Classic Review: Avengers Epic Collection- Under Siege
Quick Summary
Pros: The book’s first half contains several exciting plotlines. The subplots and character development in the book’s first half work well in setting up the second half. The book’s second half is a thrilling story arc that gives the collection a satisfying conclusion, one that builds excitement for the next volume. The artwork is positive throughout the book.
Cons: Heavy tie-ins to Avengers history and other comic books make the book’s first half harder for newer readers to jump into.
Overall: Interesting story arcs and beautiful artwork help this collection stand out as something positive. The book has the Avengers participate in a number of exciting encounters that become better and better as the collection progresses. These encounters are backed up by solid character moments and a general sense of progression for the team. Though this volume might not appeal as strongly to newer readers, it is a real treat for those with more reading experience.
Story
Avengers Epic Collection: Under Siege, by Roger Stern, is a well-structured series of stories that provide a great picture of the Avengers in this era. The book’s first half has them dealing with a variety of external threats while also continuing to develop as a team. Meanwhile, small hints toward a larger villainous conspiracy help build up anticipation for an even more significant threat. This helps create a thrilling second half and leads to a satisfying conclusion. The book’s only real problem is that, at points, it is not as friendly to new readers. However, besides that, the book has plenty going for it and makes for a compelling reading experience.
(spoilers start here)
The first half of Under Siege is a bit mixed but manages to trend positive. It has the Avengers facing off against several significant threats in several exciting battles. It has them participate in the potentially-world ending events of Secret Wars II. Then, it has them go up against Kang in a battle that revisits the time-traveling conqueror’s history in an interesting way. Then, they go on to fight against the might of Atlantis as they attempt to reunite Namor with his lost love. Finally, they join forces with the West Coast Avengers in a thrilling team-up. Each of these encounters is exciting in its own way and provides plenty of stirring scenes from this team of superheroes.
However, these adventures are also heavily tied to other comics in a way that may make them intimidating for newer readers. The Secret Wars II tie-in chapters make little sense without knowledge of that event and the Namor-centric chapters bring up significant story elements from the Alpha Flight series. Meanwhile, the interesting approach to Kang’s history with the Avengers will have minimal appeal to readers unfamiliar with this history. For readers with more experience in this era of comics these problems will likely not be a factor but newer readers may not enjoy them as much.
Luckily, the book’s second half is far more universally positive than its first. These positives start in the background of the book’s first half, where unusual actions from villains and character development from heroes set the stage for a faceoff against the Masters of Evil. Readers are constantly reminded that the villains are planning something big and that the relationships between the heroes are currently being tested. This helps set up a slow burn that makes the final story arc seem more intense than those coming before it.
All of this comes to a head as the second Baron Zemo makes his play. His plan is calculated in a way that is interesting to see play out and allows the villains to get the upper hand for a while. While they have the upper hand, the narrative also takes its time to make sure these villains come across as evil as possible, with their attack on Jarvis punctuating this point. This makes the valiant counterattack by the heroes even more exciting and satisfying. It also helps lead to an emotional conclusion that leaves the Avengers to stew in one of their most significant failures in a long time.
In addition, the conclusion of Under Siege provides a compelling twist to the traditional Avengers status quo. It has the team’s base almost completely demolished, has one of the Avengers in a coma, and puts the rest of them in a crisis of confidence. Immediately after putting down this book I was ready to pick up the next one and see how the team restructures after this serious loss.
(spoilers end here)
Art
The artwork in Under Siege continues the quality work that has been seen time and time again throughout this series. Penciler John Buscema and inker Tom Palmer do a nice job in presenting the events of this comic. They make the characters look good, they make the action look energetic, and they present the entire thing with a structure that flows well.
This volume specifically does well in accurately depicting emotion and providing some great full-page spreads. Emotions come across well on the faces of the characters, allowing a few moments, especially those in the final few pages, to come across as more meaningful than they would otherwise. In addition, full-page spreads in the Secret Wars II tie-ins or at the beginning of a few chapters help instantly clue the reader in to the serious nature of a few story arcs.
The only negatives in the book come from the crossover with the West Coast Avengers. Though Steve Ditko’s pencils are mostly positive, there are places where the inking feels far too light. In addition, there are places where character’s faces do not accurately convey their mood or emotion. It complicates the read in a few places but not enough to have a serious impact on the appeal of the volume as a whole.
Continuity
Avengers Epic Collection: Under Siege continues the story from the first half of Avengers: The Once and Future Kang (Review).
