DC comics book review: Avengers

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Saturday, July 2, 2011

Avengers #14 Review

"> June 23, 2011 Marvel Comments Off Tweet

An Avenger falls in with the wrong crowd. Avenger Tower just plain falls. Another Avenger falls… Eventually.

Avengers #14

This story can be summed up fairly quickly. This is all about the Thing becoming one of the Serpents avatars (Angir: Breaker of Souls) and committing a pretty awful affront to the Avengers, and how the Red Hulk truly became a trusted and worthy member of the team. After the Thing puts the whammy on Yancy Street, the Red Hulk arrives to take him on. The two exchange heavy blows. Eventually, Angir/Thing, breaks free long enough to whip his hammer through Avengers Tower. The tower comes crashing down. The Red Hulk tries to catch the falling building but is unable to. One last attack on Angir sends Red Hulk flying. Not sure if he is definitely dead or not, no one has seen him since.

Brian Michael Bendis infuses much more action into this issue of Avengers, but there’s still a major problem with this issue, and it has nothing to do with John Romita, Jr. returning to the book. This is an arc that is having a huge identity crisis. This is a tough time for the team, and they are using the Oral History of the Avengers as a way to discuss it. We see the big battle between two fo the toughest Avengers out there with one possessed in a way to do some really bad stuff and the other proving his mettle and truly taking one for the team.

In principle, this could work well. Dealing with a very tough loss in a really bad situation and seeing it in motion isn’t a bad way to write a story. In fact, it’s been done a lot throughout several mediums. The Oral History stuff has been received well… When it’s in the back of the issues and written out, not played out in the comic proper. The possible end of the Red Hulk has an emotional weight to it. However, when put together, both the conversation and the emotional impact of the action undermines each other. I would have much rather seen the oral history stuff as it’s own book that can blatantly tell us how the tone and the structure of the book will be. That way, Avengers would be freed to tell the stories of particular characters’ struggles with the events. While this ultimately would have appeared to be a knock off of how Secret Avengers is handling the tie-ins, it would have worked to have all the Avengers titles go this way (or at least the three main books, excluding Avengers Academy). This set up is awkward and contrived.

I’m just leaving it at that for this review. I don’t need to go into my disappointment with the art because, honestly, it’s not as big of a problem as the story itself.

A COMIC BOOK BLOG RATINGProsConsI like the Red Hulk. I really do. I like his heroic actions in this book and I like seeing him throw down with the Thing. I honestly love how he's been used in this series.Art (there, I said it). Bigger problem was the way this arc has been put together mixing in the static Oral History stuff and cutting back on the more dynamic action stuff. Rating50%

All Fear Itself reviews:

Fear Itself: #1 | #2 | #3 |

Fear Itself: The Home Front: #1 | #2 | #3

Fear Itself: Spider-Man: #1 | #2 |

Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt: #1 | #2 |

Journey Into Mystery: #622 | #623 | #624 |

Invincible Iron Man: #503 | #504 | #505 |

Avengers: #13 | #14 |

Secret Avengers: #13 | #14 |

Avengers Academy: #15 |

For more visit our Fear Itself tag @ acomicbookblog.com/tag/fear-itself

Tags: Avengers Avengers Reviews Brian Michael Bendis Fear Itself John Romita Jr.

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Avengers Academy #15 Review

"> June 23, 2011 Marvel Comments Off Tweet

If there’s one thing we all know about war it’s that, often, it is fought by the young. As Fear Itself rambles on through the Marvel Universe, it’s time for the kids of Avengers Academy to learn that fact so many have already known for centuries.

