The Avengers comic focuses on the internal struggles of the characters as the team undergoes changes. Scarlet Witch is still upset about Wonder Man, making it hard for her to be an Avenger. Meanwhile, Firestar and Justice are having trouble adjusting to their new roles. The team works to defeat Magnum, who has hijacked a plane carrying an orphan. Throughout, the characters grapple with adjusting to the team's restructuring.

1. The Avengers (Sept #8)
Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Megan Douds

2. Abstract
In this issue of the Avengers, Warbird has just left the
group. Firestar and Justice have just been added to the
team and are having trouble adjusting to their new lives
as Avengers. Meanwhile, Edwin Jarvis is supposed to pick
up the orphan he has been sponsoring from Costa Verde
at the airport. As it turns out, when he gets to the airport,
the flight has been hijacked by Magnum and he and his
minions are using the orphan as a tool because she is a
superhero. The Avengers show up and a fight ensues.
They defeat Magnum with the help of Triathlon. Scarlet
Witch also seems to be upset still about Wonder Man and
her emotions are hindering her ability to be an Avenger.

3. Theme/Focus
The theme in this issue of The Avengers is
internal struggle. The characters are dealing
with a restructuring of their team and the loss of
some members. This impacts how they are
feeling internally and leaves many of them
struggling mentally. This is outlined in many
different aspects of the comic, but specifically in
the interactions between characters.

4. Establishing shots
illustrate the setting
for the scene that is
about to unfold.
This panel is at
the beginning of
the comic and
establishes the
first action scene
by placing the
characters at the
airport.

5. Sound effect words
do what auditory
sound effects do in
film. They allow the
reader to hear what
is happening.
These two sound
effect words are
displayed during a
fight scene in the
comic.

6. This example of
relationship showcases
the intimacy of physical
contact.
This panel shows
Wanda and Wonder
Man sharing a tender
moment at the end of
the comic.

7. Intensity can be
shown via
exaggerated poses
and expressions.
This panel shows
an exaggerated
depiction Edwin
Jarvis’s look of
fear, illustrating
intensity.

8. Subject-to-subject
panel transitions
show how an
exchange between
multiple characters
takes place.
This panel shows
how six different
characters react to
the same event.

9. Breaking the fourth wall
occurs when the action in a
panel extends outside of the
panel and “into” the
audience.
In this panel,
Triathlon breaks the
fourth wall and
appears to come
out of the comic.

10. The inner life of a character
is revealed when the author
and artists reveal things that
intrinsically motivates the
character. By revealing their
wants and needs, the artist
lets the audience know what
drives the actions of a
character.
Wanda’s inner struggles
are showcased here at the
end of the comic book as
the audience is shown
thought bubbles of the
thoughts that have been
plaguing her the entire
time.

11. Facial Expressions are
an artistic way of telling
the audience what a
character is feeling
without using words.
This panel shows how
two different characters
feel about the same
thing by comparing their
facial expressions.

12. Like facial expressions, body
language gives the audience
clues into what the character
is feeling just by showing
their posture or body
positioning.
It is clear from this frame
that Wanda is feeling sad,
or struggling in some way.
We can tell this just by
looking at her body
language.

13. It is very clear from
these aggressive hand
gestures that this
character is angry.
Hand gestures are a good
way to emphasize the
mood of a character past
facial expressions and
body language.

14. Scene-to-scene
transitions are used to
switch between two
setting to tell the
audience where the
action is taking place.
This transition shows that
while the scene is occurring
downstairs, this is
happening upstairs.

15. Realistic figure drawing
and anatomy is
important for the
authenticity of stories.
This frame shows
correct anatomical
positioning of this
character, even
turned to the side.

16. These word
balloons are
bold and
noticeable.
Word Balloons exist in the
same space as the story, yet
are not physically there. They
can be done many different
ways. They can be very bold
and an artistic decision or be
minimal and just serve as a
place for text.

17. A word-specific word/picture
combination is a panel that
relies on words to tell the
story. The picture does not
give enough information.
In this panel, the text is
necessary to determine what
is happening. You can not get
the full story from just the
pictures.

18. A duo-specific word-picture
combination relies on both
words and pictures to tell
the story. The words tell
what the picture is showing.
This panel shows Firestar
trying on her costume. You
can tell by the picture that she
is not pleased and the text
echoes this.

19. Moment-to-
Moment panel
transitions show
one action taking
place through a
series of moments.
This panel shows Captain
America in a fight scene
on a moment to moment
basis.

20. A picture specific word-
picture combination relies
on the picture to tell the
main point of the story.
This panel depicts the
Avengers putting a building
back together that was
destroyed. It is able to be
determinded what is
happening without any
text.

21. Elevation and Status is
shown in a comic by
having one character
drawn standing above
another. This indicates
being more powerful
In this panel, the
orphan is pictured
being lower than
Captain America,
illustrating his higher
degree of power.

22. This panel shows Triathon
running to catch a plane
through a sequence of
actions.
Action-to-action
panel transitions
show one character
completing one task
through a series of
panels depicting each
action.

23. Conclusion
In this comic, the artists and writers use many
different techniques mentioned in the McCloud
Methodology to construct this story. The over
arching theme throughout this issue seemed to
be some sort of inner struggle for some of the
characters and that was illustrated using the
techniques mentioned in McCloud’s book.