REVIEW: ‘Avengers’ Issue 1

Avengers Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics and written by Chip Zdarsky, art by Marco Checchetto, colors by Matthew Wilson, and letters by Cory Petit.

It’s a new day for superheroes, and they have to deal with beings from Heaven and Hell.

Striding out of the pages of Avengers: Armageddon, Avengers Issue 1 (2026) is something of a low-key Avengers start. All of the characters are licking their wounds in the wake of an explosion that took the lives of thousands. So Chip Zdarsky is picking the characters up at their lowest. The timing is also important, as it’s an election cycle in New York. Luke Cage’s term might be coming to an end, signaling even more distrust towards those with masks.

Avengers Issue 1 builds slowly, establishing the major players and introducing the villains of the piece. And just because the team isn’t a major force as before does not mean the stakes shrink at all. Their first battle is huge, explosive, and seeks to deliver consequences. The comic is instantly energized, with menace, threat, and vulnerability.

When picking the characters for the lineup of a new-look Avengers team, Zdarsky has definitely chosen personality over power. So many of those involved are reeling from what they’ve witnessed. Captain Marvel has much less power and is traumatized by the explosion. The new Miracleman is devastated and conflicted. Even Spider-Man is on edge. So it’s interesting to see stabilizing forces such as Luke Cage, Wolverine, and Daredevil.

The conversation between Carol and Daredevil is fascinating because we haven’t seen it before. It highlights how low Carol is and how great Matt Murdock can be. He’s funny, kind, guilt-ridden, and has heard enough confessions to understand what they mean. Even within a few pages, the relationship between Matt and Carol goes through many stages.

Using street-level characters instead of gods shifts the balance of the squad, especially given Carol’s injuries, but all the characters are still fantastic and prominent. And Miracleman has more than enough power to compensate.

Zdarsky reunites with Marco Checchetto after their long Daredevil run, putting a superstar artist on Marvel’s flagship series. Daredevil and Spider-Man were common figures, but Checchetto expands his style to include more of the team. The city of New York, iconic in this comic, has a terrific sense of place.

Avengers Issue 1 takes place across the city, from City Hall to Stark Tower to Jose’s bar, and each location is exceptional. And while Cage, Daredevil, and Spider-Man usually represent the streets, they are more than capable of tackling tough foes. This is depicted by Spider-Man’s tussle with Miracleman. It’s a significant power gap, but it’s surprising and impressive how well Spider-Man handles the battle. It also demonstrates Checchetto’s brilliant action scenes.

The Avengers start to face new, mesmerizing, and stunningly designed threats, perhaps even biblical in origin. Avengers Issue 1 blends advanced technology with mystical elements, making it unpredictable to know what comes next.

The colors are terrific in Avengers Issue 1. The vibrancy of the heroes and their costumes is becoming a point of contention, because of how the heroes are viewed by the public and the world in general. Yet Wilson still makes the costumes intense and bright, with primary colors used frequently. Wolverine and Cage enter the fray not prepared for a fight, and so their colors are muted, yet still fit the personalities and characters.

The villains they fight have a distinctive white-and-gold palette. This sparks speculation about their origin, since that palette can be associated with a certain kingdom. The lettering is very clear and easy to read.

Avengers Issue 1 (2026) picks up the broken pieces and begins anew. It’s a fresh, understated team, but that doesn’t mean the spectacle is any weaker. Instead, the characters become the crux of the comic. So many of them are dealing with fallout, trauma, and uncertainty, creating a fraught tone throughout.

But the lineup is tough, rugged, and teeming with personality. The foes in the opening bout are also incredibly powerful and strike right at the heart of the heroes. The story is well-rounded, starting on the streets of New York, where the Avengers began, with those who keep the city safe.

Avengers Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.