Avenger Books

if you want suspense, adventure, and raw emotions, thise is the book!! A look at what Christian's call the End of the Age, yet with a cutting-edge not seen in this genre before

Most emotional and thrilling Christian fiction
out there about the END TIMES !!

A most creative, suspenseful, and bizarre piece of literature.
Leads you through a gambit of emotions.

The Lamb's Avenger is a fast paced gripping tale of the end times. Better then the Left Behind series of novels. It is a honest brutal depiction of the end times. The main character is believable and human. He has the same failings as many mainstream christians yet triumphs through his diversity. A rapid page turner that is hard to put down.

Brutally honest look into the "End Times"--
Powerful in its storytelling!
Far more gripping than the Left Behind Series!

I really enjoyed re-reading this collection from 1973. I remember when it was being published and my brother and my best friend would wait at the gift shop for each new issue. I was a "big" collector back then, and this was the highlight of all my collection. Avengers vs. Defenders, the hours we spent debating who was stronger, smarter, more super. Truly a great collection, for first time readers and old folks like me, who want to relive the greatest comics of our own day.
Buy it you won't be sorry.
Nuff said.

It was nice to finally read this storyline in a collected edition. I had most of these issues as a kid, but never got the whole story. It's not the best of the Avengers, but it's a decent read, esp for fans of the Avengers bronze age.

I take the point that there's way too much narration -- not like today's comics which have a big movie influence. And it's true that Dr. Strange seems underpowered one-on-one, but awfully powerful in the global sense, as if the writer really couldn't get his mind around the scope of Strange's power and depth (though one could contend that Dr. Strange's archenemy was using all sorts of tricks to keep Strange stumbling).

That said -- this has got to be the most quotable comic ever! Not from the narration, but from the dialog. You could base your whole life on the quotes from this series! Examples (they do make more sense in the story):

HAWKEYE: I ain't playin a lone hand if a guy who never hassled me needs help {kinda 70's I know -- but it was the 70s)

IRON MAN: I never did put much trust in man who claims to work magic...

NARRATOR: A prize is only a prize if it is valuable to its possessor {I know -- it's not a quote. It's narration. But true!)

HAWKEYE: Make it "Clint," Val, and I crave action too .

BLACK PANTHER: Better find a way, Prince of the Wakandas! It must be done!

VALKYRIE: Threats? From a man with a pretty moustache?

VALKYRIE: Where the Valkyrie walks is something you have absolutely no control over. I'll leave here when I please...

SWORDSMAN: You overestimate yourself all the way around, lady, and you underestimate me.

SUB-MARINER (to SUNFIRE): Why, you nationalistic moron!

SUB-MARINER: Believe me or don't! I shall waste no more time on you. Let the fish devour you now for all I care.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: Luck like that must be trying to tell me something. It's saying Don't ask questions -- Just do what you came for and get out.

SUB-MARINER (in response): That may be what luck is saying, Captain America -- but I say -- Luck can be broken. Exactly like you.

THOR: Naught but my death will satisfy him now!

VALKYRIE: While any of us breathes, we shall never be slaves

VISION: Logical exploration of ideas never offends me. But I can't provide a satisfactory explanation at this time { kind of a weak one to end on -- but of much more use than the Thor quote...}

For all this there's plenty of cosmic action and the like. Buy it!

This is the classic Avengers/Defenders book that you can't put down! The classic 70's writers and artists are all here. Steve Englehart, writer and Bob Brown and Sal Buscema as artists. It's about Loki, the Avengers first adversary and how he teams up with Dr. Strange's nemesis, Dormammu! It's an all out slug festival to the finish with Marvel's finest talent. I wish they made them like this again. All the artists today get their contract and are in and out like yesterday's news. Bob Brown was one of Marvels most under rated artists. He also did the art chores on Daredevil. Sal Buscema was a workhorse and provided a lot of classic material that still stands up today. Writer Steve Englehart was another one of those names you never heard a lot about..however they were the mainstay at Marvel in the 70's ...

