Kevin's Corner: Scott's Take: Avengers by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Volume 4

Avengers by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Volume 4 is very difficult to talk about without spoilers since this volume follows up on the plot points from the previous volumes. Simplifying greatly, much of the book is setup for the upcoming end volumes, time travel is involved, watching various other earth's heroes fall to the new threats from the multiverse as the Illuminati create a way to watch the multiverse through a sort of special tv, and discussing philosophical questions based around the idea of what will you do to save your world?

The art remains impressive, the scenes vary in this novel from the Avengers on this Earth and in this timeline having a large party after the Infinity War with Thor cooking for the team, to scenes where heroes on various Earths across the multiverse are being savagely killed. The relationships between characters on each Earth is the best part of the graphic novel and how they react to the impossible situations they find themselves in. Outside of the Illuminati and Captain America, The Hulk finds himself in the spotlight throughout this volume.

The main issue for this reader for this book was the fact that suddenly most of the characters that were important during the previous volumes no longer matter. Not only that, but the back cover art depicts characters that are only very briefly in the book. While it is an awesome back cover, nearly all of the characters shown are not relevant to the volume. It’s like one of those ads where the movie ad makes a big deal about such and such actor being in it and said actor is only in it for five minutes of the movie.

Expectations are that there will be at least two more collected volumes of this series at some point, but Marvel has not announced them or what their plans are for the separate series that make up these reads. As a reader, it is preferable when they do this kind of collection that draws from various series, because the author can put them into the proper order. It is a really good book that puts a strong focus on Tony and Steve and this reader hopes that Marvel finishes the collection so that we know how things work out.

My reviews of the previous volumes in this series:

Avengers by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Vol.1 (April 2021)

Avengers by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Volume 2 (May 2021

Avengers by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Volume 3 (May 2021)

Avengers by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Volume 4

Jonathan Hickman

https://www.marvel.com/comics/creators/11743/jonathan_hickman

Marvel

https://www.marvel.com/comics/collection/89970/avengers_by_jonathan_hickman_the_complete_collection_vol_4_trade_paperback

March 2021

ISBN#: 978-1-30292648-9

Paperback (also available in eBook format)