Avengers Inc. #1 is the perfect palate cleansing, noir style detective book that the Avengers line needs. The new status quos for all of these characters work on almost every conceivable level, creating a mystery that is both engaging and full of spectacle. Read Full Review

This issue shows us there's a ton of potential to the concept of Earth's Mightiest Heroes serving as PI's. Not only that, it starts to fulfill that potential, and we hope this is just the beginning of a long run. Read Full Review

You have to love a good mystery, especially when every twist makes it more incredible, and Ewing's Wasp makes a great protagonist I'm not as hyped about the coloring, but it's a good read. Read Full Review

Kirk delivers some great action in the issue. I love the visual style of the issue and how it looks like a classic detective comic. Read Full Review

Writer Al Ewing, artist Leonard Kirk, colorist Alex Sinclair, and letterer Cory Petit deliver an intriguing Avengers team that mixes your typical spandex superheroes with a bit of a detective/crime spin. Read Full Review

First issue nails the tone and the themes perfectly, kicking off what should be a fun new series. Read Full Review

A unique tone and rock-solid premise make "Avengers Inc. #1 a clear success Read Full Review

Avengers Inc #1 continues Al Ewing's trademark for pairing up with stellar artists and shaking up the Marvel Universe, while Leonard Kirk's artwork helps things feel actually grounded without being ashamed of the more outlandish elements. It's a solid opening for an offbeat title, and like any good mystery it ends with more questions than answers. After all, how else will you get readers to pick up the next issue? Read Full Review

As first issues go, Avengers Inc. delivers and sets the stage for stories that think outside of the Avengers' box. Read Full Review

Avengers Inc. #1 is a very dense issue that throws a lot of information at you without much explanation such as Luke Cages recent election as mayor of New York City, which happens in Devils Reign but if youre onboard with the concept here, you probably already expect that from Ewing. Leonard Kirks art also reflects the muted vibe of the action by not calling too much attention to itself, if slightly less interesting than it could have been. Perhaps future issues will deliver on the strong premise here a bit more, but Avengers Inc. #1 has potential all the same. Read Full Review

If you're a fan of Janet Van Dyne and Hank Pym then Avengers Inc. #1 is a comic book you'll want to check out. Al Ewing is on a mission to bring both characters back into the spotlight. That does mean this isn't a new reader friendly first issue. But if you can just accept, you'll be learning as you follow the series Avengers Inc. is set up to do some big things. Read Full Review

I thought this was an intriguing start to this series that establishes the characters and the mystery going forward. If you enjoyed Ewing's Wasp miniseries and his Ant-Man miniseries, this is definitely something for you to check out. The majority of this has some investigating with Janet as she tries to figure out what happened after how her aforementioned miniseries ended, and I thought it was nicely done. This issue, as a whole, is primarily setup, which is to be expected. In this case, the set up is definitely interesting, especially considering the final few pages. All things considered, I don't know that I'm completely "sold" on this series quite yet, but I will be adding it to my pull and checking out the next issue. If anything, this was a pretty solid start. more

It is neat

https://youtu.be/j5zyeplecx0?si=fhq-lph5YNfJFCBm

Review at (2:46) in link

A refreshing a new take on the Avengers, which admittedly just about moves into a duo by the end of the issue. The focus on Janet Van Dyne with a 60s look involved in a whodunit, is a welcome change and a different pace for an Avengers comic. There is some intrigue in the first issue as well as good deal of set-up . Not a great deal of action, but an enjoyable sense of a locked room mystery that is answered in the final pages, except not for the characters. A welcome change for Avenger stories with a good deal of fan favorite Avenger references.

Set up in the final issue of his Wasp miniseries earlier this year, Al Ewing is back with Janet Van Dyne in AVENGERS INC. #1 and is joined by Leonard Kirk on art, Alex Sinclair providing colors, and Cory Petit handling lettering.

PUBLISHER’S PITCH

ACTION! MYSTERY! ADVENTURE! Her name is Janet Van Dyne. She's a hero. She's a celebrity. She's hunting a killer. His name is Victor Shade. He's a villain. He's an enigma. He just got killed. And together, they're out to solve every mystery in the Marvel Universe...starting with their own. AL EWING and LEONARD KIRK bring you a whole new style of Avenging - from a whole new style of Avengers...

