Fear Itself: Deadpool #1 – Review

By: Christopher Hastings (writer), Bong Dazo (pencils), Joe Pimentel (inks), Matt Milla (colors), Simon Bowland (letters), Jordan D. White (editor)

The Story: Mercenaries make money in any crisis, so why should Fear Itself be any different?  And what would happen if Deadpool were one of The Worthy?

The Review: Deadpool makes a great home for all those silly, tongue-in-cheek concepts that come boiling out of their creative summits that could never see the light of day in a “serious” Marvel comic book.  Nothing in a Deadpool comic book is every going to matter in the bigger scheme of things, but that’s okay because the reader knows that going in.

Deadpool #30 – Review

by Daniel Way (writer), Bong Dazo (pencils), Jose Pimentel (inks), Andres Mossa (colors) and VC’s Joe Sabino (letters)

The Story: In a story more suited to Halloween than Christmas, Deadpool encounters a nest of vampires–and is hired by them to take out a rogue group (guest starring from over in X-Men) who have the ability to walk in the sunlight, and a desire to wipe out humanity.

What’s Good: I don’t believe I’ve said recently just how much I appreciate Daniel Way and what he’s doing for one of my favorite Marvel characters. While his stories and characterization are never Earth-shattering or genre bending, he delivers a consistently good and consistently funny product month in and month out. That’s something for any comic writer to be proud of, and that goes double when we’re talking about Deadpool. Way’s got a real talent for capturing the character’s voice, and for taking stupid, silly gags–‘Pool’s insistence on referring to all vampires as “draculas” being the prime example in this issue–and turning them into reoccurring jokes that are genuinely amusing rather than tiresome. That takes talent and forethought, and I wholly recognize and appreciate his effort.

I’m still not completely sold on the idea of Deadpool and vampires being a good match, but way pulled it off well enough here that the thought of another couple of issues with then is not at all off-putting. The innate absurdity of the “altruistic” vampires (who establish a charity hospital and donate money to worthy causes) meshes well with ‘Pool’s skewed worldview, and his myopic refusal to see the difference between the two vampire factions only highlights the absurdity further. I have a feeling that this arc is not going to end with vampires on either side being particularly enamored with our lovable, unkillable merc.

Deadpool: Merc With a Mouth #11 – Review

By Victor Gischler (writer), Bong Dazo (pencils), Leonardo Ito (inks), Matt Milla (colors) and Jeff Eckleberry (letters)

The Story: Deadpool and company continue to run around the zombieverse, searching for a way out. Spoiler alert: they haven’t found one yet.

What’s Good: The more I read this book, the more I’m growing to enjoy the art. Dazo is doing an absolutely fantastic job with a script that (in the hands of a less talented artist) wouldn’t lend itself to great panels. Dazo’s are consistently good though, and a huge tip of my hat goes to both him and colorist Matt Milla for their downright beautiful work on the (many) fires and explosions; everything from the overall look to the shadows they cast are just pretty, and a lot of fun to look at. (The panel of ‘Pool shish-kabobing Zombie Firebird is just incredible—I would have loved to see that as a full splash page. Just awesome.)

The zombie enemies are particularly good in this issue, and more interesting than they’ve been for…well, most of this series, really. Zombie Iceman and Zombie Firebird are quite threatening, and both project a real sense of danger even while engaging in banter and (admittedly pretty bad) quips.

What’s Not So Good: Gischler’s writing continues to shoot for the absolute lowest common denominator. I don’t necessarily mean that as an insult, mind you; puns and intentionally bad dialog have their place, and if ANY Marvel character were made to make use of such humor it would be Gischler’s Deadpool. I can’t help but feel it’s far, far too overused in this series though. I would excuse the whole thing as being intended for much younger readers who might be more entertained by that sort of writing than I am, but the parental advisory warning on the cover rather precludes that assumption.

Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #10 – Review

By Victor Gischler (writer), Bong Dazo (pencils), Leonardo Ito (inks), Matt Milla (colors) and Jeff Eckleberry (letters)

The Story: Deadpool and company come up with a clever ruse that allows them to escape both the A.I.M. agents on their tail and the nasty infestation of mutant zombies. Since ‘Pool is the mastermind behind it all, of course, nothing goes according to plan.

What’s Good: I am an unashamedly writing-first kind of reader. If an author can sell me on the way he constructs his dialogue, or the way she crafts her story, I will enjoy the comic. I say this so you understand just how much I enjoyed the artwork of this book to bring it up first. Dazo hasn’t particularly stood out for me before, but he really tears down the house in this issue. The set pieces are wonderful, the characters are a ton of fun to watch, and the action is kinetic and exciting. This is the first time in quite a while I’ve found myself more compelled to turn the page to see what would happen next than to read what would happen. Special credit also needs to go to Matt Milla’s beautiful colors (the explosions and gun battles in particular are very, very nice.) His bold coloring and lively palette add a ton of life to these illustrations.

Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #5 – Review

By Victor Gischler (Writer), Bong Dazo (Pencils), Jose Pimentel (Inks), and Matt Milla (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: While the rumble in the jungle in Merc with a Mouth has been fun, I’ve definitely had my fill. I look forward to seeing what chaos comes about as Victor Gischler takes his story into space.

The Story: Deadpool realizes what could possibly happen if the zombie head is turned into a weapon and comes up with a plan to escape both A.I.M. and Hydra.

What’s Good: I knew it would happen eventually, I just didn’t think an issue of Merc with a Mouth would be funnier and more entertaining than an issue of the main Deadpool series from the same month so soon. That doesn’t mean that Merc with a Mouth is now the better series or anything (it probably won’t ever be, in all honesty), but it does say a lot about what the creative team behind MwaM is doing right. The team has clearly been shooting for a certain kind of edgy groove since the first issue of the series. If Merc with a Mouth #5 is any indication, that groove has been found.

Victor Gischler’s writing style is really starting to grow on me. He’s doing a really nice job of scripting his series in a way that welcomes and celebrates the chaos that results from Deadpool being…well…himself. While his pop culture references are going to probably feel dated (or even confusing) sooner than later, they definitely hit in the present far more than they miss. And let’s be honest…a joke involving a comparison between the old Star Wars trilogy with the new is always welcome, especially if it leads to someone’s head getting blown off. Which leads me to the other thing I like about Victor Gischler: he prefers edgy and crass over goofy. While taking edgy and crass over goofy occasionally makes it feel like the writer is trying too hard, it does help to separate Merc with a Mouth from Daniel Way’s series.

Bong Dazo and the rest of the art team continue to make Merc with a Mouth look like the comic adaptation of some twisted cartoon. If it can be made to look exaggerated or over the top, it is. The violence? Yep. The breasts? Yep. The explosions? Yep. I’m sure you got the idea. The style compliments Gischler’s script and story so well that it’s easy to overlook…

What’s Not So Good: …the fact that the series, in five issues, has had close to no character development. In short, Deadpool is written in a way that leaves little room for any type of depth or advancement. Gischler aims to highlight the basic appeal of Wade Wilson. While there really isn’t anything wrong with that…the basic appeal is why the character is experiencing such a comeback in the first place…it does leave Merc with a Mouth, especially the fifth issue, feeling rather shallow. Daniel Way is clearly making moves to develop the character. Victor Gischler seems to be aiming to just capitalize on what makes the character so fun. Is it entertaining? Sure. But it leaves this critic wanting a bit more.

Conclusion: Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #5 is a pretty wild, funny ride from start to finish. It reads well, it looks great, and it highlights why Deadpool is such an entertaining character.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

 

Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #4 – Review

by Victor Gischler (Writer), Bong Dazo (Pencils), Jose Pimentel (Inks), and Matt Milla (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth is a worthwhile addition to any Deadpool fan’s pull-list. While it isn’t better than the main Deadpool ongoing, Merc with a Mouth delivers fun, (mostly) continuity-free Deadpool entertainment. And that counts for something in my book.