This was a funner time in comics, campier and much more "Shakespearean" than we see today. Unfortunately, I am so used to the modern comic, looking back on this piece of the 70's, I can't really get too into it. They did a great job with the recoloring and it was a fun overall idea. The main problem was it made both teams seem like little children, who don't seem to think before they act. Dr. Strange comes out looking like an idiot, which is just wrong. The fights though, were fun and actually made some sense. The dialogue was too campy, and there were those cute little references they used to always make everywhere (i.e. "check out Avengers 145, bravo Bob - Timmy). I don't really regret buying this, but I know that I probably won't read it again. You just have to have a real appreciation for the comics of the past, and this is just before my time.

Iron Fist has never been an A-list character. Like Shang Chi the Master of Kung Fu, Iron Fist had an uneventful run before hitting his groove as the partner of Luke Cage as a Hero for Hire. Cut in the mould of Bruce Wayne (Batman) and Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) - ergo, the playboy with a lot of money and superpowers, blonde Daniel Rand has never really matched the former two in personality.

This new chapter of Iron Fist however, tries to retool Iron Fist by tapping into his mystic origins ala Batman Begins...and largely succeeds. Vol 1 was alright and Vol 2 steps up the storytelling. If kung fu heroics and intrigue are your thing, then Iron Fist will keep you happy. An interesting array of artists takes on the reins, making this a vivid showcase. The story would have worked better minus the happy Hollywood ending and really should veer into the noir territory. There seem to be a lot of possibilities for the character - the writers should look at the early Shang Chi comics which painted a very grey world.

We meet new warriors in this novel, giving us more insights into the Iron Fist origins and fascinating backstory. These characters add a hint of the possible manga-like direction of the series - if handled correctly. If not, they will just be hokey sidekicks to Iron Fist. Fraction or whoever is writing this needs to ditch the conventional superhero schtick - a limitation of the writing - and research the cosmic possibilities out there. And please - forget about Hydra which the writer indicates as "Hydra fights like they're fighting for a pay check..." - exactly the problem. Make it deadly. The writers need to study the East a lot more to make this fly.

Note: Orson Randall - the mysterious Iron Fist from the past added an interesting pulp fiction angle to the heroics - ala Doc Savage. I would argue that the old Iron Fist stories provide a richer and more appropriate setting for Iron Fist and should be further explored. In all, this book is a decent return to form for a character that still needs more development. 3 & a 1/2 stars.

excellent run: the quite obscure Iron fist character is given a solid background and new dynamics by the great team of brubacker, Fraction and Aja.
A must read for whoever love superheroes and martial arts

The principle thing that makes me give this book 5 stars is what it isn't. It isn't typical superhero fare, it hasn't typical superhero art and when you see the story is going to end with the typical "death match with the evil baddie getting his comeuppance", it doesn't.

Fraction is the writer on the rise at Marvel Comics and Brubaker is, well, Brubaker. He's the guy that killed off Steve Rogers and is still selling the book to fans (like me) who cannot get enough of it. In this tale, he is channeling elements of the pulps, from Argosy-type adventurers to tales of the "Mysterious East". Together, they are working genres filled with stereotypes and yet making it all feel fresh and new.

David Aja's art is perfectly suited to the story being told. His martial arts choreography is solid and his noir style fitting. If you like the pulps - hard-boiled detectives to tales of exotic places - or even the old movie serials, this is the book you're looking for. The story is rich and complex, but easy to follow, and the art is superb. All in all, a perfect melding of pictures and words.
Throw in Luke Cage and the Heroes for Hire and how can you go wrong?

