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West Coast Avengers (1984) #1-4
Avengers West Coast: Avengers Assemble
Collects West Coast Avengers (1984) #1-4, Iron Man Annual #7, and Avengers #250, plus material from Avengers #239, #243-244, & #246, and Avengers West Coast #100.
Earth's Mightiest Heroes head west! The bigger they are, the harder they hit - and the threats come big, bigger and biggest in this collection of the West Coast Avengers' early victories against Graviton, Goliath and Maelstrom! Featuring multiple Avengers from multiple rosters! And who was the West coast Avengers' real first recruit? Find out here!
Earth's Mightiest Heroes head west! The bigger they are, the harder they hit - and the threats come big, bigger and biggest in this collection of the West Coast Avengers' early victories against Graviton, Goliath and Maelstrom! Featuring multiple Avengers from multiple rosters! And who was the West coast Avengers' real first recruit? Find out here!
199 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
5 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Roger Stern
1,556 books111 followersRoger Stern is an American comic book author and novelist.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 5, 2022
This collects all of the material dealing with the forming of the West Coast Avengers before they got their own ongoing title. It's done quite nicely, only pulling out the pertinent pages of Avengers and then the West Coast Avengers miniseries. I like how tightly the books are tied together. Hawkeye is a good choice as the leader of the new team as well. It's also nice to see a different locale other then New York City. The expansion to Los Angeles is done well, giving the book its own flavor and different villains.
March 17, 2016
I have always loved reading the Avengers. Hawkeye has been one of my all time favorite characters since I was about 10 years old. So, naturally I was an instant fan of the West Coat Avengers when Marvel originally released the 4 issue limited series.
This collection includes the original 4 issue limited series, Iron Man Annual #7, Avengers #250, and snippets from previous Avengers issues that lead up to the formation of the West Coat Avengers.
The team that was put together was a fun mix of has-beens, also-rans, and replacements under the leadership of long time Avenger - Hawkeye. We have former Avengers (Wonder Man and Tigra), Hawkeye's new wife (Mockingbird), and the replacement Iron Man (James "Rhodey" Rhodes).
The pages are filled with lots of self-confidence issues, angst, trust problems, and no shortage of bungled heroics. Although I love the characters, I was never able to enjoy the flow of the story due to just how much drama focused on the team members having complete lack of faith in their abilities. I think this was a symptom of Roger Stern's writing at this stage of his career.
By the end of the mini-series the team began to gel and work well together. But then came the "grand finale" in Avengers #250. The West Coasters seemed to fill a very specific role as hired muscle and were not essential to the final defeat of the big bad villain. And the method of defeating the villain was so uninspired and unoriginal...it was actually the exact method used to defeat a villain in the pages of Fantastic Four only a few months before.
Over all, this was a fun, but only ok start up for a team comic. I am glad that Marvel decided later to bring them back on a more permanent basis. The ongoing series helped work out the problems and became a great comic. If you want to know how the Avengers first spin-off title came about...read this.
This collection includes the original 4 issue limited series, Iron Man Annual #7, Avengers #250, and snippets from previous Avengers issues that lead up to the formation of the West Coat Avengers.
The team that was put together was a fun mix of has-beens, also-rans, and replacements under the leadership of long time Avenger - Hawkeye. We have former Avengers (Wonder Man and Tigra), Hawkeye's new wife (Mockingbird), and the replacement Iron Man (James "Rhodey" Rhodes).
The pages are filled with lots of self-confidence issues, angst, trust problems, and no shortage of bungled heroics. Although I love the characters, I was never able to enjoy the flow of the story due to just how much drama focused on the team members having complete lack of faith in their abilities. I think this was a symptom of Roger Stern's writing at this stage of his career.
By the end of the mini-series the team began to gel and work well together. But then came the "grand finale" in Avengers #250. The West Coasters seemed to fill a very specific role as hired muscle and were not essential to the final defeat of the big bad villain. And the method of defeating the villain was so uninspired and unoriginal...it was actually the exact method used to defeat a villain in the pages of Fantastic Four only a few months before.
Over all, this was a fun, but only ok start up for a team comic. I am glad that Marvel decided later to bring them back on a more permanent basis. The ongoing series helped work out the problems and became a great comic. If you want to know how the Avengers first spin-off title came about...read this.
April 30, 2015
West Coast Avengers: Assemble starts out with pages collected from a few issues of the main Avengers title that saw Hawkeye charged with founding the West Coast Avengers and then followed Hawk and Mockingbird as they migrated west and began setting up the team.
