Classic Review: Avengers- The Once and Future Kang
Quick Summary
Pros: The characters are consistently well-written and some of them show some great development. The book’s second half is exciting and will be particularly enjoyable to fans who have read many past Avengers issues. The artwork is positive in most chapters.
Cons: The collection’s first half spends a little too much time setting up and tying into other comics. The collection’s second half relies on past Avengers issues in a way that may not appeal to newer readers.
Overall: This collection will appeal to some readers but not everyone. The volume contains fun adventures, interesting connections to past works, and a general sense of progression for the characters. However, at points, it relies so much on knowledge of the Avenger’s past or other comics that it may dissuade new readers from jumping in. In the end, this is not a book for new readers but longtime Avengers readers may find plenty to enjoy within.
Story
Avengers: The Once and Future Kang, by Roger Stern, has plenty of appeal but this appeal is rather limited. This volume details several exciting Avengers adventures, many of which have great moments from its characters. However, many of these great moments come from the sense of improvement the characters are experiencing, limiting their appeal to longtime readers. In addition, most of the volume’s story arcs rely heavily on past Avengers issues to craft an interesting narrative, which also limits their appeal to longtime readers. In general, this book has its fair share of positive but they may not be universally appreciated by all readers.
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The Once and Future Kang gets off to a bit of a rocky start. The majority of the chapters in the book’s first half are heavily tied to other comic books, which prevents them from standing as strong on their own. The second chapter is a big tease for the return of Jean Grey, the third chapter is a small tease for a future Avengers plotline and a current Captain America one, and the fourth and fifth chapters are Secret Wars II tie-ins. The book’s penchant for giving vague warnings about the future makes all of these chapters feel like commercials for something bigger, rather than engaging events on their own.
On the plus side though, these opening chapters have some great interactions between the members of the Avengers and a bit of character development to go along with them. Specifically, Janet shows her capability as a leader, Monica grows closer to her teammates, and Namor begins to prove himself. These factors work well with the continuing sense of improvement that has been present throughout this comic.
In addition, the volume, as a whole improves as it enters its second half. This half starts out with an exciting and engaging plotline surrounding Kang the Conqueror. This plotline is a deep dive into Kang’s history that is sure to be interesting for longtime readers. Then, the book’s closing story arc details a solid team-up between the Avengers and the West Coast Avengers. This team-up works well and I thought that utilizing Quicksilver as the arc’s villain was a great touch, especially considering his history.
However, the book’s second half also relies heavily on knowledge of the Avenger’s past. The reexamination of Kang’s history and the betrayal of Quicksilver will, likely, have little impact for fans who have not read their previous appearances in the Avengers series. Instead, I could imagine that it would confuse and frustrate a read with details that have little positive value.
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Art
The artwork in The Once and Future Kang 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 on the faces of the characters, allowing a few moments to come across as more meaningful than they would otherwise. These positives are strong throughout the collection and help make up for any negatives.
These few negatives come in toward the book’s finale. Though Steve Ditko’s pencils are mostly positive, there are places where the inking feels far too light. In addition, there are places where characters’ 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: The Once and Future Kang continues the story from Avengers: The Legacy of Thanos (Review).
The story here continues in the second half of Avengers Epic Collection: Under Siege (Review).
This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:
- Captain America’s new toll-free help number was established in Captain America #312, collected in Captain America Epic Collection: Society of Serpents.
- Mentions of the Beyonder’s return are in reference to the events of Secret Wars II.
- Mentions of the Beyonder’s past actions and the way other characters responded to these actions are in reference to the events of Secret Wars (Review) (Reading Order).
- A dismissive remark about basing a superhero team in Detroit is likely a reference to the Justice League Vol. 1 Annual #2, which saw the team move to Detroit.
- The creation of Adam Warlock and the attempted creation of a separate “perfect human” are mentioned. These events took place in Fantastic Four #66-67, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 7 (Review), and Hulk Annual #6, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Incredible Hulk Vol. 13, respectively.
- A failed takeover of the Inhuman city took place in Avengers Annual #12, collected in Avengers: Absolute Vision Book One (Review).
- Namor recently lost the throne of Atlantis in Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner #4.
- Captain America’s origin, from Avengers #3, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review), is mentioned here. See our “From the Comics: The Unfreezing of Captain America” exploration for the full story.
- The creation of Her is mentioned. This event took place in Marvel Two-In-One #61.
- Avengers #263 references Jean Grey’s death from X-Men #137, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 5.
- The story in Avengers #263 directly continues in Fantastic Four #286, collected in Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 7.
- 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.
- 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.
- The Avengers learning the connection between Kang and Immortus in Giant-Size Avengers #3, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 14 (Review).
- 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, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 12.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.