Review: AVENGERS #38

AVEN2012038_DC11AVENGERS #38
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Stefano Caselli
Published by Marvel Comics
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Hickman and Caselli. Hickman. Caselli. I almost feel like I don’t need to say any more than their names. It’s Hickman and Caselli, writing and drawing Avengers…and it’s brilliant.

Jonathan Hickman’s work on Avengers has been grand to say the least and issue #38 certainly fits with that feeling. Roberto da Costa, Sunspot, of all people, has become a major player on the Marvel scene and one of the most entertaining characters in this title recently. Hickman has made Sunspot a force to be reckoned with and, at several points in this issue, a dynamic and charismatic character that not only commands your attention, but also doesn’t let go once he has it. I’m not going to lie, it floors me that I’m talking this much about Sunspot, who I always considered a C-lister at best, but Hickman’s got me doing it. Hickman writes him so well in the 2/3 of this issue that he appears that I want to see more of this character in action. This is a big story and he uses Roberto to frame it well, building the tension of this world where time is running out masterfully. Hickman gives readers a great glimpse into the whereabouts of three characters that are major players and have been noticeably absent, which took this strong story to the next level.

As strong as Hickman’s writing is, Caselli is the star of this show in my opinion. Sunspot’s narratives are driven home with powerful visuals that add an immense amount of gravity to the events of Avengers and New Avengers. Caselli is as good it gets in the Big Two and he shows that with this issue, never faltering for a second from start to finish. He handles the grand scope of this issue well and seeing his artwork with the big-scope narrative that Hickman is throwing down took me back to Secret Warriors immediately. Caselli has a large cast to deal with in this issue and he handles it flawlessly. The artwork in this issue is excellent and I want Caselli on Avengers full time. No subsitutions. No break issues. All Caselli, all the time.

Avengers #38 takes the brimming tension of the past couple issues and cranks the dial to 11. Hickman and Caselli are a dream team and they work together brilliantly, delivering one of my favourite issues of Avengers in the past few months. The world of Time Runs Out is becoming clearer and damn, do I ever want more as fast as I can get it. Someone get me a Sunspot ongoing, stat!

The Verdict: 9.0/10

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One Comment;

  1. Davey Williams said:

    Hate to disagree with the review, but I pulled it up for some insight Into Hickman’s bloated, dense, self-absorbed, confusing, cliche hero-fighting-hero Marvel universe shakeup crap. I am watching my wristband, hoping for the incursion that will put Hickman, me and the entire universe out of its misery.

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