The New Avengers Review

I have to hand to the folks over at Marvel because they have just been churning out books for The New Avengers and none have been a disappointment, minus the odd purple art in that second annual. However, I'm a forgiving man who can overlook questionable art techniques , but enough about my purple problem as I am a fan of the Artist Formally Known as Prince. Considering my fondness of music by men who dress up in clothes that make them look like human popsicles and comic book artwork have nothing to do with one another let's jump into this review.

This issue picks up right where the second annual left off, with Jessica Jones taking her baby and joining The Mighty Avengers and registering with the Initiative program. As you can see from this cover Jones was married to Luke Cage, who also fathered the child she ran off with. Also the Avengers move into a new apartment owned by Iron Fist, but that's all you need to know about the rest of the team because this issue was solely about Jessica and Luke breaking up.

I'll willingly admit that I cannot stand word heavy issues, but this issue hit close to home. I was raised in a single family home as my parents separated when I was very young. Even though they didn't separate out of the fear that I would be attacked by super villains and shape shifting Skrulls who can't be detected, which would have been a cooler reason, but I digress. Brian Michael Bendis brilliantly scripted this issue as Luke Cage sees everything crashing around him in the wake of constant attacks by the Hood and the ongoing hints of a Skrull invasion, Jessica wants him to join her, the baby, and the Mighty Avengers. This would mean Luke giving up everything he stands for when it comes to taking a stand against the fifty state initiative and registering heroes secret identities. The art and dialogue in this issue meld together as you can feel the desire both characters have for their separate beliefs, but just when you think its all about the breakup Bendis shifts gears back to the impending invasion and the sudden delusions of Skrulls in Stark tower return as Luke asks Jessica an interesting question about why she came back......During Civil War Jessica was supposed to take the baby and flee to Canada, but she came back after Captain America died......

This issue only left me with more questions about Skrulls and feeling sorry for Luke Cage, because not only is he without his wife and child but the Avengers are in an utter state of confusion and their still fugitives. If X-Factor and X-Force hadn't tied for my books of the week this one would have gotten the nod. Every Avengers issue has been one twist or surprise after another and if you can get past the extensive dialogue I recommend this book.

The New Avengers #38

Writing-4 out of 5
Art-4 out of 5
Overall- 4 out of 5




Random thoughts from this issue that had no bearing on the review.... Spider-Man is back in his old uniform, and he still takes of his mask around the Avengers (take that Brand New Day). Is it me or is Wolverine in too many damn books? All I'm saying is that Marvel is extending the character into too many stories and at some point people aren't going to be interested in him (other than die-hard fanboys and girls) anymore.

Excelsior Bitches!!

More Reviews from last week

Ok, i'm doing some quick reviews for the books I picked up last week and then i'll get to this week's round. Boom!!!

The second annual of The New Avengers, wraps up storylines from World War Hulk and Civil War with The Avengers taking on the Hood's gann once again, but with more consequences. As this annual comes to an end, one Avengers quits the team and another jumps sides to the Mighty Avengers. This is the second annual for the Avengers since the new year has began and once again Brian Micheal Bendis has crafted a very fun story and making everyone wonder who is and isn't a skrull. Jessica Jones defects to the Mighty Avenger and due the strain of using his magic powers during World War Hulk, Doctor Strange leaves the team to re-educate himself in the ways of being a sorcerer. Leaving the Hood to once again escape. The story just ties up some loose ends, nothing major, a fun story that won't blow you away as it builds up to the upcoming Skrull Invasion. My only problem with this book was the artwork.

Now, the artwork isn't too bad, as Carlo Pagulayan takes the reigns from Leinil Francis Yu, but the mood of the story is to be dark and a little serious as the paranoia of the Skrull threat rises and with the purple (yes seriously) backgrounds and shadowing used, it doesn't come across as such. In two pages worth of panels when the Hood breaks into Tigra's room and assaults her, I would have have sworn Prince was her interior decorator. The purple totally takes away from the situation on this page, because I didn't wonder if the Hood, along with every other villain he broke out of prison watching, was going to shoot Tigra point blank in the head. I just kept thinking, somebody just needs to lay off the purple stuff.

The New Avengers Annual #2

Writing-3 out of 5
Art-2.5 out of 5- I can't get past all the danm purple!!!
Overall- 3 out 5- Reveal some Skrulls already nobody cares about Skrulls who are second rate heroes!!!!