REVIEW: ‘Avengers Assemble’ Issue #1 (2024)

Avengers Assemble #1 (2024) is published by Marvel Comics. It is written by Steve Orlando, with pencils by Cory Smith, inks by Oren Junior with Elisabetta D’Amico, colors by Sonia Oback, and letters by Cory Petit. In this first issue, Captain America builds an Avengers team to deal with emergencies. First up: a run-in with the Red Skull’s daughter.

Avengers Assemble #1 (2024) quite succinctly shows what the book’s structure will serve as, or at least from a first glance. An initial group of four is established to deal with the first big threat of the series, reminiscent of the ‘Fear Itself’ event. It’s an example of all hell breaking loose. Sin, Red Skull’s daughter, finds a mystical helmet that turns everyone around her into a raging mob. The first mission is loud and exciting. But as this fight takes place, the story keeps cutting to the Avengers Mansion, which will serve as the home base for this new emergency squad.

More members enter the Mansion every time the comic cuts back to it, and the influx of characters looks like it will never stop. It’s a constantly changing set of energy waves wallowing in nostalgia. However, the mission itself shows how the size of the cast will be dealt with. Each issue will send a smaller group to deal with emergencies, making the huge ensemble cast more manageable. Underneath it all is a secretive storyline that will plague the team throughout the series.

The cast may be massive, but the selection of characters is fantastic. All of them are established heroes with relationships and histories going back decades. Some have been Avengers for years, like Hawkeye, Hercules, and Wonder Man. Others were fan favorites but maybe only had brief spells in the team. And then there are a few that this will be their first foray into being an Avenger. It’s an exciting mixture that will be a melting pot of voices and powers. It is heartwarming to see those old friends reunite.

For the first mission, there is a core of four Avengers: Captain America, Photon, Wasp, and Shang-Chi. It’s a fantastic group that fuses intellect and experiences. Orlando writes superb dialogue between the four. At first, there is respect, but the circumstances within the comic add tensions. Shang-Chi is one of the best features in the issue. He is one of the newcomers to the team and instantly demonstrates his confidence and control over his body. This comes in handy very quickly.

The art is phenomenal. Many characters are brought into Avengers Assemble #1 (2024), yet the art team is unphased and willing to roll with it. Each character looks brilliant, entering in their iconic costumes. The old-school heroes entering Avengers Mansion, tended to by Jarvis, immediately bring back memories and warmth. But the inclusion of Shang-Chi enthuses the classic team with newness. The first battle is an explosion of chaos and carnage.

Sin has been transformed. She looks terrifying, with lightning constantly crackling out of her. The detail is exceptional and has turned her into something resembling a demon. The fight has multiple layers, continually reinventing itself and implementing something interesting. There are almost as many villains towards the end of the issue as there are heroes, and they also have superb designs.

The colors are not overly vibrant, but there are some moments of intensity. Heroes like She-Hulk and Wonder Man are not given the vigour they often had before. But during the battle, the energy that radiates out of Sin is remarkably bright. The orange light covers everything in the panels, threatening to overpower the Avengers. During this chaos, the lettering remains clear and calm.

Avengers Assemble #1 (2024) is busy. It’s a start that flings everyone headfirst into the action, with the pace and scale immediately ramped up. So much of the book feels classic and carefree, bringing in faces that haven’t been seen for years. It’s refreshing and exciting.

It remains to be seen how Avengers Assemble #1 (2024) will intersect with the main Avengers book, if at all. While the concept of the individual missions will help make the adventures digestible, Orlando needs to ensure that a cast of this size does not feel bloated or unruly at any point.

Avengers Assemble #1 (2024) is available where comics are sold.