Let me start out by saying that Matt Fraction has a hell of a career ahead of him. Boy can this guy write! He's gained so much popularity with Marvel due to his craft that he's even leaving Iron Fist (unfortunately) to go write on X-Men (Yeah!). And this Aja artist is something else too. Boy can he draw the kung-fu type of story that kung-fu fanatics like! His picture renderings of Fraction's words are amazing. This volume of stories, not to give away too much, focuses on the battles being waged by several clans of Mystical Powers in the sacred city of "Heaven". These clans each have their own master, all of them cool and very powerful in their own rights, with Danny Rand, the current Iron Fist, just being one of them. These stories also include former Iron Fists and Luke Cage and the new Heroes for Hire. Just an all around great story.
Peace and Love,
Jake

Seriously, who would have thought that a lower-tier character like Iron Fist would ever have gotten his own series that is this good? The writing team of Ed Brubaker (Captain America, Daredevil) and Matt Fraction (Punisher War Journal, The Order) deliver a title that combines nods to the 70's kung-fu era that helped birth the character, and just plain great storytelling. The Seven Capital Cities of Heaven, the second collected volume of Brubaker and Fraction's run on Immortal Iron Fist, finds Danny "Iron Fist" Rand possibly in over his head as there are those seeking to end the Iron Fist legacy. Continuing with flashbacks, backstory, and the fleshing out of one of the best supporting casts in all of mainstream comics today, The Seven Capital Cities of Heaven ends up reaching heights that you may not expect. The story may be a bit too convoluted and the mix of mysticism and martial arts mythology may be nothing new, but Brubaker and Fraction manage to weave a storyarc that is ever-twisting and even more enjoyable. David Aja's artwork continues to impress as well, as he stands as the absolute best artist to ever render Iron Fist, and his action sequences are simply spectacular. All in all, if you've been missing out on Immortal Iron Fist, you are doing youself a great disservice, and you deserve to check out one of the most surprising new series' to come out of Marvel in quite some time.

I, like every other self-respecting Conservative should be thanking Mr. Hamblin for saying things that most of us can't. We can't because we may lose our jobs and careers in the fear of being "politically correct." Mr. Hamblin has no regard for politically correctness.

This book is a collection of his insightful commentary from the late 90s. He deals with touchy subjects such as race, the Clinton's, and Affirmative-Action, among others.

We should be thanking Mr. Hamblin for his truthful writings about the way things really are in America.

Wow! I can't believe how powerful and eye opening this book is. It has truley affected the way that I look at the world and most of all politics. Ken Hamblin has managed to reveal the truth behind the democrats and their movement for a socialist/borderline communist society. He explains how the ACLU is methodically tearing the United States apart under a guise for "liberty." He exposes Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton for the racist hypocrites that will "sell out their own mother for a buck."
This is a must read for all High School students and every patriotic American that doesn't want his/her nation destroyed by the sick, manipulative, and twisted leftist regime.
Plain Talk and Common Sense has opened my eyes and shook the liberal ground that I once walked upon. Thank you for for the wise and crafty insight. This book has changed me for the better and I strongly recommend that you read it too!!!
-Gregg Shippee

Ken Hamblin says what alot of mainstream, get-up-in-the-morning-and-go-to-work black Americans think but don't say. His writing is somewhat frenetic, but the energy and urgency are thrilling. Just get a tight grip on page 1 and hold on.

I admit I haven't read the book yet but this response is directed at the reviewer from Kirkus Reviews. Ken Hamblin is unabashedly conservative, did you expect him to give liberals the kid glove treatment? Once again, Kirkus demonstrates its bias against anything and anyone conservative. He calls it the way he sees it - that modern day liberalism at the root of the problems black America, and America at large, faces. Hamblin pulls no punches and why should he? To satisfy some liberal that will never accept him or his views? GET REAL KIRKUS!

I had never heard of Mr. Hamblin when I picked up this book at the store for five bucks. Without any background, I thought it might be an interesting read...in other words, I expected some true discussions involving common sense.

What I ended up getting were two general themes and convoluted logic bearing more similarity to nonsense than common sense:

First is the idea that since Mr. Hamblin made it from poverty to the upper class, anyone else that can't make it just isn't trying hard enough. He basically states that society should not help anyone, because if they can't make it on their own....tough! Of course, he readily admits that he got his start as a result of Affirmative-Action, a program of which he now wants to dispose.