The Limited Series established the new West Coast Avengers Compound, a sprawling oceanside estate. In short order, former members Tigra and Wonder Man, and replacement Iron Man Jim Rhodes, all joined. After a mishap with hero-masquerading-as-a-crimelord The Shroud, the team encountered odd villain The Blank and the return of classic Avengers villain Graviton, who gave the team its first real challenge. The Iron Man Annual saw the original, villainous Power Man transformed into the new, villainous Goliath. And the West Coast Avengers joined their East Coast counterparts for a fight against Maelstrom. The collection also included a back-up story from the 100th issue of Avengers West Coast that depicted the first visit of Hawkeye and Mockingbird to the future West Coast Avengers Compound.
Written by regular Avengers scribe Roger Stern, the West Coast Avengers LS saw the various members of the new team struggling with various insecurities. Hawkeye was eager to take on the leadership role, but worried that he wouldn’t live up to his role model, Captain America. Mockingbird tried to adjust to the transition from shadowy spycraft to high visibility team heroics. Tigra, Wonder Man and Iron Man all struggled with whether they were cut out for membership. It was a smart choice and gave the heroes a common concern that bound them and forged them into an effective team. Erstwhile Avengers artist Bob Hall handled the art chores with his usual style. The limited series was a winning introduction for the new team. After several additional appearances in other books, their popularity helped them graduate to their own ongoing title.
A version of this review originally appeared on www.thunderalleybcp.com
The Limited Series established the new West Coast Avengers Compound, a sprawling oceanside estate. In short order, former members Tigra and Wonder Man, and replacement Iron Man Jim Rhodes, all joined. After a mishap with hero-masquerading-as-a-crimelord The Shroud, the team encountered odd villain The Blank and the return of classic Avengers villain Graviton, who gave the team its first real challenge. The Iron Man Annual saw the original, villainous Power Man transformed into the new, villainous Goliath. And the West Coast Avengers joined their East Coast counterparts for a fight against Maelstrom. The collection also included a back-up story from the 100th issue of Avengers West Coast that depicted the first visit of Hawkeye and Mockingbird to the future West Coast Avengers Compound.
Written by regular Avengers scribe Roger Stern, the West Coast Avengers LS saw the various members of the new team struggling with various insecurities. Hawkeye was eager to take on the leadership role, but worried that he wouldn’t live up to his role model, Captain America. Mockingbird tried to adjust to the transition from shadowy spycraft to high visibility team heroics. Tigra, Wonder Man and Iron Man all struggled with whether they were cut out for membership. It was a smart choice and gave the heroes a common concern that bound them and forged them into an effective team. Erstwhile Avengers artist Bob Hall handled the art chores with his usual style. The limited series was a winning introduction for the new team. After several additional appearances in other books, their popularity helped them graduate to their own ongoing title.
A version of this review originally appeared on www.thunderalleybcp.com
February 12, 2015
In 1984, Marvel toyed with the idea of a West Coast branch of the Avengers, an idea the alleged House of Ideas stole from DC's Teen Titans, who had both an East and West coast branch very briefly during the late 70s. Anyway, what we have here is another Marvel team book with a roster of mostly B and C list heroes. Even Iron Man here is James Rhodes, not Tony Stark. Rounding out the cast is Tigra, Wonder Man, Hawkeye (ok, he's kind of an A lister), and Hawkeye's wife, Mockingbird (another Marvel swipe at DC -- Hawkeye/Green Arrow...Mockingbird/Black Canary). You have then-current Avengers Chairman The Vision popping up on screen being condescending to everyone, and then some rather ridiculous and lame bad guys: Graviton and the Ditko-esque The Blank.
The story basically revolves around two plots: one, the Blank and Graviton's attempts at controlling the west coast mob scene, and two, the ever-present whining of Tigra and Wonder Man and James Rhodes about whether they're up to being "true" Avengers. Heck, Rhodey doesn't even inform the team that he's not Tony Stark until the last issue here, although his skin color is evident in the eye-slits of his helmet and should have been rather obvious to long-time Avenger Hawkeye.
The art is pretty generic early 1980s stuff, and the shift from newsprint to glossier paper for the trade makes the colors very vibrant. Most of the dialog is pretty good, not dated, although there are the couple times when someone explains something and then says, "Oh, but you were there so you know that." Times sure have changed.
This four-issue miniseries was successful enough that the WCA graduated to their own monthly title sometime later, but there's nothing here to really recommend to anyone except Marvel completists.
