Young Avengers Volume 1: Style > Substance
By Kieron Gillen , Jamie McKelvie , Mike Norton
Legacy isn’t a dirty word…but it’s an irrelevant one. It’s not important what our parents did. It matters what WE do. Someone has to save the world. You’re someone. Do the math. The critically acclaimed team of Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie reinvent the teen super hero comic for the 21st century, uniting Wiccan, Hulkling and Kate “Hawkeye” Bishop with Kid Loki, Marvel Boy and Ms. America. No pressure, right? As a figure from Loki’s past emerges, Wiccan makes a horrible mistake that comes back to bite everyone on their communal posteriors. Fight scenes! Fake IDs! And plentiful feels! (aka “meaningful emotional character beats” for people who aren’t on tumblr.) Young Avengers is as NOW! as the air in your lungs, and twice as vital. Hyperbole is the BEST! THING! EVER!
Collecting: Young Avengers 1-5, material from Marvel Now! Point One.1
Summary on Goodreads.
This was my first Marvel Comic book that I have read that is not either one of the Marvel Movie Preludes or Old Man Logan (which also happened to be the first comic book I ever read). So for my first Marvel Comic, I have no previous reads to base my knowledge off so I went into this not knowing what to expect. After reading it, I am not entirely sure what I got either.
Let’s start with the storyline. We get introduced to a young Loki and Ms America in a different world, Earth? I am not sure what they are called in Marvel Comics but not the main Earth. Safe to say that Ms America does not like Loki’s agenda, and tells him in the only way that she seems to know too, by beating him. We also get introduced to Wiccan and Hulking. Wiccan is Scarlet Witch’s son and Hulking is a Skrull. Later on in this volume, we also meet Kate Bishop, the new young Hawkeye and Marvel Boy. These superheroes are forced together to stop a monster the Wiccan unintentionally releases.
Whilst in concept the story sounds interesting, I found that I just did not understand what was going on. This may be because I do not have any history with these characters so I am unable to pick up on subtle things that may mean something else but as a first-time reader I was not drawn into the story like I should have been.
The art style really worked for the storyline, and the title of this volume, Style > Substance, does show itself with the art. Lots of bright colours and some very interesting page layouts worked in this younger version of the Avengers style. I hope that these different ways to put across material on the page will continue on in following issues, and other writers and illustrators utilise this fantastic idea.
An enjoyable read, but one that may not stay with you for long. Definitely more Style > Substance.
3/5
Have you read Young Avengers Volume 1: Style > Substance? Do you agree with my review? Let me know your opinion in the comments below!
Check it out on Goodreads here.
Get it on Comixilogy here.
Purchase it on Amazon here.
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I said the same thing in my review too: that it more style than substance!
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