So sadly, he responds to a woman working three jobs to make ends meet that she isn't trying hard enough or she'd make it out of her situation. He never once admits to the fact that not everyone gets the breaks and the opportunities that he got.

Secondly, Mr. Hamblin seems to think that every ill in the world is the result of liberals. He even links liberals to issues that they have nothing to do with. Oh well, I guess he needs a scapegoat from somewhere.

I read this book all the way through, only for one reason...it is a good reminder that we can't let our guard down for one minute against such arrogant ignorant right wingers as Hamblin. For this purpose, I highly recommend this book...it will scare the socks off of you.

Before this '80s work- Byrne drew the Avengers in the late '70s, issues 181-191, with 189-191 being some of my all-time favorites. After his great work with DC's Man of Steel in the mid-'80s, he returned to Marvel's Avengers in '89, this time with this west coast team.

Highlights here for me...
*Issues 43 & 44- Hawkeye & Mockingbird reunited. And the west coast team searches for & finds the Vision. I've never seen Vision quite like this! The team is in turmoil, and the government intervenes, bringing them a special new member. Features Hawkeye, Wonderman, Hank Pym, Wasp, Tigra, Scarlet Witch & more.
*Issue 45- U.S. Agent & the new Vision. And Hawkeye quits the team?
*Issue 46- The Great Lakes Avengers. 'Nuff said!
*Issue 50- The *original* Human Torch! It's the return of a Golden Age great, and he actually joins the team.

I love Byrne's artistic vision, the Avengers in general, and especially the Avengers west coast team in the '80s. Here we get all three! This isn't usually considered his best work, but it *is* among my favorites. The clarity & consistency in his artistic vision never ceases to amaze me. In this paperback he touches on story points he previously visited in titles like Avengers & Fantastic Four. He especially, continually references the Invaders all throughout his career, and I actually appreciate these brief flashbacks.

Included in this volume:
*Issues #42 to #48 & #50- John Byrne writes & pencils; Mike Machlan inks
*Issue #49- John Byrne writes, pencils & inks

P.S. And check out this definitive career interview with Byrne: Modern Masters, Vol. 7: John Byrne. With great art & information, it's highly recommended!

This is a very good run, showcasing what makes the Avengers, the Avengers. John Byrne used to epitomize Marvel for most of us, this book made you forget which was the real Avengers book at the time. The seeds of Dissasembled begin here, we also have the creation of the GLA here. John's artwork is great as always, I cant wait for the 2nd one ( if they make on ) to come, that was where even better stories resided

great pick up

the picture is of the original issue cover, whats the trade cover look like? has anyone actually bought this and if so, is it in color or one of those hideous black and white newspaper print reprints marvel is releasing these days? i do not want to pay 17 dollars for something that looks photocopies and torn out of an old newspaper

ok he may have lost most of his skills in writing and drawing, but back then he was one of the greats of the comic world, he touched a comic and it was gold, from x-men to superman, F4 and his lesser known work on avengers west coast, nt his first time on an avengers title, but some of his best work.

the story reprints 42-50 of avengers west coast,it's a great run, and the characters are a little more oddball with the likes of tigra and others on the roster, but it's what makes it work, they are a cast of characters you can't help but love, from the rebel hawkeye to the fun tigra or the stoic vision.

The art is fantastic, byrnes art is alive, full of fun, he knows how to really make a comic seem like it's alive and moving, it's a shame his talent has went downhill, but don't let any of his recent work scare you away, in fact you can see some of his work on the cover or by searching for the issues online, checking the covers to see how well he could draw a scene.

I only hope they follow this up with a trade or two and finish byrnes run, it follows the further adventures of these characters and would go great with this trade, but never fear, you get a good complete story in this book, and if you want a fun adventure or looking for more avengers, then get this.

This story is good but incomplete. It tdeals with the first half of the Scarlet Witch's mental breakdown(issues 42-50). The premise of the graphic novel is that the Vision is missing and his team mates must find him. The story is good and the villains behind the kidnapping are unexpected.
The original 19 issue story arc (WCA 42-60) is basically Avengers Disassembled on a smaller scale. It details the different factors that drive the Scarlet Witch to become a blood thirsty anti-human villain and the person who is behind this.

