Marvel have released a sneak peek preview at what will probably be their biggest release of the entire year. That’s right, it’s a first look at Avengers #1, set for release Wednesday 19th May this year. Brian Michael Bendis is set to write the series, and as I’m sure you were aware, John Romita Jr is set to illustrate this hopefully ‘epic’ series.

Marvel have been a bit naughty though. Usually when they give us a sneak peek look at an upcoming comic, we get given about 4 or 5 wordless pages of interior artwork, however, this time Marvel have only given us what appears to be 2 pages. This is obviously a massive tease on their part, as this is a huge series they are launching, and a lot of people will be wanting to pick this up.

In this first page, we can see a lot of various characters, all noticable as various Avengers in the various teams at the moment. I’m interested in the panel in the top right however, which has no portrait to fill the corner. Who will go there? It’s good to see Iron Fist back on the scene though! Rejoice!

In this second page, we get a look at an actual strip from the upcoming series! Are the Avengers rebuilding Asgard? It would make sense if they are, seen as though that’s they always do after every major disaster in the Marvel Universe. The good news is though, it looks as if Tony Stark is feeling fine and dandy once again, as he can be seen holding up part of a colossal stone archway or pillar in the above strip. Is it just me, or are those builders not really doing an awful lot?

I must admit, that personally out of all the 3 Avengers series being released this summer (Avengers: Academy, Avengers and Secret Avengers), this is the series that I am least looking forward too. I am starting to get mixed feelings about Romita Jr’s art these days. The last decent thing I saw him draw was Spider-Man when he did ‘New Ways To Die’, which was incredible. His work on Kick-Ass was on and off decent from issue to issue. I have an opinion that the only characters in the Marvel Universe he can draw well are Spidey and Wolverine. I’m probably alone on this view, but hey, different strokes for different folks.

Rob Andrews
Rob@comicimpact.com