Marvel; $4.99  

The history of the United States is in peril. A powerful figure has traveled to the Revolutionary War in 1777 with an offer to help the British win the war. In 1778, Cagliostro has enlisted Benjamin Franklin to help him convince the Avengers of the future to travel back in time to save America. Doctor Strange has gathered some of the big guns – Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the Hulk – to return to the birth of the nation and prevent history from changing drastically.  

J. Michael Straczynski gets things off to a strong start. The storyline in 1776 is straightforward, the rules of time travel are clear, and the team is packed with power and heroism. Straczynski moves the story along at a nice pace, blending real history with the fantastical world of superheroes. It’s a serious story, but not bogged down by too many complicated rules, and there are even a few moments of levity to break up the tension. 

The art was a group effort featuring pencils by Sean Damien Hill and Ron Lim, inks by Jay Leisten and Roberto Poggi, and colors by Alex Sinclair. They create separation between the past and present, which helps cement the different time periods. This is achieved through the detail on the clothing and warmer colors of the past, and emphasis on flamboyant superhero costumes and brighter pops of color in the future.  

–Amanda Sheriff