Tintin's Top Ten: Best A-Books

Tintin's Top Ten

Best A-Books

 

Like with the X-Men, Avengers have had varied names of titles of books with multiple volumes. Unfortunately it has rarely been categorized as a franchise, the first spin-off came before X-Men started branching out. This book, West Coast Avengers was away to branch of the staple Marvel book and also give a leading spotlight to fan favorite Avenger; Hawkeye.

However once acclaimed writer Brian Michael Bendis took over the third volume of Avengers, everything changed. To make Avengers the staple book of the Marvel line it claimed to be, he disbanded the unit in mega fashion and brought the most popular heroes together to form the New Avengers. With Spider-man and Wolverine in tow, finally the Avengers could claim their title of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. 

He also brought obscure characters Spider-Woman and Luke Cage, making them superstars while catapulting Avengers above the X-Men as the highest selling Marvel book. This produced tons of events and tons of Avengers books. 

The rules for this feature are simple, each of these books must have at least 10 issues. So here are the top ten books with volume for the Avengers;

10. Dark Avengers Volume 1

Number of Issues: 16

Publication: 2009-2010

Best Run: Brian Michael Bendis (Writer) and Mike Deodato (Artist) Issue 1-6, 9-16

Best Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Issue 1-6, 9-16

Best Artist: Mike Deodato Issue 1-6, 9-16

Best Story Arc: "Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia" Issue 7-8, Utopia Finale and Uncanny X-Men Vol.1 Issue 513-514 Matt Fraction (Writer) among others

Best Single Issue: 

Lasting Impact: Post-Siege of Asgard concocted by Norman Osborn, SHIELD was reinstated while the superhuman registration act was abolished. Steve Rogers became head of SHIELD, and all superheroes finally came together after years of interpersonal fighting. The book also elevated Norman Osborn from the greatest Spider-Man villain into a mega Avengers threat.

Dark Avengers was a method of status quot change that saw the heroes lose at a large level for the first time in comic book history. Norman Osborn transcended from the most impact-full Spider-Man villain into a full blown menace for the Avengers. This was a very unique take as it saw the villains finally having won and controlling the biggest set-up of The Marvel Universe. It can be considered a natural sequel to the ideas established in The Thunderbolts comics. (Thunderbolts saw villains become new heroes once The Avengers disappeared). 

9. Secret Avengers Volume 1

Number of Issues: 37

Publication: 2010-2013

Best Run: Warren Ellis (writer) and multiple artists Issue 16-21

Best Writer: Rick Remender Issue 21.1-37

Best Artist: David Aja Issue 5 and 18

Best Story Arc: "Run the Mission, Don't Get Caught, Save the World" Issue 16-21, Warren Ellis (writer) and Jamie McKelvie, Kev Walker, David Aja, Michael Lark, Alex Maleev and Stuart Immonen

Best Single Issue: "Grandfather Clock" Issue 36, Rick Remender (Writer) and Matteo Scalera (Artist) 

Lasting Impact: The heroic death of the once known Irredeemable Eric O'Grady. Jim Hammond became the last few of his kind alongside Vision and possibly Ultron. 

One of the things I really liked about Secret Avengers was that it accepted the high brow nature of the Marvel Universe. Just because this is a book about a covert-ops unit it doesn't mean that the team would have to missions against Hydra in the 'realistic' world, I mean if you are characters in the Marvel Universe then going into space and fighting robots is realistic to you. 
As such when I read the first few issues I was thrilled, it was all about the stealth in the most sci-fi locales. Unlike its X-Men counterpart (Uncanny X-Force) the team didn't have to struggle with the inner question of to kill or not to kill. This was in its sense a much truer stealth team as it was never required to kill (just like in real black-ops missions), the team's agenda was to act the mission without getting seen and saving the world. Another bonus was Ed Brubaker once again writing Steve Rogers while simultaneously handling Captain America (Bucky Barnes). 

Post Brubaker, Ellis was fun and produced the much more gritty oriented yet heavily sci-fi arc giving readers a taste of both worlds. It was however Rick Remender who really ramped up the series towards its finale. His use of lesser known characters was magical from turning third Ant-Man Eric O'Grady into a true hero, continuing to present the inner struggle for Venom (Flash Thompson) and giving much needed face time to Captain Britain and Human Torch (Jim Hammond).


