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Essential Avengers, Vol. 1 (Marvel Essentials)

Essential Avengers, Vol. 1 (Marvel Essentials)

  • Paperback
  • Edition: 2nd
  • Author: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Don Heck
  • Publisher: Marvel Comics
  • Release Date: August 2005
  • ISBN-10: 0785118624
  • ISBN-13: 9780785118626
  • List Price: $16.99

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Summaries and Customer Reviews provided by Amazon

Summary

There came a day, unlike any other, when Earth's Mightiest Heroes found themselves united against a common threat. On that day, the Avengers were born -- to fight the foes no single hero could withstand. Featuring the formation of the Avengers, the revival of Captain America, and enemies such as the Sub-Mariner and Kang the Conqueror! Collects Avengers #1-24.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: Score = 3.5 Score = 3.5 Score = 3.5 Score = 3.5 Score = 3.5

Avengers.....hard to recommend....

Rating: Score = 2 Score = 2 Score = 2 Score = 2 Score = 2

I can't give this book lower than two stars because of the affordable price and historic significance of these issues. That being said, I can't honestly say I enjoyed much of anything about this collection. The characterization seems off on just about every hero through the entire book. I think Stan Lee was on auto pilot on this team book and more effort was going into the solo titles running at the same time. The best story is probably the last, a battle with Kang in the far future. I recommend this only for the Silver Age Marvel Comics completest.

Black & white reprints of classic four-color comics...?

Rating: Score = 2 Score = 2 Score = 2 Score = 2 Score = 2

I honestly don't get the appeal of these books. Why bother making (or reading) black & white reprints of classic four-color comics...? I mean, yeah, the stories are still great and the original comics are hard to find, but a huge part of what made these comics great was the eye-popping artwork, including the bright primary colors: reading them in dull B&W is just plain wrong. Sure, the printing costs are lower, so you can get more pages for your money, but it's more pages of boring, not more pages of fun. It's really a travesty.

On the other hand, it recently occurred to me that these could be used as coloring books... Maybe you could buy a box of crayons to go along with all the artwork that the publishers ruined in this format. (Axton)

Assemble!

Rating: Score = 4 Score = 4 Score = 4 Score = 4 Score = 4

The Avengers have always been one of my favorite comics to read, through good creators and bad. I really enjoyed reading all the early adventures, especially after the original crew left and Captain America took charge. If Cap isn't in an Avengers comic, it's not really the Avengers! This is a series that just gets better and better in its early years.

B/W reprints of Avengers' first 25 issues (1963-1966)

Rating: Score = 4 Score = 4 Score = 4 Score = 4 Score = 4

This volume collects the first 25 issues of Marvel Comics' Avengers series that were originally published between September 1963 and January 1966. Stan Lee is the credited writer on all 25 issues. Jack Kirby is credited with the artwork for the first eight issues with the rest mostly featuring pencils by Don Heck and inks by Dick Ayers.
The first issue shows the founding Avengers: Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk, Ant-Man and The Wasp. By issue #2 the Hulk leaves the group and Ant-Man becomes Giant-Man. Captain America reappears in #4. A typical plot features the team battling a villian such as Kang The Conqueror, Mole Man or Baron Zemo and the Masters of Evil. The first plots are contained within one issue but by #19 stories continue over two-plus issues.
The original Avengers also appeared in separate books outside this series. As a result, their storylines offered more potential conflicts, sometimes with the characters seemingly in two separate places simultaneously. To solve this, Lee had each original member take a leave of absence and Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver joined the Cap-led team in #16.
I prefer the Avengers DVD-ROM for its complete collection of the entire Avengers run in full color PDFs. However, the Marvel Essentials series offers convenient, inexpensive access to these 40-year old Avengers comics without needing a computer. At over 500 pages this is a tremendous value and offers hours of reading.

Great Book...

Rating: Score = 4 Score = 4 Score = 4 Score = 4 Score = 4

Great book. Great Price. But I would pay more if you printed them on color newsprint. I like the cheapness of black and white but I can't afford the color Masterworks. Please print these on color newsprint in the future. I'm sure you'd sell way more printing them in color. People love these comics and want to share them with their kids. Pick up this book if you have any interest in classic comics. The art and writing is fantastic... but can't you print them in color... it can be color newsprint... I'd pay more and buy way more.