Avengers World, Vol. 2: Ascension

Avengers World (Collected Editions)

by Nick Spencer, Al Ewing, Marco Checchetto (Illustrator)

A rising superpower answers the call in the face of an ancient evil. The City of the Dead prepares to rise. A.I.M. Empire makes its stand. In one catastrophic moment, an Avengers World world erupts into flames. The Uprising begins!

Collecting: Avengers World 6-9, Avengers 34.1

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Ebooks

136 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Nick Spencer is a comic book writer known for his creator-owned titles at Image Comics (Existence 2.0/3.0, Forgetless, Shuddertown, Morning Glories), his work at DC Comics (Action Comics, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), and for his current work at Marvel Comics (Iron Man 2.0, Ultimate Comics: X-Men).

Reviews

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another fun read!

We have multiple POVs like whatever is going through Hyperions head as his team comes up on AIM Island there they fight AIM people and something with Dr Forson, the next being FALCON and him meeting up SPEAR, China's SHIELD and what they have been upto and sam teaming up with the people there and another focus on City of the dead and us seeing whats happening there with Hawkeye and Spider-woman and its fun and well they meet another team and the story points feel so similar and gets a bit too much to try to keep up with and that thing was what I didn't like.

Beside there is something with Bobby and Sam travelling to the future and its a fun face off with Aliens and then task master and someone decides to show up plus we also see whatever is going on with Hyperion before all this as he saves a child and fights the Mauler and its a fun story, a character piece basically about Hyperion and his role in this new world and I love how Ewing writes it, he gets the character so well, just amazing stuff!

Its a great volume and has character moments for multiple of them and I love the aspect but too many threats at once and the story being spread in all directions and unless you have read all the volumes, it can be hard to keep up with but they are surely building to something bigger and I am excited to read that!

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still trudges along as dull and absent of exciting spark.

I mean, guys like Hyperion *look* cool:

(Hype blasting with his eyes)

...but his inner turmoil ain't nothing I haven't read before.

​
The one exception to the mediocrity is Al Ewing's .1 issue of Avengers, focusing on the inner life of Hyperion. Superman types are hard to write (hard to relate to), and Al is one of those great writers who can see (and elegantly write) a vulnerable-invulnerable hero. He goes a little philosophical (not Neil Gaiman self-wanking level), gives us a glimpse behind the curtain to someone burdened by terrible self-awareness.


Falcon going off for a little solo adventures feels pretty boring...and then wham! Damned if someone didn't come up with a very cool new concept in superheroing! China fielding a super team (the Ascendants) and a security organization (SPEAR). Of *course* modern China in the 616 would do this, be there. Why not? They're as much a superpower as any major nation-state. This feels WAAAAY overdue, and I can't wait to see how the rest of SHIELD, SWORD, Avengers etc deal with this.

Pretty amazing really that the rest of Hickman's run didn't spoil this nice surprise. Very fucking cool.

And Bobby and Sam's adventures in the future were a lot of fun - Spencer really turned up the humour quotient on that issue (nice to see that Spencer back after all the super-serious mechanics until that point).

There's not much point in me reviewing/shitting-on this book any further though - I'm following the Comic Herald official reading order for Secret Wars, and damned if I'm going to stop before I get to the recommended issues, no matter how inconsequential this storyline is.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving this title. It's a nice respite from the cosmic, twisty craziness of the Hickman and Remender books. I'm not too familiar with Nick Spencer but he seems to doing something pretty great here; weaving multiple plot threads, building a longer arc. Love, love, love this new alt Hyperion. I hope he sticks around as an Avenger for some time. A bit too many artists give the collection it's only weakness.

[Fizzgig76 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reprints Avengers World #6-9 and Avengers (4) #34.1 (July 2014-October 2014).  The A.I.M. Empire is growing in power and the combined efforts of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers seem unable to stop it.  Meanwhile in Madripoor, a great dragon has risen from the sea, and it might mean Falcon will be forced to make an alliance with unlikely allies to stop it from destroying China.  The Black Knight joins the Avengers in his quest to stop Morgan Le Fay and her army of the undead while Cannonball and Sunspot jet to the future to try to change the present…with the help of Jocasta.  Plus, Hyperion takes on a kidnapping and questions his role in the future of Earth.

Written by Nick Spencer (Avengers World #6-9) and Al Ewing (Avengers #34.1), Avengers World Volume 2:  Ascension is the follow-up to Avengers World Volume 1:  A.I.M.pire.  The collection features art by Marco Chechetto and Stefano Caselli (Avengers World #6-9) and Dale Keown (Avengers #34.1).

