REVIEW: ‘Savage Avengers,’ Issue #9

Savage Avengers #9 is published by Marvel Comics, written by David Pepose, art by Carlos Magno, colours by Espen Grundetjern, and letters by Travis Lanham. The Avengers were all slaughtered by Ultron, leaving only Deathlok and Punisher 2099 alive. Now, the Avengers have been transformed into Deathloks themselves and unleashed on the surviving duo.

The surprise and shock of the last issue still linger even when the comic starts at full speed. A brief flashback consists of a high amount of power and pace but also sets up a story that runs alongside the events in 2099. The issue isn’t a cat-and-mouse chase, more like the Terminator but multiplied. The intensity never fades in this issue, constantly throwing something or someone into the mix. Deathlok and Punisher are in the ultimate lion’s den, with supercharged Avengers and Ultron all around them. Everything in this comic is last-ditch with multiple surprises. Not one character can be written off or forgotten about because they will serve a purpose later. There is a profound sadness by the end of the comic, with a very unexpected sacrifice providing brief clarity amongst the madness.

This arc has been centred on Punisher 2099 and Deathlok, and it is even more focused now that the rest of the Avengers have been transformed. The antagonism towards each other has been amusing and formed an abrasive heart for the last few issues. This issue separates their character development into individual strains as they fight alongside one another against the unstoppable wave of Deathloks. Punisher is the primary target for Pepose in this issue, with glimpses into his awfully tragic backstory. The narration by the writer continues to be extremely well written. It’s so descriptive, providing prose alongside the magnificent visuals.

The art is a chaotic delight. There is so much going on in almost every panel. The manipulated bodies of the Avengers, reincarnated as Deathloks, are a terrifying piece of body horror but are expertly designed. The details are extraordinary, and the pages look full of content, which means the comic can take a while to absorb. The fight scenes are insane, containing more action and drama in one issue than other comics have in an arc. It’s a cacophony of weapons, technology, and violence. 

The colours are brilliant. The brightness of lights and energy cuts through the shadows and darkness of the rest of the page. The flashbacks have some of the more fascinating colour schemes, however. They have been greyed out for the most part, but there are little pieces of the panels that still have a colour, such as Deathlok eyes or the edges of the panel. It’s a small detail, but the glowing eyes make the villains even creepier and fit beautifully with the regular colours. The lettering has been great for the entirety of this series.

Savage Avengers #9 is exceptional. It’s a comic that is always traveling at 100mph, with the highest of stakes and the most ridiculous of fight scenes. But there is still a heart within these issues, filled with sacrifice and heroism. Characters that are brought in to be awesome end up being cared about, even amid the chaos

Savage Avengers #9 is available where comics are sold.