The story basically revolves around two plots: one, the Blank and Graviton's attempts at controlling the west coast mob scene, and two, the ever-present whining of Tigra and Wonder Man and James Rhodes about whether they're up to being "true" Avengers. Heck, Rhodey doesn't even inform the team that he's not Tony Stark until the last issue here, although his skin color is evident in the eye-slits of his helmet and should have been rather obvious to long-time Avenger Hawkeye.
The art is pretty generic early 1980s stuff, and the shift from newsprint to glossier paper for the trade makes the colors very vibrant. Most of the dialog is pretty good, not dated, although there are the couple times when someone explains something and then says, "Oh, but you were there so you know that." Times sure have changed.
This four-issue miniseries was successful enough that the WCA graduated to their own monthly title sometime later, but there's nothing here to really recommend to anyone except Marvel completists.
January 16, 2020
Not exceptional, but enjoyable for what it is, A.K.A. minor characters forming their own Avengers line because reasons. Also, Tigra is clearly a Cheetah Knockoff with not as much deep characterization as Priscilla Rich (the first and best Cheetah ever), but she's sexy as hell so no complaints about that.
July 27, 2016
Reprints West Coast Avengers #1-4, Iron Man (1) Annual #7, Avengers (1) #243-244, 246, 250, and Avengers West Coast #100 (May 1984-November 1993). The world is getting dangerous and it needs heroes. When the Vision proposes a West Coast branch of their team, Hawkeye finds himself assigned to assemble and lead the new team. With his new wife Mockingbird, Tigra, Iron Man, and Wonder Man, the West Coast Avengers are born!
Written by Roger Stern, Bob Harras, and Roy Thomas, Avengers: West Coast Avengers—Assemble collects portions of the Avengers comics that led up to the creation of the West Coast Avengers, the original limited series, the team’s crossover with the Avengers, and a small portion of the Avengers West Coast’s final issue.
West Coast Avengers was around the time I was starting collecting. I distinctly remember seeing West Coast Avengers (Limited Series) #1 (September 1984) on the spinner at the drugstore (but I didn’t get it). New issues of West Coast Avengers peppered three packs of comics and childhood.
That is why I often have to give this series a pass. I find it really enjoyable though there really isn’t much special about the writing or stories. It is pretty standard fare comic book writing with loaded with melodrama. The collection is a bit strange with all the Avengers issue “portions”, but it still is a great way to see the series (especially since I never imagined it would be collected…at least in color).
What I always enjoyed about WCA was the characters. I am not a Hawkeye fan but he worked here and both Tigra and Wonder Man were top favorites. I’ve always found Iron Man a bore, but the Rhodey Iron Man from this volume is more interesting. The Avengers always dealt with the characters personal issues, but I feel West Coast Avengers was almost more about the angst than being superheroes…which was fun!
Avengers: West Coast Avengers—Assemble is a great read for fans of ’80s comics or comics in general. It shows the backbone of what comics used to be and where I wish comics could somehow return. The issues can be read by kids or adults and are good as stand-alone while also making you really want to get the next issue…something that many comics have forgotten. Avengers: West Coast Avengers—Assemble was followed by Avengers: West Coast Avengers—Family Ties.
Written by Roger Stern, Bob Harras, and Roy Thomas, Avengers: West Coast Avengers—Assemble collects portions of the Avengers comics that led up to the creation of the West Coast Avengers, the original limited series, the team’s crossover with the Avengers, and a small portion of the Avengers West Coast’s final issue.
West Coast Avengers was around the time I was starting collecting. I distinctly remember seeing West Coast Avengers (Limited Series) #1 (September 1984) on the spinner at the drugstore (but I didn’t get it). New issues of West Coast Avengers peppered three packs of comics and childhood.
That is why I often have to give this series a pass. I find it really enjoyable though there really isn’t much special about the writing or stories. It is pretty standard fare comic book writing with loaded with melodrama. The collection is a bit strange with all the Avengers issue “portions”, but it still is a great way to see the series (especially since I never imagined it would be collected…at least in color).
What I always enjoyed about WCA was the characters. I am not a Hawkeye fan but he worked here and both Tigra and Wonder Man were top favorites. I’ve always found Iron Man a bore, but the Rhodey Iron Man from this volume is more interesting. The Avengers always dealt with the characters personal issues, but I feel West Coast Avengers was almost more about the angst than being superheroes…which was fun!
