Avengers Academy #1 [2010]

AVENGERS ACADEMY #1

Norman Osborn’s Avengers Initiative program has been dismantled and replaced by the Avengers Academy. It is run by a full staff consisting of former Avengers Hank Pym, Quicksilver, Tigra as well as former New Warriors Justice and Speedball. Each one has their own personal baggage that they need to address. However their past experiences would be able to guide the future Avengers cadets.

● Hank Pym suffered with multiple mental breakdowns and kicked off the Avengers

● Quicksilver has been a member of Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and the Avengers

● Tigra got her ass kicked with the Hood

● Justice accidently killed his father however paid his due

● Speedball was responsible for the disaster at Stamford that started Civil War

These cadets was originally selected by Norman Osborn for the Avengers Initiative. Each of these cadets also have their own emotional baggage much like the full staff at Avengers Academy.

● Finesse – Most talented on the team however most likely to be a sociopath

● Mettle – Crimson Colossus with the head of the Red Skull

● Hazmat – Produce her deadly substances however forever stuck within her suit

● Reptil – Most likely to be killed first

● Veil – Become various forms of gas however will eventually lose cohesion

● Striker – Powers similar to Electro and most powerful on the team

Christos Gage has done an amazing work introducing new and existing characters into the Marvel Universe. The interaction between all the character’s personality is astonishing and the issue is very fluid. Mike McKone art is fantastic and was one of the reasons I was (no pun intended) drawn to this issue. I still have his rare Superman issues. This is beginning to become one of my favorite titles during the Heroic Age.

RECOMMENDED - 4 OUT OF 5