Marvel Universe Vs. the Avengers

Marvel Universe Vs. #3

by Jonathan Maberry, Leandro Fernández (Illustrator)

In "Marvel Universe vs. the Punisher" we journeyed through the ruins of our world. In the Bram Stoker Award-nominated "Marvel Universe vs. Wolverine" we witnessed the fall. Now, Marvel presents the war. Some worlds can't be saved...but all worlds can be avenged. Doctor Doom says that he can cure the cannibal plague that is consuming the Marvel Universe - but his price is to become Emperor of Earth. How far would you go to save the world? That's the question the Avengers must answer!

Marvel Universe Vs . The Avengers 1-4

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Marvel, Horror, Science Fiction, Superheroes, Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2012

About the author

JONATHAN MABERRY is a NYTimes bestselling author, #1 Audible bestseller, 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, 4-time Scribe Award winner, Inkpot Award winner, comic book writer, and producer. He is the author of more than 50 novels, 190 short stories, 16 short story collections, 30 graphic novels, 14 nonfiction books, and has edited 26 anthologies. His vampire apocalypse book series, V-WARS, was a Netflix original series starring Ian Somerhalder. His 2009-10 run as writer on the Black Panther comic formed a large chunk of the recent blockbuster film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. His bestselling YA zombie series, Rot & Ruin is in development for film at Alcon Entertainment; and John Wick director, Chad Stahelski, is developing Jonathan’s Joe Ledger Thrillers for TV. Jonathan writes in multiple genres including suspense, thriller, horror, science fiction, epic fantasy, and action; and he writes for adults, teens and middle grade. His works include The Pine Deep Trilogy, The Kagen the Damned Trilogy, NecroTek, Ink, Glimpse, the Rot & Ruin series, the Dead of Night series, The Wolfman, X-Files Origins: Devil’s Advocate, The Sleepers War (with Weston Ochse), Mars One, and many others. He is the editor of high-profile anthologies including Weird Tales: 100 Years of Weird, The X-Files, Aliens: Bug Hunt, Out of Tune, Don’t Turn out the Lights: A Tribute to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Baker Street Irregulars, Nights of the Living Dead, Shadows & Verse, and others. His comics include Marvel Zombies Return, The Punisher: Naked Kills, Wolverine: Ghosts, Godzilla vs Cthulhu: Death May Die, Bad Blood and many others. Jonathan has written in many popular licensed worlds, including Hellboy, True Blood, The Wolfman, John Carter of Mars, Sherlock Holmes, C.H.U.D., Diablo IV, Deadlands, World of Warcraft, Planet of the Apes, Aliens, Predator, Karl Kolchak, and many others. He the president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, and the editor of Weird Tales Magazine. He lives in San Diego, California. Find him online at www.jonathanmaberry.com

Reviews

[Sam Quixote · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the third in Jonathan Maberry's Marvel Universe Vs books - the first featured The Punisher and was pretty good; the second featured Wolverine and was pretty terrible; the third supposedly features The Avengers though it mostly features Hawkeye and should more accurately be called Marvel Universe Vs Hawkeye. Plus it's the weakest, most boring one of the bunch.

If you've never heard of the Marvel Universe Vs books, they're all about some unknown virus infecting everyone in the world, particularly every character in the Marvel Universe, turning them into zombies that are less like the classic shuffling Romero zombies and more like a mix of 28 Days Later's RAGE virus zombies and Garth Ennis' Crossed. Each book is about the same zombie virus event but told from the perspective of the title character who's survived the initial craziness and winds up fighting their now-transformed former allies and friends.

It was interesting to read about the zombie apocalypse in the Punisher book partly because it was the first time we'd seen this event and the Punisher is a natural choice for anti-hero in that scenario. He's a predator and survivalist and because he's not superpowered, it was fun seeing how he'd take down the zombified heroes who still retained their superpowers. It was less interesting with Wolverine because it was the same scenario, told again with no variation, and Wolverine is essentially un-killable so it wasn't as involving to see how he'd take down the threats (one word: SNIKT!).

With Hawkeye, we're reading about the same zombie apocalypse for the third time with again no variation of the scenario, from the perspective of a bland hero - this Hawkeye is more classic purple design Hawkeye with none of the charm of Matt Fraction's rebooted character. Sure, he's horrified at the change in people, yeah he hates having to kill his friends, but we've seen all of this in the first two books and Hawkeye's perspective provides little insight into this fairly straightforward, already-mined-of-material event. The one difference is Doctor Doom's arrival claiming he has a cure which inevitably fails.

Leandro Fernandez's art is usually pretty good but looks very rushed in this one. The drawings lack detail, the character lines are sketchy, and there aren't any panels that stick out for better or worse - it's a forgettable story matched with forgettable art. If you want to read a better book featuring the zombie apocalypse in the Marvel Universe, check out the first book, Marvel Universe Vs The Punisher, and don't bother with the rest. Marvel Universe Vs The Avengers is predictable and boring - here's hoping this latest Marvel Universe Vs book is also the last!

