Avengers Assemble #1 (2012)
Writer: B.M Bendis
Penciller: Mark Bagley
Inker: Danny Miki
Colors: Paul Mounts
Let's Launch Another Avengers Book to Sap Money and Dilute the Brand Some More!!!!!
Ok, So basically, there is a new Zodiac. Die Hards may remember the Old Zodiac, where Jacob Fury was Scorpio and had possession of the Zodiac Key (yes, Nick Fury's brother). Each member wore a costume and had a codename in line with the 12 creatures of the Zodiac. They ran different criminal enterprises and came together for big schemes. This group tackled everybody, from the Avengers, the West Coast Avengers, SHIELD, you name it. So, now we have a new incarnation....just in time to launch another Avengers book to capitalize on the movie!!!! Cha-ching!
The Good:
Bagley and Miki's work is fantastic. The lines are crisp and clear, the colors vivid (though no one does color like the fetching Bettie Breitweiser!). The dialogue is nice, and fits each character well. My question is, why do we need another book? This would make a great story in the regular titles. Oh yeah, that's right, we are money whores at Marvel, so we need to beat every franchise into the ground!
The Bad:
Why another book? If we weren't wasting resources in the other books, this would make a great story in the current Avengers book. However, since we want to dilute and rape the consumer, let's just keep it here. So, we continue with this overexposure of solid franchises.
Bottom Line:
Good story, good looking art. If, in this Obama economy you can afford it, I would suggest taking a look. If you are close to tapped out (and who, except for Obama's Hollywood or Goldman Sachs buddies isnt?), then you could wait a bit. However, I am liking what I am seeing so far, far more than A vs. X.
New Hope Patriot Missile Rating:
3 out of 5 Shields
Avengers Assemble #2 (2012)
Writer: B.M Bendis
Penciller: Mark Bagley
Inker: Danny Miki
Colors: Paul Mounts
Hey, I Know, Let's Use a Cosmic Voice Scene, Like We Did in the Movie....
OK, when last we left the Avengers in this book, they were fighting members of the (new?) Zodiac organization. Now, we discover that there may indeed be Alien or Cosmic forces behind this new incarnation. OOh. Ahh...Could it be....a reimagined Thanos? Who is doing the talking at the beginning? Could it be the Kree Supreme Intelligence? Anyway, Taurus is kicking Norse butt by pounding Thor when Iron Man decides to zap him a few times. Taurus, however, lays the smack down on the armored one (Taurus, by the way, is my Zodiac sign, for all you ladies out there...LOL). Why does Zodiac want the Ultimate Nullifier? How can the Green Hulk help? And, can the Avengers stand up to a full astrological assault?
The Good:
Seeing the real, original Hulk back in the fold is good. Bagley and Mounts and Miki continue to dole out excellent renderings of characters with great art. The new versions of the Zodiac are interesting as well as intriguing. It will be neat to see what powers are manifested for each sign. We have seen some, but to get the full scope, like Pokemon, we gotta get em all!. And, Bendis appears to have learned how to write good stories again...shocking!
The Bad:
Again, this should be in the current books. There was no need to launch this new title. Better a self contained team arc than the tripe that is A vs. X. Another bad thing in most of Marvel's books as well as DC: I AM TIRED OF GETTING RIPPED OFF THE LAST THREE OR FOUR PAGES OF STORY BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME NEW PRODUCT YOU WANT TO SHILL OR SOME PREVIEW YOU PUT IN EVERY DAMN BOOK FOR TWO MONTHS. IF YOU ARE TOO LAZY TO WRITE A FULL STORY, JUST HAVE THE ARTISTS EXTEND SOME BATTLE SCENES OR SOMETHING. Thank you.
Bottom Line:
Good story. Nice art. If you are looking to get a story arc on the ground floor and maybe find out about a bunch of interesting looking villains, then this is the book for you. If you are already avengered out by the film and the crappy A vs. X stuff, then maybe this could rekindle your love for Earth's Mightiest Heroes!
New Hope Patriot Missile Rating:
3 out of 5 Shields