The story here continues in the second half of Avengers Epic Collection: Judgment Day (Review).
This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:
- Namor recently lost the throne of Atlantis in Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner #4.
- Wasp’s powers were boosted in Marvel Team-Up #59-60.
- Black Knight battled Doctor Strange in Doctor Strange #68.
- Avengers #264 teases a Captain America plotline that goes on to be explored further in Captain America #312, collected in Captain America Epic Collection: Society of Serpents.
- Avengers #265 is a tie-in to the Secret Wars II event and takes place after Secret Wars II #8. The tie-in makes a number of references to earlier actions in the Secret Wars II event.
- The Beyonder’s actions in Captain America #308, collected in Captain America Epic Collection: Society of Serpents, are mentioned.
- Avengers #266 is a tie-in to the Secret Wars II event and takes place after Secret Wars II #9. The tie-in makes a number of references to earlier actions in the Secret Wars II event.
- The events of Secret Wars II are also mentions at various points later on in this collection.
- Avengers #267 references A.I.M.’s tunnel from Marvel Feature #10.
- Avengers #267-268 reference the Avenger’s fight against the Space Phantom from Avengers #2, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review).
- Ravonna “died” in Avengers #24, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 3 (Review). She was revealed to have been kept alive in suspended animation in Avengers #69-71, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 8 (Review).
- Avengers #268 references the Dire Wraiths’ banishment to Limbo in Rom #66.
- Avengers #268 mentions the Time Platform’s use in Hulk #284-286, collected in Hulk Visionaries: Peter David Vol. 7.
- Avengers #269 goes over a number of details from Kang the Conqueror’s past. These include:
- His first fight against the Fantastic Four as Pharaoh Rama-Tut. This happened in Fantastic Four #19 collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 2 (Review)
- His meeting with Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four Annual #2, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 4 (Review)
- His first fight against the Avengers in Avengers #8, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review).
- The team-up between Kang and the Avengers in Avengers #24, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 3 (Review).
- His fight against Thor and entrance to Limbo in Thor #140, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Thor Vol. 5 (Review).
- The Avengers learning the connection between Kang and Immortus in Giant-Size Avengers #3, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 14 (Review).
- Avengers #270 mentions that Namor was granted amnesty for his past crimes in the Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner miniseries.
- Avengers #270 also mentions the Atlantis-related events of Alpha Flight #36.
- Avengers #270 references a series of murders that were part of a plotline running through Captain America #318-320, collected in Captain America Epic Collection: Justice is Served.
- Screaming Mimi was put in jail in Marvel Two-In-One #56.
- Alpha Flight #39 takes place immediately after Alpha Flight #38.
- Alpha Flight #39 references Namor’s past interactions with Alpha Flight. These interactions occur across Alpha Flight #4, collected in Alpha Flight Classic Vol. 1, and Alpha Flight #14-16, collected in Alpha Flight Classic Vol. 2. Alpha Flight #15-16 also contains the interactions between Namor and Marrina that are also mentioned here.
- Alpha last saw Marrina in Marvel Team-Up Annual #7.
- Byrrah fought against Namor back in Tales to Astonish #90, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Sub-Mariner Vol. 2.
- Alpha Flight #39 mentions the Canadian Government labeling someone as a terrorist. This happened in Alpha Flight #22, collected in Alpha Flight Classic Vol. 3.
- Spider-Woman played a part in Secret Wars #7-12, part of the Secret Wars (Review) (Reading Order) event.
- Freedom Force was established in Uncanny X-Men #199.
- Avengers Annual #15 goes over a few details from the Avenger’s past relationship with the US Government. These include:
- Vision’s attempt to take over the world’s computer systems in Avengers #253, collected in Avengers: Absolute Vision Book 2 (Review).
- The Grey Gargoyle’s attack during an Avengers hearing in Avengers #190-191, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 19 (Review).
- West Coast Avengers Annual #1 references Hank Pym’s breakdown in Avengers #217, collected in The Avengers: The Trial of Yellowjacket (Review).
- West Coast Avengers Annual #1 goes over the recent status of many former/potential Avengers and West Coast Avengers:
- The Thing agreed to join the West Coast Avengers in West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #10, collected in Avengers West Coast Epic Collection: Lost In Space-Time.
- The West Coast Avengers interacted with Firebird in West Coast Avengers #4-9, collected across Avengers West Coast Epic Collection: How The West Was Won and Avengers West Coast Epic Collection: Lost In Space-Time.