Avengers Academy #15

Commander Rogers informs Hank Pym of the escalading hostilities that’s taking place all over the world. Rogers asks a simple question… Will Hank’s students be ready if, and when, they are needed? Pym, Quicksilver, and Justice are dispatched to Long Island to deal with the escapees from the Raft. Tigra is left behind to prepare the students for their eventual deployment. It isn’t long before they’re needed in Washington, DC. Their task is simple, only fight the insurgents if their life or the life of a civilian is in danger. Otherwise, they are only there to help evacuate the capital. The students do well, but not without a couple setbacks. Striker’s own memories of dying in his older body at the hands of Korvac is still proving to be a major issue when faced with a situation like this. When Mettle kills one of the bad guys, his remorse nearly paralyzes him until Tigra can tell him that it was an unfortunate necessity, but one he may have to do again. Meanwhile, the faculty cleans up the mess on Long Island and are immediately sent to Dubai to handle a transformed Absorbing Man and Titania. Despite his issues with being sent there instead of relieving the kids in DC, he plans to deal with the two baddies quickly. That is until he sees Absorbing Man and what he’s become.

Christos Gage, again, takes these characters and makes them believable and just damn interesting. Whether it’s Hank Pym’s overprotective need to keep the kids out of harm’s way, or Tigra’s fierce personality, or Mettle’s heart of gold inside a monster’s body, Gage makes sure the readers know how his characters feel. Some might say this method is about as subtle as a hammer to the groin, but I actually think that while each issue puts the characters’ thoughts and feelings at the forefront of everything they say, or how the artist draws their expressions, the series as a whole has developed these characters in a natural and subtle way. We’re literally seeing characters adapt and mature. A lot of that comes from Christos Gage being the only writer for 15 issues, but it also reveals how confident Marvel is in him as a creator. And Marvel should feel very lucky they have a guy like him working on a new generation of heroes.

On top of all that, Gage has also had the luxury of being matched with good, solid artists that can add to the story. Mike McKone, Tom Raney, and Sean Chen have the perfect styles to give the students a fresh, young look, while making the faculty look more experienced and a little older. Hell, each of these guys have, in their own way, made Tigra look spectacular. That’s part of her character to have an animal magnetism to her that keeps eyes stuck on her.

In all, Avengers Academy is a book most people should read. It’s full of great characters, excellent writing, and about the most consistent art you’ll find from any series that’s had a few artist changes over the course of the run.

A COMIC BOOK BLOG RATINGProsConsGreat characterization and solid art. The Gage/Raney combo is just as good as the Gage/McKone and Gage/Chen combos and that's hard to do in today's comics.Only one, minor thing... The issue jumps right into the tie-in for Fear Itself. It's hard for brand new readers to know what's going on at Avengers Academy, but I know that's not really the fault of anyone. Rating95%

All Fear Itself reviews:

Fear Itself: #1 | #2 | #3 |

Fear Itself: The Home Front: #1 | #2 | #3

Fear Itself: Spider-Man: #1 | #2 |

Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt: #1 | #2 |

Journey Into Mystery: #622 | #623 | #624 |

Invincible Iron Man: #503 | #504 | #505 |

Avengers: #13 | #14 |

Secret Avengers: #13 | #14 |

Avengers Academy: #15 |

For more visit our Fear Itself tag @ acomicbookblog.com/tag/fear-itself

Tags: Avengers Avengers Academy Avengers Reviews Christos Gage Fear Itself

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Friday, July 1, 2011

Ultimate Avengers Vs. New Ultimates #5 Review

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Things seem to be resolved in the big fight between Nick Fury’s Avengers and Carol Danver’s Ultimates. Danvers is comatose and likely brain dead. Tony Stark’s brother, Gregory, is now the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. And he’s just dealt with Fury in the most hostile of ways. All these things have happened, but at least two of these things aren’t what they appear.

