Classic Review: Marvel Masterworks- Avengers Vol. 3

Quick Summary

Pros: The stories collected here are all entertaining to some degree. A few of the stories stand out as unique adventures. The Avengers undergo a lot of growth over the course of this book, all of which is great to see.

Cons: Some small aspects of the stories feel a bit dated.

Overall: This is one of the better Silver Age showings for the Avengers. It has plenty of good stories, a few great stories, and, as a whole, helps push the Avengers even further into the future. The entire collection contains a sense of progression that feels rewarding by the time you put the book down. Readers who enjoyed previous Avengers volumes or those who are looking for some solid Silver Age Avengers adventures, should consider reading this collection.

Story

Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 3, by Stan Lee and Don Heck, sees this still fledgling series mature into something more unique and interesting than it ever was before. Each of the stories told here are entertaining and a few of them stand out as truly memorable adventures. The entire experience also allows the members of the Avengers to grow as a team, which is as entertaining to see as their battles are. The only cons here come from a few of the book’s more dated aspects, such as ridiculous technology and small narrative mistakes, but these are rather easy to overlook. All in all, this is one of the better entries in this series and a solid indication that these Silver Age comics are still worth reading.

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The most significant positive in Avengers Vol. 3 is that all of the stories are entertaining and offer something favorable to the reading experience. This ranges from the quick but interesting foray against Dr. Doom to the exciting plight of Goliath. All of these stories are fun to read at the absolute minimum.

It also helps that a few of the stories go beyond this minimum and manage to really stand out as unique and interesting tales. The opening chapters have the “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” framed as a public menace due to the manipulation of various villains. Instead of simply defeating the heroes physically, the villains in this arc choose to push them to their mental limits. This strains the already tense relationships between these heroes and highlights the tragic situations in which many of the Avengers are stuck. In the end, it is a very entertaining arc that stands out among its Silver Age counterparts.

Another solid and unique arc comes from the two-part conflict centered around a war with Kang the Conqueror. Like the first arc, this story is a unique twist on a standard Avengers adventure. It has daring battles and tense action but also has the Avengers team up with Kang, who’s undeniable status as a villain makes for an unlikely ally. This produces a memorable story and ends with more emotions than most Avengers stories.

Though each of the stories offers positives on an individual basis, the other primary appeal in Avengers Vol. 3 is how all of the stories come together to form a compelling larger narrative. Over the course of this book, the members of the Avengers grow and develop as heroes. They go from an ornery group of near-enemies to a well-structured group of crimefighters. By the end of this book, they are pulling off impressively planned battle tactics and Hawkeye, in particular, is attempting to change how he treats the people around him. It is great to see this kind of growth in a series like this; hopefully it will continue as this comic progresses.

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Art

The artwork in Avengers Vol. 3 maintains a similar level of quality to the artwork seen in Avengers Vol. 2 (Review). Don Heck’s work on the characters here is the best part of the book. It allows the action scenes to feel dynamic and allows the story to flow forward unimpeded.  However, backgrounds are still pretty plain and there are a couple visual inconsistencies that add small levels of confusion into the read. Luckily, the comic still manages to look good overall and is a decent complement to the story being told.

Continuity

Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 3 continues the story from Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 2 (Review).

The story here continues in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 4 (Review).

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

• The Masters of Menace were thrown in prison in Amazing Spider-Man #22, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 3.
• At one point, in issue #22, the current activities of the original Avengers are show. These include:
  • Iron Man’s battle with an Android from Tales of Suspense #72, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 3.
  • Thor’s battle with the Absorbing Man in Journey Into Mystery #122, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Vol. 4.
• Kang the Conqueror had taken on his Pharaoh Rama-Tut identity in Fantastic Four #19, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 2 (Review). He had a conversation with Doctor Doom, in Fantastic Four Annual #2, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 4 (Review).
• At one point, Hawkeye mentions his fight with Iron Man. This took place in Tales of Suspense #57, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 2.
• In issue #26, the current condition of Namor, Ant-Man, and the Wasp is explained by the events of Tales to Astonish #76, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Sub-Mariner Vol. 1.
• The Wasp previously fought Attuma in Tales to Astonish #64, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Ant-Man/Giant-Man Vol. 2.
• In issue #26, Hank Pym announces a few changes to his powers. These changes occurred over the course of Tales to Astonish 67-68, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Ant-Man/Giant-Man Vol. 2.
• At one point, Thor is said to be busy with his own solo adventures. This is a reference to Thor #129, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Vol. 4.