Brother Voodoo’s demon hunting style surprises the other magical beings in his first battle as Sorcerer Supreme.
NEW AVENGERS #54
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Billy Tan
Inkers: Matt Banning and Billy Tan
Colorists: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: RS & Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne
Cover A: Billy Tan, Matt Banning and Jason Keith
Variant Cover: Chris Bachalo and Tim Townsend
Summary: A Sorcerer Supreme is chosen! Be witness to a very important chapter in Avengers history and the lore of Marvel magic! Plus, the Avengers finally have a big showdown with the Hood and not everyone walks away from it unharmed!
Review: Even though a previous issue from weeks ago revealed who replaced Stephen Strange as the new Sorcerer Supreme, New Avengers #54 opens with a flashback of the actual moment when Jericho Drumm/Brother Voodoo is confronted by the Eye of Agamotto. Jericho and the ghostly spirit of his brother who haunts him will share this incredible responsibility as the Sorcerer Supreme. As a comic book hero, Brother Voodoo simply exudes “cool.” Sure he’s bound to be a bad ass sorcerer but his facial expressions just make me melt. He looks wise beyond his years. He was perhaps a surprising choice for such an important role in the Marvel Universe considering his past reluctance to take Voudoun seriously; however considering the other choices of Wiccan (seems to young for the responsibility) and Daimon Hellstrom (way too out of control), then Jericho is an easy pick for the number one slot. Though this is a sad time seeing Dr. Strange have so much less power, it’s a a bit of a relief. Characters of such power need to have conflict which often results in getting nerfed so that opponents do present real threats.
The Bendis/Tan team move this book full speed ahead with the street battle between Daimon Hellstrom and the Dormammu demon. In rapid succession the fiery brawlers are joined by Brother Voodoo (now with the Eye) and then Dr. Strange and the Avengers. Brother Voodoo’s first act as Sorcerer Supreme is a voodoo exorcism extracting the demon from Parker Robbins. Hellstrom might have been channeling Xander from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or perhaps Bendis was channeling Joss Whedon, but Hellstrom explains that it appear the Ends of Days is nigh, weakening the barrier between dimensions. He says it much funnier so check it out.
Just when Bendis has you believing that the bad guy du jour is down for the count, Loki shows up. To learn about what sinister plots she has planned, you’ll just have to wait.
Meanwhile, Clint Barton’s rage continues to consume more and more of him, leaving behind logic and reason in place of revenge. He’s gunning for Norman Osborn who has been doing a brilliant job of spinning the media to his advantage in Dark Avengers (see issue #5) and Captain America (see issue #600).
