REVIEW: ‘Avengers,’ Issue #9

Avengers #9 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Jed MacKay, with art by Francisco Mortarino, colors by Federico Blee, and letters by Cory Petit. The Avengers have all awoken and are ready to launch into battle against the Twilight Court.

The previous issue showed the power of the Twilight Court when it comes to facing just two Avengers. Now, there is a full team, leading to one of the best battles of the series so far. It is the first time since the starting issue that the whole squad has fought together, and it is refreshing and exciting to see. MacKay works out the logistics of having a conflict filled with so many individuals superbly, and it later becomes part of the plot. The Avengers split, with unique matchups across the board and various scenarios created and established. Kings, false gods, magic users, and others appear in Avengers #9, and they are the ones fighting the heroes. The pace is rapid, and the battle takes up almost the entirety of the issue. The space it fills is an excellent distraction as you forget the reason the Twilight court attacked the Impossible City in the first place.

This issue has a huge cast, yet the dialogue and characters are fantastic. The back-and-forth between hero and villain is amazing. The Twilight Court is interesting as the characters don’t necessarily talk like villains. They have extreme respect for the Avengers and are excited to face them. Meanwhile, the heroes themselves appear cocky and grouchy. This could be a mixture of two things. One is that they had just woken up, and no one was in a good mood then. The other reason is that they are being attacked. They all have this undying confidence, like elite athletes who don’t bow down to opponents.

There is a switch-up in the art that doesn’t dip in quality at all. Mortarino’s art style is similar to C.F. Villa’s, so the change is not drastically disorienting. The energy of the book is excellent. Each showdown looks phenomenal, with the unique frameworks of the standoffs displayed instantly. How Captain America fights, with speed and angles, is completely distinct compared to Thor, who has much more power and lightning. There are some terrific designs among the Twilight Court, and it is fascinating to see how another artist adapts to these brand-new characters. Captain Marvel’s new costume and spectacular hair have been fully established within the book, and they look tremendous again. Mortarino is particularly good at facial expressions, superbly displaying the frustration and anger among the faces of the Avengers. The battle occurs within Impossible City, which is becoming an exquisite location within this series. It’s huge and imposing, with a personality all of its own.

The colors remain the same and aid with consistency amid the change in the artist. Notably, the colors within the respective combatants can match early in the comic, working on the idea that they are even matched and balanced. This becomes a recurring motif of the story, art, and colors that the dance partners are too alike to make a difference. The lettering is great. There aren’t many custom word balloons that can affect legibility, and the clarity within the chaos is appreciated.

Avengers #9 is a superb action issue. It’s a book designed to weave characters and combat from beginning to end. The new characters routinely created within this series have provided Marvel’s flagship title with a breath of fresh air. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are coming up against beings and powers that require them and the creators to think on their feet. The pacing of the series has been breathtaking so far, never stopping for a second to ascertain the situation and just flinging the team from one Tribulation Event to the next, with absolutely incredible art trying to capture that insanity and put it down on the paper.

Avengers #9 is available now wherever comics are sold.