Digital Mini Reviews | A Marvel Dose of Heroism

Hi there!

A while back I compiled a couple of Marvel comics focused on villains that I picked up in the past to showcase the difficulty of telling stories where they were the protagonist… At least, to my eyes. This time around, I wanted to put together a couple of Marvel comics featuring superheroes that I got around to checking out. Some might also be an interesting entry point to discovering characters who will soon get their own live-action series/movies or at least a role in them!

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Avengers (Vol. 1): Avengers World by Jonathan Hickman.

The greatest heroes in comics together on one unbeatable team! The Avengers “go large,” expanding their roster and their sphere of influence to a global and even interplanetary level. When Captain America puts out his call – who will answer? Big threats, big ideas, big idealism – these are the Avengers NOW!

A messy exploration of the Avengers’ expansion (with numerous new superheroes rising up to the need for help and the call of duty) as the original six find themselves in a sticky situation, unable to answer the call.

The artwork fluctuates in quality, depending on who has the mantle on a particular issue, and offers an epic display of these heroes in the midst of anarchy but the story’s untidiness hinders my appreciation.

Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky (Vol. 1): Know Fear by Chip Zdarsky.

The next chapter in the ever-surprising saga of Daredevil! After a brush with death, Matt Murdock must piece together his shattered life — and that includes returning to action as Daredevil! But years of trauma have taken their toll, and becoming the guardian of Hell’s Kitchen he once was won’t be easy. Mistakes will be made along the way — and this time, one might actually prove to be the end of him. Because when a criminal dies, and Daredevil takes the blame, Matt must go on the run in a desperate bid to clear his name! But even he can’t outrun judgment forever. And with DD’s absence from Hell’s Kitchen, the real devils can come out to play.

A truly impressive story arc exploring the conflicted soul of Daredevil, his pursuit of purpose, and his search for redemption. Writer Chip Zdarsky outdid himself with a gritty and dark look at a hero’s downfall and the artwork greatly plays in its favour.

Shang-Chi by Gene Luen Yang (Vol. 1): Brothers & Sisters by Gene Luen Yang.

THE MASTER RETURNS! An ancient and evil secret society has stayed in hiding since the death of their leader, Zheng Zhu. But now his successor has been chosen to shift the balance of power in the world…Zheng Zhu’s son, Shang-Chi! Witness the Marvel Universe’s greatest fighter return to a world of death and destruction he thought he left behind long ago…and discover the secrets to Shang-Chi’s past that will change his world forever Don’t miss out on this epic tale of family, betrayal and justice as the incredible team of Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese), Dike Ruan (SPIDER-VERSE, BLACK CAT) and Philip Tan (UNCANNY X-MEN) launch a new chapter in the legend of Shang-Chi!

An average adventure exposing the complex relationship between Shang-Chi and the rest of his brothers and sisters.

The narrative and artistic style are bland, yet action-packed, overripe by a static folkloric design.

Moon Knight (Vol. 1): From the Dead by Warren Ellis.

Marc Spector is Moon Knight! Or is he? It’s hard to tell these days, especially when New York’s wildest vigilante protects the street with two-fisted justice and three — that’s right, count ’em — three different personalities! But even with the mystical force of Egyptian moon-god Khonshu fueling his crusade, how does the night’s greatest detective save a city that’s as twisted as he is? The road to victory is going to hurt. A lot. Be there as Moon Knight punches ghosts(!), investigates a sleep experiment that’s driving its patients insane, travels to the mushroom graveyard planet(!!), faces the Black Spectre and takes on twenty mob enforcers to save an abductee…alone. Marvel’s most mind-bending adventure begins as Moon Knight sleuths his way to the rotten core of New York’s most bizarre mysteries!

Curious to understand the complex and nutty world in which Moon Knight thrives? A world mostly composed of whatever his mind conceives, understands, and acknowledges? Give writer Warren Ellis a shot as he explores this character’s complex yet confused conception of vigilantism with a unique story-telling formula.

Black Knight: The Fall of Dane Whitman by Frank Tieri.

What do you do when it’s your destiny to be damned? For centuries, that is the grave question that has plagued each wielder of the Ebony Blade -and all of them ultimately succumbed to the sword’s curse. Now, as his own addiction to the weapon grows ever stronger, this shocking truth is laid bare to its current owner, the former Avenger Dane Whitman. Will this revelation be the reason he ends up in the strange and dangerous realm known as Weirdworld? Or is there something else? When the Uncanny Avengers hunt him down, will Dane’s past actions finally catch up with him? And in the ensuing battle, will his stay in Weirdworld come to a premature end?

If there’s anything that should be taken away from this read, it’s that the Ebony Blade can only ever be welded by this one guy, no matter what, and he’s completely helpless if he doesn’t have it…

What a messy volume it turned out to be though… 

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Have you read any of these?

Share your thoughts on anything and everything with me! 😁

TILL NEXT TIME,

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