Hot Tub Superheroes – Avengers #21 Reviewed
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
The War of the Realms is over, and, between working in global clean-up and recovery efforts in the aftermath, the Avengers are getting some R&R. Iron Man and Thor are in a hot tub inside Avengers Mountain, and they convince Captain America to join them. Captain Marvel and Ghost Rider are fishing up Muspelheim Lava Sharks out of the water around Avengers Mountain, Blade is searching for leads on where the Winter Guard sent Dracula, and Black Panther is having a much-needed talk with Director Phil Coulson and the Squadron Supreme of America.
Avengers #21 is a sort of cool-down issue after the events of the War of the Realms. Particularly, the Avengers are returning to the various subplots that still threaten to destroy the team like Coulson and his Squadron Supreme, Dracula, and Ghost Rider’s literal and metaphorical demons.
It’s a rather light-hearted issue too, and it shows the headspace in which each Avenger currently exists. She-Hulk is enjoying her new power, Blade and Ghost Rider are starting to feel at home on the team.
It’s an issue that advances some of its stories, performs character-building, and shows our heroes socializing in their downtime all while feeling pretty laid back.
All in all, it’s pretty damn fun.
Jason Masters is the artist on this issue, and he does a hell of a job. The style is very detailed while still keeping that classic superhero flair in many of the scenes. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes look fantastic in this comic. Jason Keith (this really is the comic of the Jason’s) keeps the color palette appropriately vibrant but not blinding, and it looks great too.
Avengers #21 is another very strong issue for Jason Aaron’s run on the comic. It provides a satisfying follow-up to War of the Realms and makes sure we get some “X-Men playing softball” for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. It’s a great read and easily worth a recommendation. Check this one out.
Avengers #21 comes to us from writer Jason Aaron, artist Jason Masters, color artist Jason Keith, letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna, cover artist Stefano Caselli with Frank Martin, and variant cover artist Jim Cheung with Marte Gracia.
Final Score: 8.5/10