8. Ultimates Volume 2

Number of Issues: 13

Publication: 2005-2007

Best Run: Mark Millar (Writer) and Bryan Hitch (Artist) Issue 1-13

Best Writer: None

Best Artist: Bryan Hitch Issue 1-13

Best Story Arc: "Gods and Monsters" Issue 1-6, Mark Millar (Writer) and Bryan Hitch (Artist)

Best Single Issue:"Brothers" Issue 4, Mark Millar (Writer) and Bryan Hitch (Artist)

Lasting Impact: Set in the Ultimate Universe, really caused a break down fro Tony Stark as he found out about Black Widow's betrayal. No major lasting impacts.

By the time the second volume of Mark Millar's Ultimates comic (set in the alternate Ultimate Universe) rolled around, the novelty had worn off. The mis-treatment of Banner, Captain's bad old values and bullying ways while Tony's lack of charm to counteract his text book narcissism made me long for my original Avengers. Millar needs to understand (unless he's making a visible statement on how the Avengers could have turned out) that for a fictional piece he needs to highlight the heroic aspects of his characters. I understand he is questioning the political heat of a governement post-9/11, but his work in the first volume did that without losing substance. Their is virtually no depth to his characters. Cap, Iron Man, Wasp, Ant-Man, Black Widow and Betty Ross come of as really unlikable people. Their is none of the connection that was present (even that was too little) to make these character traits realistic.

Well then why does this book come this high? The answer is Bryan Hitch. Hitch uses the writing of dramatic and action beats to an effect that mostly prevents it from looking as stupid or as sluggish Millar writes it. Hitch is the master behind both volumes, but here readers see him pull some real weight. Millar deserves credit for enticing us with some different and exciting changes to iconic characters, but Hitch deserves credit for grasping the same readers and keeping the staying power of the book intact. 


7. Avengers Academy

Number of Issues: 40

Publication: 2010-2012

Best Run: Christos Gage (Writer) and Tom Raney (Artist) Issue 7, 11-12, 19-20 and 23

Best Writer: Christos Gage Issue 1-39

Best Art: Tom Grummett Issue 24-26, 29-31, 34, 37-39 

Best Story Arc: "Final Exam" Issue 34-39, Christos Gage (Writer) and Tom Grummett/Andrea Di Vito (Artists)

Best Single Issue: "Crosstown Rivals" Issue 38, Christos Gage (Writer) and Tom Grummett (Artist)

Lasting Impact: Gave us new heroes for the future that were learning to use their powers but weren't necessarily mutants

Avengers Academy was one of the most interesting concepts to be brought with the Heroic Age. A school to teach young people how to use their powers responsibly, this was an X-Men thing not an Avengers one. Academy introduced readers to possibly some new fan favorite and interesting characters. I really have grown fond of this book and Gage needs to be saluted to handle this alongside the other heroic age books which were either inconsistent (New Avengers, Secret Avengers) or uninteresting (Avengers and Avengers Assemble!).



6. Ultimate Comics: Ultimates


Number of Issues: 22

Publication: 2011-Present

Best Run: Jonathan Hickman (Writer) and Esad Ribic (Artist) Issue 1-9        

Best Writer: Jonathan Hickman Issue 1-9

Best Art: Luke Ross 10-12, 15-18    

Best Story Arc: "Two Cities, Two Worlds" Issue 7-12, Jonathan Hickman and Sam Humphries (Writers) and Esad Ribic and Luke Ross (Artists)

Best Single Issue: "Two Cities, Two Worlds: Part 2" Issue 8, Jonathan Hickman (Writer) and Esad Ribic (Artist)

Lasting Impact: With the United States under civil unrest in the Ultimate universe, Captain America has been elected president.

Post the death of the Ultimate Universe's Peter Parker, came the debut of this title. One thing clearly distinct is that unlike Millar's work, the new ultimate book has characters with much more substance. Heady sci-fi themes and spectacular cinematic art from Ribic makes this a much liked buut eventually underrated Avengers book. Hickman and Ribic brought a crossover story with this book, Ultimate Comics: Thor and UC: Hawkeye. Hickman would continue to co-write with Humphries who has taken over full duties.

Humphries continuing onwards from Hickman's bleak Ultimate Universe, has crafted an interesting tale with USA's civil unrest. The best is that he gives depth to these characters without ever making them close to their regular Marvel universe characters. In fact, these Ultimate versions are totally different yet carry the depth which Humphries doesn't lose a grasp on unlike Mark Millar. 


