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It's nice to be reading Avengers again. So glad that X-Men and Avengers have entered the rotation. I haven't read much SA X-Men, pretty much just Masterworks V1. (Can't wait for Neal Adams!!!) And only V1-2 of Avengers. Basically I'm glad to be reading these because I'm so looking forward to eventually getting to Uncanny and to the good Avengers run I hear about that's appearing in current Masterworks. I remember reading Avengers 1 and X-Men 1 in Fireside's Son of Origins of Marvel Comics, so I was pretty darn young and that was my first time reading these two issues. I started with Avengers for the purposes of this thread; I'll read X-Men next.

The story of Avengers 1 is exceedingly easy to summarize. Loki frames Hulk in order to get Blake to change to Thor and come to Asgard for battle. Iron Man and Ant-Man/Wasp also respond. Due to Hulk's nature, Hulk and Iron Man fight (3.5-page battle), while Thor goes to Asgard and defeats Loki (4-page battle). Loki is ready to battle all of them, when he is suddenly captured by...Ant-Man.

I would have liked a better ending, but it's 60's comics so I don't quibble. The story is an excuse for some good fun combining 4+ superheroes (two of them battling each other), and with pretty good illos and especially good inking by Ayers. Ayers does a better job on Hulk than was seen in most of the Hulk's own mag. Ayers also inks Thor's face to make him appear older than in JiM, and I like it a ton.

I won't talk much about Ant-Man or the Wasp, because I've grown tired of Ant-Man and the Wasp does nothing other than name the team. Which in itself is kind of nice since she goes on to lead the team in later years. I love Avengers Forever. Speaking of Jan, she has the hots for Thor, and it's amusingly ironic that she thinks Iron Man is "hideous!" This betrays a lack of thought on her part, since she has no idea what he looks like under the helmet, and if she ever saw Tony's face, she'd probably faint and need some ants to give her smelling salts. In fact, it's a good thing Sue Storm isn't on hand to see Thor and Tony. Reed would probably throw his hands in the air and give up once and for all. The FF does get a nice cameo, making the two Ditko heroes the only Marvel characters not expressly shown to inhabit the same "world" in Avengers 1. (The "other case" occupying the FF is presumably the Atlantean invasion which hit newsstands on the same day.)

The issue doesn't feature Bruce Banner at all, although we see Tony Stark and Don Blake. It's a shame in a way. Hulk only lasted a few issues of Avengers and it would have been nice to see Bruce in #1. But at least I think we see him in #3. The issue sure doesn't tell readers much about the Hulk, and if they never saw him before, they don't know much about him after reading Avengers 1. For instance, they don't know that he has a sometime human form of Bruce Banner, and they certainly don't know that when last seen, Hulk had a version of Bruce's own brain and was having weird effects from the machine he uses to change back and forth from Bruce to Hulk. Hulk doesn't even get a word balloon or thought balloon until page 10, but at least he talks a lot after that, with some good quotes like, "I speak to no one! I have no friends!" and "No one escapes Hulk!"

As for Thor and Iron Man, it's great to see them in other books besides ToS and JiM. This is the first story longer than 13 pages for Thor (although he obviously doens't take up all 22 pages), and the first story longer than 18 pages for Iron Man (same disqualifier). Screw Ant-Man. I think these are the first crossovers for Thor and Iron Man, if "crossover" is the right word (it probably isn't, in a team book, but you know what I mean). Interaction between all these characters is less than prevalent; even though they all appear to know of each other, the first time any of them even speak to each other is on page 11 when Ant-Man addresses Hulk. They don't seem too interested in conversing even after they're all in the same room. Maybe they're overawed by being in the presence of the Teen Brigade. Thor in particular doesn't seem to know the meaning of the word teamwork (as befits a god), going off on his own to tackle the Hulk without even thinking to mention it to the others in the same room. There is actually no teamwork shown in the entire issue (unless you count teamwork between AM and Wasp, which doesn't really count for this purpose). I don't know if that was intentional, but presumably it will grow in future issues.

