REVIEW: ‘Savage Avengers,’ Issue #8

Savage Avengers #8 is published by Marvel Comics, written by David Pepose, art by Carlos Magno, colors by Espen Grundetjern, and letters by Travis Lanham. The Savage Avengers are in the year 2099, hunted by Ultron and an army of Deathloks. In this issue, the team head into the stronghold in Latveria with Doom 2099 and Punisher 2099 as their allies.

This issue is a battle, and a big one at that. Pepose writes the heroes with a plan that quickly goes out of the window. Grounded and completely outnumbered, this story seems steeped against the odds from the start. But this is a superhero comic, and in those, the heroes are always safe, right? This is a brutal issue that very quickly escalates in its violence and extremity. Pepose and this Savage Avengers book have been brazen before, but there is a constant escalation in this series that doesn’t shy away from anything. The battle is unflinching and stunning in its power, massively changing the course of the comic. None of it could be seen coming.

The characters in this book are hardcore, and their personalities are all brilliant. What I adore about the series is that there is a core team that has been together for a while now, such as Daredevil, Cloak and Dagger, and Anti-Venom. But some have joined later on that are now crucial to the comic. Deathlok and Punisher 2099 are at the heart of the story for this arc, the animosity between each other matching the standoffish nature of many of the members. And Ultron is gloriously written. It is a maniacal machine with arrogance, gloating about its superiority as it attacks its foes. In that way, Doom is very similar to Ultron in that arrogance, but there is more sincerity and integrity to him. All of the characters and the dialogue are magnificent, always making the heart pump while reading these issues.

The art is awesome. It is purposefully chaotic, and it can sometimes be difficult to follow what is happening. But that only means you spend longer absorbing all of the violence. The speed at which things intensify in this issue is captured superbly by Magno, with debris and the landscape flying everywhere. This comic series may feature the best battles in recent comics, and Savage Avengers #8 is an even more definitive example. The fight is jaw-dropping. Each hero gets a moment where they show off how excellent their designs are, with the unique spin of this issue leading to grim, terrible changes. 

The coloring is fantastic. Grundetjern beautifully bounces between the spectrum of colors, ranging from cold blues to intense and warm reds. The changes keep us on our toes, not letting the pages get too similar. The lettering is really creative, with some terrific alterations to word balloons to denote tone or volume.

Savage Avengers #8 is the most shocking issue so far. It’s a non-stop battle that doesn’t let you even realize how bleak it is until it’s over. It’s a fearsome issue that doesn’t hold back. This series is more than just a heavy metal ride now, it has emotional weight, and the characters are essential. But something is intoxicating about reading a Savage Avengers issue. The fact that anything is possible makes it freeing but completely unpredictable.

Savage Avengers #8 is available now wherever comics are sold.

William Tucker

William is a screenwriter with a love of comics and movies. Once referred to Wuthering Heights as “the one with the Rabbits.”