X years in the future, and the Avengers are still standing! Though maybe not quite the Avengers you remember. X-Vengers, by Jason Loo and Sergio Davila, takes us readers to what becomes of the Avengers in the Age of Revelation, and how their lives and bodies, have been literally transformed.
Dani Moonstar is a personal favourite of mine, a character so rich with unrealized potential that this book was an easy, instant buy once the premise became clear: X-Vengers is a comic about Dani Moonstar leading the Avengers. Joined by fellow new mutant Cannonball, Moonstar heads up a team made up of a few long-time Avengers who have been mutated by the X-Virus and given additional powers. Scott Lang is a Variable Man, deformed but stronger than ever. Natasha Romanov is a Water Widow with a body made of water. Clint Barton stays as Hawkeye, but has two additional arms. Shang Chi sports new destructive powers he has to keep under control, while Vision has merged with the tenarchs and has gained even more power.
There’s tragedy in the mutations of these heroes; each of them had to start again after being mutated, learning how to function and use their powers, all while inflicted with immense personal losses, such as the deaths of loved ones. Including Captain America himself. The key visual of this comic is Dani Moonstar bearing his shield, an image that is powerful and eyebrow raising for its implications. Much of the issue is narrated by Moonstar, who provides the reader with a quick and easy summary of the changes the Avengers have gone through, Captain America’s death, and how she feels about bearing his shield now.
In this Age of Revelation, the X-Vengers still fight for the world, thwarting a Kree attack, despite the citizens of the free United States not being particularly trustful or grateful. The issue is tinged with sadness and mingled with hope; there is an enormous sense of loss that informs each of the characters, but also a sense of duty and responsibility to carry on living, to carry on fighting. It is there where the story is most effective.
Sergio Davila pencils the comic, with Aure Jimenez inking and Rain Beredo colouring. The art is the highlight of the issue, featuring Davila’s simple but clean visual style that conveys action like few can. The fight sequences are quick, but intense. There is a sense of real motion and kinetic energy to how blows are exchanged and true dynamism to how they move. It looks great when the characters are fighting, and the fight sequences in X-Vengers are rivaled only by Ryan Stegman’s action sequence in Age of Revelation Overture #1.
Jason Loo’s writing conveys the emotion and weight of the story well, though the patter and dialogue between the characters doesn’t always feel entirely natural and smooth. There is much exposition needed, and while it is understandable why it is in there, it can make the flow of conversations a little difficult. Hopefully, with the story and premise now established, future issues will not have this issue.
X-Vengers #1 explores Dani Moonstar’s leadership of the Avengers, and provides a sincere look at what it means to help others in even the most difficult circumstances. There is a true and very sincere disability metaphor to be applied to the Avengers, and how Moonstar functions almost as a therapist, coach, and friend in helping them come to terms with their new normal.
The decision to put the shield on Dani is likewise an inspired one, though hopefully the weight of what that means is explored more in the future. Sergio Davila, Aure Jimenez, and Rain Beredo on the art provide some of the best action sequences in this event, and one can only hope to see more thrilling action from them.
‘X-Vengers’ #1 Comic Review: Dani Moonstar Wields Captain America’s Shield!
X-Vengers #1 explores Dani Moonstar’s leadership of the Avengers, and provides a sincere look at what it means to help others in even the most difficult circumstances. There is a true and very sincere disability metaphor to be applied to the Avengers, and how Moonstar functions almost as a therapist, coach, and friend in helping them come to terms with their new normal.
