Avengers: Standoff

Avengers (1998) (New Editions) #7

by Geoff Johns, Dan Jurgens, Mike Grell

Answering the Avengers' call to action, Thor also must respond to his worshippers as he battles Doctor Doom.

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

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Geoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s in search of work within the film industry. Through perseverance, Geoff ended up as the assistant to Richard Donner, working on Conspiracy Theory and Lethal Weapon 4. During that time, he also began his comics career writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. and JSA (co-written with David S. Goyer) for DC Comics. He worked with Richard Donner for four years, leaving the company to pursue writing full-time.

His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.

Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.

Reviews

[Nicolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume completes the Geoff Johns Avengers hardcover I've been collecting over the years. I didn't want to pony up for a pricey omnibus and I figured I would save more building my collection from discount bins and bargain bookstores and I was right.

This wasn't a bad story line but having Thor quit the Avengers and making it a crossover between three titles seemed forced, but it does give a sense of how Thor and Tony developed bad blood over the years that lead to cloning "Clor" in the Civil War. The two have since mended their fences but Tony Stark weaponizing Asgardian relics wasn't really a novel idea when Mark Millar did it. Johns beat him to the punch.

[Ivaelo Slavov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ако бях проследил цялата история на Джоунс може би нямаше да ми допадне толкова, но за тези 5 броя успяха да ме накарат да симпатизирам на голяма част от героите.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This isn't a good example of Johns at his best. The story about Iron Man and Thor is sort of passable, but it the cheese level got pretty high at times. Captain America kind of got thrown in there at the end as the voice of reason, but his being there just felt weird and forced. In fact, the same thing could be said of the entire battle between those two. There wasn't enough...something.
My advice would be to skip it and move on to Bendis' Avengers. It isn't awful, but there's definitely better reading material out there.

[Sud666 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am very used to seeing Geoff johns work in DC and am a big fan. So when I saw that he had written some Avengers books, I decided to check them out. Avengers Standoff is an interesting tale and I am actually torn. Part of me likes this enough to give it three stars, though if I could be more accurate it's more of a 2.5
At some point around 2003, it seems that Thor had taken over the throne of Asgard because Odin left. Ok. I honestly can say, I have no idea. But that's what's happened. It is with this in behind we have the events of Standoff. In a country called Solovokia, next door to Doom's Latveria, a dictator is murdering his people. But, these people have been praying to Thor. Thor answers their prayers by sending the Warriors three to deal with the murderous soldiers- but the involvement of the gods in human affairs has consequences. It draws in the US and Russian governments and looks like a world war might break out. So Iron man is sent to calm things down. He goes to Asgard and tries to talk Thor out of it-fails and Thor goes to Solovokia himself. Iron Man admits to not being able to defeat Thor, especially now that he is more powerful as Asgard's King. Iron Man gets some ideas from Dr. Doom about using some of Thor's magical powers on a super-suit that he has designed and decides to confront Thor. Captain America also tries to intervene. With a surprise twist from Dr. Doom...this story ends with Thor leaving the Avengers.
Now I fully admit I am very unfamiliar with this time during the Avengers storyline. While the events seems strange, this book never really rises to its potential. Some of the dialogue is lazy like Capt America saying "Don't be a armchair general" to a 3 star in the battlefield. Um Cap (or in reality Mr. Johns-thats NOT what an armchair general means) and some parts are just too contrived- why is Iron Man acting so stupid? Why is Thor just rampaging around? I don't know...however some parts of the story are quite decent. The fight between Thor and Iron Man and Cap is not bad and the art is good. This was a significant improvement over the last Johns Avengers story I read so maybe I am overrating it. But..3 stars is fine...just seems Johns could have done a better job with this whole story. The whole thing (the conflict) seems contrived and truth be told this just isn't the best Avengers writing out there. Maybe I'm just so used to the quality of the Bendis run. I'm disappointed I'm expecting more from Johns.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avengers standoff is full of plots twists, heroics, character development, daring to, three-dimensional characters, grand standing, rib breaking humour, mythology, adventure and action! Crisp high five brilliant and highly recommended! Get it when you can! :D

[Alondra (Chibi) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Como ya he dicho: esta semana la obsesión con Marvel, específicamente con los Vengadores, ha estado muy presente en mi vida.

El enfrentamiento es uno de los cómics que más he disfrutado, todo es tan intenso que me encantó.

La historia nos lleva a través de la vida de los Avengers tan queridos, empezamos sabiendo que ahora son una embajada y representantes de la ONU, siendo esto un gran problema para EEUU porque no tienen que rendirles cuentas a ellos. El conflicto empieza de inmediato. Aunque no es la trama principal si es un punto importante para la historia, ya que tenemos distintos países con guerras internas en las cuáles nadie puede intervenir, o todos quieren hacerlo.