Ultimate Avengers Vs. New Ultimates #5

Thanks to Blade’s vampire powers, the original Hulk, Dr. Banner’s mentor, has been hypnotized and subdued into becoming a normal human again. He leads Fury and his team to his lab where he keeps his Hulk pills designed to give the user twenty four hours of immense power that he or she could control. Once they have what they came for, Fury kills the doctor. Five days later, on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, Fury shows strange signs of not being dead. Soon, he Hulks out. The rest of his team, also powered up by the Hulk pills surround Gregory Stark, but the new Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. proves to be a bit too powerful for them with his own gadgets. It’s revealed that Stark used the smuggled meta-humans as instruments of uprising in North Korea. Faced with a tough decision, the Ultimates learn the truth about Gregory and join the fray with Fury’s Hulked up team.

This series has certainly been an exciting one. Mark Millar used four issues to build suspense and it looks like the roller coaster has finally started to head down the hill at top speed. The true enemy is revealed. Characters that had some mysterious origins, like the “original” Hulk and “the Spider”, are coming face to face with judgment. Gregory Stark, as expected, can’t be trusted. This has gone from an espionage story to one with political implications. It’s a good, deep story and the type of stuff we’ve been waiting for since the end of Ultimates 2.

As with most penultimate issues of an arc, this issue’s more about setting up the final confrontation between hero and villain. While not quite as deep as the intrigue we saw in the first four issues, Millar still delivers a very solid story and has me very excited to see how this story will end. Considering there’s a future for this version of the Avengers, it’s safe to say most of our heroes will remain, but what will happen with S.H.I.E.L.D.? What’s going to be the perception of the Ultimates? Will this version of the Avengers still exist with the Ultimates? These are the questions that I came up with as I finished this issue and it’s really exciting to care this much about Millar’s Ultimate Universe creation again.

A COMIC BOOK BLOG RATINGProsConsVery nice set up for the final issue of the story. This story as a whole has gotten me really excited for the Ultimates and Ultimate Avengers again.Not quite as intriguing as the first four issues, but if you don't expect too much of that, this issue will treat you really well. Rating85%

Tags: Avengers New Ultimates Ultimate Avengers Ultimate Marvel Ultimates

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Secret Avengers #14 Review

"> June 23, 2011 Marvel Comments Off Tweet

Valkyrie leads a battalion of soldiers into the war against Sin’s armies. Despite the beliefs of some, this is a war she is all too familiar with and comes face to face with a ghost from her past.

Secret Avengers #14

Meet Hayes and Stevens, two star-crossed lovers in the military headed into the middle of a warzone. When Valkyrie, who was personally sent by Steve Rogers to lead this group into battle, is lost in thought prior to the soldiers’ deployment, she thinks back to a similar situation many eons ago. When an unstoppable war machine was marching toward Brunhilde’s home town, her life is forever changed when her trainer and lover is killed. In the present, Hayes is about to be killed by one of Sin’s machines after she believed she brought it down. At the last minute, Stevens takes the bullets for his lady love and dies. Valkyrie is reminded of what her true purpose is… She thinks back to when Odin, the leader of the invaders taking down her hometown, found her refusing to leave the side of her lover. He offers her the chance to be an inspiration to all great warriors as his Valkyrie. Her duty to lead and guide the honored dead to Valhalla would make her a goddess in many warriors’ eyes. Seeing a similar situation play out in the present makes her realize that she must help Hayes bring her lover back to the base so he is not left in the middle of the war torn city.

It’s very clear that Nick Spencer’s take on his issues of Secret Avengers is an emotional one. His .1 issue had a tragic ending. The previous issue was a heroic one. This one takes a look at the heart of a warrior woman that is rarely revealed. While the true plot of this issue revolves around the tragic story of Stevens and Hayes, Brunhilde’s story is draws parallels to their tale and her town’s capture by Odin to Sin’s attack on the U.S. It’s a very strong issue. I knew right away that one of the two lovers would be killed, so it might have been a bit more predictible than Spencer’s most recent Secret Avengers issues, but predictable or not, it was a good, emotional issue that plays up what war so easily takes away from those fighting it.