Avengers: West Coast Avengers—Assemble is a great read for fans of ’80s comics or comics in general. It shows the backbone of what comics used to be and where I wish comics could somehow return. The issues can be read by kids or adults and are good as stand-alone while also making you really want to get the next issue…something that many comics have forgotten. Avengers: West Coast Avengers—Assemble was followed by Avengers: West Coast Avengers—Family Ties.
February 23, 2019
This book collects the four issues of the West Coast mini-series as well as Iron Man Annual #7, and snippets from Avengers comics that shows how the Avengers got started and we also get a team-up between West Coast and East Coast Avengers in Issue 250..
The mini-series begins with Hawkeye so incredibly eager to make the new West Coast Avengers work that he's assuming a yes from everyone: Iron Man, Wonder Man, and Tigra while having his wife Mockingbird on board.
Hawkeye is the best thing about this mini-series. The idea of the former villain and troublemaker on the original Avengers growing to actually be a leader.
Beyond that, the rest of the team is just kind of there, this is true of Mockingird in particular. The other three all have problems, but they are all a variation on the same problem: not knowing if they fit on the team. Iron Man has the most interesting one as no one seems to be able to tell that he's not the original despite having different voice and eyes. But they all kind of blended together.
The plot is a bit uneven. It starts in a pretty rough way in Issue #1 that's kind of an underwelming, but the story picks up a bit as Graviton emerges as the villain. Whie he's not an A-list villain, he definitely presents a challenged and I enjoyed the final issue.
Iron Man Annual #7 had an interesting idea as it brought back a has-been villain who had lost the right to use hos iold name of Power Man andtries to make a comeback as the new Goliath. It would have been a fine fight for Iron Man but I really question why two other Avengers were needed.
Avengers #250 is another merely okay issue, which is not okay because this is a milestone issue. The lowlight when Hawkeye makes his biggest primary ensuring West Coast Avengers are treated as equals, when saving the world seems like a bigger deal. Despite Hawkeye's concern, they are the guest stars and are treated as such. The big character stories are both about East Coast team members.
The excerpted material on events leading up to the formation of the West Coast team is okay, but none of it is particularly compelling, with the best bit being a flashback by Hawkeye after Mockingbird tied on how they got the headquarters.
Overall, this is okay, but not all that interesting unless you're a big fan of this team.
The mini-series begins with Hawkeye so incredibly eager to make the new West Coast Avengers work that he's assuming a yes from everyone: Iron Man, Wonder Man, and Tigra while having his wife Mockingbird on board.
Hawkeye is the best thing about this mini-series. The idea of the former villain and troublemaker on the original Avengers growing to actually be a leader.
Beyond that, the rest of the team is just kind of there, this is true of Mockingird in particular. The other three all have problems, but they are all a variation on the same problem: not knowing if they fit on the team. Iron Man has the most interesting one as no one seems to be able to tell that he's not the original despite having different voice and eyes. But they all kind of blended together.
The plot is a bit uneven. It starts in a pretty rough way in Issue #1 that's kind of an underwelming, but the story picks up a bit as Graviton emerges as the villain. Whie he's not an A-list villain, he definitely presents a challenged and I enjoyed the final issue.
Iron Man Annual #7 had an interesting idea as it brought back a has-been villain who had lost the right to use hos iold name of Power Man andtries to make a comeback as the new Goliath. It would have been a fine fight for Iron Man but I really question why two other Avengers were needed.
Avengers #250 is another merely okay issue, which is not okay because this is a milestone issue. The lowlight when Hawkeye makes his biggest primary ensuring West Coast Avengers are treated as equals, when saving the world seems like a bigger deal. Despite Hawkeye's concern, they are the guest stars and are treated as such. The big character stories are both about East Coast team members.
The excerpted material on events leading up to the formation of the West Coast team is okay, but none of it is particularly compelling, with the best bit being a flashback by Hawkeye after Mockingbird tied on how they got the headquarters.
Overall, this is okay, but not all that interesting unless you're a big fan of this team.
October 7, 2017
Nowadays everyone in Marvel is an Avenger, but back in the 80s, a spin-off book was a fresh idea. This trade collects both the West Coast Avengers first miniseries and supporting bits from the other Avengers issues that set the story up.
It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it is a fun story to see the team, led by Hawkeye come together and prove themselves as just as good as the other coast’s Avengers.
It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it is a fun story to see the team, led by Hawkeye come together and prove themselves as just as good as the other coast’s Avengers.
January 19, 2023
Kind of boring and hard to read in that way that old comics are but I felt obligated to read this as a west Coast resident. Just makes me wish the Kelly Thompson run was still going.