Principalmente la historia nos muestra los grandes retos que ha tenido que tomar Thor, con Asgard sobre Nueva York y con Odín muerto ha tenido que tomar el trono y está deseoso por enorgullecer a su padre a toda costa.

Debo admitir que Thor me dio mucha rabia, tomaba decisiones poniendo sus creencias sobre las otras, pensaba solo en las personas que lo seguían pero dejaba de lado a muchas otras. Pero se lo perdono porque así soy jajaja.

Una participación importante es la de Iron Man, y tampoco me gustaron muchas de sus actitudes. Tony Stark tenía sus propias y sus propios "jefes", así que tampoco tomó las decisiones más sensatas.

Entre ambos se provoca un conflicto que termina con muchos "wow" de mi parte.

Me gustó que también retrocedieran a los inicios de algunos Avengers con pequeños resúmenes, fue lindo conocer cómo inició esta fuerza de superhéroes. La historia me mantuvo muy enganchada todo el tiempo y el corazón aún me duele por cierto personaje que no tiene un final tan feliz.

Creo que me estoy oxidando en esto de las reseñas, pero solo voy a decirles que tienen que leer esta historia de un dios del trueno muy maduro y destruído.

[Hristo Simeonov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Десети брой на "Върховната колекция на Марвъл". Ако се не лъжа, втора история за "Отмъстителите"/"Avengers". Този комикс обаче ( колекция ? ) не ми допадна колкото предните няколко броя. Стори ми се прекалено разпилян. Да ви призная честно, историята за Валето Купа не я разбрах. Вероятно познанията ми за Марвъл вселената по тази ос са бегли, признавам си. Но самата история беше като кръпка в основната "сюжетна арка". Която сама по себе си не беше лоша...макар и да не ми звучеше много правдоподобно. Но пък това е комикс за супергерои. Какви ги говоря и аз.
Та оставам този път със смесени чувства. Но пък следващия брой, под номер 11, ще е за СКАНДАЛНИЯТ Дедпул. Дето се вика - нямам търпение !

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a weird book.

I'm not sure why anyone would think it a good idea to declare the Avengers as a sovereign power and the Mansion treated as an embassy. And of course, the very first big story involves the likes of Thor getting involved in an international incident that could lead to war. Throw in the random element of this being set in a nation on the border of Latveria and we have Doom getting involved in a weird situation.

The whole story is more than a bit silly, especially with Thor being here because he was trying to answer the prayers of a group of people who have opted to keep up with worshiping him as some very palpable divine savior.

I hope this all goes somewhere interesting.

[Andres Castro · Rating 3 out of 5]

La antesala al evento de Avengers dissamble, está historia sirve para entender porque no está Thor, o quién era Jack de corazones, el cómic se enfoca en dos historias, la primera y conclusión en Jack de corazones y el segundo Antman ( Scott Lang) y por la segunda que en si es la importante en el tomo es el conflicto entre Thor y Iron Man de hecho en esta historia nos muestra si es más poderoso el escudo del capitán América o el martillo de Thor y por esa premisa es interesante leer esta historia, si están coleccionando los tomos de Salvat en realidad es un tomo de complemento pero no lo considero como una de las mejores historias para entrar a esta colección.

[Kris Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marvel has been reissuing the long out of print Geoff Johns Avengers trade paperbacks as hardcovers. This particular arc was never collected during that initial run. I wish that Marvel's trade paperback program was as comprehensive back then as it is now, as those 5 trades would've made more sense had I read these issues. This is good, solid stuff overall.

[Eddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are stories I have not read due to me and Marvel breaking up. I blame Comixology for making me get back together, I mean .99 cents. I am a Johns fan the story is good but he has more in-depth stories over at DC. But I am sure that's me.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first and last of the three stories really let this book down for me. The main story, however involving Stark, Thor & Doom, was really well written. I'd have rather that bit been longer, and the other stories been scrapped.

[Will Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tie in with currently running Thor who is acting like God on Earth.

[Brannigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice bridging story.

[Iamsimplybooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ако бях проследил цялата история на Джоунс може би нямаше да ми допадне толкова, но за тези 5 броя успяха да ме накарат да симпатизирам на голяма част от героите.

[Kurt Rocourt · Rating 3 out of 5]

That's decent in my opinion. It's apart of Johns run on Avengers but by itself you miss out on the full context of the story. The many times the King Thor story has been used all follow the template that started around this era. So, the stories since all fall short of this eras. The rest is just decent.

