Review: Defenders Epic Collection- Ashes, Ashes…
Quick Summary
Pros: The volume has some fun and compelling battles. The characters and character development are fantastic, especially if fans have read the previous volume. The character struggles are packed with emotion and meaning. The artwork looks nice and is a good complement to the narrative.
Cons: One of the story arcs is lackluster. An aspect of another story feels rushed.
Overall: This is a solid volume on its own but an even better continuation to the Defenders series. It has the action and far-out plotlines one would expect. However, it also has some amazing characters, character development, and emotional appeal. The volume is a treat for anyone who wants to get invested with a compelling team of characters. Anyone who read the previous volume and is looking to see that story continue should keep reading here.
Story
Defenders Epic Collection: Ashes, Ashes…, by J.M. DeMatteis, is a compelling and worthwhile continuation to the narrative and positive story elements started in the previous collection (Review). It has the action and supernatural flair that the previous volume did so well. However, it thoroughly expands on the characters and turns their personal stories and growth into one of the best aspects of this series. Their struggles here are emotional and meaningful and the way they are approached is impressive. I would recommend that readers interested in this volume check out the previous one first and then, if they enjoy it, jump confidently into this one.
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The majority of the longer story arcs in Ashes, Ashes… feel similar to those in the previous volume, in that they have the Defenders go up against some sort of strange of supernatural threat. These encounters are typically exciting and feature some fun action from the main characters. They also have the dark twist and mystical flair that help define this comic from its competitors.
However, the main draw in Ashes, Ashes… does not come from the action-packed drama, it comes from the character drama. This volume details the plight of a man so wracked with loss that he is losing his will to live, the decisions of a man without a purpose in life, a woman in search of her father, the survival of personalities ripped from a normal life, the story of someone dealing with their own death, multiple blossoming romances, and a change in leadership for the Defenders. There is enough interpersonal and intrapersonal drama going on here that there doesn’t even need to be an antagonist to make any of these stories interesting. In fact, the first two issues of this collection, which really dive into Devil-Slayer and Patty’s personal struggles, were two of my favorite issues of this collection, possibly the series. J.M. DeMatteis also approaches all of this drama in a way that makes you feel for characters, even if you don’t approve of what they are doing, which makes the entire situation all the more interesting.
As an added bonus, all this personal drama actually leads to real development taking. By the end of this volume, Son of Satan and Devil-Slayer have realized that they can develop lives of their own, Patty has realized that she has a real family and that she is free to live a normal life, and Beast has assembled a new team of Defenders. There is even a marriage to top off the collection. All of this progression is great but is amplified far further if readers have seen what the Defenders went through in the previous volume.
Not everything about Ashes, Ashes… is great though. The brief clash with the Avengers is somewhat gimmicky and feels too similar to previous clashes between superpowered teams. In addition, Patty and Daimon’s marriage feels a little sudden, even if it is charming otherwise. Luckily, these negatives are pretty minimal and do not have a major impact on the total appeal of the volume.
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Art
The artwork in Ashes, Ashes… looks good and is definitely an improvement from its predecessor. The pages are still well-laid out and structured in a way that flows. However, Don Perlin’s pencils look even better. They come across as more detailed and imaginative, allowing the visuals to express the creativity already present in this comic. They particularly look better when it comes to characters, which is important in a volume that is as character-driven as this one. There are a few places where a new inker’s work doesn’t match as well with these pencils but problems like that are only found in a few places. For the most part, the artwork in this collection looks good and works well with this comic.
Continuity
Defenders Epic Collection: Ashes, Ashes… continues the story from Epic Collection: The Six-Fingered Hand (Review).
The story here continues in Defenders Epic Collection: The New Defenders.
This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:
- Defenders #111 mentions Patsy Walker’s connection to Beast. This connection is explained across Amazing Adventures #13-16, collected in Marvel Masterworks: X-Men Vol. 7.
- Patsy first became Hellcat in Avengers #144, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 15 (Review).
- A note in Defenders #111 mentions that Hulk gained the intelligence of Bruce Banner in other comics. This began in Incredible Hulk #272, collected in The Incredible Hulk: Pardoned.
- The Defenders fought Hyperion back in Defenders #13-14, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 2 (Review).
- Doctor Strange fought his own personal “devil” back in Doctor Strange #16, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange Vol. 6.
- Patsy started training under Moondragon in Avengers #151, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 16 (Review).
- Moondragon helped remove some of Patsy’s powers back in Defenders #77.
- Avengers Annual #11 starts by referencing Nebulon’s actions in Defenders #14, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 2 (Review); Defenders #92; and Defenders Annual #1, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 5.
- Defenders #112 mentions that Vision and Scarlet Witch left the Avengers. They did this in Avengers #211, collected in Avengers: The Trial of Yellowjacket (Review).
- The Avengers fought the Squadron Supreme across Avengers #85-86, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 9 (Review), and Avengers #147-148, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 15 (Review).
- Overmind’s history is detailed across Fantastic Four #113-116, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 11 (Review). Notes in this collection indicate that his race, the Eternals, is not to be confused with the Eternals from the Eternals series, collected in Eternals by Jack Kirby Vol. 1 (Review) and Vol. 2 (Review).
- The Silver Surfer has been barred from exploring beyond Earth since Fantastic Four #50, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 5 (Review).
- Null battled Ghost Rider in Ghost Rider #71.
- The Over-Mind fought the Stranger in Fantastic Four #116
- Defenders #116 references Clea’s departure in Doctor Strange #55, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange Vol. 9.
- Beast went off on his own adventures in Amazing Adventures #11, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men Vol. 7.
- Lady Dorma died in Sub-Mariner #37, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Sub-Mariner Vol. 5.
- Defenders #118 references the Defender’s battle against the Omegatron from Defenders #5, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 1 (Review), and Defenders #69.
- Son of Satan recently fought Satannish in Marvel Team-Up #126.
- A note in Defenders #119 indicates that a flashback from this chapter takes place in between Defenders #68 and Defenders #69.
- The Defenders first fought Mandrill in Defenders #79-80.
- Defenders #119 references Yandroth’s death from Marvel Feature #1, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 1 (Review).
- Valkyrie was separated from Barbara Norris in Defenders #68.
- Defenders #120 mentions that Doctor Strange is dealing with the events of Doctor Strange #59 during this issue.
- The Miracle Man was last seen in Marvel Two-in-One #8.
- The Miracle Man was stopped by “mystics” back in Fantastic Four #138, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 13.
- A note in Defenders #123 indicates that the issue takes place before the events of Avengers #233, collected in Avengers: Absolute Vision Book One (Review).
- Scarlet Witch and her brother were villains back in X-Men #4-7, collected in Marvel Masterworks: X-Men Vol. 1.
- The “Secret Empire” was last encountered in Captain America #175, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Captain America Vol. 8.
- Defenders #124 references the appearance of elves in Defenders #25, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 4; #31, #38, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 5; and #45, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 6.
- Defenders #125 references Moondragon’s role as an Avenger’s antagonist. This happened in Avengers #220, collected in Avengers: The Trial of Yellowjacket (Review).
- Warren’s run-in with Callisto was detailed in X-Men #170, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 9.
- Defenders #125 teases Warren’s actions across Marvel Fanfare #1-4.
- The Mutant Force was last seen in Defenders #87.
- Patsy’s last encounter with her ex-husband is detailed in Avengers #149, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 15 (Review).