5. Young Avengers Volume 1

Number of Issues: 12

Publication: 2005-2006

Best Run: Allan Heinberg (Writer) and Jim Cheung (Artist) Issue 1-12

Best Writer: Allan Heinberg Issue 1-12

Best Art: Jim Cheung Issue 1-12

Best Story Arc: "Children's Crusade" The Avengers: Children's Crusade Mini-series, Allan Heinberg (Writer) and Jim Cheung (Artist)

Best Single Issue: "Patriot" Young Avengers Presents Issue 1, Ed Brubaker (Writer) and Paco Medina (Artist)

Lasting Impact: Brought back the lost children of the Scarlet Witch and Vision; Wiccan and Speed. Gave readers a new bunch of teenage heroes who resembled their elder Avengers counterparts.

Prior to the Marvel Civil War, Heinberg and Cheung got together to create a series based on teenage heroes. These heroes would draw inspiration from the Avengers with the likes of Patriot (Captain America), Wiccan (Thor/Scarlet Witch), Iron Lad (Iron Man), Hulkling (Hulk/Captain Marvel/Super-Skrull), Speed (Quicksilver), Hawkeye/Kate Bishop (Hawkeye/Clint Barton), Stature (Ant-Man/Scott Lang) and Vison v.2 (Vision v.1).

These characters established an interesting dynamic that even rivaled the Teen Titans/Young Justice. The launch of the book was the indication that Avengers had finally become the major player in the Marvel Universe, thus a franchise was reinstated. Heinberg and Cheung even added to the mythos with the revelation/re-discovery of Scarlet Witch and Vision's sons. 

The series however lasted for a limited period but continued with a bunch of mini-series. Multiple sing issues delved on each member while comic events allowed Young Avengers appearance alongside The Runaways crew. Eventually Children's Crusade would be the spark that ended Heinberg and Cheung's involvement with this team for now. 

The current new volume is becoming a sparkling comedic affair to watch (thanks to their poster boy Kid Loki) and could rival this cult classic first volume.

4. Ultimates Volume 1

Number of Issues: 13

Publication: 2002-2004

Best Run: Mark Millar (Writer) and Bryan Hitch (Artist) Issue 1-13

Best Writer: Mark Millar Issue 1-13

Best Artist: Bryan Hitch Issue 1-13

Best Story Arc: "Super-Human" Issue 1-6, Mark Millar (Writer) and Bryan Hitch (Artist)

Best Single Issue: "Hulk does Manhattan" Issue 5, Mark Millar (Writer) and Bryan Hitch (Artist)

Lasting Impact: Gave us a new batch of personalities for classic characters as Avengers of the Ultimate Universe. Also provided the template for the characters of the Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe especially a Nick Fury based on Samuel L. Jackson. 

Millar and Hitch changed the face of the modern Avengers with the first volume of Ultimates. This book turned the classic likable characters into realistic modern day interpretations. As such some of there traits may have been unlikable but eventually the Ultimates proved to be an exciting prospects. To list down; a stern/bullish and too old fashioned Captain America, cocky/egoistical Tony Stark and a horny Hulk. 

All these changes added some spice whether it be Steve's bullying nature and Thor being believed to be a mentally unstable hippy who thinks he's a god. These aspects however unfortunately made these characters wholly unlikable. Millar's writing at times is one of the huge problems, unlike the second volume the first is new in shock value however re-reading it gets grating knowing the Millar style of writing. To explain, Mark Millar writes excessive swearing, pure spectacle action, characters who are assholes, he has a misogynistic style when writing females. Overall Millar writes with no substance, so while this may be a modern update of the Avengers to me it personally falls flat now.

3. New Avengers Volume 1

Number of Issues: 64

Publication: 2005-2010

Best Run: Brian Michael Bendis (Writer) and David Finch (Artist) Issue 1-6 and 11-13

Best Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Issue 1-64

Best Artist: Leinil Yu Issue 22, 27-37 and 50

Best Story Arc: "Breakout" Issue 1-6, Brian Michael Bendis (Writer) and David Finch (Artist)

Best Single Issue: "Secret Invasion Part 5" Issue 42, Brian Michael Bendis (Writer) and Jim Cheung (Artist)

Lasting Impact: Made Wolverine and Spider-Man regular and permanent members of The Avengers. Spider-Woman and Luke Cage became really popular and core characters to the Avengers and Marvel Universe. Made Avengers the best selling books for Marvel thus breaking a two plus decade record held by X-Men.

No matter what people think about Bendis and his writing for Avengers, he truly made the Earth's Heroes worthy of the title Mightiest. Bendis began his decade spanning saga of Avengers with the end of the original team through Avengers: Disassembled and brought the New Avengers together. With this readers got the best takes on B-List characters and finally Spider-Man and Wolverine (the two Marvel characters that can rival Batman and Superman's) in the Avengers unit. Bednis also built through a plethora of events that would end the loop between Cap, Iron Man and Thor's fallout in The Avengers to their coming together in Siege. 