[Benjamin Kimble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues some plot threads with Ant-Man and Jack of Hearts from the first Geoff Johns book in an issue beautifully drawn by the amazing Gary Frank. Then it went into a fun little crossover with Thor and Iron Man with Dan Jurgens and Mike Grell writing the respective issues. Asgard is on Earth and Thor is starting to overstep. The Avengers now having a more global scope are called in to stop him. They do battle and it’s a good little display of ideological differences between the members. Alan Davis drew the crossover and he did a good job at it. Then we went back to Johns on Avengers giving us an issue focused solely on Falcon in which the next story arc is set up. I think Johns writes Falcon very well so having an issue just in his head was really fun for me. Ivan Reis did the art for the last issue and he made Falcon really look like one of earths mightiest heroes which is always nice.

[Krzysztof Grabowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kurt Busiek dla Avengers był takim Johns dla marki Green Lantern. Obydwaj zrobili to dobrze i zapisali się w annałach komiksowego medium złotymi zgłoskami. Więc kiedy ten drugi przejął niejako pałeczkę, bo legendzie można byłoby oczekiwać naprawdę sporo... A jednak nie wyszło tak dobrze, jak mogło by być.

Odyn zginął, a pałeczkę po ojcu przejął jego gromowładny syn, który nieco zachłystnął się tytułem i mocą. Jednocześnie z drugiej strony mamy ubogie państewko terroryzowane przez ustrój bardzo podobny do komunistycznego, a które geograficznie leży obok Latverii. A to oznacza Dr. Dooma, który zaopatruje watażkę w broń. Sytuacja nieciekawa, tym bardziej, że lokalni ludzie w Thorze upatrują wybawienie, obierając go sobie za bóstwo. Gromowładny ma dobre serce i nie może siedzieć bezczynnie, gdy giną niewinni ludzie, na dodatek z jego imieniem na ustach...

Z drugiej strony mamy Starka, który chce załagodzić konflikt i coraz to bardziej rosnąca pozycję grupy Avengers po kolejnym uratowaniu świata. Idzie to na tyle daleko, iż Avengers jest traktowane jako odrębne państwo, a ich dotychczasową miejscówkę traktuje się jako placówkę dyplomatyczną. Stawka rośnie. Jednocześnie gdzieś obok mamy miejsce na zwykle dramaty bohaterskie, gdzie główną uwagę poświęcono Scott'owi Langowi, czyli Ant-manowi. Avenger nieco z doskoku będzie musiał stanąć do walki o prawa nad opieką swojej małoletniej córki, a jego status zbytnio mu tego nie ułatwi.

Małą chwilę poświęcono także Waletowi Kier. Z racji rodzaju mocy jaki posiada musi przebywać 14 godzin w pomieszczeniu, które niweluje jego siły. W innym razie imploduje z mocą atomówki. Kłopot w tym, że sam heros odbiera to wszystko jako formę wiezienia, a narastającą z tego tytułu frustracja tylko zapowiada jakieś kłopoty.

Troszkę zabrakło mi tu "wydłużenia" wątku Thor-Iron Man. Całość zdecydowanie była za krótka, a szkoda bo "czuć" było tu chwilami epickość. Oczywiście okładka nie kłamie i obaj bohaterowie skrzyżują pieści. Wątek Waleta potraktowano po macoszemu, niejako w formie dodatku, bo całość tomu to dwie, odrebne historie, sklecone szybciutko na potrzeby tomu Wkkm. Nieco to czuć. Dialogi są dobre, historia niezła, ale brak tu klimatu. Czegoś co nie zaginie wśród natłoku tytułów z Mścicielami. Tu nie ma nic, poza kilkoma wyjątkami.

Końcówka jest świetna we wszystkich wątkach. Podobało mi się jak całość rozegrał Doom, jak się do tego ustosunkował Stark. O rysownikach można w praktyce zapomnieć. Poza kilkoma kadrami starcia pomiędzy filarami grupy Avengers nic nie przykłuło mojego wybrednego oka. A to trochę dziwne, zważywszy przecież, iż to sztandarowa seria.

Werdykt. Można się z tym zapoznać, ale raczej pozycja nie zagrzeje długo miejsca na mojej półce. Zwyczajnie na rynku jest cała masa lepszych tytułów, miejsce na szafce ograniczone, a Impas jest średni. Tylko dla fanów.

[Dmitry Yakovenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Мстители: Противостояние" являются прекрасной иллюстрацией того, насколько Джефф Джонс веселый фанат комиксов, действительно получающий удовольствие от работы над ними. Больше всего известен он своими работами над комиксами DC, но успел отмениться и такой вот историей про Мстителей, которая великолепно читается и по уровню фана и гиковщины воспринимается примерно как два фильма Джосса Уидона про этих же героев.

