Avengers Assemble #1 returns to the days when the franchise worked

Warning: Contains spoilers for Avengers Assemble #1!

The new one Avengers Assemble Harkens back to the days of old, expertly reviving the spirit of a bygone era. The Avengers Franchise has undergone drastic changes since its debut over 60 years ago. Members have come and gone, like headquarters and vehicles and villains. Avengers Assemble #1 Brings classic members back into the fold, and its fun and rollicking nature keep it from just fan service.

Avengers Assemble #1 was written by Steve Orlando and drawn by Cory Smith. Captain America brings together a new team of Avengers to quickly deal with emergencies around the world. So far, he has recruited Shang-Chi, Photon and the Wasp, Janet Van Dyne. No sooner do they meet and they are called into action against Sin, the Red Skull’s daughter. Even though half of the team hasn’t arrived yet, Cap leads the new Avengers into battle, but they’re outnumbered.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team, unaware of Cap’s situation, meets at the old Avengers mansion.

It’s hard to believe, but the Avengers aren’t Marvel’s first big franchise

The Avengers began their ascent in the early 2000s

For the past twenty years, the Avengers have been one of Marvel’s biggest franchises, but that wasn’t always the case. While the Avengers have been a key part of the Marvel Universe since 1963, they often played second fiddle to Spider-Man and the X-Men. After 2004 Avengers disassembled Began the team’s ascent to the upper Marvel echelons. Avengers disassembled Sent shockwaves through the Marvel Universe. Long-time Avengers such as Scott Lang were killed, and at the end of the event, the team disbanded, seemingly for good.

The Avengers were not gone for long, and they returned in 2005 New Avengers. Writer Brian Michael Bendis and his artistic collaborators, including David Finch, reformed the team under the leadership of Captain America. He and Iron Man are joined by Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, and most shocking of all, Spider-Man and Wolverine. From there followed a steady progression of Avengers Titles, such as Mighty Avengers, Young Avengers And Secret Avengers. In 2009, The Avengers surpassed the X-Men in sales, which would have been unheard of a decade earlier.

The MCU has had a profound impact on the Avengers franchise

The MCU forced changes to the Avengers franchise and the Marvel Universe as a whole

And then the MCU happened. In 2012, Marvel Studios released The Avengers. The culmination of “Phase One” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the film was a smash hit with fans and critics alike. The Avengers became a decade-defining movie, launching a massively successful multimedia franchise. Characters who were B-listers 10 or 15 years ago are now household names. While the early years of the MCU used the publisher’s first Ultimate line as the blueprint, it also drew on Avengers Comics that were published at the same time.

The MCU was wildly popular among the movie-going public, and Marvel began making changes to it Avengers franchise, to bring it more in line with the films. The most controversial of these changes was the revelation that Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch were not mutants. Fans were outraged, but Marvel brushed off the concerns by stating they were simply trying to sync the comics and the movies. The scandal eventually died down, but it was clear that the franchise was changing. By becoming a top-flight Marvel property, the Avengers Lost something on the way.

Avengers Assemble Mix the past and the present

Shang-Chi, Night Thrasher and Lightspeed are finally in the big leagues

Despite the “new” factor around them, Captain America’s Avengers Emergency Response Squad harkens back to the classic Avengers Books of old. Orlando and Smith up the nostalgia factor throughout. It is no accident Avengers Assemble Features franchise stalwarts like Hercules, Wonder Man, Wasp, She-Hulk and Hawkeye. For the most part, these heroes haven’t been active Avengers in years, but now Captain America has them out of reserve status. The Emergency Response Squad will live and work in the old Avengers mansion, which will be tended to by Jarvis, the team’s butler from Old.

Orlando and Smith understand, however, that just putting old Avengers back on the team isn’t enough, and new blood is also needed: enter Shang-Chi and Lightspeed. For both heroes, joining the Avengers signifies membership in the “big leagues.” Shang-Chi, who has seen his star rise in recent years thanks to the MCU and a progression of excellent books, is long overdue for Avengers membership. For Lightspeed, who began as a member of Power Pack, her time with the Avengers marks a new era in her heroic career.

Avengers Assemble is a shot in the arm to the franchise

Avengers Assemble is the perfect throwback

Avengers Assemble #1 feels like a blast from the past in the best way possible. Orlando and Smith gave fans perhaps the best Avengers title of the past five years, one that blends elements of old and new and creates an epic first issue. Orlando’s characterizations are on point: his Captain America is every bit the hero, while Hawkeye is the perfect mix of snarky and heroic. Cory Smith’s art shines throughout as well. Avengers Assemble #1 is not only the best title in the franchise right now, but it’s also the most fun.

Avengers Assemble #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!