West Coast Avengers [2024] #1 - Marvel Comics

WEST COAST AVENGERS No. 1, January 2025

Announced at the 2024 San Diego Comic Con, and promising an “iconic team with a superstar lineup of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including a seemingly redeemed Ultron”, Gerry Duggan’s script for Issue One of “West Coast Avengers” arguably lives up to all its pre-publication hype. In fact, the comic contains a considerable number of intriguing conundrums which should keep its audience well and truly engrossed throughout the ongoing series’ run; “Did you ask me to join because I have a rap sheet?”

Foremost of these hooks has to be the inclusion of Hank Pym’s homicidal robot on the super-team’s roster. Responsible for countless failed attempts to dominate the world, the mass-murdering machine understandably brings an element of menace to every scene in which he appears - including those where he is clearly saving the lives of innocent Californians. So palpable an atmosphere of deadly duplicity should genuinely convince this book’s audience that at any moment the adamantium-bodied artificial intelligence will brutally betray his team-makes, and such unease will arguably make it really difficult for any reader to put this twenty-six page publication down.

In addition, the American author is very good at sowing plenty of discontent and disharmony within the remaining squad members, despite the likes of Iron Man, War Machine, and even Spider-Woman having plenty of experience working with others. Much of this friction is undoubtedly caused by the disagreeably arrogant Blue Bolt, who seems utterly resistant to any other options than just blowing his opponents up with his Electrokinesis. However, Tony Stark too appears to be fighting plenty of other demons himself, as well as rather humorously weighing a couple more pounds than he did when he first donned his Silver Centurion armour.

Disappointingly, what does let this comic down though are some of Danny Kim’s layouts, which whilst being proficiently pencilled overall, also appear a little too rough and ready from time to time. Indeed, a considerable number of the artist’s panels contain little to no background whatsoever, and after a while this frustratingly bland-looking technique unfortunately gives the impression that the illustrator was in some sort of a hurry to get on to the next drawing assignment, rather than provide his audience with an enticing view of events as they unfold.

The regular cover art of "WEST COAST AVENGERS" #1 by Ben Harvey