Avengers #21 – Review

Jonathan Hickman (Writer), Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan (Artists), Sunny Gho (Colorist)

The Story: The resistance against the builders gains a lot of momentum as the Ex Nihilii tries to create a miracle.

The Review: Infinity is cosmic done right. As Jonathan Hickman advances with his larger story in the main title, the books tied to it also deals with the main themes without letting it own go away, creating a symbiosis of sort in terms of storytelling. The threats are huge, the players numerous and the events occurring in the pages are simply gigantic in scope.

Readers who were fans of Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Keith Giffen cosmic corner shall find much to love here, as many a great things are referenced directly from their contribution to the larger Marvel cosmology. The Annihilation wave, Annihilus, Gladiator, Kl’rt the Super Skrull, Ronan, the Imperial Guard and Ikon the space knight all appears in some manner in this tale, adding to the large tapestry weaved by Hickman. Not all of them receive meaningful moments like Ronan or Gladiator, though, with most of them being set in the background or participating in the action silently. Still, fans of the older cosmic stories will probably feel like Christmas came early this year with how those elements are handled.

Another element that is handled in a very competent manner is the tone, which makes the actions and the setting even bigger than it seems. Most of the tone is set in the narration and the dialogue itself, which may comes a bit cold in some places, yet for the most part it really set the mood of war and the tides turning for the heroes. It’s a space opera, a war comic, a super hero comics and a cosmic one, which makes this issue works really well when it deals with its stakes and with grandeur.

WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Wolverine and the X-Men #4 – I love the barely controlled chaos that is the Jean Grey School!  Seeing the faculty trying to control this truly bizarre mash-up of students is just a delight.  I hate to advocate for new X-series, but wouldn’t a “New Mutants: 2012” series with Idie, Broo, Quentin Quire, the Apocalypse guy, Kid Gladiator & Warbird be fun?  Two things are really making this series stand out….  One, the fact that it doesn’t have that stick-up-the-ass seriousness that has traditionally pervaded the X-books forever.  Two, it’s had GREAT art.  Nick Bradshaw is like the second coming of Art Adams.  Just enjoy it people!  Honorable Mention: Amazing Spider-Man #677, Scalped #55, Severed #6.

Most Anticipated: Batman #5 – The talent on this title is sooooo top-notch.  We all like to rave about Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo (and I’m as big of a fan as anyone), but inker Jonathan Glapion and colorist FCO Plascencia are hot stuff too.  Trust me, if either of those less heralded guys wasn’t going their job well….folks would be complaining about how “Capullo has lost it”.  This has been a wonderful series since the relaunch and just the talent alone makes it my most anticipated for the week.

Other Picks: Cobra #9, Morning Glories #15, Amazing Spider-Man #678, Daredevil #8, Legion of Monsters #4, Superior #7

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Scalped #55 – As this amazing series concludes, Jason Aaron is really, really playing for keeps.  Big, big shocking things happen in this issue that will stun long-time readers (are there any kind, when comes to Scalped?) and have you DYING for the next issue.  There have been times over the last year or so where Scalped seem to spin its wheels a bit, but this is NOT one of those times. As we head into the final arc, Scalped is burning at a fever pitch.  This is stunning work and a story where it’s hard to believe that things will turn out well for anyone.  Just an amazing read, all-around.

Most Anticipated: Wonder Woman #5 – It’s pretty well established at this point that Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang’s Wonder Woman is bloody brilliant and one of the true overachievers of DC’s new 52.  Well, the end of last month’s issue just dropped what I like to call a “shit just got real” moment.  I can’t see where the series goes from here and give the gravity of last month’s events, I think Diana is going to be roughing some people up.  If you’re not reading this book, you really should be, and if you’re one of those people who’ve never been interested in WW, know that this is unlike any WW comic perhaps– ever.

Other Picks: Batman #5, Amazing Spider-Man #678, Avengers #21, Daredevil #8, Invincible Iron Man #512, Moon Knight #9, Uncanny X-Men #5