Review of
Avengers (1963) #24
Published:
January 1966
Reviewer Rating:
Avg User Rating:
(3.21)
War Through Time (title stolen from bastos)
This is easily one of the most ambitious Avengers stories of the early run, and even when it stumbles, it does so aiming high. Kang proves why he works so well as a villain: time travel lets him be endlessly reinvented without tripping over continuity, and here hes given something even more powerful than conquest, love. As trite as that sounds on paper, it surprisingly lands. Kangs war against the future civilization gradually becomes secondary to Ravonna, and that shift gives the story real emotional weight.
What really elevates the issue is the scale. Armies clash, cities fall, alliances shift, and for once the Avengers feel like theyre operating on a genuinely epic stage. The uneasy truce between Kang and the Avengers, heroes and villains united against a common enemy, is classic comic book grandeur, executed with confidence. Even the team itself wrestles with whether Kang can be trusted right up until the end.
The tragedy of Ravonnas death is the final, effective gut punch. Watching both sides witness the loss reinforces the idea that no amount of power or time manipulation can guarantee victory. It humanizes Kang without excusing him, which is a tough balance to strike.
The art and colors sell the spectacle well, even if consistency varies. Overall, a big, bold conclusion that shows how far the series is willing to stretch.
Final verdict: 6.71/10
This is easily one of the most ambitious Avengers stories of the early run, and even when it stumbles, it does so aiming high. Kang proves why he works so well as a villain: time travel lets him be endlessly reinvented without tripping over continuity, and here hes given something even more powerful than conquest, love. As trite as that sounds on paper, it surprisingly lands. Kangs war against the future civilization gradually becomes secondary to Ravonna, and that shift gives the story real emotional weight.
What really elevates the issue is the scale. Armies clash, cities fall, alliances shift, and for once the Avengers feel like theyre operating on a genuinely epic stage. The uneasy truce between Kang and the Avengers, heroes and villains united against a common enemy, is classic comic book grandeur, executed with confidence. Even the team itself wrestles with whether Kang can be trusted right up until the end.
The tragedy of Ravonnas death is the final, effective gut punch. Watching both sides witness the loss reinforces the idea that no amount of power or time manipulation can guarantee victory. It humanizes Kang without excusing him, which is a tough balance to strike.
The art and colors sell the spectacle well, even if consistency varies. Overall, a big, bold conclusion that shows how far the series is willing to stretch.
Final verdict: 6.71/10