REVIEW

Things open up where Wasp #4 left off with Whirlwind’s death while inside his prison cell, who ends up being just one of six villains murdered almost simultaneously within a few cells of each other. Amidst the dead bodies and flippant comments made by the prison guard supervising the situation, Janet set up the thesis for the series by asking with a name like the Avengers, just who are the avenged? It’s a question that doesn’t get explored enough when a victim or group of victims aren’t completely innocent and I’ll be very intrigued to see if it continues to get further explored in this series.

The first half or so of the book plays out like a classic crime noir from the likes of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. Janet searches for answers to how six prisoners could be murdered without a clue, leading her to a meeting with Mayor Luke Cage who pushes her to take up the case in a more formal manner. However, due to the anti-masked superhero fervor still being strong, she’ll have to investigate the matter inconspicuously. Ewing’s dialogue during this scene is a great back and forth between the two characters, with Janet doubting herself and Luke giving her the motivation to do the job she knows she needs to do.

When Janet heads back to the morgue to gather further clues, the situation quickly grows dire as five of the dead villains begin to reanimate and to say they’re not happy to see Janet would be an understatement. They’re not entirely themselves and have no recollection of how they ended up on cadaver tables. Whirlwind’s body is the only one not to reanimate immediately. Though when he does we see he’s now going by Victor Shade, one of Vision’s aliases, and helps Janet subdue the others. Janet is bewildered at this development and is able to convince the prison’s warden to let her take Victor under her supervision, setting up this series’ new organization, Avengers Inc. The issue ends with a surprise reveal that I wasn’t expecting and almost wish it hadn’t been included so we could get a more classic whodunnit-style story.

Those who didn’t read Ewing’s Wasp miniseries might be a bit lost on Janet’s connection to Whirlwind and her interest in his death. I wouldn’t blame them as the issue doesn’t allude to it other than an editor’s note referencing the work. However, if it wasn’t apparent in that miniseries, it’s obvious here that Ewing has a soft spot for Janet Van Dyne. He continues his deeply introspective character writing, using what Janet views as inequitable treatment for the victims (because of their past) to highlight her unyielding commitment to justice for all — even if she needed some encouragement from Luke Cage.

I was expecting a visual style more akin to the character designs found in Daniel Acuna’s main cover art. However, Kirk utilizes heavy lines throughout the issue which didn’t match the crime noir tone of the book, but other than the tonal mismatch I thought the art was fine — nothing overly spectacular or unique. Sinclair employs a color palette that is heavily influenced by two specific hues: a blue tint permeates scenes inside the prison morgue, and a red/orange tint exists throughout scenes outside the morgue. Such consistent palettes without any real pops of color made the full book a bit of a bland visual experience.

What did stand out was Petit’s lettering work, which isn’t a shock as he’s one of the best letterers in the business. The story plays out in the past tense with Janet’s narration happening from the present day and Petit’s yellow letterbox for this text looks great and clearly stands on the page as it’s the only pop of color you’ll find.

FINAL VERDICT

The pacing can be slow, there isn’t a lot of excitement even with some action, and the issue asks more questions than it answers. I’m not going to doubt Ewing’s ability to craft a compelling story when all is said and done though I wouldn’t say this was my favorite debut. I hope he leans more into the noir genre as the story progresses as that’s something I haven’t seen him do. If you’re a fan of Ewing’s previous Wasp series or Ewing’s other Marvel work, I’d recommend giving the series a shot but I can’t totally see this type of story being for everyone.

RATING: 6/10 more

Wow, I have a completely different opinion than everyone else. I found this issue bland and confusing. FIrst of all regardless of what I've read or not read of Janet in the past, the fact that Luke goes to Janet to investigate a series of murders when his own wife is a full-fledged and licensed detective makes no sense whatsoever. Then when all of the villain simply got up after being shot and were determined to be dead lost me for the remainder of the issue. Then we have Vision/Not-Vision. I won't be continuing this. I'm glad you all liked it, but I'm on the other side of that equation.

My Comic Review Channel - https://youtu.be/5j1dSytrohk