New Avengers: Ultron Forever #1
Written by Al Ewing
Art by Alan Davis and Mark Farmer
Colored by Rachelle Rosenberg
Published by Marvel Comics
When we last checked in on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (time displaced, greatest hits edition) in the pages of Avengers: Ultron Forever #1, they seemed to be in quite a pickle. The Hulk was decapitated, Thor had a sword in his belly and the Vision was about 10 seconds away from becoming one with the junk pile. All the while, Doctor Doom (2420 edition) hid is his hideout, watching and scheming.
Now the story continues in New Avengers: Ultron Forever #1, as the action picks up right where it left off. Why Marvel felt this three-parter necessitated three first issues is beyond me, but that must be why I don’t work for Marvel.
Along Main Street
Al Ewing continues to deliver one of the best old school Avengers stories I have read in quite a while. He includes all those elements that have been lost from most modern comics but older fanboys like myself miss terribly. Things like the constant monologuing of Doctor Doom and how the characters continuously describe what they’re doing, even though we can plainly see it thanks to artist Alan Davis. Ewing also manages to nail the characterizations of each of the versions of the Avengers in the story, even though they are from various points in the time stream. All told, it makes for a really fun comic that anyone who remembers the old West Coast Avengers series or Davis’ work on Excalibur with Chris Claremont will love.
Much like in my review of Avengers: Ultron Forever #1, I can’t say enough about the work of Davis and inker Mark Farmer. The sequence where the Thors fight Ultron in Asgard is a beautifully rendered series of pages that combine the best elements of what fans love about his work. They are grandiose, impeccably drawn and will make your jaw drop in appreciation.
But the best part of the book for me? The part that made me just a bit giddy and feel like a 12-year old again? Doctor Doom.
I have long said that the only person who ever did Doctor Doom right was John Byrne. No one in the years since has managed to come even close to capturing that spot on combination of evil, honor and haughtiness that Byrne wrote and drew to perfection. I had honestly given up even trying to find someone who could do the character any kind of justice.
Then Ewing comes along and I swear, it’s like I’m rereading my old issues of Fantastic Four again. The tone, the speech pattern, the attitude, it’s all there. Plus Davis does a great job drawing Doom, bringing all that incredible characterization to life. He redesigned the outfit a bit, but it is 2420, so why not? From reading the first part of Ultron Forever, I’m fairly sure it’s not Victor Von Doom under that mask, but it doesn’t really matter. My Doctor Doom is back. Consider this the first call for Al Ewing to be writing Fantastic Four once the book return from its “hiatus.”
As for the last page: yep, it’s a doozy again, and it made 12-year old me squeal for joy like a little girl. What is it with this series and me embarrassing myself at the comic shop?
The Bottom Line: New Avengers: Ultron Forever #1 continues what is shaping up to be one of my favorite Avengers stories of the past couple of years. With all the “Time Runs Out” and Secret Wars stuff going on in the regular Avengers titles, it’s nice I can go into my LCS and get an Avengers fix without feeling like I missed something. Pass on this and you’re missing out.
Next: Avengers: Ultron Forever #1 review
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