Volume 12 of the Marvel Avengers Library, edited by Panini, consolidates Roy Thomas's run at the helm of the scripts. The team is defined with a more human lineup, far from its mythical founders, made up of Yellowjacket, Vision, the Wasp, Hawkeye, and Black Panther. The volume is notable for closing Yellowjacket's arc and culminating with his wedding to the Wasp, an event that brings together much of the Marvel Universe of the time.
The artistic rotation as a production system 🖌️
The edition reflects Marvel's working methods at the end of the 60s, with a clear example of artistic team rotation. In these issues, the pencils of John Buscema and Gene Colan alternate, each with their distinctive style, before Barry Windsor-Smith takes over the artwork in later issues. This relay system was common due to the multiple employments of the authors, who worked on several series at the same time. The visual narrative maintains continuity despite the changes, demonstrating the effectiveness of an industrial process adjusted to tight deadlines.
The superheroes' day off: only for weddings 💍
The wedding of Yellowjacket and the Wasp serves as the social event of the year in the Marvel universe. It's curious to see how an invitation achieves what an alien attack cannot: gather a myriad of heroes in the same room without a single incident destroying the city. One imagines Iron Man's agenda: Monday: save the world. Tuesday: board meeting. Wednesday: wedding cocktail with coworkers. It seems that even the villains respected the day off.