Avengers (1963-1996) #2

Avengers (1963)

by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby (Artist), Paul Reinman (Inker)

The Space Phantom seeks to create distrust and paranoia between the Avengers, which threatens to destroy the team from within. Brought to you by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby!

Genres: Comics, Marvel

23 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 2, 1963

About the author

Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.

With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.

Reviews

[Kemper · Rating 3 out of 5]

We’re only in the second issue and already Hank Pym has shifted from Ant-Man to Giant-Man, and the Hulk has quit. Things move fast in these early Marvel comics!

An alien creep named the Space Phantom comes to Earth, and starts immediately causing trouble by using his power to imitate someone while sending the original into some kind of limbo. The catch is he can only do one at a time and the other person gets returned which is kind of an interesting twist on the ole shapeshifter thing.

More ‘60s fun with Kirby and Lee.

Random observations:
• I don’t blame Hulk for quitting because all the other Avengers are real jerks to him.
• Wasp continues to be boy crazy.
• It already seems ridiculous that nobody figures out that Tony Stark is Iron Man or that Dr. Donald Blake is Thor.

Previous Issue: Avengers #1

Next Issue: Avengers #3

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really think the Space Phantom is just a Skrull 'retread'. Of all the early Avenger issues this is my least favorite; nothing really bad/good about it - the real story here is the foundational distrust that will color Hulk/Avenger encounters in the future. Issue #3 adds to that 'fissure' that will widen over the years. So for me the most interesting part of this story is what type of relationship would Avenger/Hulk encounters have taken if trust had been given time to grow?

[Tiag⊗ the Mutant · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the Avengers were formed, and on the next day there's already a dude flying from space to take them out, storywise this is kinda lame if you think about it, but this was the sixties, and honestly, it was fun to read, I liked the concept of limbo here.

[Mars Fargo · Rating 4 out of 5]

AVENGERS #1-10, JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #103 (The Avengers' First Arc)
*Note: A nifty READING ORDER has been provided at the end of this review

Essentially, this series serves as a transition point between storylines; Here, Stan Lee
brings together EXISTING character arcs from 5 separate comic books and wraps them all up nicely...
while also setting up NEW character arcs for 5 separate comic books. Thus, effectively transitioning all the characters from one point to another, it works as a truly character driven narrative.

What's really interesting is what occurs around issue 4 of the storyline... which even non-readers almost universally know already, but I won't dare spoil it. It involves something of a huge achievement for comic book history, and a milestone moment in the careers of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. It's a story that returns to the root of both their careers, providing a touching full-circle storyline for the character in question affected by what happens. Through this character, it also introduces the ongoing story-arc for these first 10 issues...

...Which is the introduction of "The Masters of Evil!" Essentially, they are the anti-Avengers; if the Avengers are the major heroes from the 5 separate comic books, the Masters of Evil are the major villains from each of the 5 separate comic books. Stan Lee actually took a major villain from each Superheroes storyline, and brought them together here. It provides an interesting philosophical contrast between the two teams, the battle between the heroes and villains providing a nice metaphor of the battle between good and evil.

In fact, that's essentially the thematic purpose of this comic book in general; a meta-commentary on superheroes and super-villains, using them to explore the deeper philosophical notions of good and evil, especially when the heroes are as morally grey as the villains are. Highly recommended.

READING ORDER:
-The Avengers #1
-The Avengers #2
-The Avengers #3
-The Avengers #4
-Journey Into Mystery #103
-The Avengers #5
-The Avengers #6
-The Avengers #7
-The Avengers #8
-The Avengers #9
-The Avengers #10

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was less female centric remarks (because there was less time devoted to the only female character). It honestly reads like the avengers are 5 years old though. Next issue- Avengers: kiddie daycare, so much avenging

[James Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Space Phantom challenges the Avengers. Ant-Man becomes Giant-Man.

[Hades Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting villain, Hank Pym being a jerk, his girlfriend wanting to cuck him with Thor. What more can you ask for? Also Stan Lee still doesn't know how transistors work.

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun idk, limbo seems like such an interesting concept. I want to see more of it. still too wordy and omg wasp can you chill for one second like come on. i think they were like "what character traits should we give the only woman on the avengers" and someone else said "oh i know! horny!" and then they all went with it. i mean it is funny though so i guess who cares lol

[Beta_Critic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanda in AoU= Space phantom

[Mariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

¿Y nadie sospechaba que Don era la identidad secreta de Thor y Tony Stark era Iron Man (¿a pesar de que las reuniones de los Avengers ERAN EN LA MANSIÓN DE TONY STARK?). Mjm. Y Jan tiene un problema, eh.

Muy entretenido, mejor que el número anterior.