Clinton Barton is ready to commit murder but will the rest of the team support him?
NEW AVENGERS #55
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Stuart Immonen
Inkers: Wade von Grawbadger
Colorists: Dave McCaig
Letterer: RS & Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne
Cover: Stuart Immonen
Summary: Ultimate Spider-Man artist Stuart Immonen rejoins series regular Brian Bendis for this all-new blockbuster Avengers story. One of the Hood’s gang has found a way to power drain the New Avengers and it turns the tides of the Dark Reign in ways no one would have expected it. Plus the new Sorcerer Supreme has a lot to learn, and they’re going to learn it from…Spider-Man?
Review: The new artistic team delivers a brighter, more colorful New Avengers issue backed with a Moon Knight feature by Greg Hurwitz and Jerome Opeňa. There’s an unseen puppeteer pulling all the strings setting up the New Avengers for conflicts. They battle the Hood’s gang which ends in somewhat of a draw. The Hood’s right hand, Madame Masque, is nothing but furious at the incompetence of this crew, some of which are as equally fed up with taking orders and are ready to walk out despite the promises of compensation.
Doctors Carr and Harrow are busy reverse engineering a power-draining device originally created by Tony Stark. Harrow decides to take a capitalist approach with his new toy. Rather than using it for himself, he’d like to sell it to Norman Osborn—leader of H.A.M.M.E.R., the Dark Avengers and the new Dark X-Men. Naturally, no one wants to work for Osborn, but it is awfully tempting to have backing of the most powerful man in the country so that law enforcement agencies of any level cannot disrupt your operations. This is the biggest benefit the misfit villains are considering, but the Wrecker just finds the lack of pay to be a clear signal the Wrecking Crew should walk away. The scene is worth it merely for the moment when “Laserbeam” calls the Wrecking Crew “self-destructive asshats.” Great word—asshats—and not used often enough in comics. It’s the precious little gems like that from Bendis which keep the book interesting in an issue where there are many pages where not much really happens.
Meanwhile, as far the Avengers team goes, there is trouble among the ranks. On a personal note, Spider-Man is regretting his decision to reveal his identity to the team. They call him Peter rather than Spidey now, and that’s just too troubling for the webhead, who now has his secret identity back after that “One More Day” debacle. However, Spidey and friends have deeper issues to consider when Clint Barton/Ronin suggests that they do what needs to be done and murder Norman Osborn. Luke Cage and Spidey seem dead set in their non-lethal ways; Ms. Marvel doesn’t want to but feels the need for diplomacy and wants to give Clint a chance to make his argument; and poor Bucky just seems to come off as kind of tool in this issue. In the midst of this high-priority debate a call comes through that the Avengers are needed in Times Square to stop Chemistro’s rampage. Unfortunately, Dr. Harrow has already gotten the power defuser in place, setting a perfect trap for them.
The new look of the art is consistent enough with the previous team that fans won’t be jarred. As stated, the humor of Bendis gives the dialog a truly natural voice. And if you’re wondering where Wolverine is because he’s so important that he’s in every Marvel book , well, he’s passed out at Bucky’s apartment.
August 4th, 2009 at 10:07 am
That cover just makes me laugh. “Dog pile!”
I would, by no means, call the word asshats a “precious little gem,” but that is frakkin’ hilarious.
The idea of any superhero discussing murder as an option just defeats the purpose. Go join the Dark Avengers, in that case.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Really like your reviewse, nice to see other girls who dig comics