First Look: Storm Joins the Avengers

Marvel Comics has unveiled a special first-look preview of Jed MacKay and Valerio Schiti’s upcoming Avengers #17. Beloved X-Men member Ororo Munroe alias Storm will join a new roster of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as a deadly threat looms in the highly anticipated August issue.

Marvel‘s preview reveals Ororo affably welcoming Sam Wilson’s Captain America as the pair meet on a city rooftop. Per the publisher, Avengers #17 will see Storm “immediately get put to the test when a deadly threat sets its vengeful sights on Earth, and even the X-Men’s resident goddess will need a hand to face this immensely powerful villain.” In the upcoming issue, Storm joins the Avengers following the events of Fall of the House of X and Blood Hunt.

Avengers #17

Written by JED MACKAY Art by VALERIO SCHITI Color by BRYAN VALENZA Cover by JOSHUA CASSARA

Storm will undoubtedly be an asset to the Avengers, given her experience and impressive power set. Her recruitment, however, is chiefly motivated by the need for a high-profile mutant on the team to ease the anti-mutant sentiment that has gripped the world after the fall of Krakoa. Avengers #17 will mark the powerful mutant’s latest stint with the team after featuring on the roster during Brian Michael Bendis’ run on Avengers when she was married to Black Panther.

Series scribe Mackay, who is also writing one of the flagship “From the Ashes” relaunch X-Men titles, recently revealed the reasoning behind Storm’s Avengers inclusion. “When we were putting together thoughts for X-Men, one problem kept coming up—Storm needed to have a presence in a book befitting her status, but it would be weird for her to be on an X-Men team if she wasn’t the leader,” his stated.

Mackay continued, “The solution was simple—she needed to be on the global stage, among equals, and what better place for that than the Avengers? We’re excited to bring Storm back to the Avengers and show what adventures she’ll get up to as part of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.”

Avengers #17 artist Schiti (G.O.D.S.) is ecstatic to have Storm on the team. “I have a soft spot for the mutants, so you can imagine my happiness when I knew that Storm was joining the team. It’s always fun to draw her powers, her body language, and her outfits. There’s just one challenge: you always have to remember that she’s not just a mutant, she’s a goddess,” he explained.

Avengers #17 will arrive in comic book shops on August 7, 2024.

Source: Marvel