Avengers: May 2008 Archives

Mighty Avengers has been recreating a number of classic covers for this series of stories during the Secret Invasion.  The cover to Mighty Avengers #14 has Marko Djurdjevic recreating one of my favorite Avengers covers of all time...

Avengers #57 cover by John Buscema, inks by George Klein.  What a dramatic way to introduce a new character!  Is he friend or foe?  The answer was not obvious, as the Vision was sent to destroy the Avengers by his creator, Ultron.  He was able to defy Ultron, which led to the Vision becoming a full fledged Avenger.  He was a unique character that was created solely to be in this team book, unlike the other Avengers, who had all been created elsewhere.  His origins and behavior were shrouded in mystery which provided a meaty subplot for the next five years worth of stories.

West Coast Avengers #45 cover by John Byrne.  Notice Byrne's signature on the lower left, giving credit not only to John Buscema, but to George Klein as well.  This is a philosophy that both John Byrne and Walt Simonson shared, giving credit back to the original artist when recreating a famous cover.  I just thought both of them were complete gentlemen for doing this.

Mighty Avengers #14 cover by Marko Djurdjevic.  It's a shame that credit was not given to Buscema on the cover or inside the credits page.  I cannot fault Djurdjevic, it seems to be a corporate policy now at Marvel.  Djurdjevic follows the original composition by Buscema very closely.  Note the position of the four figures (Black Panther, Giant-Man, Hawkeye, Wasp) are exactly the same as the original.

While I've come to really love Bendis' Avengers, I cannot forgive him for destroying the Vision back in Avengers #500.  I know he's still running around in Young Avengers, but without his memories or the Human Torch's body parts, it ain't the same.  I was really hoping the Vision who came out of the Skrull ship in Secret Invasion #1 would be the real deal.  Alas, as this cover indicates, Bendis robbed us again.  Nuff said.

The story for Mighty Avengers #14 is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how the Skrulls (Jarvis, Spider-Woman, Hank Pym, etc) are plotting against the Avengers.  Their biggest concern is the Sentry.  The Skrulls claims his power levels are off the charts and he is one of the few heroes who cannot be duplicated by the aliens.  This all comes together and ties back into Secret Invasion #2, where the 70s era Vision suddenly morphs into the Void as he confronts the Sentry.

I know a lot of people are tired of the Sentry's whining about the Void.  The Sentry actually cries in this issue when he sees the Void robbing a bank.  I am getting really tired of it, too.  I was hoping the Sentry would be Marvel's take on Superman, instead he's just a cry-baby.  I am actually rooting for Skrull-Jarvis.  Despite that, Bendis manages to pull a cool twist on the Sentry by the end of the issue. 

One other thing I hate: the Sentry's wife, Lindy.  She's a two-timing bitch and why is the Sentry so attached to her?  Just another reason why he's insane.  Nuff said.