On paper, Avengers World seems like a good thing.  The Avengers are massive and sprawling and there are crisis all around the world.  Unlike Justice League of America, the Avengers were never officially tied “to America” and taking on Earth’s problems at a global scale seems natural.  Unfortunately, Avengers World takes on too much (just like the Avengers).

The slight problem with the first volume was that it felt incomplete.  The comic book companies have groomed readers to expect six-issue arcs (progressively falling to five or four now), but Avengers World 1:  A.I.M.pire had a story with no sense of an ending.  I thought Avengers World 2:  Ascension would maybe end the storyline…it doesn’t.  Reader must be hooked quickly and trades must be put out fast, but it feels like Avengers World should have held off for a bigger collection that finished at least one or two of the storylines.

Despite the multiple stories, the stories are pretty flimsy on an individual story level.  When you think about what happened in each issue, you realize that not much happened nor did much time pass.  It feels a bit fluffy and undercooked in that sense.  I feel like the story needs more substance.

It also is strange that the collection features the random Avengers issue.  While it isn’t the worst issue, it doesn’t really add much to the story other than showing Hyperion’s mindset, but he has his own solo issue in Avengers World #6.  It feels like it would have been better included in an actual Avengers collection and that it was tacked on here to fatten up the collection which is slim.  It also feels like set-up for Hyperion’s spin-off series which occurred in 2016.

Avengers World continues to underwhelm with this volume.  There is a lot of talent and a lot of characters behind the series, but it doesn’t feel like it has much heart.  It feels like it exists simply to have another Avengers title and with the both The Avengers and Avengers World lacking the “family” feel I like in a team book, it makes them not as much fun to read.  Avengers World 2:  Ascension is followed by Avengers World 3:  Next World.

[Adam Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

The shifting nature of this title can be a bit much. There are three major storylines, and some side quests in every volume. Each issue within the volume is dedicated to one of the storylines, so you don't get a smooth look into what's happening in the title, you have to get one chunk at a time, and none of the stories resolve within the volume. It's not great.

But the stories, at least, are interesting, and easier to follow than what's going on in Hickman's Avengers and New Avengers books during this period. You have defined characters, fairly small objectives, and a bit of action. And nobody has to stop and explain what the universal ramifications of each action is.

If you enjoy small scale team books by Marvel, I think this series is a good one as a whole, but I certainly wouldn't recommend just reading a single volume of them.

I've included this as part of the HIckman run, even though Hickman didn't write it, because it is running parallel to his story, and he did outline the first volume, and reallys et up these characters journeys.

[Brandon Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continues to be solid. The series bounces back and forth between the storylines that the first trade set up. Some of the newer, lesser known characters of the main roster are given the spotlight in these stories. Casselli continues to do amazing work, and Checcetto is about as good of a fill in artist as you could ask for. I miss Frank Martins colors, but the ones here get the job done. The last story, Avengers 34.1 by Al Ewing is a great little Hyperion story.

[Nuno Gil Franco · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really liking the way that Spencer is pacing this thing. He is taking his time, showcasing an Avenger per issue, building up the threats along the way towards the inevitable win for the good guys. It kinda reminds me of the Legion of Super-Heroes under Levitz, but in a more separate way, mind you.

[Patrick Najjar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Avengers title currently in publication (which is saying a lot since it's competing with Hickman's fantastic runs on Avengers and New Avengers).

[Krzysztof Grabowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lubię szczerość, zwłaszcza wtedy kiedy tytuł nie oszukuje nas, że jest czymś więcej niżeli jest. I Avengers World tego nie robi. To czyste pranie się po mordach, z małymi przerywnikami na chwilę zadumy, jak to widać tu na przykładzie Hyperiona.

Drugi tom bezpośrednio kontynuuje wątki z poprzednika, poświęcając po jednym zeszycie każdej z działających tu grup. Tak Cannonball działa z Sunspotem, a gdzie indziej Hyperion, Thor i Captain Marvel biorą na cel A.I.M. już bardziej dosadniej. Jeszcze gdzieś indziej Falcon odkrywa istnienie chińskiego odpowiednika S.H.I.E.L.D., w tym przypadku S.P.E.A.R. Na grzbiecie wielgachnego smoka bije się Shang-Chi, a gdzieś we Włoszech bodajże Hawkeye i spółka próbują powstrzymać pewną czarodziejkę.