Loki was a good choice for a villian, not because he's powerful (he doesn't even battle the assembled Avengers, and is "defeated" with comedic ease), but because he's devious and manipulative enough to create an excuse to get these heroes together and battling each other. A new original villian would have been fine too, but it was just as easy to use the established Loki who had made more appearances in the Marvel U than any other villian, and it allowed for the whole Asgard subplot and battle. They couldn't very well use Doctor Doom or Namor yet because fans wouldn't like the treasured FF villians to be used in the Avengers, it would seem like adultery. And Doc Ock was the only other candidate. Not likely. But it will be cool to see Namor moonlight as an Avengers villian after all the trouble he's given the FF.

The cover is really nice, although it's not an action shot, it's just posing. But Jack and Dick do a really really nice job, particularly on the inking of Hulk and Thor. It seems to me like Ayers in particular was given time enough to do a better-than-average job throughout this debut issue.

The splash page is great. It's really atmospheric, and probably the single best illo of Loki yet to be seen in any mag to this point. Loki almost looks like he was illustrated by Keith Giffen here. And he has the biggest schnozz yet to appear in the young Marvel Universe. The Isle of Silence is a dramatic name for this locale. Also on the splash, I like the vertical lineup of participating Avengers, it reminds me of the roll call on JLA splashes. Thor in particular gets a good action pose.

The first panel of page 2 shows a small and removed Loki (a symbolic echo of how he feels) behind large tangled roots in the foreground, which are also a metaphor for his tangled web of deceit and manipulation. These roots feature much later in the story when Loki uses them against Thor, so that's a nice foreshadow of sorts. Loki's glaring disembodied eyes are well-done on this page as he searches Earth. As an aside, why does Jane have blonde hair here?

One of Loki's major effects in this issue, which may be lost on non-Hulk readers, is that he undoes the pardon won by the Hulk in his battle with the Metal Master in Incredible Hulk #6. Sorry, Hulk. Them's the breaks. As consolation for Hulk, he receives great inking for his face throughout the issue, starting with his first appearance at bottom of pg2. Also the first panel of pg3, bottom of pg 12, bottom of pg19, top and bottom of pg20, and the penultimate panel of the issue.

I guess the Hulk appeared at the circus already wearing his clown disguise, otherwise how do the circus owners not recognize him?? But still. The Hulk makes them pay for their ignorance when he rips the whole main tent out of the ground during the circus performance, a great panel.

Other than the Hulk/Iron Man battle, the other main action is Thor vs. Loki in Asgard. Unlike Journey into Mystery, Odin states that he won't interfere between Thor and Loki. This is a big change from JiM, and a good one in my opinion. Plus, Odin makes it clear that Loki and Thor are brothers, or at least step-brothers (it's unclear), something that was only previously mentioned on a JiM cover, not in any previous story to my knowledge. Some good stuff in the Thor/Loki battle. Most enjoyably for me, they literally face off against each other at bottom of page 16 in a dual silhouette, which is an artistic device Kirby used in their first meeting in Journey into Mystery. It occurred at the end of chapter one of that first-ever Loki story, when Thor said, "Loki!" upon first seeing him. (The double silhouette was also used in a later JiM issue, in a panel featuring Don Blake and Jane.) So it's really a nice touch of Jack's to give us the Thor/Loki dual silhouette again here in a different mag. Artistic continuity?

Loki himself gets another nice silhouette during Thor's thunderstorm at bottom of pg17. And the sea swells are nicely rendered by Kirby and Ayers on pg15. I'll also make mention of the last panel of pg12 where Wasp is held in Hulk's two "giant" fingers.

Well this brings me to the final two pages. I love pg21 because it's so colorful and finally everyone is together. This is the first time the Thunder God even speaks to any of the other Avengers-to-be. But at least he shows compassion; he's brought Loki in order to prove that Hulk and Iron Man have no reason to fight. But Loki proceeds to hold all of them at bay, at least temporarily, by become radioactive. Loki's face is really well-illustrated at the bottom of the page.

But it's here that the ending leaves me scratching my head. Ant-Man springs a trap door under Loki's feet, and Loki apparently has to fall not just down, but then also horizontally, in order to fall into a lead-lined tank from which he cannot escape. Double huh? Some "god of evil". And why will he be so easy for Thor to manage once the tank is opened again? Hmm...anyway.

