The Avengers #8: The King’s Court

In an impressively frugal number of pages, Avengers #8 humanizes its antagonists, the Twilight Court. Otherworldly as they may be, the dynamic between these new characters is all too familiar. Sparring in their spacefaring battle station, the Court banters with warmth and comradery not all that different from Earth’s mightiest heroes. This resemblance extends to their knack for soap opera dramatics, as four members of the motley crew harbor unrequited feelings for each other, forming a steamy love rectangle. This messy yearning ties them not only to the Avengers, but also the characters of ancient Welsh mythology with which they share names.

From Lancelot to Mordred, each superpowered being parallels a figure from Arthurian legend. This medieval theme poses intriguing questions about their origins, given how more traditional iterations of Merlin and King Arthur exist in the mystical side of Marvel’s universe. Even more interesting is how the court refers to one another by titles like “The Icon” and “The Star,” which have served as descriptors for corresponding Avengers since the beginning of this run. This suggests that the disembodied narration comes from the perspective of puppet-master Myrddin, who engineered his own team of heroes to be mirror images of the titular cast.

In some ways, the plot of issue #8 feels like an extended epilogue of the previous, making the comic seem deceptively short. But what substance is there is lean and effective, offering up the spotlight to the always enjoyable duo of Scarlet Witch and Vision. While their unconscious teammates fight  to free their minds from the illusions of Nightmare, the two stand their ground against the full might of the Twilight Court. Their adversaries demand that Kang be executed for his crimes, but the Avengers know that his knowledge is too valuable to lose.

Artist C.F. Villa continues his winning streak of dynamic, easy-to-follow action, portraying Vision and Wanda at the peak of their power. It’s a cathartic sequence, considering how often these two were omitted from the flagship Avengers line-up over the past decade. Additionally satisfying is Thor’s use of brain over brawn to free his companions from Nightmare’s clutches, as his cleverness is a trait often downplayed. His humility saves the day, which is a perfectly sensible quality for the King of Asgard to have. The other avengers awake in time to even the odds, setting up the next issue for an outright war.

Their upcoming clash will be all the more impactful due to how much effort Villa and Mackay have put into making the teams distinguishable. The Twilight Court are not simply sinister palette swaps of the heroes, but they do share subtle visual motifs that make them fitting rivals. Villa has also upped the brutality of the violence to a level not often seen inflicted on these characters. By the end of Avengers #8, Wanda Maximoff is left mostly toothless, a shockingly grounded consequence that hammers home how the team has met their match.