Comic Review: Avengers #5

Avengers #5

Marvel Comics

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artist: Paco Medina & Ed McGuiness

This book had a great first issue. The next couple of issues were like sitting in a taxi. It’s fine, and we’re getting to where we’re going but it’s a little slow. With issue #4 the driver sped up a little and told a joke. Now in Avengers #5, the taxi driver has ripped off his mask and revealed himself to be Vin Diesel! And now we’re about to jump through a ring of fire over the Grand Canyon!

This issue is really good is what I’m saying.  That charm and feeling of excitement from the first issue came back strong in this issue. This issue starts off slow, though. Loki and Captain America are still under the north pole with the dead celestial. We see Loki explain the history of the First Host and why the Celestials came to earth. Loki is adamant that it’s time for the Earth and its inhabitants to die.

That’s all mostly the first half of this issue. The second half of the comic is where things really pick up. From there, Ghost Rider & Cap meet up with Iron Man and Doctor Strange. From the Alpha Flight Space Station, Captain Marvel & Black Panther join the fray.

Jason Aaron isn’t a bad writer. I’d be crazy if I thought that. But, the last few issues were nowhere near as good as this one was. The jokes and humor hit their mark, from Tony Stark and his quick-witted remarks to She-Hulk telling the team she and Thor kissed. It hits. I like that we’ve basically had the Dark Celestials and their motive explained to us. But so far it has felt like the vegetables we’re forced to eat before we get our ice cream. The dialogue between Loki and Cap is well done, for the most part. Loki says “Herr America” and “El Capitan” and they both feel a little clunky.

The art is still great. Paco Medina & Ed McGuiness are a great fit for this series. Every character’s costume looks good. The colors, by David Curiel, are dark-ish, but still have a nice contrast with the darkened skies, for the most part. The Celestials all look great, with each having a different look to them. Ghost Rider at certain points looks a little too muscular, and his head could use more flames at times. But those are just minor “gripes”. Gripes in quotation marks because they don’t take away from the overall quality of the art.

I’ve had my complaints with this series so far. But now after this issue, my biggest complaint is that I have to wait a month for the next issue. Avengers #5 has a slow start and ends with a bang. Even if you have your doubts, I think this is an issue you should read.