised of characters that are all too often relegated to the background (save Spider-Man, of course). I’m especially glad to see Spectrum treated as the most powerful member of the group and that her leadership experience is recognized. Ewing also writes in a rather clever Janet Jackson reference when he refers to Spectrum, framing her even more in the narrative as worthy of being acknowledged as the fierce diva that she truly is.

Despite a few hiccups here and there, Mighty Avengers is a relatively accessible title that emphasizes dialogue and action over continuity. The narrative does owe a lot to both the “Infinity” and “Inhumanity” crossovers, which is a given considering the title is a tie-in to both. As such, readers will be required to have at least a working knowledge of these events in order to fully grasp the references made. Regardless, Ewing does a fantastic job providing action that is easy to follow and engages with the audience. The battle against Shuma Gorath is pretty snazzy, while the brawl between Spider-Man and both Luke Cage and Jessica Jones is rather amusing. Furthermore, Ewing is able to capture the distinctive tones of his characters. From Spider-Man’s arrogance to Jessica Jones’ trucker mouth, the dialogue really runs the gamut to provide the book with a wide range of voices.

The weakest link in Mighty Avengers is its artist Greg Land. Often reviled within the comic book fandom for his tendency to sexualize women’s facial expressions (and bodies) and the rumored likelihood of his work being traced, Land is a controversial choice for any title. His art is naturally very glossy and attempts realism, though his porn-like proportions gives his work a less mainstream appearance. This undermines Ewing’s clear attempt to legitimize his band of Avengers.

Mighty Avengers Vol. 1: No Single Hero is a refreshing and endlessly entertaining start to one of Marvel’s more original spin-off offerings of their iconic super team. With its incredible cast and nonstop action, it’s a title that offers readers an opportunity to become invested in this team and to keep them wanting more.

RATING: B+