Comics: 3-12-08

FANTASTIC FOUR #555
"World's Greatest 2 of 4"
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Bryan Hitch
Inkers: Bryan Hitch & Paul Neary
Colorist: Paul Mounts
Letterer: VC's Rus Wooton
Associate Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Millar and Hitch continue their run with a new issue four weeks after the last one came out. Yes, that's how a monthly book is supposed to be done but for a Millar/Hitch book, it's a pretty phenomenal feat. If they get the third issue out on April 9th, there may be hope for a hitch-less run (pun way so intended). This issue isn't as much slam-bang fun as the last one since most of this issue plays with the exciting reveal of last issue. This issue's only new development is almost a head scratcher and would be a detriment if I thought it wasn't going somewhere. Johnny's Storm's mystery villain/make-out buddy is initially void of personality and possesses very ill-defined powers (she makes things go...um, she throws things and, well...she can cause riptides or earthquakes or...huh?). Johnny accuses her of trying to raid a diamond truck but nothing on any of the pages makes that clear to the audience and their make-out session almost seems to be the stuff of mind control. It's jarring but I know it's going somewhere, so I can't really fault it yet. Other than that it's a solid issue and I'm looking forward to seeing the FF fight a force of nature that is, in fact, nature and not Galactus.

MY SCORE: 8.5/10


MIGHTY AVENGERS #10
"Time Is On No One's Side"
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inkers: Danny Miki & Crimelab Studios' Allen Martinez
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Assistant Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

The most fun I've had looking at a comic in years. For this time travel issue, the creative team went back and actually made every page look like an old comic from 1975. Footer notes, newsprint coloring effect, faded off white pages, it's done with such detail and enjoyment that it leaps off the page and into the reader. The story itself isn't so spectacular; Iron Man, Sentry and Dr. Doom try to find a time machine to get back home without disrupting the time-stream. Snappy dialogue and seeing the Marvel of days past make this issue special, particularly the panel where Doom admires Mastermind's abilities and then says that more people hate Iron Man now than Doom. Great great great exchange. Mighty Avengers is a great old-school hero comic and it's showing no signs of slowing down.

MY SCORE: 8.8/10


X-FACTOR v.3 #29
"The Only Game In Town 1"
Writer: Peter David
Penciler: Valentine De Landro
Inker: Andrew Hennessy
Colorist: Jeromy Cox
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Editor: Aubrey Sitterson
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

X-Factor has made a habit of addressing the problems that the other x-books forget. M-Day was first, last issue we had the impact of the super covert (sarcasm) X-Force, and this issue we have the dissolution of the X-Men. As the only game in town, hence the story arc's title, Madrox is determined to keep the team together even though most of the others have other ideas. This team has really come together to be one of the most dynamic casts in all of Marvel and I love seeing David come up with new obstacles for them. I'm excited about where everything in this book is going, even more so now that Larry Stroman is returning after almost 16 years away. This is a great time to be an X-Factor fan.

MY SCORE: 9.1/10

Comics: 2-20-08

CABLE & DEADPOOL #50
"Symbiosis Mitosis"
Scripter: Fabian Nicieza
Plotter & Penciler: Reilly Brown
Inkers: Jeremy Freeman with Bob Almono
Colorists: Gotham and Sotocolor
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover: Skottie Young
Production: Irene Lee
Assistant Editors: Jon-Michael Ennis and Lauren Sankovitch
Editor: Nicole Boose
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Cable & Deadpool has not only done something that no one expected it to do, it has also done something that most titles nowadays find it hard to do: reach the fiftieth issue. Just like the surprising amount of supplements at the end of this book point out, no one thought that a comic starring two disparate characters whose sole point in common was being created during the darkest days of comic history would last this long. Yeah, I jumped ship with issue #29, but reading this issue makes me wish I hadn't stopped. Marvel needs a book like this. With She-Hulk currently doing a straightforward drama/thriller story, there's no other book that brings the funny and shines the spotlight on how messed up Marvel really is. Deadpool's jarringly informed commentary is not as distracting as it should be. How does Deadpool know about Spider-Man's deal with Mephisto? Doesn't matter, because the tone of the book is right on and Deadpool's speaking for every disenfranchised reader. This issue also deals with the main theme that's been attached to the only titular hero appearing in this issue. Deadpool fighting alongside the Mighty Avengers, Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man is a fitting send off for the title, even if he does call Ares "Guy I don't know" and has to resist the urge to hit on Black Widow. Him turning down playing poker with "Mr. Thing" to watch TV with his supporting cast (which has, surprisingly, been the most solid one in the Marvel Universe since Joe Kelly's run) is a sweet little ending that rings true and doesn't feel saccharine. The Cable cameo is another wink to the audience and a nice touch after editorial decided to make half of the title irrelevant.