If it weren't for Bendis and this title, maybe Marvel would not have the guts to setup their movie studio and give us the Avengers movie. 

2. Tie-West Coast Avengers Volume 2 (+ Vol 1 Mini-Series)
 
Number of Issues: 106

Publication: 1984-1993

Best Run: John Byrne (Writer and Artist) Issue 42-57

Best Writer: John Byrne Issue 42-57

Best Artist: Al Milgrom Issue 1-40

Best Story Arc: "Family Ties" Issue 1-9, Steve Englehart (Writer) and Al Milgrom (Artist)

Best Single Issue: "Better A Widow..." Issue 44, John Byrne (Writer and Artist)

Lasting Impact: Established the start of links between Vision, Wonder Man, Scarlet Witch, Hank Pym, Ultron and Wasp. Proved that Hawkeye could be a true leader and made him part of the fab Avengers five of him, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Hulk. 

The first series to establish Avengers as a franchise. This start would come from a Roger Stern mini-series dubbed as the first volume, it witnessed Hawkeye taking the reigns of an Avengers team on the West Coast. The second volume began with Englehart and Milgrom, establishing some of the lower rated Avengers and giving Hawkeye his well deserved spotlight.

The series really took of with John Byrne, Byrne at that point must have handled the whole Marvel Universe deftly on his own. His work led to the disassembling and re-assembling of Vision, the establishment of Wonder Man's constant struggle between good/evil things and most importantly the building essence of Scarlet Witch's mental instability and nexus powers alongside his run on Avengers Volume 1.

Eventually the team would break off, but this series is possibly one of the most entertaining to read (at least it's first 50 issues).

       

2. Tie-The Avengers Volume 3

Number of Issues: 88

Publication: 1998-2004

Best Run: Kurt Busiek (Writer) and George Perez (Artist) 

Best Writer: Kurt Busiek (Writer)

Best Artist: George Perez (Artist)

Best Story Arc: "Ultron Unlimited" Issue 19-22 and "The Kang Dynasty" Issue 41-55

Best Single Issue: "This Evil Triumphant" Issue 22, Kurt Busiek (Writer) and George Perez (Artist)

Lasting Impact: The final issues Disassembled the Avengers for a while and gave us New Avengers (see above). Ultron and Kang were established as the epitome of Avengers villains even more so than Loki. Brian Michael Bendis began his seminal work on Avengers with the last issues of this volume.

Unquestionably formed by possibly the greatest Avengers run between Kurt Busiek and George Perez. Flowing with established mythos, the duo established a lot of points for the Avengers and made this volume a must read. Coming off the horrendous second volume, they crafted tales that have stuck for long. 

The volume apart from this feels low but doesn't neccesarily stop there. Readers got a pre-DC mainstay Geoff Johns on an underrated Avengers time and also the volumes last issues (double numbered with volume one eg. Volume 3 Issue 85 was the overall 500th issues thus also Volume 1 Issue 500) till issue 504 under Brian Michael Bendis.


1. The Avengers Volume 1

Number of Issues: 402 (without the double numbered issues)

Publication: 1963-1996

Best Run: Roy Thomas (Writer) and John Buscema Issue 41-44, 46-47, 49-62, 74-85, 94 and 97

Best Writer: Roy Thomas Issue 35-104

Best Artist: Neal Adams Issue 93-96

Best Story Arc: "Kree-Skrull War" Issue 89-97, Roy Thomas (Writer) and Sal Buscema, John Buscema and Neal Adams (Artists)

Best Single Issue: "Captain America Lives Again!" Issue 4, Stan Lee (Writer) and Jack Kirby (Artist)

Lasting Impact: Creation of the Avengers and everything Avengers!!!

This is where it all began and like with the X-Books, this is their best period. The classic stories really established the Avengers as a lasting comic, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby decided to duplicate the Justice League formula but instead brought their B-League characters to from a mighty (pun intended) team. Eventually original member Hulk leaving would bring in Kirby creation Captain America to the future. Villains would be created and established, heroes would come, join, rise, fall and rise again. 

Avengers became a classic thanks to the works of Roy Thomas, the Buscema brothers, Neal Adams, Steve Englehart and many more. This volume conceptualizes what it means to be an Avenger. So to this...


...Avengers Assemble!!!

Aneesh Raikundalia