The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes - Volume 4: Thor's Last Stand

Animé and Toons
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes - Volume 4: Thor's Last Stand
By Hervé St-Louis
October 30, 2011 - 09:59

Studios: Marvel Animation, Film Roman, Ingenious Media
$19.99 US
Starring: Rick D. Wasserman, Brian Bloom, Fred Tatasciore, Wally Wingert, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Phil Lamarr
Directed by: Ciro Nieli, Vinton Heuck, Sebastian Montes
Produced by: Joshua Fine
Running Time: 132 minutes
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Distributors: Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc

This series of episode capping the first year of the Avengers’ latest cartoon series on Disney XD and Teletoon is focused on Thor and his universe. Villains, led by the Asgardian witch the Enchantress attack the Avengers with a magical artefact from Asgard, leading the eventual showdown between the Avengers and Hydra. But before the Avengers can rest, Ultron-5 which had been called in reinforcement during against hydra rebels and tries to eliminate all life on Earth. However, Ultron is the least of the Avengers’ problems as Loki as finally managed to conquer Asgard. How can the Avengers stop him?

Again every episode here is fast-paced with so much happening that if one doesn’t pay attention, a lot will be missed. This series, I would say, when viewed as a whole can led to information overload. This is not a complaint. This is series packs more value and story in 22 minutes than the average Marvel comic book does in six months. What the writers and directors of this series have managed to do well is to incorporate elements from the older history of the Avengers and mixing it with newer. For example, while the story with Ultron-5 is old, the Skrull takeover of Earth is new. But it all makes sense, if you can pause the series a bit to comprehend all that’s happening.

The best thing about this series of episodes is that characterization doesn’t stop. Continuously, viewers are reminded of who these characters are and what makes them tick. For example, there is a continuing subplot about Thor’s suspicion of technology and the banter he has with Hulk. One of the most crucial relationship is the one between the Wasp and Ant-man which continues to be developed fully in this series.

The animation works. Granted a lot of it is aided with 3D techniques, but the fights are always good. One thing that I did like about this series of episodes was how a major plot element preceded the Marvel Comics version. Here the Avengers and Iron Man get Asgardian armour which is similar to recent stories in Fear Itself and Incredible Iron Man. But the cartoon did it first!

The bonus features are lame, and there's no commentaries. I know most of you hardcore fans have probably viewed this series already. But if you don't have cable or had been replaced by a Skrull the last year, this is the way to discover this series.

Episodes:
14 – Masters of Evil
15 – 459
16 – The Man Who Stole Tomorrow
17 – Come the Conqueror
18 – The Kang Dynasty
19 – Widow’s Sting

Bonus Feature: The Avengers Unmasked: Masters of Evil – An animated in-episode comic book experience loaded with fun facts on Marvel’s Avengers and the Villains that challenge them

Release Format: Single Disc DVD

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen (Enhanced for 16X9 televisions)

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Sound

Languages: English and Spanish

Rating: 10/10