Avengers #687 Review

Avengers #687

Writers: Mark Waid, Al Ewing & Jim Zub
Artists: Paco Medina (penciller), Juan Vlasco (inker)
Colorist: Jesus Abertov & Federico Blee
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Mark Brooks
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Review by Nico Sprezzatura

How do you solve a problem like Voyager? If Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are gonna save Earth from certain doom, they’re gonna have to figure out just that in Avengers #687. Read on, True Believer!

THE BIG BIG BAD?

As “No Surrender” reaches its end, it’s pretty apparent that Challenger is our final boss, following valiant attempts made by Grandmaster, Voyager, and the specter of Thanos at different points. In Avengers #687, we find out just how sore of a loser Challenger can be. It’s not looking so good for both the Avengers and for Earth itself.

VOYAGER WATCH

She was “good,” then she was bad, and now it’s time for Voyager to good. Like, actually good. As I’ll get into in the next item, recent events have backed Voyager into a corner, leaving her in a position to pull a classic heel-face turn and help the Avengers take down Challenger. But will she do it? We’ll find out in seven days!

THE LIMELIGHT AVENGER

Though she’s a founding Avenger (and not an imposter like Voyager…), Janet van Dyne has never really been given her due as a character, so that’s a pretty good reason to give her a spotlight in this issue. Strong but vulnerable, and equal parts sweet & sour, she’s leader material through and through. When the going gets especially tough for the Avengers, Jan takes charge. Her involvement in this issue just makes me wish she’d have been present in this story more…

WORDS AND PICTURES

Avengers #687 is another fine issue for Medina, Vlasco, and Abertov, with Federico Blee joining the latter on colors. It’s been a testament to the selection of artists onboard “No Surrender” that, despite having a handful of different hands on the visual wheel, it’s all felt visually consistent throughout. Weekly books like this are a logistical challenge, but every artist, colorist, and letterer involved in “No Surrender” have delivered A+ visuals every step of the way.

On the writing side, Waid, Ewing, and Zub have been something of a dream team for this kind of ensemble story, each bringing their strengths to the table. While their shared writing credit makes it hard to tell who contributed what, a cursory familiarity with their individual work gives me an idea of who was responsible for what, so together, they’re pretty much all-killer, no-filler. I’m super interested in seeing what the final three issues of this storyline entail, and how they stick the landing.

THE VERDICT: Buy it.

It’s almost done, but before the weekly “No Surrender” saga reaches its final page, Avengers #687 maintains its forward momentum with satisfying capes action.