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Jason Aaron and Aaron Kuder’s Avengers Forever #1 is packed with action, thrills and enough multiversal madness to make any Avengers fan happy.
Why should Earth-616 be the only world with heroes to defend it? In Avengers Forever, Jason Aaron and Aaron Kuder unite variants from across the multiverse for the biggest Avengers story of all time. The series spins out of the events of Avengers #50 and sees Robbie Reyes as Ghost Rider assembling a team of heroes from across different realities to save their planets from the multiversal Masters of Evil. The debut issue is an incredibly inviting adventure that delivers big action, crazy concepts, and lots of fun.
Avengers Forever #1 explores Earth-818, a reality where the Prehistoric Avengers were killed in One Million B.C.E., allowing the Black Skull to conquer the planet. In this world, Tony Stark has become Ant-Man, an archaeologist and treasure hunter obsessed with the past. Along with the help of his robotic sidekick, the Iron Ant, Stark is on the run from the War Machines, an army of ruthless armored warriors who carry out the Skull’s orders. However, Stark is not alone. Earth-616’s Ghost Rider travels the Wastelands alongside Deathlok, searching for a way home. But when Robbie’s path crosses that of the Skull’s army, he’ll need to channel the full fury of the Hell Charger to make it out alive.
Jason Aaron takes the wheel of this Avengers-adjacent title, continuing his excellent work with Robbie Reyes. While Aaron’s Avengers run has seen him take Robbie to Hell and back (literally), the epic scale of Avengers Forever #1 is unlike anything the character has encountered before. This premise positions Robbie as both a fish-out-of-water and a hero who’s in over his head, allowing Aaron to elevate the young Ghost Rider. Outside of the series’ lead, Aaron spends much of this issue establishing the Tony Stark of Earth-818. The new Ant-Man’s past haunts him and he chooses to shrink away from his problems, which provides readers with a glimpse into the man Tony could have become if he lost his confidence.
Avengers Forever #1 is drawn by Aaron Kuder, picking up from where he left off in Avengers #50. The introduction of Earth-818’s Tony Stark is outstanding. A breathtaking splash page leads into a tight, detailed series of panels that shows off the capabilities of this world’s Ant-Man. Kuder oscillates between significant, explosive action and cramped, intimate panels that highlight the scale of the story’s conflict — whether that be the massive War Machine battle or the teeny-tiny Tony. Kuder wraps his imagery in unique textures that help shape the comic’s tone, like when Odin is burned alive and charms his magical hammer. Inker Cam Smith is critical to capturing these textures, varying his inking approach throughout the issue to give the landscapes and characters a unique feel. As a result, moments like Robbie’s manic pursuit of a train full of enslaved citizens leap off the page at exhilarating speeds.
Avengers Forever #1’s excellent colors from Jason Keith and Triona Farrell elevate an already incredible issue. The duo engulfs each scene with a unique color palette tied to the story’s specific tone at any given moment. Odin’s tragic opening sequence feels exponentially more impactful because they use muted tones that drain the All-Father of life. Tony’s quest throughout the caves of Earth-818 is void of natural light sources and instead cast in shades in the glow of whatever tech Tony utilizes. Ghost Rider’s fiery aura contrasts against the dark skies of the Wasteland, while Robbie’s warm mix of oranges and yellows clash with the subdued hues of the War Machines.
Overall, Avengers Forever #1 is an inviting and explosive spin-off that reinvents Earth’s Mightiest Heroes without losing the property’s core. Aaron provides one of his tightest and most self-contained Avengers stories to date, even as he pushes the boundaries of the known multiverse with a limitless premise. Beyond that, the art by Kuder, Smith, Keith, and Farrell is immersive, expressive, and fun. As the Avengers look towards 2022, Avengers Forever #1 proves that the franchise’s best days are still ahead of them.
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