The Story: Deadpool, the zombie head, and the blonde A.I.M. agent try to evade the zombie T-Rex while looking for a way out of the Savage Land.

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: I really hate to use the expression “more of the same” but it’s a fitting expression for Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #4. Now I wouldn’t say that the fourth issue of the series is an example of a book that’s completely stuck in neutral, but I find myself wishing that a bit more happened to move the opening arc forward. The Savage Land insanity is fun and all, but, in all honesty, it’s starting to feel a bit stale. I love dinosaurs and zombies as much as the next guy, but it can only carry a comic so far before you can’t help but start looking for some sort of plot progression.

While Victor Gischler’s story is starting to feel stretched a bit thin, his writing is quite enjoyable all around. His pop culture references are funny, the Deadpools (Wade and his zombie head) are different enough to keep the basic concept of the series interesting, and the dialogue is written in a way that strikes a nice chord between aiming for a joke and telling the story. The best thing about Gischler’s writing in Merc with a Mouth #4 is that it’s clear the writer is starting to separate himself from Daniel Way. Gischler’s dialogue consistently has more bite than Way’s, something that’s needed if Merc with a Mouth is to stand on it’s own.

Bong Dazo’s artwork is wonderfully chaotic and a great fit for a Deadpool series. That said, his storytelling is a bit hard to follow at times. The action scenes tend to be awkward and the level of exaggeration, especially in regards to Dr. Betty, borders on obnoxious. Matt Milla’s vivid colors pop off the page and compliment Dazo’s style really well.

Conclusion: While Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #4 is a lot fun, I’m ready for a new arc to begin.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #3 – Review

By Victor Gischler (Writer), Bong Dazo (Pencils), Jose Pimentel (Inks), and Matt Milla (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: There’s definitely room for another Deadpool series. The problem, however, is that Merc with a Mouth just can’t compare with the Daniel Way series. M.w.a.M. is entertaining enough and Bong Dazo is a great fit for a Deadpool comic. but it’s next to impossible to forget about cool Way’s take on the twisted character is.

The Story: Hydra, Deadpool, cavemen, and, thanks to Ka-Zar, a T-Rex battle it out as the Zombiepool head gets tossed around.

What’s Good: Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #3 is, in nearly every way, a step forward in the right direction for the series. It’s not perfect, but it definitely hits far more than it misses. The premise lives up to its promise, the chaotic situation finally explodes in a fun, violent way (as it turns out, guns, two ‘pools, a dinosaur, and crazy cavemen make for a good mix), and the creative team manages to find a nice rhythm with the visual and dialogue-based humor (“Where’s Waldo?” on a splash page, for instance)

Writer Victor Gischler seems to take more from the Daniel Way school of Deadpool writing than he has before in Merc with a Mouth #3. As a result, the funny stuff is more satisfying all around. In addition, there’s a buddy-comedy feel to the humor that works really well. Deadpool and the zombie severed head make a pretty good team and I’m now looking forward to seeing how much Gischler can squeeze out of the pairing before real sense of Deadpool overdose sets in.

There’s a hell of a lot happening on every single page of the latest Deadpool comic. Bong Dazo and his art team handle it extremely well. Dazo’s shockingly detailed (considering how much is going on) pencil work is just the right type of crazy for what the script demands. You want an insane splash that features Hydra, a rampaging dinosaur, cavemen, a talking severed head, Deadpool, Zabu, Ka-Zar, and the sexy A.I.M. agent? You got it. Thanks to some excellent (though sometimes heavy) inking by Jose Pimentel, the chaos never gets out of control. The action is easy to follow, individual characters stand out as needed, and you never get the feeling of the visuals overwhelming the storytelling. Special mention must also go out to Matt Milla for making Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #3 one of the most colorful, vibrant comic books I’ve seen in quite some time.

