REVIEW: ‘Superior Avengers’ Issue 1

Superior Avengers Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Steve Foxe, art by Luca Maresca with Kyle Hotz, colors by Mattia Iacono, and letters by Cory Petit.

This is part of the One World under Doom event. Doom’s adopted son, Kristoff, has gathered a team of superpowered beings from the future to serve as Doom’s Avengers, but they have their own secrets that could threaten Doom’s empire.

This is a comic with a fascinating concept. It gathers a selection of interesting characters from outside the main timeline, plucking from the future and making them fight for Doom’s cause. The opening fight is pure chaos, revealing most of the new heroes. The names are villainous in this time zone, so to see them working together is both a shock and a cause for excitement. So much of this event is putting famous faces together, and this is an extreme example with a twist. The pace then settles and allows for exposition to unfold. The Avengers have their own agenda and reasons for joining, not just an allegiance to Doom.

Superior Avengers Issue 1 taps into a theme and recurring feeling many tie-ins have in this event. A sensation of dread builds whenever they make plans that could be seen as opposing Doom. He is so all-powerful and all-knowing that any attempt to deceive him seems flawed and damned from the start. The structure is interesting because it jumps to and from flashbacks very quickly. It catches readers up to things they need to know, but only when Foxe decides it’s worth telling. This makes the storytelling efficient and effective. The ending is a surprise that changes how Doom and the readers view the team.

Foxe is superb at telling a story featuring brand-new characters and making people intrigued by unknown characters. We know many of the names, but not the people under the masks. They have the names of villains, and their intentions are obscured. There’s a Killmonger, Ghost, Malekith, Doctor Octopus, and many more. They are cold, callous, and unheroic from their first impressions, even when saving lives. The characters are arrogant and love the sounds of their voices.

It is interesting, then, that they are forced to work together and have an alliance. There is a closeness between many of them, and they appear to have the same goal. Characters like Malekith and Onslaught are compelling, which may be handy considering who they could face in this series. The team is governed and orchestrated by Kristoff, Doom’s son. Although he tries to have the same authority as his father, he does not radiate the same fear or power. This could cause issues and friction with characters that have enormous egos.

The art is phenomenal. Every single character is a redesign. They scream in recognition and memories, but there are differences. They may be smaller or a different gender from what their title suggests. And it makes them mesmerizing to look at. So much is done to portray the figures’ personalities without them even speaking. How they hold themselves to the additions made to their costumes does just as much at revealing who they are as the written words.

Each scar is a story; each weapon has its tale. Their first test is one against the Annihilation Wave, allowing for a fight against squishy and disposable bug-like drones. There’s a display of their powers and how they fight together. Perhaps the most intriguing member of the Superior Avengers is The Abomination. They don’t speak, they wield a shield, and their face is covered by a mask just like Doom himself. This raises so many questions about who it is under that faceplate. Kristoff tries to mimic the grandiosity of his father with a long cloak. But he, nor anyone else, can generate as much terror and imposing authority as Doctor Doom.

The colors celebrate brightness and vibrancy. There is a terrific variety across the characters’ costumes, some featuring rich and bold colors that draw attention instantly. Others have a more silver tone, with metallic armor that makes them scary and militaristic. The battle takes place in the middle of the day, so there is a bright shade that reveals everything in the panel and favors clarity over atmosphere. The lettering is clear and easy to read at all points.

Superior Avengers Issue 1 is one of the most exciting new stories within the event. One World Under Doom has crafted so many strange allegiances, and this one is undoubtedly the most intriguing of the lot. It can be difficult to get into this comic because no figures are familiar or well-known. They are only known by the legacy names they have and the costumes they wear. We don’t know anything else about the people they are.

The lack of connection allows Foxe to use the characters however he sees fit. The team in Superior Avengers Issue 1 aren’t the mainstream versions, – they’re are more vulnerable and expendable. And yet each member of this ragtag, bizarre Avengers team is worthy of a whole issue on their own, because there is so much history tied into them.

Superior Avengers Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.