With my comic book review of Avengers #7, it is easy to see that at least the idea of universal continuity was beginning to go full swing.  In this issue, from just the opening pages, we have Iron Man facing consequences for his failure to respond to an avengers call, an event that just happened in  Tales Of Suspense #56.  This fact alone awed me, something so recent coming into play, and being at least slightly significant.  But then there was more, with the Enchantress and the Executioner from  Journey Into Mystery #103 , and a tie in to the last issue of Avengers as well. Before even 2 pages in, this review seemed to be off to a good start, with lots of Marvel Universe goodness potential. But does the story titled “Their Darkest Hour!” Live up more to the title, or to be a great shining light for what the marvel universe can be?  Read on, to see what I think about this and more in my comic book review. 

Artwork

First and foremost, I feel Jack Kirby was at the top of his game with this issue, but not just him, chic Stones inking was also second to none,  from both the drawings to the lines and detail work, each page and panel had much to love.   One panel that I found myself just looking at over and  over again, was of Thor’s dream of an evil avengers. just the way our heroes are twisted and changes makes this panel stand out,  and makes me go ‘wow’.  but don’t look at just this example for the fine artwork of this issue, but also read down, and see Odin’s throne room included in a section below.

Characters & Development

Thor and his fellow Asgardians

This issue brings not only Loki back to the Avengers title (although for only a short appearance) it also introduces the other Asgardians for the first time outside of Thor’s own features.  As such, for some readers of this issue, it would have been their first time encountering Odin, seeing Asgard and experiencing  all that it has to offer. Not only does the artwork do it justice, but so does the dialogue; helping bring some background to Thor, just as it helps build the universe.

Captain America and Zemo

With Zemo’s second named appearance, and two issues in a row we begin to see him being built as a major force in not only Captain America’s past, but future as a character.

Giant-Man

One of the last things, i need to bring out, is the re-establishment , or perhaps re-defining of Giant Man’s size limit.  This issue allowing him to push past his 12 foot limit, in a moment of need; but being quite in effective at the larger (40 foot size) Much as he was when he first did it in Tales To Astonish #49.

Originality & Continuity

In the end, this story felt quite original, and amazingly fitting in with the ongoing continuity of not just the Avengers titles, but  those of the teams members.  This is the second issue in a row to feel this strong, universal flow, but perhaps done with a bit more closes in timing with events in its surrounding stories then in the past.

For me, this issue, along with classics like Fantastic Four #26  mark early milestones, not only for strong Continuity, but for an ongoing and all-inclusive marvel universe; something that did form, and endure even to this day, 50 years later.

The Story

All the peace fell, and fit together quite well. In fact, this story seemed not only to be as good as the sum of its parts, but better.  Finely crafted and written, just as it was drawn.  more than just well written, but written with a focus on the details of the characters and their world.

But at last, nothing is perfect, and this book had but one major flaw for me;  In the end, how Thor is broken from his trance, just seemed to pull me out of the story.  It left me disillusioned  but not to the point that I can not see the overall tale for the greatness that it is, and represents.