REVIEW: ‘Avengers: Twilight,’ Issue #1

Avengers: Twilight #1 is published by Marvel Comics. It was written by Chip Zdarsky, with art and colors by Daniel Acuña and letters by Cory Petit. In a dark future where the Avengers and other heroes have been outlawed, an elderly Steve Rogers seems to be the only one longing for the good days in Avengers: Twilight #1.

At the start of a new dystopian series, the issue drags the audience down into the darkness quickly. The extended issue allows for so much of the plot to happen before the exposition needs to unfold. The world Steve Rogers currently inhabits is more important than finding out what happened to it. But as the truth unfolds, there is a really sinister backstory to what happened, filled with death, destruction, and despair.

Now, set many, many years in the future, those that are left are very old and very weak, hidden beneath a city seeking to control. What is surprising is how unrestricted Zdarsky’s political message is, with real power to it. There is a clear warning about the rise of fascism within America and the wider world, and more crucially the normalisation of it. That is paired with an authoritarian government that quashes threats.

But at the same time, Avengers: Twilight #1 is totally within the realm of the Marvel Universe. Some of the most dangerous villains have only been spoken about so far, yet their danger is palpable. The pacing is slow within this first issue, but that is in order to let us sink into the melancholy of the situation. Huge names are lost very soon in this story, displaying the ruthlessness of the writing. The action is just as bleak, with a really grungey bite to it.

The cast starts small within Avengers: Twilight #1, but there are already murmurings of expansion. Avengers: Twilight #1 is heavily focused on Steve, who is clearly traumatised by what he has faced. His life has many glimmers of love, especially with a wife that adores him. But the attitude of those around him, particularly the authority figures, is beginning to cause a shift in his mood. Using Rogers as the lead character is fascinating as he is often the least resistant of characters. He is also the first to stand up for what’s right. Arguably, there is no person who could be rallied around more assertively than Captain America.

The other characters are terrific, with a blend of both old and new. There are glimpses of the old heroes that have become decrepit and elderly. Luke Cage appears to be a homage to the movie Glass, but his forceful and rebellious personality makes him so undeniably Cage. Cage has always been a man who will stand up and fight against injustice, making him a great partner to Cap in this story. The villain is something very new, the offspring of two heroes. However, they have inherited the worst parts of their parents, becoming much more egotistical and nefarious.

The art is spectacular. Acuña gave a hint at what drawing a dark Captain America story would be like at the end of a recent anniversary comic. Avengers: Twilight #1 issue takes that experiment a lot further. Now, the artist has to craft a whole world that has been decimated of its heroes. It is glum and gritty, but that isn’t noticeable at first.

Early in the comic, the issue initially shows a New York not far removed from the regular comics, with some zany fashion on many of the citizens. But as the book progresses, the scenes get murkier and reveal more of their true selves. There is a turning point where you can discern the change in tone for the comic.

Steve looks old, as do the other characters. It is the most discernible method of showing the passage of time, with the heroes left alive looking as ancient as they have ever looked. There isn’t a huge set piece that depicts what happened yet, just a few flashes of fire and the utter annihilation of a city. But then Avengers: Twilight #1 flickers away, back to show reactions in the present day. The antagonist of the opening issue spends most of it with their shirt off, revealing technological tattoos that surely will have more importance later in the comic.

Avengers: Twilight #1 doesn’t relish the sci-fi concept of this dark future. The technology seen are throwbacks, using classic pieces of machinery or devices adapted from what has been seen before. It offers suggestions as to what the missing heroes have been used for after the disaster. The violence isn’t too intense and bloody, but it is fast and extremely physical. Superpowers have not been present in a long time, and that is actually visible in how mundane and negative the world has become.

The colors are tremendous and crucial to the storytelling. The change in tone is absolutely amplified by the lighting and the shades on display. Early on, a walk through Central Park shows neon and vivid colors, but that does not last long. Often. There are only one or two bright colors that work their way around the blocky shadows of Acuña’s work, and these alter page by page. The brilliance of these colors adds a surreal element to the comic and completely controls the atmosphere. The lettering is extremely clear and effortless to read.

Avengers: Twilight #1 is a somber story. The story borrows concepts from other superhero dystopias, most notably Old Man Logan. With the way that the villains are taken out and the ancient designs of those that are left, there are similarities. But Zdarsky is a much cleaner writer, with more intricacies and less revulsion. It’s dark, absolutely pitch black in many parts, but love, hope, and determination still trickle down into this grim world. One word keeps popping up in resistance to the restrictions: Avengers. And that word means a heck of a lot within this universe.

Avengers: Twilight #1 is available where comics are sold.