Avengers

• Title: New Avengers #10
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer:Brian Michael Bendis
• Artist: Daniel Acuña

There are two stories going on here. The first is the current squad of New Avengers fighting Superia and her squad of former H.A.M.M.E.R. troops. One Avenger is already down and the team has their hands full with villains they were just joking about last issue.

The second takes place years before and follows Nick Fury on his mission to recruit the very first team of Avengers consisting of Silver Sable, Sabertooh, Kraven, Namora, Ulysses Bloodstone, Dominic Fortune, and Dum Dum Doogan. Aside from historical clusterfuck this presents with this team being the Avengers before the Avengers (and thus tying the Star Trek franchise for the worst idea of another Enterprise being the best ship in Starfleet decades before the original Star Trek), it’s a pretty good tale. Oh, and did I mention I hate that they’re called the Avengers?

Even if I do have issues with the flashback storyline it’s by far the more intriguing of the two. (Sorry if I can’t get choked up on the apparently imminent death of a C-List West Avengers character Marvel kills and brings back whenever it fits their whimsy.)

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New Avengers #10Read More »

• Title: Secret Avengers #10
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Ed Brubaker
• Artists: Mike Deodato, Jr., Will Conrad

“Eyes of the Dragon” concludes as the team races to save Shang-Chi before Fu Manchu can kill his son, complete his ritual, and return to the land of the living.

This one’s full of action as the team attacks the Shadow Council’s base and John Steele learns his invulnerability doesn’t apply to weapons forged by the gods.

I was impressed how the Secret Avengers felt like a real team (with snide comments and all) this time around. Whatever the cause, the team clicked better here (at least for me) than in most of the earlier issues.

I’ve felt this comic has been shaky ever since it’s first issue, but there are moments here when it really feels like things are beginning to come together. Of the current major Avengers titles it’s been the most hit-and-miss so far. We’ll have to see if the things continue to improve, but this one is worth a look.

[Marvel $3.99]

• Title: New Avengers #8
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer:Brian Michael Bendis
• Artist: Daniel Acuña

When Brian Michael Bendis is good he’s really good. First, let me just say this is the best explanation of Doombots I’ve ever seen.

Issue #8 is centered around Luke Cage and Jessica Jones having dinner together, something they don’t often do (Cage even idly wonders if this is their first real date). The pair seriously discuss and playfully bicker over the topic of whether or not she plans to put back on the tights as an Avenger. There’s plenty of laughs including Cage’s suggestion of a possible new super-hero name for his wife which doesn’t go over anywhere near as well as he hoped.

The dinner is interrupted by Ms. Marvel, a falling object and Dr. Doom all crashing into the street across from the restaurant. (That’s Marvel’s New York for you.) What follows is a husband and wife takedown of what is actually a Doombot before the other New Avengers arrive, followed by a group meal, Jones’ decision about being a hero, and Spider-Man getting in the last word at Cage’s expense.

[Marvel $3.99]