Now has come the time for me to review Avengers #5,  where we have the first issue of avengers with Captain America as a full member, and  even after the epic battle with the hulk in Fantastic Four, we have  him returning for this tale,  titled  “The Invasion Of The lava Men!”

That is right, for those who remember, this is a follow up of not only the recent avengers stories in Fantastic Four and Avengers #4 & #3, but also Journey Into Mystery #97.  And in this tale, we don’t have just one Lava man, but a whole army, and a weapon like none other, the living rock!

Artwork

I feel that the artwork in this issue, was well done,  in particular I liked the scene where we have the lavamen working to raise the living rock above the surface. it is the first page after the all telling cover to show us the lavamen as responsible for the strange growing rock.

I also like how each of the key lavamen are giving a different, and defining look, from the witch-doctor to the ruler, and beyond.   this helps give them some character beyond just their group identity.

Characters & Development

it is in this issue that we also have the beginning’s of a ‘team’ structure for the early avengers forming.  in that we have iron man, issuing a command; and caption america stating to rick that ‘we don’t question each others commands’.  this is not so much defining a leader, but instead establishing a means of command without a set leader.  the question is how will this evolve and will it stick?

Originality & continuity

you can not say anything bad about continuity for this one, coming in and referencing the epic cross title story that has occurred between the avengers and the hulk, and in its own way continuing it. This to me is almost the early stages of what one day could have been a comic book saga.