As a final issue, I would say this is a very satisfying one. Granted I've only read "Fractured" since I quit reading a while ago, but this issue is strong enough to make me want to go back and see what I missed. I know both Cable and Deadpool are getting solo series again, but I hope the tone and stories of this little book that could don't get forgotten.

MY SCORE: 8.7/10


THE MIGHTY AVENGERS #9
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inkers: Danny Miki & Crime Lab Studios' Allen Martinez & Victor Olazaba
Artist p. 2-4: Marko Djurdjevic
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: Artmonkeys' Dave Lanphear
Production: Paul Acerios
Associate Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

As I'm sure I've noted countless times before, I'm still a relative neophyte to the Marvel Universe as a whole. My interest in the Avengers started when, it appears, the rest of the comic buying public became interested. Bendis' reinvention of the formula with New Avengers has been consistently popular and launched the careers of many artists into the stratosphere (Marvel hype didn't hurt either). Now we have Bendis tackling what feels like a classic title from what I can gather based on all the back issues I've bought. Iron Man versus Doctor Doom, does it get any more classic than that? This issue is much better than the last one because it's not telling the other half of a story we've already read (with inconsistencies to boot). Big sprawling action isn't seen very often in comics lately, and I'm glad that Mighty Avengers is bringing it with style. Three double-page spreads of intricately detailed and exhilarating action may seem like overkill, but I appreciated the determination and skill it depicts all the Avengers having. These guys are pros and, honestly, I like seeing them all go to town on some robots. The issue is definitely light on plot (we still don't know how Doom's symbiote virus crashed to Earth) but a fascinating prologue featuring painted artwork and Morgan Le Fey and an unexpected twist ending colored like 1961 make this issue above average.

MY SCORE: 8.5/10


THE ORDER #8
"8: Holly --or-- Search And Destroy"
Writer: Matt Fraction
Breakdowns: Barry Kitson
Finishes: Barry Kitson, Stefano Gaudiano, Paul Neary & Jon Sibal
Colorist: Sotocolor's J. Roberts
Letterer: Artmonkeys Studios
Assistant Editor: Alejandro Arbona
Editor: Warren Simons
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

This is another fine installment in what is shaping up to be a pretty great series. It's such a shame that there are only two more issues left, because Fraction is creating such a rich world with some very nice characters. This issue focuses on Mulholland Black, or Holly, and gives her a very Francis Bean background. Unlike the current New Warriors series that features blank slate characters that have been around for the better part of a decade, The Order has delivered defining character moments and fully formed personas from almost the get-go. I really hope these characters survive this book's cancellation. Much of the M.A.N. from S.H.A.D.O.W. mystery is cleared up, probably a lot quicker than Fraction had intended. The characters figure things out using logic and never do the usual "Oops, forgot to tell you!" crap that plagues a lot of storytelling. Everything is moving forward and I actually think a lot of the plots will get wrapped up by issue ten. That's about it. This is one of the best team books on the stands and the best crop of totally new characters Marvel has introduced since Runaways years ago. Let's hope it gets a second chance like that title did.

MY SCORE: 8.6/10


RUNAWAYS v.2 #29
"Dead-End Kids 5 of 6"
Writer: Joss Whedon
Penciler: Michael Ryan
Inkers: Rick Ketcham with Andrew Hennessy
Colorist: Christina Strain
Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Jo Chen
Assistatn Editor: Daniel Ketchum
Editor: Nick Lowe
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Joss Whedon's run on Runaways has taught me that infrequent publishing is most definitely not the friend of dense plotting and a dozen new characters. I had to re-read issue #28 just to remember what was going on in this issue, and I had to read several parts of #28 multiple times just to follow the plot. It doesn't help that every pair of characters was going off to follow different paths all involving similarly dressed people to try and figure out the best way home. After sorting out exactly what was going on, this issue reads a lot better. Whedon has truly made the characters runaways again and has even managed to find new situations and foils for them to highlight their independence. Molly telling Klara that she's an adult really accentuates Whedon's reason for stranding the kids in 1907 other than the fact that Michael Ryan's detailed pencils really lend themselves to the period. Whedon sent them to this year because there really were no teenagers at this point in time. It's a nice turn of events and it actually does work rather nicely with the series. I still wish we could have gotten six stand alone issues working directly off of where Brian K. Vaughan left us, but instead we're getting a thematically sound and densely plotted action story. The deaths of two of the Street Arabs, and possibly a third, are quite grisly and well done, making up for the fact that Whedon expects us to remember the powers of a character barely seen last issue and this issue without any hint other than Vic's sudden outburst.