An excellent collection of The Avengers and their ongoing adventures! How could you not like the introduction of Thanos and the recruitment of Beast?!

how's that for a pretentious title? this and vol. 5 of the Avengers have contained most of my favorite stories so far. in this one, we finally get to the origin of the Vision, my favorite Avenger. we learn how and from when he came (i won't ruin it for you if you don't know, but i'd be surprised if anyone reading this doesn't) and his purpose in life.
we also get a double wedding ceremony, magic, racism and all sorts of guest stars.
the reprinting in this is OK. it was designed as a color book, so sometimes the shading is missing, but overall you can tell what is supposed to be going on. besides, for the price, you can't beat it!
now, when's v. 7 coming out?

Essential Avengers Volume 6 is a good addition to the other volumes - it contains some of the core stories that inform things to come. It doesn't have as much of the beautiful art of John Buscema or George Perez (but wait for volume 7, Perez's run is in there most likely).

Some of the George Tuska art inside this volume is very classy - it's old dschool but he really knows how to draw people and their emotions. The character development of the Swordsman in this one is pretty cool, and there is a romantic triangle between Scarlet Witch, Vision, and Mantis.

Also, you get the first appearance of the Legion of the Unliving (although I like the one that happened in the 80's Avengers Annual #16, where the Legion of the Unliving was stacked with undead powerhouses! check that one out if you have not already - great story with art by a lot of different artists - in that one, undead Bucky swats the Wasp and undead Korvac fights Silver Surfer).

The plotlines of the issues in this one are particularly good from start to finish, and it includes a decent origin of the Vision that was retconned out later.

The Avengers have seen their share of ups and downs as a comic. Despite a stellar assembly of stars (or not) - in reality, the title often struggled to live up to what it proclaimed to be: The World's Mightiest Heroes. By the last collection of Essential Avengers (# 5), the swinging sixties by Stan and gang were over, and a new cohort of writers took over.

Steve Englehart mans this period of the Avengers with pretty good plotting, but the same problem that plagued the previous collection remains: a lack of strong villains. I have never considered Cornelius Lunt and the Zodiac group (groan) a legit threat to the Avengers - a bunch of guys in animal suits just do not make threatening villains! And Kang the conquerer appears again, and again...

Kang has always been a 2nd rate Dr Doom to me. However, we do get Thanos and Ultron 5 in this - serious baddies. With a dearth of bad guys, Engleheart does a novel turn and even summons up the undead - Frankenstein, Baron Zemo, The Ghost, The Human Torch and Wonder Man - in a strange but colorful yarn.

Much of the book focuses on Mantis (who?). This Asian heroine and the dear Swordsman - feel strained and out of place in the Marvel pantheon. Looking back now, they were hardly the stuff of Marvel legend - but they occupy a sizable part of the narrative here. Although I care little about Mantis, the storyline that Engleheart weaves is compelling enough to follow, Zodiac warts and all. I'm still confused about what a Celestial Madonna is and anyone reading the book, pls. let me know.

Most importantly, we get the Vision's origin story extensively told. And a nice origin of the Kree-Skrull war which I never knew about. This is the highlight of the book. But why Marvel had to employ so many artists and inkers - from Don Heck to George Tuska to John Buscema to Dan Adkins to Rich Buckler to Don Heck and Johnny Craig, etc - it's amazing how many artists took the reigns issue after issue. Although this affects the style and consistency - it's interesting to see how the different styles (many dated now) pan out. No artist took ownership of the Avengers during this period, which reflects badly on Marvel.

Overall, the Avengers were destined for greater things. Engleheart's sometimes convoluted storylines (remember his work on Dr Strange) may not be for everyone. But this is a readable book overall. Not the classic Avengers Assemble we've all come to love, but more like the Avengers Roll Along!

