Roger Stern Avengers

The series finale of Star Trek: TNG just ended on TV.  The final scene remains beautiful and give me feels after all these years.  “Five card stud, nothing wild, and the sky’s the limit.”

These are the voyages...

Avengers 280-285

Bob Harras, future bigshot X-Men editor, guest writes issue 280.  Bob Hall, who seems to be the fill-in artist for this title, returns for this interlude.  The issue walks us through Jarvis’ thoughts during his convalescence after Mister Hyde’s severe beating.  While much of it involves a detailed recounting of his time as Avengers butler, the flashbacks did not annoy me at all, due to the strong voice Harras gives Jarvis.  The narration does not come across as rote exposition, but is told with Jarvis’ distinct point of view.  It’s a very human, sweet tale of a man fighting through his fears and unearthing his own heroism after being surrounded by heroes for so many years.  

The rest of today’s comics cover the team’s extended stay in Olympus after Zeus is fooled into blaming them for Hercules’ thrashing during the Siege at Avengers Mansion.  It’s a misunderstanding that somehow stretches over five issues, and I was surprised at how much I dug it, especially considering my two main gripes:

1. I have an aversion to stories that are driven by character stupidity.  Zeus is an idiot, plain and simple.  He jumps to conclusions and refuses to listen to reason.  Screw him.
2. The mixing of Roman and Greek names in the Olympian pantheon is absolutely maddening to this mythology fan.  Look at what we’ve got:

• Greek:: Zeus, Artemis, Hermes, Athena, Hephaestus, Hera
• Roman: Hercules, Neptune, Pluto, Venus

(I hope I got those right, or I’m going to look like an idiot.)

They also made Cerberus a humanoid and not a three-headed dog.  That’s just not cricket.

Despite that, it’s a fun, rollicking adventure with epic battles and feats of awesome.  Thor, in particular, shines in the final fight again Zeus.  He’s been cursed by Hela with brittle bones while being denied the ability to die, so at this point he’s basically a broken mass of jelly encased in armor at this point.  Yet he continues to fight.  It’s a mighty fine extension of Simonson’s plot device from Thor.

Great pose, better speech.

I also respect that this Avengers team makes every effort to talk their way out of the situation.  (Granted, it’s because they realize Zeus is way above their weight class, but still.)  

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? Yes

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Pretty Good

 

Other stuff:

Still chilling and relevant.