Runaways is good this month and this is another Joss Whedon story that's going to read a lot better in the trades.

MY SCORE: 8.6/10

Comics: 1-30-08

MIGHTY AVENGERS #8
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inkers: Danny Miki & Crime Lab Studios' Allen Martinez & Victor Olazaba
Colorist: Justin Ponsor & Stephane Peru
Letterer: Artmonkeys' Dave Lanphear
Production: Rich Ginter
Associate Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Mark Bagley's catch-up job on Mighty Avengers ships another issue just three weeks after the previous one, which is also the same week that New Avengers finally ships the final part to their "Trust" arc. Both of the books are almost at the same place, continuity wise, but this doesn't stop the whole thing from being a mess. Like I said (probably) in the review to #7, all drama in this issue is completely gone since, really, a good chunk of this story was already published back in New Avengers #36. That issue was released on November 14th. That's crazy-bad scheduling. We've had to wait since then to find out exactly what Tony Stark did to rid New York City of the symbiote bomb that, literally, was there one page and not there the next in that New issue. We find out in this issue of Mighty that he just whipped up an antidote, real nice and quick like. I mean, I guess that's okay. I am not a fan of unnecessarily convoluted remedies and mechanical macguffins that pop up out of nowhere, but there's nothing more than one of Mr. Fantastic's computers analyzing a sample symbiote and producing the magic cure. That Iron Man then sprays everywhere. Problem solved. We waited two and a half months for that?

There are also some frustrating errors when reading these two issues back to back. Again, I have to stress how lax I am with continuity these days, especially with Quesada's Marvel. But both of these books are written by the same guy and the dialogue in both books is the same as well, meaning that Bendis definitely looked at the issue of New when scripting this issue. I can get that there are little asides and bits of dialogue that are not in each issue. That's fine. I look at this as being two different cuts of the same movie, with Bendis choosing what word balloons to include to enhance each story. That's fine. But. Why, then, does a phrase that Wonder Man says in New turn into one that Ms. Marvel says in Mighty? And, biggest mix-up of all, why does an entire scene with Luke Cage comforting an attack victim in New turn into, same dialogue and all, Hawkeye (Ronin, Clint, whatever) in Mighty? Yeah, it's obvious that Iron Man confronting Hawkeye is good drama for Mighty Avengers, but why blatantly change the character? Couldn't Bendis have made Hawkeye help another victim with different dialogue? Whatever. Bendis is writing so many books a month, I guess we can't expect him to keep them all straight even when he goes out of his way to make them depict the exact same story.

But. Overall. The issue has good art. The characters are all interesting and issues like this really drive home the difference between and the need for two Avengers titles. Also, Iron Man's comment about Wolverine being a symbiote once ("What hasn't he done?") is great. The buildup to "Secret Invasion" is still keeping me interested, it's just when Bendis does issues with blatant continuity errors like this I have huge worries about him planning a line wide event.

MY SCORE: 8.2/10


NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #2
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Carlo Pagulayan
Inker: Jeff Huet
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: RS & Comicraft's Albert Deschesne
Associate Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Sadly, I'm going to continue on my continuity rants since they're all that is holding the Avengers titles back from greatness. Really, I have a lot of fun reading these comics and Bendis has made me care about characters that I've never even given two shakes about before.

Complaint #1: Dr. Strange has, at some point, been attacked by the Hulk during the Marvel event "World War Hulk" and is now the victim of broken hands. A plot point that comes into play in this issue. A plot point that hasn't come up at all since this whole epic storyline started way back in New Avengers #27 almost a year ago. This book has been so densely plotted, I can't piece where Strange was supposed to have slipped away to get his hands jacked up. Therefore, he's been like this the whole time, a fact that hasn't mattered at all until now probably because Bendis didn't know that other people were using his characters in the rest of the Marvel Universe. This is more of an editorial problem, I'd say. I almost respect Bendis turning this awkward turn of events into a pivotal part of the story (it turns out he's been in cahoots with dark magic to mask his crippled hands) but it just reeks of rewrite and acts almost like a cop out. The bad guys win. They kill the Avengers. And Dr. Strange uses his dark voodoo to resurrect them, voodoo he didn't have until Bendis was clued in on a story that, yep editors, he should have been told about a year ago.

Complaint #2: Ms. Marvel shows up and lets the renegade Avengers go free, letting their good deeds and the bigger picture outweigh their unregistered status. Wait, did I just describe the ending to New Avengers #36/Mighty Avengers #8 or this annual? Oh. All three. That's right. In two comics that came out on the SAME DAY that tell stories that, seriously, probably take place no more than a day (if even half a day) apart from each other, Ms. Marvel lets them go. And no one says anything. This is just lazy. I like that Bendis let one of Ms. Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. grunts voice concern over this but, really, it should have been Ms. Marvel herself expressing her concerns over continually letting these guys go.

Complaint #3: Spider-Man. There's no linear continuity gaff here; the last year's worth of both Avengers titles have probably occurred over, what, a week at most? So yeah, he's still in the black costume. That's fine. It's just that he's walking around with his mask off all over the place, a huge plot point which was just negated under a month ago in The Most Confusing Marvel Story Ever being told right now in Amazing Spider-Man. No one knows that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Everyone's memories were altered by Mephisto. So that means that Marvel has just published a story that was, essentially, negated and altered in another story that's still on the stands. The whole notion of no one knowing who Spider-Man is is so ludicrous, I can't buy it. I can't buy that America knows that Spider-Man was unmasked but "no one can remember who was under the mask." That's. Retarded.

And those are the biggies. The issue is a huge fight scene, which I have to say Bendis isn't good at. Fists flying, half sentences and grunts, the issue takes about 10 minutes to read and it's longer than the normal one. "The Trust" arc had such a great build up, the deus ex machina of Strange's suddenly crippled demon hands is a let down. I have a headache just thinking about this issue.

MY SCORE: 7.3/10


ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #118
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade von Grawbadger
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Production: Anthony Dial
Assistant Editor: Lauren Sankovitch
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Senior Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

So simple. The appeal of the Ultimate line used to be the flashy creators and the modern approach. Now, for me, the appeal is the ability to just read a comic that pretty much exists in its own forward-marching world. Yeah, the Ultimate universe is riddled with delays and some clunky continuity, but it's so refreshing to read Ultimate Spider-Man knowing that that's the only Ultimate book I have to read (and the only one I do). It's fun and shows how great a writer Bendis can be when he's not bogged down in the insanity of the Marvel timeline.

This is a fun issue. I like the parallel way each character is introduced with a short page or two of their inner monologue about how crappy their lives are. For the first time in a while, it seems like the book has a fully fleshed out supporting cast comprised of characters that I like. The convenient arrival of Iceman just at the worst moment is kinda hard to believe, but it's all written so well and plays off the character dynamics in such an entertaining way, I can deal with it. The reveal of Liz as a mutant (I assume Ultimate Firestar) was not a surprise but it was a nice cliffhanger to what is actually a quaint little standalone issue. Not much happens, but luckily Stuart Immonen is as skilled at making scrubbing counters look exciting as he is at giant goblins.

Another above average installment in the new era of Ultimate Spider-Man.

MY SCORE: 8.4/10

Comics: 1-09-08

THE MIGHTY AVENGERS #7
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inkers: Danny Miki & Crime Lab Studio's Allen Martinez & Victor Olazaba
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: Artmonkeys' Dave Lanphear
Production: Rich Ginter
Assistant Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Mighty Avengers starts their second arc with issue #7, only four months behind due to Frank Cho's deadline problems. If there's an artist you need to crank out issues to get your title back on track, you either have to get Mark Bagley or John Romita Jr. Mark Bagley is a marathon man, capable of putting out multiple titles on a monthly basis. He works well with Bendis and this is a natural fit. This issue picks up on the cliffhanger from New Avengers #32, which came out six months ago. Six months ago. We've actually seen how this issue's cliffhanger is resolved in the last five issues of New Avengers, which kinda ended on the cliffhanger of telling us what this arc is going to be about (Dr. Doom dropping a symbiote bomb on New York because the Mighty Avengers piss him off). Okay, so, that's New Avengers continuing into Mighty Avengers while Mighty Avengers was dealing with New Avengers' previous storyline, so New Avengers went on ahead and finished up the storyline that is starting right now in Mighty Avengers, and therefore reveals what the storyline starting this month in Mighty Avengers is all about. What. The? Was this how Bendis intended for this to all work out? What is New going to do for the next who-knows-how-long while Mighty plays catch up? Bendis experimented with non-linear storytelling in his "Revolution" storyline last year in New Avengers, so maybe he did plan for this to unfold all mixed-up like.

