Classic Review: Marvel Masterworks- Avengers Vol. 18

Quick Summary

Pros: The volume introduces some serious changes for the Avengers, which introduces a few interesting subplots. The Scarlett Witch/Quicksilver arc is a wonderful reinvention of the duo’s backstory that is also fun to read. The artwork looks good throughout the volume.

Cons: Two of the book’s arcs have strange problems that make them less appealing. Several of the shorter stories aren’t bad but also aren’t memorable in any way.

Overall: This book introduces an era of change for the Avengers, much of which is very compelling. Intriguing new changes, fun adventures, and some great artwork give fans a reason to read this book. Meanwhile, the book’s negatives are never too severe and mostly come from chapters feeling just average rather than special. Readers intrigued by the changes in this era or by Scarlett Witch/Quicksilver’s backstory should consider checking out this book.

Story

Most of the stories collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 18 are either very distinct and memorable or instantly forgettable. This volume sees the Avengers contend with government influence, details the origin of Scarlett Witch and Quicksilver, and shakes up the very structure of the team. These adventures are entertaining to see play out and feel important to the Avenger’s history. However, many of the collection’s other stories are not quite as entertaining and fail to rise above average quality levels. As a whole though, a few great stories and a few average ones make a collection that trends positive nearly the whole way through.

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Avengers Vol. 18 defines itself by the changes it brings about for the Avengers and its members. Early on in the volume, a major shakeup to the Avengers roster takes place. Gyrich, a government agent, demands that the Avengers cut their roster to seven specific members in order for the group to retain their privileged status within the US Government. This precludes sprawling adventures, like those seen in the last few volumes, from happening and forces the narrative to focus on more tightly constructed epics.

The changeup also introduces a few interesting subplots that being to arise throughout the chapters that follow. One raises questions regarding how much government influence the Avengers should be susceptible to. It ponders if bureaucracy is beneficial for reigning in superheroes or if it only serves to prevent help to those who need it. Another subplot involves Falcon wondering if his place on the team is even valid. Though the concept of the government filling a “quota” of minorities is based on a false premise, it does manage to lead to an interesting story about a hero questioning his worth of a team of other heroes. All of this change makes the comic a bit more complex and adds some satisfying intrigue here and there.

The next major story arc also introduces some serious changes for the team, specifically Scarlett Witch and Quicksilver. This arc takes the pair’s murky origin story, with all of its conflicting and unexplained elements, and turns it into a simple and coherent narrative. It is impressive to see all of these factors come together, particularly because it connects and explains plot holes or abandoned plot threads in a way that actually allows them to make sense. It is comic book revision and reinvention done in the best way possible.

It also helps that the Wundagore arc is just plain fun in general. It involves hidden mysteries to uncover, unshakable bonds between teammates, and is propelled forward by magical allure. It even turns Scarlett Witch against her teammates, leading to some exciting conflicts.

The rest of Avengers Vol. 18 does not fair quite as well as these more major features. The volume contains two two-part story arcs that have the Avengers facing off against a single foe. One has them solve an ancient curse and relies far too heavily upon a hero with an uncontrollable temperament to drive forward conflict. The other tries to impart a weird moral message about whether the Avengers should have let the Absorbing Man leave the country, despite the fact that he specifically said he was going to take over whatever small government he encountered and also was abducting a woman to bring with him.

Avengers Vol. 18 also contains several mostly unconnected, quick adventures. The Avengers fight Doctor Spectrum, fight Scarlett Witch and Quicksilver’s father, solve a problem in the U.S.S.R., and fight a villain from Iron Man’s past. All of these adventures are decently fun and some of them have some moments where it looks like the Avengers are in some serious trouble. However, the central conflict in most of them fails to stand out as anything particularly memorable.

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Art

The artwork in Avengers Vol. 18 is positive in nearly every chapter. George Perez kicks off the collection with a highly detailed and well laid out story. Then, Carmine Infantino’s pencils go on to perfectly set the mood for a more frightening tale. Plus, work from Jim Mooney works out in creating a few chapters more focused on action and suspense.

However, the real artistic draw here is the work of John Byrne. Throughout this volume, Byrne is able to depict a variety of situations in a way that consistently look appealing. Sometimes this involves the Avengers facing personal problems within their mansion. These pages properly depict emotion and, thus, create even more tension. Other times, Byrne’s work needs to display more distant locations. These pages feel incredibly exotic and contain a otherworldly charm that makes them even more pleasant to read. All in all, Byrne’s work makes an already visually pleasing volume even more pleasing.

Continuity

Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 18 continues the story from Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 17 (Review).

The story here continues in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 19 (Review).

This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:

• Avengers Annual #8 mentions Doctor Spectrum’s role in Defenders #13-14, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 2, and Giant-Size Defenders #4, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 3. 
• Doctor Spectrum’s fight against Thor in Iron Man #66, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 9, is also mentioned in Avengers Annual #8.
• Hyperion’s origin was explained back in Avengers #70, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 8 (Review). 
• Iron Man fought Dr. Obatu in Iron Man #67, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 9.
• Avengers #179 references Captain America leaving the city on urgent business. This happened in Captain America #229.
• Avengers #182 makes a quick reference to a puppet being used for evil. A note clarifies that this is in reference to the events of Spider-Woman #12.
• The Absorbing Man was defeated back in Hulk #209, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk Vol. 12. 
• Falcon quickly references his time with the Defenders. This time is detailed in Defenders #62-64.
• Recent events in Tony Stark’s life are referenced a number of times. This includes
  • His armor malfunctioning. This is likely referring to the events of Iron Man #120-121.
  • Recent troubles with SHIELD. This is likely referring to the events of Iron Man #118-119.
• Ms. Marvel changed her costume back in Ms. Marvel #20, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Ms. Marvel Vol. 2.
• Scarlett Witch and Quicksilver returned to Wundagore back in Avengers #30, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 3 (Review).
• The High Evolutionary left for the stars in Thor #135, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Thor Vol. 5 (Review).
• Modred fought the Other in Marvel Chillers #2.
• Avengers #187 references Iron Man’s trouble with the law from Iron Man #124-125.
• Avengers #187 references an incident between SHIELD and Russia from Iron Man #119-120.
• Scarlett Witch started learning witchcraft back in Avengers #128, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 14 (Review).  
• Avengers #188 mentions Medusa’s current status. This is explained in Fantastic Four #207, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 19.
• Avengers #188 also makes note of Russian superheroes from Iron Man #109, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 12, and Defenders #36, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 5.
• Avengers Annual #9 is somewhat of a sequel to Iron Man #114, the events of which are mentioned a number of times throughout this annual.
• Wonder Man’s “death” in Avengers #9, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review), is referenced.
• Notes indicate that Marvel Tales #100 takes place before Daredevil #147, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil Vol. 14, and before Avengers #161, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 16 (Review).
• Two-Gun was brought to the present in Avengers #147, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 15 (Review).  
• The Purple Man was thought dead back in Daredevil #89, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil Vol. 9. 
• Falcon references the events of Captain America #231-236.