Also, it's funny that I read this the same week as Kitty Pryde and Wolverine because both of these books are happening at the same time as the Thor story where the world is covered in snow thanks to the cask of ancient winters. Cool to see how the whole marvel universe is interconnected.
Also, it's funny that I read this the same week as Kitty Pryde and Wolverine because both of these books are happening at the same time as the Thor story where the world is covered in snow thanks to the cask of ancient winters. Cool to see how the whole marvel universe is interconnected.
June 22, 2019
A fun book featuring interesting lesser known Avengers. The setting is neat, the characters make for an interesting dynamic, and it features some great B-list villains. Not a must-read but kind of refreshing to remember what the pre-movie Marvel universe was like. Also, this is the Hawkeye I wish was still in comics. That costume is a classic.
February 15, 2020
It's totally fine as this era of comics go. And I like comics that focus on B-listers, but this didn't go in any interesting places. It was just, like, an origin story of a team. Which is fine and all, but meh. Also Hawkeye is just kind of there as a main character.
March 26, 2016
A enjoyable read, though not really a stand out book. I think some people might be turned off by the team roster, which doesn't really consist of any A-list members, but I always like to read stories where the heroes have to struggle to win, so it didn't bother me. A team of Thor, Hulk, Silver Surfer, and Captain Marvel would be cool, but in terms of threats, there wouldn't be much they couldn't deal with. So, when your team consists of basically three regular, but still highly skilled, people, I think that's more fun to read. This was really shown when the team goes under cover in order to get the drop on a villain. They have to use strategy to win, not just punch there way though.
The art is what I think people would call serviceable. It isn't bad, but it isn't good. The parts with Joe Sinnott inking were an improvement, but I've always been a fan of his dark brush lines. There was also some neat inking effects on Wonder Man's shades that I thought were cool.
On the whole, not a bad read, but unless you just HAVE to know how the west coast branch got started, you don't really need to read it.
The art is what I think people would call serviceable. It isn't bad, but it isn't good. The parts with Joe Sinnott inking were an improvement, but I've always been a fan of his dark brush lines. There was also some neat inking effects on Wonder Man's shades that I thought were cool.
On the whole, not a bad read, but unless you just HAVE to know how the west coast branch got started, you don't really need to read it.
July 2, 2024
I bought the first issue of the mini-series when it came out, but either didn't buy or don't remember reading the rest. It's possible that I didn't pick the series up on a regular basis until they relaunched it as an ongoing in 1985. In any case, this is a solid read about a not so solid team. I loathe Hawkeye, as he is one of the lamest and unlikable characters in the Marvel Universe. His team of Avengers is strictly second tier: Mockingbird, Iron Man (the Jim Rhodes '80s replacement...you kids know him as War Machine), Tigra, and Wonder Man. I kind of like the underdog aspect of this team, and am looking forward to the next hardcover, which is due out in May. That run was a ton of fun back in the day.
I love these Marvel Premiere Classic hardcovers, as they cover material which will likely never get Masterwork-ed in a nice package. Hardcover, nice paper, sewn binding, all of the sweet spots are hit. They are a bit lower in page count than a Masterwork volume, but they are also significantly cheaper than a Masterworks volume.
I love these Marvel Premiere Classic hardcovers, as they cover material which will likely never get Masterwork-ed in a nice package. Hardcover, nice paper, sewn binding, all of the sweet spots are hit. They are a bit lower in page count than a Masterwork volume, but they are also significantly cheaper than a Masterworks volume.
March 8, 2014
Le storie della nascita dei West Coast Avengers, con la loro mini di 4 ed altre apparizioni.
Una bella rimpatriata nella produzione fumettistica di secondo piano degli anni '80, che resta comunque superiore a quella di serie A degli ultimi 20 anni.
Una bella rimpatriata nella produzione fumettistica di secondo piano degli anni '80, che resta comunque superiore a quella di serie A degli ultimi 20 anni.
May 16, 2017
I haven't read these stories since they were first published. They hold up fairly well. Don't expect anything groundbreaking or original and you'll enjoy them.
September 25, 2013
Not bad. I really love Hawkeye. I want to read more with Wonderman he seems like a fun character. Same with Rhodey in the Iron Man suit. There's a lot going on in here that seems interesting.
April 29, 2015
The Avengers started a West Coast Division in the 90s, and this mini-series started it off.
November 11, 2016
Hawkeye, the Avenger's top recruiter! Also bummed that Bobbi got written out of Agents of SHIELD now.
March 16, 2015
An entertaining look at an iconic team.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews