Avengers #13 – Review

By: Jonathan Hickman, Nick Spencer (Writers), Mike Deodato (Artist), Frank Martin (Colorist)

The Story: Don’t threaten Hyperion’s children while his Avengers buddies are here. Just don’t.

The Review: This run on this title has been a weird affair so far. There are amazing ideas being thrown, some great characters set in the teams that could very well expand the base idea of what the Avengers could very well be and a progression that is still building up to something greater.

With all those qualities, however, it seems that there are a lot of setbacks. For all the cool ideas, there is some really cold dialogue ripe with exposition. For all the cool buildup, there is close to no resolution or any sight of payoff. While none of the issues were an actual bore, this title lacked excitement in a ‘’rollercoaster’’ kind of way, with some issues being close to solid, while some were just confusing.

Avengers #13 – Review

by Brian Michael Bendis (script), Chris Bachalo (art & colors), Tim Townsend, Jaime Mendoza, Al Vey, & Wayne Faucher (inks), and Clayton Cowles (letters)

The Story:  The Avengers recount the early days of Fear Itself.

The Review:  This is a very difficult issue to review.  Quite frankly, if you don’t like Brian Bendis, particularly Bendis on an Avengers title, stay the hell away.  I don’t care how much you love the franchise, this sort of issue is one that sure to make people get out the torches and pitchforks.

Honestly, it’s not because Bendis noodles with continuity or flubs characters’ voices or whatever.  Rather, it’s because this is a very Bendis-y issue that’s almost entirely composed of talking heads.  This is the more indie-minded Bendis, as evidenced by the fact that this issue uses interlocking monologues on pages with a large number of small panels, a technique that’ll be very familiar to anyone who has ever read Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming’s Powers.  Essentially, this doesn’t feel at all like your standard Marvel superhero fair, it’s just a whole lot of dialogue, there’s next to no plot development or real set narrative, and there’s absolutely zero action.

Yet, because I am a confirmed fan of Mr. Bendis, I, for one, enjoyed it, as I expect many of his fans will, even those more keen on his creator owned work than his superhero stuff.  It’s dialogue heavy and feels genuinely more human and it’s unique as far as Marvel comics go.  The dialogue feels quippy, but in a natural way that feels fluid and quick as opposed to forced.  It puts a relatable, human face on the trauma of Fear Itself and the nature and burden of being an Avenger in the face of such calamity.  Without action, and really without much else to look at but the characters’ faces, you’re really forced to take in the events and the characters on an intimate and personal level.  The result is a cast that has a charming kind of vulnerability, a big group of Avengers that feel like people above all else.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: FF #3 – So at the end of FF #2, when Valeria says that she has enlisted Dr. Doom to “help defeat Reed Richards” I did a complete “Huh? WTF?”  Well, let’s just say that the story in FF #3 makes it all clear and ties in with Hickman’s opening arc on Fantastic Four with the Council of Reeds.  Turns out that there are a few Reeds loose on our Earth and since they are “greater good” types, are willing to destroy our Earth to return to their Council (and do great things).  The Council of Reeds is so cool and I love how this story promises to drive home why our Reed is different than all the others.  Super!

Most Anticipated: Alpha Flight #0 – Please be good, please be good…  After many years of begging Marvel has decided to let us fanboys have our favorite team of Canadian superheroes back.  As a kid I loved the Byrne run on this title and remember how everyone read Uncanny X-Men, but the really cool kids were reading Alpha Flight.  It should be in very strong hands with Fred Van Lente and Dale Eaglesham.

Other Picks: Batman: Gates of Gotham #1, Drums #1, Last Mortal #1, Avengers Academy #14, Hulk #33

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Birds of Prey #12 – You know, I almost gave this to Journey into Mystery #623.  In fact, I think it was the better comic.  That said, BoP #12 was more important.  I knew Journey into Mystery would be good, and it was exactly as good as I’d hoped it’d be.  Birds of Prey #12, however, completed a return to form, gave me what I’ve been waiting for since the relaunch, and showed that the newly established art team, here to stay this time, is rock solid.  JIM was excellent, but Birds was a comic that I’m sure had fans cheering.

Most Anticipated: Batman: Gates of Gotham #1 – Normally, unless it’s an event the affects titles I’m reading, I trade-wait limited series that I’m interested in.  Not this time.  I simply cannot wait to read Gates of Gotham, and given that it’s related in theme to Detective, which has been amazing, that gives me more than enough reason to pick this up.  It seems like an extension of Snyder’s work in Detective and given that that’s the best Batman book on the stands right now (sorry, Morrison fans), any excuse to get a twice monthly dose of Snyder’s Batman is a good one.

Other Picks: Uncanny X-Force #10, Invincible Iron Man #504, Avengers #13, THUNDER Agents #7, Amazing Spider-Man #661, DMZ #65

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Dejah Thoris #3 – Dynamite has me loving old Barsoom again, in this case, really old Barsoom. I was already hooked on the Princess of Mars story told in the Warlord of Mars series, and it was like taking a new look at a place I’ve been many times and love visiting. But with the Dejah Thoris series, it’s like Nelson, Rafael and Carlos have pulled back a curtain and said: I know you love Barsoom, so I made you *this*. New stories on old Barsoom. You’ve got to pick up this series.

Most Anticipated: X-Men Giant-Sized #1 – There’s nothing that floats my boat more than a pure, classic X-Men story. I’m really looking forward to looking at the simpler time of the original X-Men. There is something very special about a story with only six X-Men on the entire planet, and I’m going to enjoy this one.

Other Picks: X-Factor #219, Uncanny X-Force #10, Thunderbolts #157, Avengers #13, Astonishing X-Men #38, Alpha Flight #0.1