Avengers: Armageddon #1 is the start of one of the most important comic books Marvel will release as a company. This comic book is set to create the new foundation it will take its all-important Avengers franchise direction when all is said and done. Doing this during the summer ahead of the MCU’s Avengers: Doomsday movie means a lot for how they view this event as setting the tone for one of the Marvel Universe’s pillars. How will it all begin? Find out with our review of Avengers: Armageddon.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Delio Diaz and Frank Alpizar
Colorist: Jesus Aburtov
Letterer: Cory Petit
AVENGERS: ARMAGEDDON #1 REVIEW
“ARMAGEDDON HAS ARRIVED! Red Hulk’s devastating tear across the globe must be stopped… but it will take a colossal gathering of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to do it! Calling in the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Wolverine and more…but who will survive this super-powered cataclysm?! There will be a pre-Armageddon Marvel Universe and a post-Armageddon Marvel Universe. Be here to bear witness to the transformation.” – Marvel Comics
REVIEW
There is an undeniable air of confidence in the story Avengers: Armageddon #1 is telling. Even for all the problems there may be with how continuity heavy it is out of the gate the one thing you can’t say against it is the story being on shaky grounds. We see how it is clearly built on a Marvel Universe that has had way too much going on for it. Because of that the top has blown off to create a story that aims to create a new focus for those involved by the end.
It is to the credit of Chip Zdarsky’s ability to pace out a story and write character voices that what works best in Avengers: Armageddon #1 works so well. There is a weight in authority that is present throughout this opening chapter. Whether its with Thunderbird Ross, U.N.’s Secretary-General, Avengers, Fantastic Four, or X-Men, you know where everyone stands.
Having that sense of confidence makes you understand what side each character is tackling this conflict Ross as Red Hulk has created. Ross is exactly the character who you expect would see the solution for a dictator like Doctor Doom is to become an even more authoritative dictator. He has always been a character who sees his view of how things should be as the only correct one. Even when that view has been shaken over the years, he has never wavered in ultimately seeing everyone against him being wrong.
The United Nation’s response to Red Hulk’s New America group made the heroes response all that much more interesting. While the heroes all understand that Red Hulk’s group needs to be stopped, not everyone is on the same page. The Avengers and Fantastic Four are obvious choices to lead the battle against Red Hulk. They are approaching things as the usual superhero outlook.
Which makes Spider-Man and the X-Men’s different reasoning for not participating right out of the gate even more important. They both represent the view of what impact this event can have beyond the direct conflict. It is Zdarsky recognizing what the fallout from recent Marvel events has been, while still leaving the door open for those heroes to participate later on.
All that said, Avengers: Armageddon #1 is far from perfect. That fact is shown from the very beginning. There is a general feeling that we already missed a lot before even opening Avengers: Armageddon #1. If you didn’t read Zdarsky’s Captain America ongoing or Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon, you are already behind. That is not creating the most welcoming experience.
This hurts not just Red Hulk but also how we see Iron Man positioned in this. Without seeing the What If machine being used by Red Hulk, it makes Tony Stark look like we are returning to his Civil War era. He is no different from Red Hulk in this, which may be Zdarsky’s point with the character. But not seeing the villain doing the same makes Tony’s counter and the heroes still ultimately going along with it look bad.
Then there is David Colton who suddenly shows up with Superman-like powers with how he handles Captain Marvel and the others. There is no explanation given why David Colton suddenly has these powers. And with him being a minor character at best its tough to buy into his presence in Avengers: Armageddon #1.
All these problems that Avengers: Armageddon #1 faced are somewhat masked by Delio Diaz and Frank Alpizar artwork. They do a lot to help make sure the strengths of this debut for Marvel’s latest events are what you remember. The artwork is not just consistent between the two artists but it, most importantly, looks and feels like a big event. They make the big moments from both the heroes and villains side hit hard. You’re left looking forward to what big things happen next because of the artwork.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Avengers: Armageddon #1 delivers exactly what it needed to drive home its message of this being a big event. It is far from perfect due to the continuity heavy nature of what led to this event. But even with that Chip Zdarsky, Delio Diaz, and Frank Alpizar make sure the reader focuses on why the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men must stop Red Hulk and his new group. The stakes are high and it’s clear the Marvel Universe will be different when all is said and done.
Story Rating: 7 out of 10
Art Rating: 8 out of 10
Overall Rating: 7.5 out of 10
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