I've been a long time fan of the Avengers comic book, but I have never fully understood the name. The Fantastic Four were a quartet, the Defenders defended the Earth against evil and the X-Men owed their name to Professor Xavier. The Avengers, however, weren't truly avenging anything. It's just one of those random thoughts that ran through my head as I read Essential Avengers Volume 6.

This volume covers issues 120-140 of the Avengers comic, along with Giant Size Avengers 1-4, Captain Marvel #33 and Fantastic Four #150. Although the exact lineup would change over this time span, the central members would be the Vision, Scarlet Witch, Mantis, Iron Man and Thor. Among others also participating are Black Panther, Hawkeye, Captain America, Beast, Yellowjacket, Wasp and Swordsman. And since this is the team of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the villains are pretty tough too, including Ultron, Thanos, the Zodiac, Dormammu and Klaw.

The main villain, however, during this set of issues is clearly Kang the Conqueror, who, among other things, has his eyes set on marrying the Mantis who apparently is also something called the Celestial Madonna. Of course, as always, he will fail, but there are a number of marriages in this issue, most notably between the Vision and Scarlet Witch and between Quicksilver and Crystal. This volume will also provide the full origins of both the Mantis and Vision.

As always, the Avengers remain entertaining, and these issues are helped by the presence of many core members - Thor, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Vision and Scarlet Witch - although the other superheroes typically associated with the team - Captain America, Yellowjacket and Wasp - only appear a limited amount. If you are a fan of either the Avengers or mid-70's Marvel, this volume should be read.

My brother was a huge Captain America fan, and collected the Invaders comic back in the day. I read them, but recalled with great disgust the incredibly (as has been noted, but then dismissed by a previous reviewer) amateurish, sloppy, and downright AWFUL artwork by Frank Robbins. It made enjoying these stories VERY difficult. And you'll notice, they had SOMEBODY ELSE recreate the Robbins' cover art from the first issue for the cover of this collection. If his work was that good, they wouldn't have had a more talented person redo the same cover trying to sell it.

Some of the best comics I would sneak and get out of my older brother's box were the Invaders! A great way for marvel to add some history to comics and bring back some classic 1940's characters that we might have never heard of along with mainstream ones we know and love.

I have all these after years of searching but I jumped at the chance to get them in TPB.

Maybe one day we can get a TPB of the All Winners comics(All-Winners Squad) and other classic 1940's books! here is hoping !

I read most of this run of comics in my youth. Oddly they fired my interest in WWII and made me dig into the facts around the superheroic adventures Marvel portrayed. I love these comics with a blind devotion but as an adult I can see flaws that weren't there for a younger me. Still, these are great tales well told and I look forward to seeing the next volumn come out. I love being able to read these books again without hunting through endless boxes of comics or trolling on eBay.

It's no lie that writer Roy Thomas is a fan of the Golden Age of comics. He's proven it time and again on titles like All-Star Squadron, Infinity Incorporated, Alter Ego, and even in the Avenger's Kree-Skrull War. But these all pale when it comes to the Invaders, Thomas' ultimate tribute to the Marvel Comics heroes of the Forties. INVADERS CLASSIC VOLUME 1 collects Giant-Size Invaders #1, Invaders #1-9, and Marvel Premiere #29-30... the first of Rascally Roy's retroactive adventures featuring the greatest heroes of World War 2.

Captain America, the Sub-Mariner, and the Human Torch take the fight to the Axis powers in Europe, with help from Bucky, Toro, Union Jack, and the Liberty Legion. They face insidious Nazi threats such as Master Man, Brain Drain, the Red Skull, Baron Blood, and even a trio of ancient Germanic gods! Thomas is clearly in his element as he pulls out all the stops. His encyclopedic knowledge of classic comics, mixed with superb plotting, and knowing nods to the stories and culture of the time, makes this series a complete blast. As for artist Frank Robbins: while his work is often labeled "unrealistic", "rushed", or just plain "sloppy", it looks absolutely beautiful on this title. His style is more that of a comic STRIP artist, comparable to the work of Milton Caniff. Robbins' pencils are stylish and dynamic, show an excellent command of line and shadow, and his skill at depicting military hardware is on brilliant display in this book. In fact, this style would have fit right in at EC Comics on titles like Frontline Combat or Two-Fisted Tales.

