Marvel Masterworks the Avengers 17 - Hardcover

Shooter, Jim; Starlin, Jim; Stern, Roger; Wolfman, Marv

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1302903411 ISBN 13: 9781302903411

Publisher: Marvel Enterprises, 2017

Synopsis

Jim Shooter and an unparalleled team of avenging artists -- George Pérez, John Byrne, Jim Starlin and more -- bring you Earth's Mightiest Heroes at their best! This Marvel Masterworks volume is packed from cover to cover with classic encounters staged on a truly massive scale: Jim Starlin's defining Thanos War, Ultron's revenge, the cosmic Korvac Saga -- it's a dizzying array of iconic adventures! Luckily, the Avengers aren't alone as they face these challenges -- they're joined by the Guardians of the Galaxy, the amazing Spider-Man and the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing! Also featuring Adam Warlock, Gamora, the Collector, the Lethal Legion, Count Nefaria, a new look for Wonder Man, and the unfolding secret origins of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch!

COLLECTING: AVENGERS (1963) #164-177, ANNUAL (1967) #7, MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE ANNUAL (1976) #2, and Material from AVENGERS: THE KORVAC SAGA Trade Paperback (1991)

About this title

About the Author:

Jim Shooter sold his first story to DC Comics at the age of thirteen. He went on to write Superboy, The Legion of Super-Heroes, Superman and other titles. In 1978, he became Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics. He later founded Valiant, Defiant, and Broadway Comics, and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Illustrated Media.

Jim Starlin is a 30-year veteran of the comic industry who is best known for his exploration of the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe. He has worked in every genre imaginable, and some of his other comic work is collected in The Life and Death of Captain Marvel and The Infinity Gauntlet.

Review:

"In the 1960s, Jim Shooter was a child-prodigy of comics scripting who was writing the Legion of Super-Heroes and Superman before he'd finished High School. When he returned to the industry and gravitated to Marvel Comics, it seemed natural to find him working on a comic with just as many characters as that fabled future super-team. If you want to see what makes Superhero fiction work, and can keep track of nearly two dozen flamboyant characters, this is a fine example of how to make such an unwieldy proposition easily accessible to the new and returning reader." -- Win Wiacek

Number Two on Comic Book Resources' Poll of the 50 Greatest Avengers Stories!
"Jim Shooter (working with first Roger Stern and then David Michelinie) uses the whole universe at his hands here to create a sprawling epic with tons of guest stars.The artwork by George Pérez is quite good, although the work that closes out the story, by Sal Buscema and David Wenzel, is not half bad, either!" -- Brian Cronin

"Shooter does a nice job of keeping the characters the focal point and goes a long way towards humanizing Korvac, adding a touch of poignancy to the tale. But for the large battles, he was lucky to have George Pérez and David Wenzel as the art team, since, after all, George is known for his epic sweep (actually starting with this saga). These days, epics run for years and can be found in every title. Back then, this was HUGE and is still fondly remembered. If you have never read this, then treat yourself." -- Robert Greenberger

"The Avengers have always had a huge cast of characters, and with this story, there are guest stars galore. The Guardians of the Galaxy, Adam Warlock, many others. The creators put their all into this story and it shows." -- John Bayer

"I have been hearing about the Michael/Korvac saga and been wanting to read it since I started collecting comics in the mid-80's. I had heard it was THE Avengers story. I had incredibly high expectations. I was not disappointed! The classic team is here. There are intergalactic guest stars. The characterizations are in play as the heroes argue amongst themselves. And best of all, the villain is cunning, incredibly powerful, and not necessarily even evil! Now that I've read it, I agree that it is THE Avengers story." -- Mark Nowak

"I've been reading Marvel for quite a while now (about 40 years give or take) and out of all the story lines I've read, this has GOT to be one of the best. If you are in anyway interested in comics, buy this book! You won't be disappointed!" -- Mikka Thompson

"From start to finish, a story every Avengers fan should have on their shelf." -- Michael Weyer

"Jim Shooter and John Byrne's three-part Count Nefaria story in issues #164-166 is mostly a slug-fest, but it is about as good an Avengers slug-fest as you will get. Nefaria gains godlike powers, and proceeds to beat up and rain buildings down on the Avengers, including heavy-hitters Iron Man, the Vision and Wonder Man. Things do not look good for the team until Thor--in a great burst of light -- arrives on the scene. And even then it takes some ingenuity and desperate measures to save the day. Byrne fired on all cylinders with his artwork for this story, and helped produce some of the most well-loved fight moments in Avengers' history." -- Troy Wheatley

"[Jim Starlin's 'The Final Threat'] is huge in its scope, and visually, it's a massive undertaking. Starlin populated his plot with not only the colorful icons of the Marvel Universe, but an army of varied alien criminals as well. He comes up with so many different designs and crams so many bodies into a plethora of panels, it must've been quite an arduous art assignment to impose upon oneself. It pays off, as the crowded action scenes add to the sense of immensity of the story. Furthermore, when it comes to Thanos, no one -- absolutely no one -- draws him better than Jim Starlin. The thick, beefy, and tall frame exudes power." -- Don MacPherson

"Shooter's plot wends its way around the houses slightly before returning the focus to the main threat, involving several of the Avengers' majorfoes, including Ultron, and the Collector, here for the first time given a coherent purpose for his accumulating passion. Shooter handles thevast superhero ensemble extremely professionally, giving most a momentin the spotlight amid some novel character touches, and the way thefinale is set-up early on is one bravura piece of plotting. Bill Mantloand David Michelinie script some chapters over Shooter's plot, but noneof the writers relies on thought balloons or expository dialogue so invogue at the time, which ensures a 21st century freshness." -- Ian Keogh

"That sweet spot of '80s Avengers tales by Jim Shooter, George Perez, John Byrne and Jim Starlin. This is the good stuff." -- Scott Tipton

About this edition

• Publisher: Marvel Enterprises
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1302903411
• ISBN 13: 9781302903411
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352
• Illustrator: Perez George