What’s Not So Good: Remember how I said that Gischler seems to take a lot from the “Daniel Way school of Deadpool writing?” That’s something of a double-edged sword because it stops Gischler’s series from feeling as though it’s truly standing out on its own merits. In addition, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t mention that, as a whole, Gischler’s take on Deadpool seems like a tiny step backward in light of what Way is doing with the character in the main series. Wade’s actually getting some depth thanks to Way, so Gischler’s back-to-basics approach must be noted.

Conclusion: If you’re in the mood for a bit more Deadpool, Merc with a Mouth #3 is definitely worth checking out. The book is a whole lot of fun and a solid addition to your weekly reading list.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #2

By Victor Gischler (Writer), Bong Dazo (Pencils), Jose Pimentel (Inks), and Matt Milla (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The first issue of Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth wasn’t anything special. That said, it’s kind of cool to have a Deadpool series that’s disconnected from the current Marvel Universe because the character is generally, pretty fun to read about. I do worry about Deadpool fatigue kicking in though….

The Story: Deadpool and the blonde agent find a way to escape their primitive captors. As for the severed Deadpool head? It tells its origin story.

What’s Good: Because of the “no spoiler” policy we have here at the site, I, unfortunately, can’t exactly tell you the best part about Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #2. I can, however, say that it involves a rather surprising twist to the origin story of the severed Deadpool head. It makes a strange sort of sense and, to be honest, I dig it quite a bit.

On a technical level, the second issue of Merc with a Mouth is rock solid. As I said in my review of the first Merc issue, Bong Dazo is a great fit for a Deadpool series. His exaggerated, cartoony style does a great job of bringing Wade’s take on things to life. In addition, Dazo handles the various action scenes quite well. The dinosaur fight is very cool, as is the violent escape from the Savage Land headhunters. As for Victor Gischler, thanks to the story and the writing, it’s clear that he “gets” what makes Deadpool so appealing. And quite frankly, that’s really all I ask for in a book like Merc with a Mouth #2. The back and forth dialogue the mercenary has with himself (and the severed head) is quite humorous throughout the book, the storyline is suitably bizarre, and the plot twist is delightfully…uh…twisted.

What’s Not So Good: For as fun as the second Merc with a Mouth issue is, there’s no escaping the feeling that it occasionally tries too hard. From the over-sexualized blonde to the nonstop attempts at humor (not to mention the addition of ANOTHER Deadpool), the new Deadpool series lacks the charm of the Daniel Way series that manages to impress me almost every month. Merc with a Mouth certainly proves that there’s room for two Deadpool books if they are both handled correctly, but why buy both when one of them is clearly better?

Conclusion: There’s a lot of fun to be had with Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #2, but it’s far from a “must read” book. That said, it’s a fairly light week so it’s not a bad pickup if your comic stack is feeling a bit light.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1 – Review

By Victor Gischler (Writer), Bong Dazo (Artist), and Jose Pimentel (Inks), and Matt Milla (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Did they really need another Deadpool series? I like the character as much as most people (probably more), but Deadpool is going to turn into the next Spider-Man or Wolverine at the current pace.

The Story: Deadpool gets hired by A.I.M. to recover a package located in the Savage Land. The merc runs into Ka-Zar and Zabu, some natives, and the contact that is supposed to have secured the package.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The art is easily the highlight of the new Deadpool series. Bong Dazo is a great artist for a character like Deadpool, and simply put, his manic, lively, exaggerated style is a perfect fit for a series like Merc With A Mouth. Dazo’s work saves a script from being baf all around.

