Review of "Avengers: Endless Wartime," by Warren Ellis et. al.

Review of

Avengers: Endless Wartime, by Warren Ellis et. al. ISBN 9780785184676

Five out of five stars

 In the last part of World War II, Captain America was on a mission to locate and destroy Nazi superweapons being built at a secret site. That mission seemingly ended when the weapons self-desructed, leaving a monstrous crater. Years previously, at least as defined by a God, Thor traveled to Midgard to battle the Nidhogg in an attempt to impress his father. That plan backfired, Thor’s father was displeased and demanded that he learn humility. Somehow, the monsters that Thor battled and the devices that the Nazis created have combined to produce self-reproducing creatures with artificial intelligence.

 The plot of the story is complex, it involves seedy American involvement in the battle to control the government of a country in the Middle East, questionable actions by S. H. I. E. L. D. and internal bickering within the Avengers. It is this bickering that makes the story, for it leads to some of the best dialog ever to appear in a Marvel comic.

 Tony Stark is depicted as a person with a bad disposition that everyone fundamentally dislikes, Hawkeye as someone with a problem consuming questionable chemicals and Bruce Banner is an extremely nerdy scientist with an anger problem. Yet, through it all they are Avengers that must battle a powerful, evil force that is a danger to the world. Therefore, when called on, they all rally to the colors.

 Captain America is once again reminded that the war he was created to fight in has never really ended, both literally and figuratively. Despite occasional misgivings among the group, Cap is still the undisputed leader against all enemies, both super and domestic. When he orders an action or a shift to inaction, the other Avengers obey. Although they often voice a complaint while doing so.

 This is a great story about a group of superheroes with a fluid membership and frequent grumpiness. If there is an anchor, it is Jarvis, the butler of Avengers Tower.