The Avengers #26: A Joust in the Sky

Sam Wilson gives Tony Stark a run for his money by donning armor of his own in Avengers #26, making himself a Captain America unlike the world has ever seen. Having capped off last issue winning a duel against Madcap, Sam and his fresh new suit set out to defeat the remaining Masters of Evil and free the Avenger’s home-base from their clutches.

It is continuously impressive how Jed MacKay, writer of both the flagship Avengers and X-Men titles, has kept the voices of both books distinct. While his X-Men are a ragtag group of rebels using ruthless tactics to survive, his Avengers harken back to a simpler age of grandstanding altruism. It is very much a “Power of Friendship” comic in which teamwork and trust prove to be the best way around every obstacle. Through this theme the bond between heroes old and new has strengthened, and the dynamic blossoming between Sam and the sentient Impossible City is no different.

The two make a surprisingly excellent team with the contrast between Wilson’s down-to-Earth level-headedness and the City’s fanboyish enthusiasm. Artist Andrea Broccardo ensures that the duo look as great as they read, making Sam a shining streak of blue and red amongst the greys of the city’s skyline. The city’s vast and still mostly-unexplored regions are an excellent playground for a high-speed aerial chase between Captain America and Dreadknight. It goes on for several pages yet the illusion of momentum and motion is so palpable that it feels as if the sequence occurs in a flash. Broccardo draws Dreadknight with a certain cartoonish quality to his anatomy: smaller head, longer neck and squarish bulk to his torso. It’s an incredibly fun level of exaggeration granting him much personality without detracting from his intimidating competence; the knight proves to be a worthy foe for even this upgraded Captain America.

While Sam Wilson ultimately comes out on top, the remaining Masters of Evil take advantage of his tiring state and pounce. Pinned down by Mr. Hyde and with the City quickly losing control of itself, it seems as if the tables have been turned. But the Black Panther has returned from his interdimensional odyssey just in time to turn this brutal brawl into a much more even two-on three.