The final panel of the issue is a great one, with the three heavy-hitters lined up like amigos while Jan names the team. Iron Man and Thor both have arms (and hammer) raised while Hulk crosses his arms in a classic psychologically defensive or antagonist posture. Maybe he's conflicted; it was certainly waaay out of character for him to say, "I'd rather be with you than against you!" Thor gives the classic line: "We'll never be beaten! For we are...the Avengers!" That line sounds pretty darn good to me, especially when you hear it in Thor's deep 1966 cartoon voice.

It would have been nice to see Thor battle Hulk, but I guess there wasn't room in the story and maybe Stan wanted to save that big-time tussle for later. I think we have to wait for JiM 112 (unless they battle in Avengers 3).

A shame that Hulk would leave the book so soon, but he does work best as a loner. I just wish TtA 60 wasn't 15 "months" away. It will be great to see him as an Avengers "villian" though in #2 and especially #3.

This book was probably the most important Marvel book since FF 1 and AF 15/ASM 1? Although X-Men 1 was just as important hitting newsstands the same day.

Iron-Man could, uh, make the iron and stop attacks, like Hulk. Hulk can go like, mad and destroy everything, because he really wants to pulverize. So he would be like an offense-defense guy. Ant-Man and Wasp are like backupstheyre like traps, cause you cant see em. And so, they just set the trap, and then activate it, and they didnt know who activated it.

And when his head was on planets!

Magneto could move metal. I liked that. Hes a powerful villain.

[Spouse of Storytime interrupts:] Do you think you could defeat him?

What are you talking about?

[Spouse:] With your sonic whine.

I like the way Jean adjusts her beret after manhandling the Beast telekinetically.

With one exception, the Avengers included all of the loose super-heroes Marvel had laying around who were not in the Fantastic Four. That exception is, of course, Spider-Man.

Seems Im bringing up the rear on this thread, as usual

The book never really touches too much upon what is considered a mutant. Sure, most of these powers are of the supernatural kind, but the Beast's are more of an extension of human abilities than anything else. Would a person with extremely impressive memory be considered a mutant? What about someone born with three arms? Professor X surely seems more interested in getting his hands on people who possess what would be considered superpowers, but no real clarification of what the word "mutant" really means is made.

Xavier's idea of making a school for mutants with abilities he considers powerful enough to be able to help mankind really comes across as the warped idea of a disillusioned man.

[Magneto] forces his way in, then silently marches through while blocking bullents, rendering weapons unable to fire, tossing soldiers all over the place... all with his mind, and nothing else. Dr. Doom, go home.

The male members of the X-Men are peeking at Jean while she's changing into uniform. Snicker.

even a private jet (which he can guide from the ground by thought impulses... um, how? Didn't he say he could just read and project thoughts?

Iceman stops the missiles by shooting ice grenades that are attracted by the missiles' speed just like the missiles are attracted by heat.

So how come the Hulk is just jumping around for no reason? Banner did state that he wanted to exercise as the Hulk for some non-reason in Incredible Hulk #4 (or so), but he's been having so much trouble with his transformations lately you'd think he'd play it safe and not transform unless he absolutely needed to do so. I'm not really sure about the "no evil in his heart" thing... are we talking about the same Hulk that contemplated teaming up with the Metal Master and conquer mankind the last time we saw him?

Loki's plan involve tricking the Hulk into killing hundreds of people so he becomes more wanted than he's ever been before, just so Blake will turn into Thor, giving Loki the opportunity to fight him, since he can't be bothered to wait until Blake transforms due to some non-Loki-rigged threat? Seriously, that's cold.

I'm not sure where this teen brigade base is, but if it's located in a member's room, I'd love to see the look on the brigade member's parents' faces when Thor and Iron Man knock on the door, saying their kid invited them.

So who exactly let Jean in the front door?

Seeing them stand side-by-side at the end is like seeing three sumo wrestlers (or line-backers, if you prefer) and two mosquitoes.

Why isn’t the Wasp’s name blazoned across the top of the cover with Thor, Ant-Man, the Hulk and Iron Man?

The Hulk’s transformations have deteriorated over the last six months. I don’t feel that Bruce Banner is any longer in control of them. I don’t believe he still uses the gamma machine he built. This will not be resolved for another whole year, not until ... well, you'll see.

As to the Hulk being a clown-faced robot. I feel Banner had nothing to do with this (and may not have “existed” for weeks). The Hulk, being unable to change, chose this method of going into hiding.