Avengers #17: A Storm On The Horizon

Marvel fans everywhere can be forgiven if Ororo Munroe’s initial tenure on the Avengers in 2011 has slipped from their minds, given that her time there was short-lived, uneventful and overshadowed by the Avengers vs X-Men antics dominating that era. Much has changed in the years since, such as the X-division doing everything in their power to revitalize the weather goddess’ status as an all-star A-lister amongst her peers. Now Jed MacKay seeks to keep the storm brewing by making her joining the Avengers feel like the significant crossover it always should have been.

It is a risky endeavor, separating Storm from her fellow mutants when the bonds of found family is such a vital aspect of every x-man’s characterization. But she does not find herself amidst strangers, as Captain Marvel and Scarlet Witch both have long, complicated histories with the mutants. Not to mention her ex-husband T’Challa, with whom her feelings keep peaking and dropping at various levels of angst. MacKay seems fully aware of these pre-established connections and ready to mine all potential drama from them. And while the recruitment of Storm is the biggest development of the issue, it is far from the only one as the comic maintains its wide and even focus on every member of the team.

The avengers have retreated to the Impossible City in the wake of their first real defeat since reforming. While they did manage to turn the tides against the vampire army by the end of Blood Hunt, it was only with the combined efforts of all the Marvel universe’s greatest heroes. Captain Marvel takes full responsibility for not preventing the siege in the first place, and her heart-to-heart with Iron Man about the burden of leadership shows Carol at her most vulnerable. Meanwhile, Scarlet Witch and Vision continue to grow closer as they confide in one another; a new spark of will-they-won’t-they tension that made the couple compelling all those years before. Even Sam Wilson gets his time to shine, being the one to convince Storm why her service on the team would do so much for mutantkind as a whole.

Overall, Avengers #17 is an issue that’s light on action but heavy on heart, with Valerio Schiti’s pencil bringing a convincing level of human emotion to every moment. The team only has a limited time to sulk though, as the mighty Hyperion, reeling from madness, has decided to end it all and take the whole Earth with him. With this unprecedented attack speeding towards her, Storm’s first test as an avenger may become a final exam.