As a longtime Marvel fan who grew up reading comics from the ’80s and ’90s, I can confidently say that the West Coast Avengers have returned with a bang! The debut issue is an absolute delight, capturing the essence of the B-team’s fun-loving, lighthearted vibe perfectly. Gerry Duggan has truly outdone himself here, and his writing feels reminiscent of his early days on the X-Men line with Marauders.
The West Coast Avengers are returning for another round of sunshine-filled adventures, introducing a fresh take on the squad in this new Marvel Comics series. In this instance, writer Gerry Duggan collaborates with artist Danny Kim, colorist Arthur Hesli, and letter Joe Caramagna. The first issue emphasizes the West Coast Avengers’ status as Earth’s Mightiest B-Team, offering a nostalgic visual aesthetic and an enigmatic mystery surrounding their least expected member. This appealing beginning should draw readers in for the sequel and beyond.
The West Coast Avengers squad finds billionaire inventor Tony Stark financing the team, but his financial resources aren’t as deep as they once were. Consequently, he’s sporting his Silver Centurion armor from the 1980s, sometimes with additional power sources attached, which beautifully encapsulates the feel of the new West Coast Avengers group. Tony’s friend War Machine is joining him on this endeavor, along with Spider-Woman and two characters seeking redemption: Blue Bolt and Ultron.
Indeed, Ultron. The creators appear to be deliberately keeping secret the reasons behind Ultron’s presence in the team, which can be somewhat annoying as it leaves readers without a clear understanding of the team’s purpose. However, Ultron’s reserved attitude and his role as a straight man contribute to an intriguing mix of personalities.
But the themes are a bit more clear. Redemption and the different ways to pursue it are front and center. Outside of whatever happened with Ultron, Tony’s search for redemption in the aftermath of the Fall of X, with the Stark Sentinels and his marriage to Emma Frost, is projected outward into the new Avengers squad. Tony then chooses Rhodey for reliable support and Spider-Woman because her past is almost as checkered as his own (not to mention, she’s local). And then there’s the Avengers prisoner rehabilitation program that drafts Blue Bolt on the team.
The boisterous atmosphere and motley crew of characters with questionable backgrounds seem to evoke Duggan’s initial tenure on the X-Men series while writing Marauders. This could leverage his talent, as the casual, almost tongue-in-cheek humor he incorporates into his works seems more fitting for a team predominantly composed of secondary, less reputable characters rather than heavyweights handling global crises.
The visuals add to that charm, and something in the layouts and the compositions harkens back to the superhero comics of the 1970s and 1980s, eschewing overlapping panels and widescreen aesthetic for something cleaner and more straightforward but not less powerful. It’s dynamic, but the dynamism is drawn more from the positioning of the characters, and the pop of the colors than from scale or an oppressive sense of realism. Those colors are primarily warm with a soft texturing and just enough sheen to suggest the sunbaked plasticity the West Coast has garnered a reputation for. The characters are expressive, their body language suggesting they’re having fun even in unfun situations, though some instances of awkward perspective distract from the overall effect.
The West Coast Avengers are back, all set for an entertaining superhero escapade! Duggan is truly displaying his skills with this premiere and the artwork matches perfectly with the series’ playful vibe. If you’re seeking a superhero comic with a lively environment that usually avoids universe-shaking events on alternate issues, then you might really enjoy West Coast Avengers.
Published by Marvel Comics
On November 27, 2024
Written by Gerry Duggan
Art by Danny Kim
Colors by Arthur Hesli
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover by Ben Harvey
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2024-11-27 17:10