Remember not long ago when cartoons and movies were around clearly to sell toys? That’s kind of how Avengers: Mech Strike #1 feels, though takes a bit to get there. Giant kaiju, I mean biomechanoids, are threatening the planet and new problems require new solutions. This solution? GIant Avengers mechs piloted by the heroes. Don’t worry they’ve been in the works for a while, also don’t try to think so hard.

Writer Jed MacKay delivers a new spin on the Avengers that feels like it was spun out of a Saturday morning cartoon. It’s Pacific Rim but with biomechanoids instead of Kaiju and one Avenger piloting each Jaeger. But, Avengers: Mech Strike #1 seems to realize all of this, and the general silliness of the concept, and rolls with it. It hopes the readers roll with it too and not think too hard about the situation.

There’s a fun goofiness about Avengers: Mech Strike #1 but it works and works well. MacKay has a good handle on the team though the writing has some small ticks that get irritating as you read them over and over. As the battle wages on characters talk to the team by saying “(fill in character’s name) to Avengers” and when that happens what feels like multiple times on a page and feels rather stilted, it stands out and kills the momentum a bit. But, there’s a solid play between the characters with Spider-Man delivering some humor to everyone else’s rather stiff nature.

The art by Carlos Magno is solid and fun. The action is good and easy to follow as the monster tears apart a neighborhood. The characters look great and everything works together, yes even the mechs look like they fit this world. Magno is helped by Guru-eFX on colors and lettering by Cory Petit. It’s all good but doesn’t quite pop. There aren’t memorable moments visually when there’s an opportunity for a lot, it all feels rather standard, even the ending which should pop.

Avengers: Mech Strike #1 feels like it’s aimed at younger readers who will run out and eventually get the toys tied into the series. It’s a pretty fun comic, though feels a little thin in some ways and you just need to accept the reality. An example is Tony’s mechs match up to the team. Keep in mind the team often changes and these mechs have been worked on for years, so it’s just random that the mechs match the Avengers or there’s a whole bunch more mechs out there for other members.

It’s not a bad comic at all but it also never quite pops the way it could. The story is good. The art is good. It never quite gets to that moment where there’s something really exciting. The comic comes off as an attempt to sell some toys and that’s it.

Story: Jed MacKay Art: Carlos Magno
Color: Guru-eFX Letterer: Cory Pettit
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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