[Greg (adds 2 TBR list daily) Hersom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Depressing but interesting, the ending almost got it another star.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third "Marvel Universe Vs." book, following Wolverine and Punisher. Hawkeye is the main focus here, though other Avengers are present, and the book is in fact sprinkled with Easter egg cameos of other Marvel characters. The art is good, as is the writing. The one stumbling block the plot had for me is that you pretty much have to accept the idea that Hawkeye is dumb; he should know by now that you can't trust Dr. Doom. Hasn't he learned that in the last fifty years? I mean, c'mon, sure times are desperate, and people can change, and the enemy of my friend is whatever, but Clint should just oughta know by now that you can't trust Dr. Doom.

[Sofi ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me acabo de enterar que antes de este comic estaban Marvel Universe vs Punisher y Marvel Universe vs Wolverine , calculo que los leeré en algún momento.
Bueno, digamos que me decepcionó un poco, pero tampoco es que fue MALO. Simplemente fue MEH.
No fue tan entretenido como otros, pero siempre están los comentarios de Deadpool que le levantan el humor a todo(?).
#AguanteDeadpoolVieja

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't believe I read this one by accident. Funny. It was sort of a vainglorious attempt to turn the Marvel Zombies into something humorless.

I guess it succeeded.

[Corwyn Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable little zombie apocalypse tale but minus the horror of one. I liked the choice of Hawkeye for the story's narrator, and the looming plot twist was effective. The end seemed a bit anticlimactic at first but transitioned into something I liked. The art was only average; nothing to boast about, and I don't remember there being any humor, but I enjoyed the pace of it and its unveiling enough to slap a 3rd star onto its rating. Just a 4 issue story, but nicely told. Worth a read or two. (But it needed more gore and some witty dialog.)

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final stand of the Avengers in a world slowly destroying itself, this final chapter in the story of a Marvel universe ravaged by an unstoppable virus and the changes it makes in the heroes of Earth is one of a kind. The unique story of Hawkeye and his interactions with Doctor Doom as the surviving Avengers are forced to listen to the madman’s demands or face total annihilation is a fantastic concluding story to this tale. A must-read for all Marvel fans!

[Francesca Giardiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non si trova una cura, la piaga dilaga e non si capisce cosa fare per poterne uscire.

Forse Doom davvero è in grado di offrire l'aiuto che promette? La storia si complica e assume tinte ancora più complesse andando al di là della "sola" sopravvivenza e mettendo in luce dinamiche umane e meccanismi mentali che vengono adottati per sopravvivere.

Maberry continua a superarsi narrando un mondo di disgrazia in cui la speranza cerca disperatamente di sopravvivere.

[Doctor Doom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many were not impressed with this book but in a world where Doom exists as a villain it makes perfect sense... only Doom can "save" the world. Cannibals are not zombies but they parallel is hard not to notice. In the realm of nightmarish scenarios this one was a fun ride. The art and writing were both up to the task which certainly helps. What happens when rescue shelters become grocery stores? Well, the answer is here.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was weird. I know these "versus the Marvel Universe" books are meant to be lighter fare but this one was pretty bonkers. It was interesting trying to tie the whole thing to Hawkeye as our POV character but the fine line between a disease turning everyone into cannibals versus just declaring they were all zombies wasn't that big a distinction and felt a little silly.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a "diet" version of Marvel Zombies. Nothing outrageously bad but nothing to stand out as well. Turns out its the previous story to the "Marvel Universe VS Punisher" comic I read last year. (I'm so far behind I read things out of order frequently)

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uhhhhhhh geez. I haven’t read the Wolverine vs the Marvel Universe yetttttt but that’s the first book ? But wow that was a pretty mehhhhh end of the world kinda read. Even worse. How did Thor get infected? Or he thought Hawkeye was a cannibal ?

[Paul Vance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Came full circle in the end with a twist which reminded of the first book in the series, which I am probably going to read again now . To sum it up in a word....unexpected

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bleak

[Alejandro Fion · Rating 3 out of 5]

not one of my favorites but good

[Ben Shee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Standard zombie drivel.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realise this was #3 in a series, but I really liked it anyway!

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 review to come

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically just another Marvels Zombies story, just not all that interesting.

[Dmitry Yakovenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Второй том продолжает историю начатую ранее и также состоит из четырех выпусков. Оставшиеся в живых супергерои всё ещё пытаются найти лекарство от ужасной болезни, но всё безуспешно. И тут появляется Доктор Дум, который до этого момента не считал нужным покидать пределы своей страны. И он пришел как спаситель - с лекарством, которое способно спасти мир, вот только Дум хочет чтобы ему весьма дорого заплатили за спасение...

Центральным персонажем продолжения стал Соколиный Глаз, который вернулся в родной город после долгой миссии для Ника Фьюри. Естественно, вернулся он в самый ад, то есть в то время, когда болезнь только начинала распространяться. Но это только первое время действие разворачивается параллельно с первым томом, дальше сюжет разгоняется и продолжает историю с того места, где закончились приключения Росомахи.