"Противостояние" рассказывает сразу несколько историй: как Джек Харт пытается контролировать свою разрушительную силу, как Скотт Лэнг пытается наладить свою жизнь и не потерять свою дочь, но самой главной темой являются предпосылки и последствия боя Тора и Железного Человека, а также само сражение, что особенно сильно запомнилось читателям.

Джонс хоть и касается серьезных тем типа религии, семьи, дружбы, самопожертвования и классической "право имею", но делает это без излишней серьёзности и философских рассуждений, создавая в первую очередь развлекательный продукт с огромным количеством действия, и только во вторую и третью очереди серьёзную драму, претендующую на что-то большее.

Читать стоит, особенно ради нереально крутого Тора, которого я таким как тут ещё не видел, неплохого Железного Человека и Доктора Дума, ради эпического сражения и множества эмоциональных моментов. Да, откровений от "Противостояния" ждать не стоит, а вот неплохую и красиво нарисованную историю получить можно.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish the Ant-Man chapters were at the end instead, since they seemed not tied in at all to the dramatic cover.

Overall this covered interesting topics that were also covered in the whole Phoenix Force X-Men series, the great power and great responsibility and policing the world, etc. The importance of helping people in need versus realizing the complexity of global (and historical) politics was hard to read, and I have a feeling I would react as Thor did in his shoes (or boots, I suppose). I felt bad for Iron Man, stuck between his friend, his (probably) equal interest in helping people, and his need to avoid further bloodshed in the form of Doctor Doom and nuclear weapons. But things did seem to escalate a tad quickly. I cheered for Captain America, of course.

Think if the time taken with Ant-Man and Hawkman in the front and back had instead allowed for the main storyline to be expanded, I would have enjoyed this much more.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sort of a mixed bag. I didn't care for the Jack of Hearts/Ant Man story. And I didn't care for the Falcon story either. However, wedged in the middle was a multi-part story where Iron Man and Thor go head to head. That story was brilliantly illustrated by Alan Davis and the story was fairly dramatic. Thor has decided to intervene in a war-torn third world country where there people who have started a Thor cult, worshiping him. The U.S. government is frightened of how this intervention might lead to Dr. Doom getting involved, so they send Iron Man to stop Thor. Cap shows up as well and is instrumental in influencing Thor to back off. That middle portion of the book was probably worth the time investment.

[Ondra Král · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nehodnotím přímo tuto knihu, ale "Avengers: Na ostří nože" (vyšlo v rámci UKK a liší se to jedním sešitem). Hlavní příběh ve kterém se seká Thor a Iron Manem je příliš krátký, zmatený a nějak mi tu ty mezinárodní vztahy nešly do hlavy. Bitva Thora s Iron Manem je nakreslená hezky a to je tak všechno.

Druhý část knihy (Ant Man X Jack of Heart) pak jako vytržená z kontextu nedává smysl - u Jacka se neustále mluví o minulosti, kterou neznám a díky výseku klíčových sešitů to působí děsně zkratkovitě.

Hachette neměl při výběru titulu šťastnou ruku.

[Devero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thor vs Iron-Man vs Capitan America.
La storia è molto legata alla narrazione di quel periodo e risponde ad una richiesta di coerenza da parte dei lettori, in quanto le tre serie stavano prendendo direzioni parecchio diverse sotto l'impulso della direzione editoriale dell'epoca Jemas. Era necessario quindi separare Thor dai Vendicatori, e da Iron-man e Cap. La storia fa acqua, non andrebbe oltre le 2 stelle, ma i disegni di Alan Davis chinato da Farmer permettono tranquillamente la stella in più.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel this book is the perfect bridge between the 90s with Busiek and the 2000s with Bendis. It's got the start of more modern sensibilities that will rear it's head later, particularly under Millar's watch.

This book doesn't QUITE hold up as well as a I remember it, but I dig the ambition to it. This is basically politics entering the modern era, with Thor/Iron Man/Captain America not seeing eye to eye due to Doctor Doom's war posturing. It feels like seeds of Civil War & The Initiative, with aspects of the Ultimates.

[TJ Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geoff Johns continues his Avengers run as Thor decides to exercise his status as a God over the blood-thirsty despotic nations as evil leaders kill those who worship the Thunder God. It creates a showdown between Thor and Iron Man which is won by...Captain America. Okay not really but Cap's greatness shines forth boldly once again.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels rather disjointed. Sure, it's comprised of various issues of comic books, but they barely even all connect. The first and last stories are only passing references to the main three (though pretty good stories on their own). The main story line is okay, but not particularly above average.

[Jimmy Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johns really knows how to write Captain America! I wish I would have known about his run on Avengers much sooner.

[Andrew Obrigewitsch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was OK, more like 2.5 stars. Entertaining, but not the best writing.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

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