The Avengers always has a rotating roster, but it used to have some limitations. These days just about any Marvel character can be an Avenger, or already has been, and that takes something away from the team, in my opinion. It started when Wolverine and Spider-Man joined - this move may have resulted in higher sales, but it never really made much sense to me . The stories since Avengers Disassembled haven't grabbed me the way the classic title did in the 70's and 80's.
Its good to know I'm not the only one who thinks that the Avengers haven't been the same, and that Wolverine is at best an odd choice.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely- these days, any random assortment of Marvel heroes can be "the Avengers". It's completely ruined the whole idea of the Avengers as a specific team. And Wolverine absolutely should never have been made an Avenger. And I say that as someone who became a huge Wolverine fan before the character became popular, before John Byrne's X-Men run.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I think making Spider-Man an Avenger ruined Spider-Man more than it ruined the Avengers. On some level, Spider-Man needs to be a loner.
But, then, there are plenty of people who had no interest in the classic Avengers who love the current conception of the team- Wolverine and all- and they're not wrong. They're just as entitled to their preferences as you or I are.
I respect your opinion that it doesn't make sense to have either Wolverine and Spider-Man as Avengers. Although I like Spidey as an Avenger and of course more people like him as a loner than an Avenger, Wolverine will always be an X-Man than an Avenger in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI was a fan of The Avengers when The Beast was a member. That was before I was an X-Men fan and knew that Hank McCoy was an original X-Man. Bendis' theory with The New Avengers was A-Listers. Big Guns. Like the Justice League. Okay, so why should The Avengers be the Justice League and not The Avengers. But then, comics is all about gimmicks...
ReplyDeleteWell, even Spidey and Cap realized (after the first time he was officially inducted) that the webslinger is more of a street-level hero than a world-saving hero. Which is why he's technically an Avengers Reservist.
ReplyDeleteI followed the "New" Avengers for about a year or so and slipped off the title after more than forty years. There was just something fundamentally different about a "team" which includes everyone. The distinctive character withered. Now it seems whatever magic they found sure resulted in some sales, so I don't fault them for doing what they did, but it just wasn't the comic I loved for so long.
ReplyDeleteRip Off :)
I'm old enough (54) to remember when someone new joining either the Avengers or the Justice League was considered an event! The Avengers have always played it a little more fast and loose, but I still used to love both books. I tried to follow the Justice League when the New 52 began, but every member except the Flash seemed like big jerks to me. As for the Avengers, they lost me somewhere around the same time .... I guess they don't write the new comics for old guys like me. Fortunately, there are still back issues and reprints around. One of the few new comics I still follow is Scooby-Doo Team-up.
ReplyDeletein all honesty,i never had any interest whatsoever in the "classic" avengers line up. when "new avengers" came out, it completely made me take notice. spider-man, wolverine, luke cage, iron fist & daredevil are more than deserving of the title "avenger". the new avenger line up was always outgunned,but preserved and made the best out of any situation. if it wasn't for bendis and these awesome new additions to the team, the avengers would still be the boring old lame lineup from the 70s & 80s. basically... the new avengers >>> the classic avengers.
ReplyDelete