Na dodatek Spencer wprowadza tu jeszcze więcej grup i podgrupek bohaterskich, namnażając ilość bohaterów na metr sześcienny do horrendalnej liczby. Niemniej nadal nieźle się to spina, dając nam festiwal różnorodnych potyczek. A jednocześnie mamy chwilę na oddech, kiedy Hyperion poluje na przestępcę, który porwał czyjeś dziecko, po to aby zastąpić nim swojego zmarłego synka. Jest to smutna historia, warta odnotowania.

Całość do tego wygląda naprawdę porządnie i mimo, że to nie jest jakieś działo sztuki to przyjemnie wpływa na odbiór "ostrością" kreski. Mi się drugi tom podobał, głównie z racji dobrego tempa historii. Szkoda, że dalej już nie jest tak różowo.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last volume ended on a "to be conitinued" and this volume ended on a "to be continued" of the same adventure. If they're going to do a big story, I'd have preferred they collect it into one big volume.

The Avengers are fighting a three-front battle in China, Europe and AIM island in the Atlantic Ocean. Each issue focusses on a different character. Mostly it's just them moving through the battle, but we actually get some character development on Hyperion. As an X-Men fan, it bugs me that Cannonball and Sunspot are just irresponsible goofball-types. They've been superheroing for years in comic book time, decades in real-world time. I don't understand why they were added to the Avengers if neither their skillset or experience is going to be utilized.

The art was good and told the story well.

This was fine but not complete. It's like rating one segment of a TV show between commercials.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this comic we learn more about Hyperion,the alien superhero,who was pulled from the nothingness by AIM.We see him find hope and purpose in this new world,and becoming determined not to lose it like his previous one.

We see the Avengers getting tossed to the ether by Smasher,who is being influenced by AIM.In Italy,a different Avengers team has to battle Morgan le Fey and her designs to take over the world by an army of undead.

Not a really overwhelming comic,but it had its good moments,like when two Avengers went to the future to see how AIM advanced so fast,and encountered the children of the first Avengers.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick Spencer clearly misses Jonathan Hickman's presence here. The pacing is off and way too many characters are introduced. Sam and Bobby are portrayed like high school aged idiots and that's a shame. The book still doesn't collect an entire arc and its unfortunate. Checchetto's art is glorious. The book is far from terrible but deserves to be better. Overall, a decent read but too many flaws.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Avengers continue their investigation into the worlds problems. This does feel bitty as the narrative jumps from group to group. AIM is still trying to take over and so is a magical being. We are introduced to the Europe Avengers. An ok read.

[Diego Zamudio · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Realized I don’t like how Spencer writes.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfectly fine superhero book, I like the Hyperion special.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still not a lot in the way of resolution, although like many other reviewers I liked the Hyperion special.

[Jdetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its not really fair to break the first 15 or so issues into different trades, as they very much one story. My feelings are the same as for the first trade of the series.

[Joe Colistro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slows down a bit after volume one, but feels like it's building to something good.

[Thomas Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The middle chapter of what feels like a larger arc.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collects Avengers World issues #6-9 and Avengers (2012) issues #34.1

Nick Spencer is one of my favorite comic writers. I am a big fan of Jonathan Hickman’s incarnation of the Avengers. With those two things going for it, I should really like this book. But for some reason, I feel like something is lacking. I think it is that the story is too scattered. Perhaps something more focused would be a better, more enjoyable read.

The best issue in this collection dealt with Sunspot, Cannonball, and time travel. In some ways, this issue felt like a tie-in to Spencer’s other title, “Secret Avengers.”

I also kind of liked an issue featuring more background on Hyperion.

This collection featured the introduction of two international teams of superheroes.

First, in the wake of "Infinity," China has decided they need their own team of powered people. They now have their equivalent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers, there called S.P.E.A.R. and the Ascendant. The Ascendant is made up of:

-Weather Witch
-Saber
-Vector
-Devastator
-Sun Wukong, The Monkey King

Meanwhile, Europe also has a new team of heroes called EuroForce. This team is made up of:

-Black Knight
-Tumult
-Sliver
-Tiger
-Swordswoman
-Mikhail Zammorsk, The Baby Killer (For clarification, he has the mind of a 60-year old man, trapped in the body of a young boy, thus he is a killer who, compared to his teammates, is a baby. He is not a killer of babies.)