- Moondragon died in Defenders #152, collected in Defenders Epic Collection: The End of All Songs.
- Hellcat went away to get married in Defenders #125, collected in Defenders Epic Collection: Ashes, Ashes….
- Ms. Marvel left for “deep space” in X-Men #174, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 9.
- Starfox left in Avengers #256, collected in Avengers: The Legacy of Thanos (Review).
- Hulk #324 shows that Hulk is currently captured.
- Mantis became the Celestial Madonna in Giant-Size Avengers #4, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 14 (Review).
- Jocasta sacrificed herself in Marvel Two-In-One #93.
- Swordsman sacrificed himself in Giant-Size Avengers #2, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 14 (Review).
- Rhodey was cured of his mysterious headaches in Iron Man #195, collected in Iron Man Epic Collection: Duel of Iron.
- She-Hulk left the Avengers to join the Fantastic Four in Avengers #243, collected in Avengers: Absolute Vision Book 2 (Review).
- Thor set up a new identity in Thor #341, collected in Thor by Walt Simonson Vol. 1 (Review).
- Beast joined a group of mutants to form X-Factor in X-Factor #1, collected in X-Factor Epic Collection: Genesis & Apocalypse.
- Tigra experienced trouble with her cat side in West Coast Avengers #12, collected in Avengers West Coast Epic Collection: Lost In Space-Time.
- Black Widow references her early romance with Hawkeye, which began in Tales of Suspense #57, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 2 (Review).
- Wanda and Vision’s twins were born in Vision and the Scarlett Witch Vol. 2 #12, collected in Avengers: Vision & The Scarlet Witch – A Year in the Life.
- West Coast Avengers Annual #1 makes a number of references to the time when Captain America led a team of new Avengers. This time began in Avengers #16, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 2 (Review).
- Many aspects of Quicksilver’s past are brought up. These include:
- His time with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. This started in X-Men #4, collected in Marvel Masterworks: X-Men Vol. 1.
- His injury in the battle with the Sentinels from Avengers #104, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 11 (Review).
- His romance with Crystal, which was initially shown and explained in Fantastic Four #131, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 13.
- His marriage to Crystal in Avengers #127, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 13 (Review).
- His move to the moon in Fantastic Four #240, collected in Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 1.
- The revelation behind Crystal’s affair from Vision and the Scarlett Witch Vol. 2 #10, collected in Avengers: Vision & The Scarlet Witch – A Year in the Life.
- The Zodiac Life-Model Decoys were made in Defenders #50, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 6.
- The Avengers formed in Avengers #1, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review). See our “From the Comics: The Origin of the Avengers” exploration for more information.
- Avengers #273 mentions Baron Heinrich Zemo’s Masters of Evil. This team was assembled in Avengers #6, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review).
- Avengers #274 references Iron Man’s fight against Fixer from Iron Man #202.
- During Avengers #274, the Fantastic Four are out of the country. This is explained in Fantastic Four #297, collected in Fantastic Four Epic Collection: All in the Family.
- Captain America’s fight against Trapster and Whirlwind took place in Captain America #324, collected in Captain America Epic Collection: Justice is Served.
- Porcupine’s memorial was set up in Captain America #315, collected in Captain America Epic Collection: Society of Serpents.
- Avengers #274 references Fixer’s plans from Avengers Annual #13, collected in Avengers: Absolute Vision Book 2 (Review).
- Avengers #275 references Baron Heinrich Zemo’s death. He died in Avengers #15, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 2 (Review).
- Baron Helmut Zemo was previously defeated in Captain America #301, collected in Captain America: Death of the Red Skull.
- Avengers #275 mentions that Spider-Man was able to stop a few villains from achieving their goals. This happened in Amazing Spider-Man #283.
- Avengers #275 references Janet’s brush with death near the beginning of the Avenger’s career. This happened in Avengers #14, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 2 (Review).
- Avengers #276 references Moonstone and Blackout’s last fight against the Avengers. This took place in Avengers #238, collected in Avengers: Absolute Vision Book One (Review).
- The Shroud met Captain Marvel back in Avengers #241, collected in Avengers: Absolute Vision Book One (Review).
- The Avengers helped Doctor Druid back in Avengers #225-226, collected in The Avengers: The Trial of Yellowjacket (Review).
- A note in Avengers #276 states that this issue takes place “between pages 5 and 7 of Thor #373“. Thor #373 is collected in Thor by Walt Simonson Vol. 4.