Weird pacing aside, this issue is the first talker of the series. As a storyline, 2008's "Secret Invasion" is actually intriguing and I'm genuinely excited about it. The are-they-aren't-they paranoia is unlike anything I've read in the Marvel Universe and the stakes are very real. Spider-Woman joining the team is a nice ploy to draw out Skrulls and the team's reaction is well-played (even if Jan hushes all the serious chatter to trot out new costumes for Wonder Man).

My biggest complaint for this issue is the thought bubbles. At first it seemed like Tony Stark's internal computer was replacing the bubbles, making a nice change for the new storyline we're starting. But no. They're back. And as useless as ever. At first the thought bubbles had a retro charm and at times they actually do what they're supposed to. Ares' thoughts towards conquering Spider-Woman and Tony Stark's repeated "one of you" towards the end of the issue both give insight into the characters and ratchet up the drama. The rest of them are horribly dull and clumsy. Wonder Man thinking "and the worst" and then saying "and the worst" adds nothing at all. At all. Except for the number of seconds awkwardly messing up the rapid-fire pace of Bendis' patented realistic dialogue. We don't need to read Ms. Marvel thinking about how Tony is undermining her leadership when we have Mark Bagley selling it like the pro he is on every page.

Mighty Avengers starts 2008 where New Avengers was in 2007, but strong characters and the tension filled mystery make this a solid book. If only Bendis would turn off the thought bubble blower.

MY SCORE: 8.4/10


X-FACTOR v.3 #27
"Messiah Complex 11 of 13"
Writer: Peter David
Penciler: Scot Eaton
Inkers: John Dell, Andrew Hennessy, Dave Meikis
Colorist: Brian Reber
Letterer: Cory Petit
Assistant Editor: Will Panzo
Editor: Nick Lowe
Executive Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

"Messiah Complex" is halfway through its last cycle of the four main x-books, with only two more chapters to go. So far, so good, and only minor nitpicks can be made about this installment. For one thing, this issue is reading a lot like X-Factor's contribution to a previous crossover that is so casually referenced here. Just like in 1992's "X-Cutioner's Song," the members of X-Factor are pushed to the margins of the issue while the main storyline plows through. Not that they aren't present. Siryn prays over Madrox's comatose body, Layla makes a very definitive action at the issue's start, and both Strong Guy and Wolfsbane get little bitty lines thrown their way. Still, that involvement doesn't really make this a true issue of X-Factor and one has to wonder how happy Peter David is with this. I'm personally not bothered by it. Wolfsbane, Madrox and Layla have all been getting the same amount of page time in the rest of the crossover's issues so if they don't show up so much in their own title, then I guess that's how the story should be told. Plus, David gets to follow up on that vision Wolfsbane had a while ago about Layla and Madrox being married when Layla says her name is Layla Madrox, that is if that was how that was meant to be read.

The mutant concentration camp aspect of the series finally pays off, with Layla blowing up her dupe companion, thus sending his knowledge back to Madrox prime in the present. With his knowledge of the future, Madrox is able to finger Bishop as the traitor and finally get everyone off of Cable's back a little. I'm rather pleased with this since, at first, it seemed like a waste of time to send Multiple Man's dupes into the future "just cause." I rolled my eyes upon seeing yet another concentration camp-y reality but the disturbing images Chris Bachalo gave us in his issues of X-Men have made it worth it. Also, the reveal that we are in Bishop's timeline (or rather a variation, right?) justifies the setting; we're not seeing another bleak future, just revisiting an old one.

