Avengers #19 Review

Writer: Jason Aaron / Artist: Ed McGuinness / Marvel Comics The War of the Realms has reached Avengers Mountain, which is of course the corpse of a space god. This is Jason Aaron’s event, so no surprise there. I haven’t been keeping up with this, but I got the general idea: an army of Asgardian evil is invading all corners of the Earth, forcing our heroes to don badass battle gear. After the previous War of the Realms tie-in issue didn’t address our new Avengers team at all, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one.

Aaron gives us a lot of breathing room with these tie-ins. They describe the events in the main book just enough to inspire curiosity in the main series. During the last two comics, though, they serve to introduce new players while moving the existing ones around in anticipation for the next few storylines. The issue opens with two obscure characters Aaron has brought into the fray: Gorilla Man (a.k.a Ken Hale) of the Agents of Wakanda, and Ursa Major of the Winter Guard. The two exchange information about the events of the last story arc, talking like old friends if one of them had found a dream job and is trying not to backslide into old ways. Gorilla Man goes on to narrate a beautiful, gruff ballad to a few of the Avengers while he receives and executes his latest charge. As head of security he needs to prepare the Avengers Tower for an incoming invasion from the armies of Malekith, King of the Dark Elves. He goes on to sing the praises of Captain America …