Young Avengers #14
Writer: Kieron Gillen (pgs 1-20)
Artists: Jamie McKelvie & Matthew Wilson (pgs 1-5), Emma Vieceli & Lee Loughridge (pgs 6-10), Christian Ward (pgs 11-15), Annie Wu & Jordie Bellaire (pgs 16-20)
Letterer: Clayton Cowles (pgs 1-20)
Review by Joey Braccino
Young Avengers deserves ALL THE READS.
What I’m trying to say is: “Kieron Gillen’s handling of Emerging Adulthood through the classic Marvel lens of ‘the Strangest Heroes of All’—meets—‘Great Power = Great Responsibility’ lends Young Avengers a deeper metaphorical thread that enriches the reading experience and elevates the franchise and industry standard.”
So yeah.
ALL THE READS.
After 13 issues of mind-bending post-modern comics storytelling, Gillen kicks off a two-part finale with “Resolution: Part 1.” Set during a dual New Year’s Eve/After-The-Epic-Battle Party, Young Avengers #14 is divided into four five-page stories featuring our favorite young Avengers!
[I totes just started and ended that independent clause with words “Young Avengers.” #FTW]
While most of primary cast shows up in this issue (save for the revealed-to-be-evil-but-still-feeling-guilty-so-he-vanished Teen Loki), it’s the beats featuring Miss America that really soar. Sure, Teddy and Billy have yet another touching moment that reminds us just why their relationship is one of the most endearing and enduring in modern comics, but Gillen reveals some fascinating bits of Miss America’s back story that help reassert the book’s ongoing theme of identity and self-efficacy.
The art for each story is simply fantastic. The different-artist-for-each-story can be a little jarring in some comics, but Young Avengers #14 features multiple artists done right. The corps of artists assembled for this issue represents the best-of-the-best in terms of the quirkier, more idiosyncratic aesthetic of the Marvel house these days. Special props have to be handed out to the editors for grabbing Annie Wu to do the Kate Bishop pages, cementing her status as the Kate Bishop artist given her work on Kate-centric Hawkeye issues!
Oh, and one more thing: ½ the fun of this issue is spotting all the young-hero cameos. Keep your eyes out for Quentin Quire, Blindfold, and Evan from the Jean Grey School!
Oh OH, and one more thing more: Gillen provides a playlist for this issue that has Nelly’s classic “Hot in HERRE” on it. How can you say “no?”
Verdict
Young Avengers #14.
Read it.
Love it.
Read it again.
Then, go out and change the world.
After that, celebrate.
#YOLO
#OneMoreToGo