And there's my main problem with this issue and, it looks like, the crossover as a whole. Both Bishop and Cable have knowledge of this mutant messiah that is currently the most popular infant on Earth. Bishop hates the messiah because she kills a million humans, but apparently she ends up doing something awesome because Cable thinks she saves everyone. Okay, that's cool. We're using the fact that both Cable and Bishop come from different points in the future. But oh, wait, um, if they both knew that a mutant messiah was going to be born, why didn't they bring that up until now? I went back and looked at the Endangered Species one-shot from last year that kicked off this current direction. In it, Bishop states that he didn't tell anyone about M-Day because he genuinely didn't know. Most of the records were lost, there were a lot of rumors, but nothing concrete. Fair enough. But here we are in X-Factor #27 with a kid Bishop pretty much telling us everything that is going on right now. I mean, I guess it could be argued that Bishop has known this ever since M-Day and was lying in Endangered Species, but the x-books haven't been known for their foresight in years or...ever. The same can be said for Cable, I guess, who would either know less because more records were lost by the time he rolled around thousands of years after Bishop, or more since he has telepathy, a gajillion all-knowing computers, and has time traveled all over the dang place. But maybe he's been playing it close to the vest as well. I guess I need to wait and see if either of these are resolved before really holding it against the storyline.

Where is Rictor?

And where's the dupe they sent to the other new future?

And how lame is Predator X, really? Is his biggest involvement running through upstate New York, eating Peepers, and then snacking on the ex-cast of New X-Men? Geez.

Overall, the art is solid (even if the coloring still makes people look like rubber) and "Messiah Complex" is shaping up to be the best and most fulfilling crossover the Marvel Universe has produced since "The Age of Apocalypse" in 1995. We're this close to the end, I hope it doesn't fall apart.

MY SCORE: 8.6/10

Comics: The Mighty Avengers #1

THE MIGHTY AVENGERS #1
"The Mighty Avengers"
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Frank Cho
Colors: Jason Keith
Letterer: Artmonkey's Dave Lanphear
Assistant Editor: Aubrey Sitterson
Editor: Tom Brevoot
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

This is one of the most highly entertaining comics I've read in a while. I did not expect this. Bendis, lately, has underwhelmed me with his self-important and unfocused stretch of solo stories in New Avengers and his run on Ultimate Spider-Man which fails to surprise me while still managing to be a consistently solid read. I was not expecting to enjoy this issue or want to continue reading it past the first issue.

For a first issue, this one feels like a throwback to happier times. Too often nowadays, first issues are paced for the trade and involve secondary characters doing mysterious things while referencing the title character, who appears on the last page if at all. Used to be, first issues set up the themes, characters, and relationships that would propel the series through its first dozen or so issues. Deadpool #1 is a great example of this and, off the top of my head, the best example. The over-the-top mercenary stuff is introduced, his desire to be a hero is brought up by making fun of an established Marvel hero, and a whole slew of his supporting cast is shown with their fully rounded personalities ready to go.

This issue starts off with the team already formed and taking on the Mole Man's henchmen, which disappointed me initially only because I've grown tired of Marvel's "hit-the-ground-running/explain-it-later-in-a-press-conference" technique to big events. I was sad that we weren't going to see this team get formed. But Bendis, in true old school style, flashes back to show Iron Man and Ms. Marvel going through their databanks to find the perfect team. Every member is discussed and justified alongside a splash page of them in action; a great way to introduce the team. The real gem here is Ms. Marvel, one of my favorites and Marvel's almost-icon for 20 years now. She's finally getting the respect she deserves and leading this team (well, might I add) is a leap in the right direction. There's already a set-up for a power struggle within the team, and I'm extremely thrilled by this.

First issues should also include a fight of some sort to show how effective the heroes are. This one does so thirty three times over. The team fights well, interacts well, and looks gorgeous thanks to Frank Cho (although I'm still perplexed by Wonder Man's leisure suit). The severity of the situation escalates nicely and, for once, this seems like a truly important battle. Nice to see a little, self-contained, epic battle; I'm sick of line-wide event crossovers that concern everyone. Sometimes it's up to a group of seven to save the entire world.

Reading this made me realize why I love comics: complex characters fighting huge monsters. There's just something iconic about seeing a team of heroes dwarfed by giant green and brown creatures from the bowels of Earth, rushing in to save the day. This feels right. So right that it's my wallpaper.

And then there's that ending which I have no idea where it comes from or what it means for the series, but goshdarnit if it doesn't have me hooked for issue #2.

MY SCORE: 9.6 (out of 10)