К сожалению, комикс стал менее серьезным, менее драматичный, в нем больше почти нет места для каких-то сильных эмоций, зато стало намного больше бессмысленного экшена, юмора и в целом все стало больше похоже на обыкновенную супергероику с добрыми и злыми парнями, которые просто все время мутузят друг друга. Даже рисунок стал ярким и более стандартным. С другой стороны тут есть невероятно крутой Доктор Дум, которому уделено много времени и за которым одно удовольствие следить.

Курс для продолжения выбран неверный, как по мне, слишком всё стало банально и через чур просто. Все равно можно читать, тем более интересно узнать что стало со вселенной после финала первой части этой серии. Ну и Дум действительно очень хорош, как и Соколиный Глаз.

[Unai · Rating 2 out of 5]

De reciente publicación tenemos el tomo que cierra esta saga apocalíptica de caníbales mas o menos descerebrados. Con ciertos problemas de continuidad tenemos la lucha por intentar detener la plaga. En principio personificada en el ultimo vengador, Ojo de Halcón, que sin poderes y con su arco tratará de hacerse un hueco en este mundo donde sus compañeros e incluso su mujer quieren sorberle hasta el tuétano de los huesos.

Veremos como hemos llegado a este punto, las batallas importantes que los últimos héroes tuvieron que librar contra maníacos homicidas caníbales tan singulares y poderosos como Hulk o La Cosa. Es un tomo bastante flojo en comparación con los anteriores y es precisamente la aparición del Dr. Muerte y su "solución" contra la plaga, lo que mas te saca de la historia. Saga en calidad descendente y que hubiera quedado muy bien tal y como fue al principio, es decir, una sola historia de Punisher a lo "Soy Leyenda".

[Robert Hookey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a single issue has been released so far, but this series is astonishing! By combining themes from Marvel Universe vs. Punisher and Marvel Universe vs. Wolverine with The currently ultra-hot Avengers, Maberry has given comic book fans an early Christmas present to revel in.

Hawkeye carries the story here and since his character began as a villain, it makes sense that he would be right at home slaying cannibals, even if they were once his friends and loved ones! Yes, this story is believable within the confines of the Marvel Universe, which has no confines, when you think of it!

At times Hawkeye appears to be the last man standing against plague-infected superheroes, who have been transformed into zombie-like marauders, and it works!

Boy does it ever...

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some stories do not need to be told - and this is one of them. After the cult hit MU vs. Punisher series, Marvel tries to recapture that magic with a look at the war that ravaged the cannibal survivors. Told by Hawkeye, we see Doom arrive to offer a cure. With NYC is ruins, heroes and villains falling to the infection, and no other options, the remaining Avengers agree to work with Doom. Despite seeming success, Hawkeye is not convinced - and discovers Doom has been infected all along. His brief struggle ends with Doom's defeat - and a cannibal Thor crushing the archer's head. Uninspired, cliche, and bland, this is one Marvel story that eats away at the faith of its readers.

[Silas · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a big mess that I somehow enjoyed perhaps even less than Marvel Zombies, which has a similar theme. At least in that one, the characters are dealing with having turned into zombies, which explains a bit why they are not acting like themselves. In this one, it is explained as characters losing their humanity as they have to do terrible things. Hawkeye as a point of view character for this book is just not very compelling, and it doesn't even seem like him from the get-go. About the only good thing is that some rarer characters at least show up for cameo appearances here, though they are mostly only there to die, which just doesn't make for an enjoyable reading experience.

[Beelzefuzz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The continuation of Marvel Universe vs. Wolverine, but given where that book left off, not really. This is an ultimately pointless episode in the saga if what we saw in the previous Wolverine feature is to be believed. Still fun, but could probably skip straight to Marvel Universe vs. Punisher.
The art is rushed and inconsistent in places. Someone has a necklace of heads and one looks an awful lot like Black Widow, but then she fights that person in several panels. Iron Man's neck decides to leave a couple of panels as well.

[Rafael Corvera burciaga · Rating 1 out of 5]

At first, the pace its good, if you read Marvel universe vs. wolverine before, you get a few hints from that story in here, to me it keeps a good pace in all 4 numbers, but the thing that ruined was the ending, i mean what the fuck man, why does Thor go and fucking blows up Hawkeye's head? and why not spiderman?, to set up the story for MU vs. The Punisher they made that crap, they don't even say why, that's why i gave it 1 star

[Trevor Osz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent mini-series in the Marvel Universe from the perspective of Hawkeye, who is starting to become my favorite of the Avengers. It tells the story of what happens when a new biochemical weapon is released and turns everyone into cannibals including many of the Marvel superheroes. Lots of death, and the ending was just fantastic. Definitely worth a read!

[Edu Dethklok · Rating 2 out of 5]

El último cómic de la trilogía "X Vs Universo Marvel" y de lejos el peor. Incongruencias que me hicieron pensar que era un universo distinto al de comics anteriores, un uso muy pobre de los personajes y escenas poco originales. Aún con todo no me arrepiento del todo de su compra, no tardas mucho en leerlo y no está mal como lectura muy ligera.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it right up to the end. Then, wtf?

[Felipe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some feels.