Avengers: Ultron Forever #1 Review
By D. Goodman
Avengers: Ultron Forever #1
Written by Al Ewing
Art by Alan Davis and Mark Farmer
Colored by Rachelle Rosenberg
Published by Marvel Comics
It’s always easy to tell when Marvel Studios has a new movie coming out in the near future. Suddenly the racks at the comic shop are flooded with miniseries and one-shots starring whomever is featured in the aforementioned new film. Since Avengers: Age of Ultron is set to debut this May at a cineplex near you, this month sees the release of several new projects starring just about every combination of Avengers you could dream of, as well as more Ultrons than anybody thought possible.
Of the many, the one that piqued my interest the most was Avengers: Ultron Forever. I’m a sucker for time travel stories, and one that has Dr. Doom gather a “greatest hits” lineup of Avengers to face Ultron sounded way too good to pass up. Throw in the always amazing art of Alan Davis and I’ll be the first one in the comic shop yelling “IT MUST BE MINE!”
But was the book good enough to warrant me embarrassing myself at my LCS yet again?
Oh yeah.
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We’re going to go a bit backwards here and talk about the art first, which as you would expect from any comic with Alan Davis listed as the artist, was stellar. I’ve been a huge fan of Davis since his earliest days working on Captain Britain and have followed his career ever since, eagerly awaiting each new project. It’s been years since Davis has worked on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and getting to see him draw not only the classic Walter Simonson version of Thor as well as the all-new female God of Thunder is a real treat. Add in Luke Cage’s daughter as a future version of Captain America and a great looking Dr. Doom, and you have a comic that is visually everything you could want in an Avengers comic.
While the art was great, what really took me aback and blew me away was the script by Al Ewing. I read and enjoyed his work on Mighty Avengers with Greg Land, but was pleasantly surprised just how complete a story he has crafted here. Avengers: Ultron Forever hits all the classic notes of the best Avengers stories of the past, while also giving the reader something new and original to enjoy. Given the time travel angle and the big villain being Ultron, it’s tough not to think about Age of Ultron by Brian Michael Bendis and compare the two when you finish reading. Fortunately, the similarities end there and, if I’m being honest, Ultron Forever is actually a better, more entertaining story so far.
Most importantly, Ewing has created a comic that will not only satisfy a long-time Avengers fan but also any readers who might be coming in after seeing Avengers: Age of Ultron and want more. Ultron Forever can stand on its own with no need of understanding Avengers lore to be a satisfying reading experience. All the information you need is in the book, and the result is a comic that has a classic, almost retro feeling to it.
Plus the last page? Glad I didn’t see that while still at the comic shop or I would have embarrassed myself twice in one trip.
The Bottom Line: Avengers: Ultron Forever #1 is a fun, entertaining book that anyone who loves the Avengers will come away from with a smile on their face. Amazing art combined with a tight, fast paced script with surprises galore throughout make for a comic that will be tough for anyone not to like.
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