With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Number of Issues: 4
First Issue: May 2008 ($2.99)
Last Issue: December 2008 ($2.99)
Writer: C.B. Cebulski
Artist: various
This is a mini-series comprised of four done-in-one stories. Each issue reimagines a classic fairy tale using characters from the Avengers.
Issue one tells the tale of Peter Pan (Captain America) as he brings two siblings (Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch) back to Neverland. When they’re attacked by Captain Hook (Klaw), they’re joined by Tinkerbell (Wasp) and the Lost Boys (other Avengers) to defeat the villain and his henchmen.
Next up is a re-imagining of Pinocchio with Hank Pym playing the role of Geppetto and the Vision as the son trying to find his humanity. Naturally, no Vision/Pym story would be complete without the Ultron and Jocasta. And we all know that a Pinocchio story needs a Jiminny Cricket … even if it’s filled by the Wasp!
The third issues follows Cassie Lang as she explores Wonderland, encountering the Caterpillar (Ant-Man), Chesire Cat (Tigra), and other familiar characters (filled by the Young Avengers).
Finally, the She-Hulk is joined by a scarecrow (Thor), a tin man (Iron Man) and a cowardly lion (Captain America) on a mission to reunite the Wizard of Oz (Magneto) with his estranged daughter (Scarlet Witch).
The Bad: The only thing I can pick on this series for is that each tale could easily have been fleshed out into a four issue mini series of its own.
the Good: The artwork in each story did a wonderful job of fulfilling that unique storybook quality. All four stories are familiar and embedded in our cultural fabric so seeing them reinvisioned is no sleight to the original. And, seeing them played by Avengers characters makes it even more fun. Besides, where else can you find the line “No More Munchkins“?
The Verdict: Fans of these stories are often curious to see them told in many different ways and styles. Well, here’s yet another way … told with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Fans of the Avengers, who are familiar with these stories, will get a kick out of seeing how much thought was put into the “casting”.
On Ebay: Avengers | Fairy Tales | C.B. Cebulski