I am so happy that Marvel decided to give the Invaders the Classic treatment, and I am looking forward to further volumes. Don't make me wait!

Wow! When I saw that Marvel was putting out a collection of Invaders stories I jumped for joy. I can still remember the thrill of that cover to Giant-Sized Invaders # 1 when I was a little kid. New to comics, I didn't know too much but I liked Captain America (natch) and there he was exploding off the cover. This book was really a lot of fun. And it was a decent size collection where Marvel included the issues of Marvel Premiere that introduced the Liberty Legion. Well done there. I just really enjoyed re-reading these classics. So much fun. And I am anxiously waiting for the next volume (or dare I say volumes) in the series. I really hope they put out the whole run. While the whole run wasn't as good as the early issues, it's still worthwhile. Once Thomas and Robbins left, it lost a little steam but 'The Battle of Berlin' with the Master Man and Warrior Woman parodies of Superman and Wonder Woman was just a great comic book run. What can I say. I'm a fan for life.
Make Mine Marvel!!!

OK. I've been reading Dr. Strange off and on for over 30 years; and I found this to be just about the BEST Dr. Strange I've ever seen. Beautiful artwork by Marcos Martin; nice story by Vaughan with a touch of humor.

If you enjoy this title I'd highly recommend Batgirl: Year One (Batman) also amazingly illustrated by Marcos Martin. And winner of Wizard's Best Mini-Series of 2003.

I have not been an avid reader of Doctor Strange, but when I saw that Brian K. Vaughn was behind this project, I HAD to pick it up!

The Oath is a wonderful play on Doctor Strange's Hippocratic oath as a Doctor and the oath made to protect those around him.

The pacing of this book is fun and it's a great introductory read for this character. Funny, Good Action, and cool plot twists in this one! No prior knowledge is needed and the story wraps up really nicely. So if you're just looking for your one and only Doctor Strange book to check out, The Oath is the way to go.

Check out more of Brian K. Vaughn's work:
Pride of Baghdad
Running (Runaways (Marvel))
Y: The Last Man Vol. 1: Unmanned

Wonderful blend of Doctor Strange's early medical career/Hippocratic Oath with his magical destiny as the Sorceror Supreme. 'The Oath' was so engaging that I believe that it could make for a great animated DVD. I was very impressed with Brian K. Vaughan's writing. Since this is my first exposure to him, I will definitely try out some of his other projects. Hope he does another Doctor Strange mini... or better yet, and ongoing series!

Dr Strange discovers an elixir than can cure every disease known to man. But when a pharmaceutical company attempts to steal the magic potion, all but a drop is destroyed, leaving Strange with an ethical dilemma. Should he fulfill his Hippocratic Oath by using the remaining drop to manufacture more, or by administering the drop to a dear friend under immediate threat of death from a crippling brain tumor.

Under less capable hands, the story might have been a dour fable of friendship and the greater good dressed up in pseudo-Eastern mysticism. Writer Brian K. Vaughan, though, has tongue firmly planted in cheek, spicing up a fairly mediocre story with some wonderful one-liners. Brought into an emergency medical clinic after having been shot, Strange goes through an abbreviated version of his origin story, revealing himself as the Sorcerer Supreme, to which the attending physician reacts: "You're serious? You call yourself the "Sorcerer Supreme"? And you say you _used_ to be arrogant?" When Strange observes that the physician has an unusually strong interest in superheroes, she replies in reference to Strange's servant Wong: "I'm not sure anyone with his personal slave boy should be talking about other people's fetishes." Later Strange recites from a book of incantations a spell written in Latin and ending with - "Abracadabra." And these examples are just a few of the gags found in the first chapter alone.

This book reprints all five issues first published in booklet form in 2006 and features the art of Marcos Martin, a man who obviously enjoyed reading the early Dr Strange stories. In many of Strange's poses, in the framing and layout of panels, and in his depiction of the spirit worlds, Marcos lovingly evokes the charm of Steve Ditko.

