Four Reasons to read Brian Michael Bendis’ First Five Year Run on Avengers.
July 24, 2014 in COMIC BOOKS
COMIC BOOKS – Four Reasons to read Brian Michael Bendis’ First Five Year Run on Avengers.
I’m going to give you the four reasons you should check out the first five year run of Brian Michael Bendis’ Avengers. As well as a list, in order, to read them. Along with an explanation of why you ought to, without spoiling anything.
Why am I focusing only on the first five years of Bendis’ Avengers run? Well, mostly because I didn’t read the later part of his run. Not yet anyway. So I really can’t talk about them in.
Alright so let’s get Started…
He Made the Avengers Cool
I’m sorry but, as a kid, there was pretty much NOTHING that made me interested in reading the Avengers. I used to look at them and wonder, “Who are these losers?” They looked like a poor man’s Justice League.
I used to read Spider-Man comics mostly, and some X-Men comics. That was pretty much it.
Captain America seemed like a joke to me. Ironman wasn’t techy enough for me to like. If he had looked more like an Anime mecha, I would have been all over it.
Thor talked funny and it was hard to understand what he was saying. His universe was too weird and he wasn’t very “Norse.” Scarlett Witch and The Vision where “C” list characters that seemed to be there to fill in the roster.
Antman and Wasp? Lame.
There was nothing about the group that I found intriguing. Then I read Bendis’ House of M
I’ll write more about that below in my recommendations, but I will say this, it was the book that made the Scarlett Witch interesting to me.
This led directly to the Avengers Disassembled storyline which ended up being a great introduction to the Avengers.
I liked them, A LOT. Especially Captain America. Turned out, he was totally awesome.
The story was so brutal and dramatic that it really made you empathize with them. You wanted to follow up on who they were and what they did next.
But then they reintroduced the Avengers in New Avengers: Breakout doing something with the group that they should have done a long time ago. Instead of the “poor man’s Justice League,” Avengers became truly the Marvel Universe’s Justice League.
They took the most popular Marvel Characters in the Marvel U and one or two who weren’t, added a made new superhero that was effectively Superman, and made them the Avengers. Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Ironman, Spider-Woman, Luke Cage, and The Sentry.
And they were COOL. I mean, how could you not read this book? From that point on, you get hooked.
The Characters
The stories told with these characters were exciting but what really set these books apart are the characters themselves.
The two characters in the team that where considered “C” list characters, Spider-Woman and Luke Cage, became the break out stars of the team.
But over all, it was an all-star cast. You WANTED to see these characters interact and go on adventures. And the new character The Sentry, was a fascinating new superhero.
With “the power of ten exploding suns” he pretty much is one of the two Supermen of the Marvel Universe. The other one being a little used character called Blue Marvel.
But since this is the Marvel Universe, The Sentry had all kinds of horrible, psychological issues. This of course made him fun to read.
In general, it was tough not to like this group of characters and it’s so much fun to read about how they interact with one another.
It’s Addicting
It was so much fun to read about them in fact, that I couldn’t get enough. I started picking up every tradepaper back of their adventures I could get my hands on.
The stories are fun, exciting and addicting. They’re real page turners and you really end up involved emotionally with these characters.
This is exactly what superhero comics is all about. The way these books read are the reason we read superhero comics in the first place.
It’s Epic
The stories that Bendis tells with this team is pretty epic. Things don’t stay the same for too long. The team changes splits up and comes back together in different ways through out the five year run.
Epic storylines like, House of M, Avenger Disassembled, Civil War, to it’s even more epic aftermath, The Ultron Initiative, The Venom Bomb, the Secret Invasion, the Dark Avengers and finally The Siege. It’s an over the top insane epic ride.
Through it all, the stories stay really personal and character based while sill being grand in scope. It’s pretty amazing.
Where to Start
So if all this sounds right up your alley, I made a list with links to where you can purchase the books either in print on digitally. I’ll also give you some small spoiler free thoughts on each book.
Just to be clear, the blue header links and the picture are links to the print book on Amazon and they’re affiliate links (thanks for your support). The links under “Digital Comics Link” are links to Comixology (they are not affiliate links):
This is where it all kinda starts. The events in this story set up the events in the New Avengers books. That means, even though it’s not about the Avengers, it’s still a really good story, and it’s good to know what happens in it.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/House-of-M/digital-comic/15722
This is the ultimate, “get me started” volume. It contains about 40+ comics. From Avenger: Disassembled to New Avengers #31 and more. It’s the most hassle free and cheapest way to get caught up.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/Avengers-Disassembled/digital-comic/19671
https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-Vol-1-Breakout/digital-comic/14691
https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-Vol-2-The-Sentry/digital-comic/16133
https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-Vol-3-Secrets-Lies/digital-comic/17988
https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-Vol-4-Collective/digital-comic/19462
https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-Vol-5-Civil-War/digital-comic/20286
https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-Vol-6-Revolution/digital-comic/22496
This is the only non Bendis book on the list. I didn’t read the Avengers tie ins to this story either. That said, you need to read this because the events set up Avengers stories in New Avengers and Mighty Avengers.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/Civil-War/digital-comic/19456
Mighty Avengers, Vol. 1: The Ultron Initiative
After Civil War, certain things change in the Avengers universe. There’s two Avengers teams. These are the stories that occur under Ironman’s Avengers.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/Mighty-Avengers-Vol-1-The-Ultron-Initiative/digital-comic/15741
The stories of Ironman’s Avengers continue in this volume. The two teams come together in this one.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/Mighty-Avengers-Vol-2-Venom-Bomb/digital-comic/23265
The last of the stories featuring the other Avengers team. These stories directly set up the invasion that occurs next.
The version I won compiles Vol. 7 – 10 in three volumes. I couldn’t find a link to those versions of the books. Seems like they’re now out of print, so instead I’m linking to the individual trade paperbacks.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-Vol-7-The-Trust/digital-comic/23264
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-Vol-8-Secret-Invasion-Book-1/digital-comic/24002
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-Vol-9-Secret-Invasion-Book-2/digital-comic/24643
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-Vol-10-Power/digital-comic/26360
Mighty Avengers Vol. 3: Secret Invasion, Book 1
Things get deeper into the invasion. Secrets get revealed.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/Mighty-Avengers-Vol-3-Secret-Invasion-Book-1/digital-comic/24003
Mighty Avengers Vol. 4: Secret Invasion, Book 2 (v. 4, Bk. 2)
You get to find out even more secrets in this volume.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/Mighty-Avengers-Vol-4-Secret-Invasion-Book-2/digital-comic/24659
The final battle happens in this comic.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/Secret-Invasion/digital-comic/16145
After the invasion, things change yet again for the Avengers. The Avengers become…well very different.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/Dark-Avengers-Vol-1-Assemble/digital-comic/16806
The new very different Avengers have to deal with the huge threat of Molecule Man.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/Dark-Avengers-Vol-2-Molecule-Man/digital-comic/18204
The grand finale of this long Avengers Saga that began with House of M. To be honest, it was a bit weaker than I would have liked for a finale, but the journey was great and worth taking.
Digital Comic Link:
https://www.comixology.com/Siege/digital-comic/17991