[Sketching Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this collection, but I didn't love it. It felt like little snapshots of different stories, started in the middle, and none of them really reached a conclusion - apart from the last one. The last story I completely loved. I got to know Hyperion's character, his history, and what he's struggling with today. It felt a really satisfying story that had me completely engrossed. I would have given this story 5 stars on it's own, but for the previous samples of stories in the rest of the book before it. It is so frustrating to read a snippet of a story, and not to find where it will lead. These stories may be continued in the next volume of Avengers World, but I haven't read them so I don't know. It is annoying for me for them to serialise the stories through graphic novels, when I would prefer them to collect the parts of one story and put them together in consecutive order for the graphic novels - don't leave me hanging! And especially don't leave me hanging several time throughout the graphic novel. Great artwork though, especially on the last but one story, coolest looking aliens and such a variety of types in each frame. Loved that!

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though Nick Spencer takes over as the solo writer of this series, it still feels pretty much like it did with Jonathan Hickman was co-authoring in the first volume. If there are issues with what was a pretty great debut, they're structural ones, that were there from the start.

In large part, that's because this comic continues to be a bad serial. It is so multithreaded that it's taking over a year to tell the core plot, with individual plotlines only being advanced every 3 months.

Despite that, it's a good story. The threading allows each individual storyline to get a lot of individual attention and characterization, and the result is very unique in the comics world. So, I forgive it its flaws, but it'll be better when it's complete.

I also loved the Al Ewing Hyperion story that was stuck in this volume.

[Anchorpete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hickman’s run on avengers was legendary. An epic story filled with Concepts that stretched the imagination. There was always this sense of wonder at the big picture Hickman was painting, while still staying true to the many avengers that he was incorporating into the story. I think most people would think the story was contained within New Avengers and Avengers, but it turns out, a major part of the story, possibly an even more intriguing part of the story, was being told in Avengers world. It almost seems like every single big concept Hickman threw into Avengers, he gave to Nick Spencer to Elaborate on. Spencer, being one of my favorite comic book writers, is perfect for the task. This might be the most exciting hidden gem of a superhero book I will find this year.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read in an age where most Avengers titles are overdone and light on action.

There are big menaces popping up across the world and so the Avengers send numerous teams to deal with them. They are helped out by the hero teams of several other countries.

Big menaces that require the heroes to break a sweat. Magic dragons, mad scientists, time travel and a city full of ghosts.
Lots of jumping back and forth between missions and spotlights on a lot of different heroes, who deserve their time in the spotlight.

Wasn't thrilled with the time travel arc, but otherwise a fun read, where the Avengers are too busy being superheroes to stand around and talk a lot.

Good stuff.

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the cover would indicate, we have a new creative team in this collection, and it focuses in large part on Hyperion, who (before the Sentry) was a none-too-subtle Marvel version of Superman from "another dimension" where the big team was called the Squadron Supreme. Their universe was wiped out (I don't know if that's meant to be part of the this Summer's big event or not) and Hyperion was brought into the 616. It's a talky philosophy class of a comic book collection, with - once again - the big battles as a backdrop to the smaller, more personal stories unfolding. If anything, the writing got cleaner with Nick Spencer, so I enjoyed that, too.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of an introductory book, but the story is a bit shuffled about. The intro to the China team and the Europe team were find. And the Bobby and Sam story bit was fine, if not all that special. The last story introducing us to Hyperion, last person alive from a different world was actually pretty good. A kidnapping/superhero story, but a quite small one but pretty well done. But all in all this book was just okay. 3.5 of 5.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a bit more than the first volume. Maybe it's because the premises of the stories have already been laid down? I didn't find it too hard to keep up with the details this time around but then again, I also read this as an entire volume as opposed to the single issues that were compiled in Vol. 1. The plots are starting to pick up, most of them in ways that I'm enjoying. Looking forward to the next volume.

[Jordan Lahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's somewhat frustrating not getting any resolution to any of the three ongoing crises at the end of each collection, but I suspect that will just make the eventual resolution even more satisfying. Just have to be patient...

In the meanwhile, it's lots of fun giving these various teams of Avengers time to shine!

[Sineala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. The individual stories here kind of wandered all over the place; it started getting good towards the end, with Sunspot and Cannonball in the future, and then SHIELD and the Avengers actually working together to take on AIM.

Definitely not as good as the main Avengers/New Avengers run, though, and probably skippable.

[Clare Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally got my hands on this one! It took a good long while for it to show up at my library. This series is literally bananas. I really enjoy all of the different storylines going on, and it's getting me excited that they're going to connect somehow... :D

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first, but if I find the 3rd volume I will certainly continue!