As much as I have enjoyed Spencer’s stories, Scot Eaton’s art has been amazing. His work reminds me of the great Salvador Larroca in the spread showing Sin’s mechs wrecking the city. His scenes of Valkyrie’s past are gorgeous with an ominous Odin and a younger and more innocent Brunhilde on the brink of becoming a goddess. I’m quickly becoming a huge fan of his work and really wishing these two could stick around longer than they are. Even Adi Granov’s cover is striking, so from front cover to the last page, this is a visually stunning issue.

With the overall emotional tone Spencer has built and the gorgeous interiors from Eaton, they have one last issue that’s surely going to open up that even more – Black Widow’s story. It surely will deal with the heartbreaking loss she just suffered in Fear Itself #3.

A COMIC BOOK BLOG RATINGProsConsEaton's art is amazing and Spencer keeps his foot on the emotional peddle as the Secret Avengers are doing all they can to keep the events of Fear Itself from destroying the planet.Despite how good Spencer's script is, it is a bit predictable. Rating90%

All Fear Itself reviews:

Fear Itself: #1 | #2 | #3 |

Fear Itself: The Home Front: #1 | #2 | #3

Fear Itself: Spider-Man: #1 | #2 |

Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt: #1 | #2 |

Journey Into Mystery: #622 | #623 | #624 |

Invincible Iron Man: #503 | #504 | #505 |

Avengers: #13 | #14 |

Secret Avengers: #13 | #14 |

Avengers Academy: #15 |

For more visit our Fear Itself tag @ acomicbookblog.com/tag/fear-itself

Tags: Avengers Fear Itself Secret Avengers

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Author: Geoff Arbuckle visit my website

Featured:

0Roundtable: DC’s New DCU & Digital InitiativeJune 6, 2011NEWS

0Flashpoint #2 ReviewJune 3, 2011DC Comics

0Fear Itself #3 ReviewJune 3, 2011Marvel

0The Walking Dead #85 ReviewMay 26, 2011Comics

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John Barringer:I don't know why it hadn't hit me before but he could be a great steam punk type character...

Geoff Arbuckle:This was really, really, really good. I'm not sure why the Rocketeer hasn't made a major ...

Mark:Love it, the new design looks amazing. Bookmarked!About to read your Where to Start wi...

Sasha:Love the new design! So much cleaner and easier. Keep up the good work....

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Where To Start Reading: The Avengers

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Our “Where to Start” articles act as a guide, giving you our best suggestions on where to start on a certain character or creators work. Every article lists several books, each in the character’s or creator’s chronological order despite it’s publication date (so the first choice is at the beginning of a characters career, the last is the furthest along). While in order each book was specifically picked as a good individual starting point; so feel free to start at the beginning, in the middle, or towards the end if you want to get caught up quickly. And if you have any more suggestions or questions just leave a comment.

Avengers: Disassembled 2004

There is no question about it… Brian Michael Bendis is in control of the Avengers franchise. His unprecedented run began with this story. When it came time to renumber the series with a history 500th issue, Marvel decided to blow the team up. It’s just another day at Avengers Mansion. That would all change when a believed-to-be dead Jack of Hearts (who heroically sacrificed himself during Geoff John’s run to save Scott Lang’s daughter) shows up at the gates. When the energy that gives Jack his powers overloads, he explodes killing Lang. If things weren’t already bad, Vision crash lands a Quinjet right into the mansion. When he emerges, he apologizes for not being in control of himself and spits out dozens of Ultrons! An enraged She Hulk, no longer in control of her emotions, tears Vision in two. The day ends with an injured Captain America and a comatose Wasp. This is just in the first issue! As the mystery of who could possibly have pulled off such a deadly assault against Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Hawkeye sacrifices himself to save the team from a full on Kree invasion fleet. When the mini series ends, one of the greatest Avengers of all time is revealed as the greatest threat, and the team splits up bringing the iconic series to an end, but not without going out as Marvel’s new flagship title.