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Post by Tana Nile on Mar 31, 2009 16:04:35 GMT -5
I just read this king-sized one-shot issue recently. It's from 2001 and is essentially a 'jam' issue, with Roy Thomas and Kurt Busiek as co-plotters and scripters. Steve Englehart and Roger Stern also script, and the art teams include a ton of people, some Avengery and some not so much (my personal faves were the Starlin/Milgrom section and oddly enough the Jorge Lucas/Mike Royer part - Royer makes it look very Kirbyesqe!).
The story centers on efforts to track down robot replicas of the Avengers, then becomes a story about a robot society, Alkhema, and yes, Ultron. It has its moments, although it does feel a bit disjointed at times. There are also some cool pin-ups in the back, including ones by Don Heck and Jerry Ordway, an unused Barry Smith cover, and Paul Smith's take on the founding Avengers.
Anybody else ever read this one?
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Post by Shiryu on Mar 31, 2009 16:09:12 GMT -5
Is it the one with the Vibranium arrows? If so, I read it a few years ago.
I remember I liked it, but not as much as Ultron Unlimited. The continuous change of artist put me off a bit, and it looked like the story ended too quickly. But overall it was nice, especially the use of Alkhema and Hawkeye's reaction to her presence.
The Vibranium arrow was smart too, a neat way to defeat Ultron.
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Post by Tana Nile on Apr 1, 2009 15:59:07 GMT -5
That is indeed the book I am talking about Shiryu. I also liked the role Hawkeye played in the story. I would agree that some of the artwork was not so great, and it could be a bit jarring with all the changes from chapter to chapter. Yet there are so many real "Avengery" moments that I still enjoyed the book, warts and all.
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Post by sharkar on Apr 1, 2009 17:44:50 GMT -5
...There are also some cool pin-ups in the back, including ones by Don Heck and Jerry Ordway, an unused Barry Smith cover, and Paul Smith's take on the founding Avengers. Thanks, Tana! This helps shed some light regarding a question that's been gnawing away at me since-- what, has it really been two years??  In the latest Avengers Assemble Vol. 4 hardcover, there's a great pin-up of Cap's Kooky Quartet, it's a take-off of the famous "Spirit of '76" (or "Yankee Doodle") painting...you know, marching figures with a fife, a drum, a flag, etc. Anyway, the Quartet drawing bears the names of Heck and (Jerry) Ordway, and another name I can't decipher--Smith? Paul Smith?- - and the date "6/2001." Don died in 1995...so I don't know if this is someone else's work over a Heck photostat, or what. But it was nice to see something in the style of Heck when he was at his best (early days on the Avengers). The pin-up captures the Quartet's idealism and innocence: Cap, Hawkeye, Pietro in his original green Quicksilver costume, Wanda with that huge headdress. I'd be much obliged if anyone fill me in about this drawing, where it first appeared, etc. As for the story, I enjoyed it: good characterizations, plot, art ( loved the homage to Kirby)...and Clint sure came through again, didn't he? |
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Post by Tana Nile on Apr 1, 2009 18:40:47 GMT -5
Always glad to assist my fellow assemblers!  I really enjoyed the pin-ups in the back. They were interesting takes on the Avengers not really seen elsewhere (as far as I know). |
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Post by sharkar on Apr 2, 2009 18:56:52 GMT -5
And I love how Roy the Boy starts and ends the story with an homage to -- himself (Avengers #57)! ;D
A very good read.
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Post by Tana Nile on Apr 2, 2009 20:59:09 GMT -5
yes, the end particularly with Antigone playing with Ultron's head was a nice nod to the past.
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Post by woodside on Apr 5, 2009 21:23:33 GMT -5
I liked this story as well, though it was sandwhiched in with the "Kang Dynasty" arc, which made its timing feel wierd to me.
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Post by Tana Nile on Apr 7, 2009 11:01:48 GMT -5
I liked this story as well, though it was sandwhiched in with the "Kang Dynasty" arc, which made its timing feel wierd to me. True, although it felt like the Kang Dynasty went on far too long...I enjoyed that story but it was a bit wearing after 6 months or so. |
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Post by scottharris on Apr 8, 2009 2:16:47 GMT -5
For me the issue with this story is not that it came out at the same time as the Kang DYnasty story, but that this was relatively soon after Kurt's big Ultron story. I love Roy Thomas, but this one-shot just didn't hold up for me compared to Kurt's Ultron story which was still fresh in my mind.
Perhaps I should give it another read. Along those lines, Tana, I urge ou to reread the Kang Dynasty storyline now that you can read it all at once without having to wait the long months for it to finish. For my money this is an all-time classic Avengers story, one of the top epics in Avengers history. Granted, Kang is my favorite villain, but I love this storyline.
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Post by woodside on Apr 8, 2009 8:39:47 GMT -5
For me the issue with this story is not that it came out at the same time as the Kang DYnasty story, but that this was relatively soon after Kurt's big Ultron story. I love Roy Thomas, but this one-shot just didn't hold up for me compared to Kurt's Ultron story which was still fresh in my mind. Perhaps I should give it another read. Along those lines, Tana, I urge ou to reread the Kang Dynasty storyline now that you can read it all at once without having to wait the long months for it to finish. For my money this is an all-time classic Avengers story, one of the top epics in Avengers history. Granted, Kang is my favorite villain, but I love this storyline. Agreed. Actually, what I liked the most about "Kang Dynasty" is that it was very much the culmination of Busiek's Avengers run. The Trion, Kang (Avengers Forever), Ms. Marvel's status, Scarlet Witch/Wonder Man, even Ultron -- it was all tied up here, nice and tight. I seem to even remember that one of the panels in one of the last issues resembled a panel from Avengers # 1 (vol. 3). It's not perfect, but it's a great Avengers epic. |
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