Avengers #9: Like Looking in a Mirror

There is a wonderful sense of nostalgia present in the contents of Avengers #9, delivered in a healthy, moderated dosage. “Action-packed” may be a frequently used buzzword in the realm of comics, but no other phrase more accurately describes this issue’s strongest attribute. With rising tensions having broken through the atmosphere, writer Jed MacKay and penciller Francisco Mortarino commit themselves to twenty-one pages of nonstop battle.

It’s no holds barred as the avengers go toe-to-toe with the twilight court, the newly-introduced team of synthetic warriors that want Kang the Conqueror’s head on a platter. Each hero naturally falls into fisticuffs with their mirror opposite, and it becomes quickly apparent that each member of the court was intelligently designed to counter a specific opponent. The comparison doesn’t end at their powersets, as the two factions have perfect matches for each personality. With the what, when and why of the Twilight Court’s creation still being a mystery, this sparks so many engaging questions. Did the villain Myrddin foresee this war with Earth’s heroes and model his own creations after them? Or is there some element of cosmic coincidence that led to the natural formation of two groups of extraordinary individuals?

The exuberant combat brings back fond memories of Kurt Busiek’s run on Avengers, specifically the team’s big confrontation with the squadron supreme. There is a joy and playfulness to each duel despite the story’s dire stakes, a thin line that MacKay walks effortlessly. It is clear that he is having fun with this trip down memory lane, homaging the light-hearted, cheeky banter that was a staple amongst the Avengers comics of past eras. The avengers display a range of emotions during this fight, from aggression to, in the case of Tony Stark, outright friendliness. 

This banter is not all fun and games though, as it also sows additional seeds of intrigue for the twilight court. Despite being relatively young artificial beings, several of them possess ancient mystical artifacts that are conveniently connected to the heroes’ lore.

The avengers realize that they must change tactics and decide to swap opponents, finally giving them an edge. It’s a predictable solution to the problem that executed well enough to make up for it. The avengers have won the battle with the court’s surrender, but they may have lost the war by leaving Kang right where Myrddin wants him.