Art and script work well together for an hour's worth of lightweight reading, a far better choice when compared to the hours you'd have to invest in the voluminous pretension of Marvel's Civil War.

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I used this book over Winter vacation for review with my son who is in 4th grade- We had a great time reading the story and we liked the way the math skills were mixed and reviewed throughout the book. I wish I had learned math from a talking guinea pig named Cocoa!!!

My third graders were spell bound everyday I read a chapter for them. No one said a word and quickly wanted to answer the math problem if they could. I found it worked real well before lunch and they were expecting it at that time everyday. The math problems can be done easily by third grade but once in a while it turned into a higher teaching lesson which spiked their interest more because I told them "This is a 4th/5th grade problem, but we can do it!" Would recommend to all 3-6 grades.

I'm in fourth grade and this book reminds me of Roald Dahl's James and Giant
Peach, but it has a lot of math in it too! It was a lot of fun to do the math
and read the story!

I use this book with my fourth grade class and they love it! I have never seen my students so excited to read and solve math problems. I have them take turns reading and they all solve the math problems together. A great mix of literacy and mathematic skills! Thank you Mr. R.

This is the second book in Alexander Kent's Richard Bolitho's series. Our hero, Richard, is assigned to his brother's small craft to ferret out and destroy some smugglers/pirates on the southwest English shore. The story was fine, but what really draws me to this series is that there is lots of action. Something is always going on. Kent doesn't bore us with trivial details and long explanations. This is a good book and a worthy read.

Alexander Kent goes back to the start of the career of Richard Bolitho, and with his usual exciting, detailed style rushes you forward into the career of a British naval officer during the American Revolution and the Napolionic wars. Exciting, humanistic and very informative about the British navy and the ships the men served.

A fictional British Navel officer's life story modeled on England's greatest war hero, Admiral Nelson. This long series of tales begins with a simple tale of a young man going to sea in the age of "wooden ships and iron men". The series follows Midshipmen Bolitho up thru the ranks to Admiral and reports on many of the great sea battles of the time; Trifalger & Battle of Copenhagen. Probably the best of this type of tale since C.S. Forrester's "Horatio Hornblower" series. Once you start reading you'll find yourself hungry for the next installment and dreading the inevitable that some day you will have read them all... Generally not available in the US except thru Amazon.

The Richard Bolitho series is one of the most popular of all naval fiction series. The author brings authenticity to the subject having served in World War II in the Royal Navy and being a sailor in his own right. Perhaps that is why I found Richard Bolitho and the Avenger disappointing. It is a novel that could be much better.

In Richard Bolitho and the Avenger, Bolitho returns to his native Cornwall following his adventures in Richard Bolitho Midshipman. He brings fellow midshipman Martyn Dancer along. After some home cooking and introductions, it becomes obvious that there is something rotten in Cornwall. Murder, smuggling and witchcraft appear to be present in the area. Bolitho and Dancer spend the rest of the book trying to solve the mysteries on land and sea. Some of Bolitho's family relationships are explored along the way. The story is respectable if familiar and the novel is a quick light read. It is neither challenging nor terribly rewarding.

I was disappointed in several ways with Richard Bolitho and the Avenger. There is not much to this novel. The copy that I read was a hardback published in 1978 with a price tag of $10.50 which doesn't seem too unreasonable. However, there were only 143 pages and the print was not small. I don't think Kent gave the readers value for their money. Unlike its predecessor, much of the action takes place on land. Sure there are sailing passages and the climactic scene does take place at sea but it reads more like a change of pace for the author. It might have suited Kent after 10 years of Bolitho adventures but it doesn't fit when reading the series chronologically. Also, Bolitho seems to know less about command than he did in the first book.

Richard Bolitho and the Avenger is an enjoyable little story and it can be read in one sitting but I wouldn't go out of my way to obtain it. It's much like paying for a pint and getting a glass: you might enjoy what you got but still think that there should have been more.