Avengers Mech Strike #1: Taking Them on a Test Drive

It’s time for the Avengers to go full MECH! In Avengers Mech Strike #1 we are introduced to a classic superhero battle against an unknown evil biomechanical alien that even eight of the strongest Avengers struggle to bring down. The technology that powers this alien pushes them into what is essentially as an arms race paving the way for our heroes to don new mech suits to face the threat head on.

Mech stories seem to be finally finding a new wave of popularity in western entertainment after enjoying mainstream success in mediums like manga and anime for years. Because I’m such a fan, I was immediately excited when Avengers Mech Strike was announced, seemingly capitalizing on the huge suits of mechanical armor in comics where they are terribly underused. But a comic like this can only work under certain conditions, and one of those simply needs to be creative freedom. Luckily, Marvel gives the creative team plenty of that in our first issue of Avengers Mech Strike. Jed MacKay delivers a simple enough premise, but one that is convincing enough to get us on board with the team’s decision to bring in the mech suits. While the story isn’t revolutionary by any means, it gives artist Carlos Magno and colorist Guru-eFX a wonderful opportunity to have fun with some outstanding Avengers visuals. Every page is seems to be a surprising treat to look at.

The issue feels cinematic which only helps to sell the grand aspirations. It excels due to it’s accessibility and willingness to hit the ground running, pulling off a story with plenty of action and more heart than you might expect, thanks in no small part to Spidey’s heartwarming banter of course. I don’t need lengthy walls of text to explain why the Avengers are using mech suits or unlimited tie-ins exploring various facets of how they were developed, and this issue proves to be so much fun because it doesn’t get bogged down in any of the complications. It knows what it needs to be and this awareness helps it to be an issue you don’t want to put down.

There isn’t much in the way of character development (this is no Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans for those wondering), which could prove to be a downfall later on despite not hindering much in this first issue, but the dynamics between all the characters feels spot on. Petit’s lettering helps to carry us from one group exchange to another broken up by some intense action sequences and establishes a strong pacing. It’s ultimately a book that is easy to enjoy and that is exactly what I wanted out of it. None of the characters feel forgotten or misplaced, the stakes are real and the future is poised for a LOT more action-packed mech fighting. What more could you want?

Without being too picky, that answer to that question would be seeing the mechs actually fighting. But while we might not have gotten a chance to see the mech’s in action in the first issue, Avengers Mech Strike #1 is undoubtedly a super fun comic that will have you excited for what the second issue holds. Is it the most thought provoking and insightful comic you will read all year? Probably not.

But it might be one of the most fun comics you’ll read all year!