Comic Review: Avengers (2018-) #11

Avengers #11

Marvel Comics

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artists: Ed McGuiness & Cory Smith

This is the issue of the Avengers we’ve all been waiting for. This is the issue where fans will be divided into two sides, and friendships will end. One question will echo through the air and fans everywhere will have to consider their answer.

Do you ship Thor and She-Hulk together, or not?

There are three plots running through Avengers #11. Black Panther is forming a council made up of international superheroes. Phil Coulson is interrogating someone at gunpoint for being a double agent. But most importantly, Thor and Jennifer Walters go on a date in the Savage Land!

I like issues like this that build up the world around the story. Yes, it’s definitely fun when people in brightly colored costumes solve problems with punching. But it’s always nice to know why they’re throwing punches. This issue definitely sets up things that I think will happen going forward. Black Panther and the Avengers are being shunned by America, so T’challa sets up an international superhero council. Phil Coulson (who used to be dead) is working with the Squadron Supreme of America. Thor and Jennifer Walters feel like a mismatched couple, but Jason Aaron makes them work.

There’s mention of what’s to come, but we don’t see any of it. And again, while I don’t mind it, i’d also like to see the conflicts rather than be told about them. We’ve had a couple of issues about Namor, but with him being in the upcoming Defenders comic, I don’t think we’ll see too much of him, maybe. There’s mention of Blade and vampires, but it’s only a small mention. I like seeing characters in their downtime, it helps to relate to them. But this issue feels more like a teaser for things to come than it should.

I really enjoy the art in this series, this issue being no different. Being a slower issue, there’s really no action scenes or anything like that. But I like the bolder look that Ed McGuiness has. Phil Coulson kind of looks like Clark Gregg, but not too much. I’m usually against adapting a character’s look from a movie or TV show. But in cases like this, I’m all for it, since Coulson is from the MCU. There’s nothing that stands out to me in this issue I’d consider bad. Everything looks good, from the characters to the background.

I’ve been enjoying this Avengers run. I like the team, and I like where the story is heading. There’s a little bit of a push forward for the story in this issue. But it’s more tell than actually showing. Besides that, there are some good character moments, especially between Thor and She-Hulk. And to top it off the art is great. Even though it’s a little slower, I think this is a good comic.