Victor Gischler writes a solid Deadpool (I like the Fallout reference) and puts the character in a fun situation, but there’s nothing about Merc With A Mouth #1 that makes it a must read. That said, the debut of this new series proves that there is actually room for two Deadpool comics. The Daniel Way series is Deadpool doing his thing in relation to the current Marvel status quo. On the other hand, the Victor Gischler series is, from the looks of it, all about telling entertaining stories about an entertaining character. That’s something I can get behind.

Conclusion: Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1 is worth checking out if you are either A) a fan of the character or B) someone that would rather read a Deadpool book that doesn’t pay much attention to the current Marvel U. situation.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Thunderbolts #131 (Magnum Opus Chapter 4) – Review

By Andy Diggle (Writer), Bong Dazo (Pencils), Joe Pimentel (Inks), and Frank Martin & Giovanni Kosoki (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: For as much fun as I’ve had with the “Magnum Opus” crossover, I’m disappointed by how heavily the story has leaned in favor of Deadpool. While there’s nothing wrong with that in particular, it’s done no favors for a new Thunderbolts team that has yet to escape the (massive) shadow of the Warren Ellis team. Let’s face it; Ghost, Paladin, Ant-Man, Headsman, and Black Widow II have looked rather incompetent for about 2 1/2 chapters out of 3. I wonder if they can turn things around in the final chapter of “Magnum Opus.”

The Story: The conclusion of the Deadpool and Thunderbolts crossover largely brings more of the same to the table. With Deadpool finally captured by the Thunderbolts last issue, Thunderbolts #131 is mostly about how Wade deals with the situation. As it turns out, dealing with it involves lots of action, violence, and various types of humor.

What’s Good: The latest issue of Thunderbolts succeeds almost entirely because of the energy that drives it forward. The pace is frantic, the action is pretty wild, and as a cool bonus, you get two Deadpools for the price of one. In addition, the humor hits more often than not and Bong Dazo’s kinetic visuals prove to be a great compliment to the style of story being told.

What’s Not So Good: As a conclusion to what’s come before, I don’t have a whole lot of complaints about the fourth chapter of “Magnum Opus.” That’s mostly because I had an idea as to what to expect out of it. Some of the visuals look either confusing or far too cluttered and a few attempts at humor are just lame, but that’s pretty much been par for the course no matter what creative team was in charge of things.

However, I do have complaints about the crossover as a whole. In short, it is just one big lost opportunity. It should have played up the distinct difference between the wacky, yet capable Deadpool and the cold, efficient team that the Thunderbolts is supposed to be. The darker aspects of all the characters involved weren’t highlighted enough and far too often the whole crossover felt like little more than a violent cartoon. Entertaining, yes, but not all that it could be.

Conclusion: A capable conclusion to a fairly disappointing (but still entertaining) crossover, Thunderbolts #131 works about as well as I expected it to. No more, no less.  I’m looking forward to seeing Thunderbolts get back to its regular business.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Thunderbolts #130 (Magnum Opus Pt. 2) – Review

By Andy Diggle (Writer), Bong Dazo (Pencils), Joe Pimentel (Inks), and Frank Martin (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: So far, I’ve had a fair share of conflicting emotions regarding Andy Diggle’s Thunderbolts run. On one hand, the author carries on the mean streak and dark tone that made the Warren Ellis run such a critical success. On the other, I have yet to find Diggle’s new Thunderbolts team all that appealing. The characters have their moments, but the team as a whole lacks the turmoil and dysfunction that made the Ellis bunch so appealing. Thankfully, I have a feeling most of my conflicting emotion will be quickly forgotten as Deadpool brings his unique brand of humor and chaos to a series that currently needs just a little extra jolt of electricity.

The Story: “Magnum Opus” continues as Deadpool, in an effort to reach Norman Osborn for payment (and a bit of revenge), squares off against the Thunderbolts inside Avengers Tower. But all is not as it seems since Osborn has the Thunderbolts pulling punches in order to keep their target alive. Action, violence, and humor are the name of the game in Thunderbolts #130.

What’s Good: It figures that it’d take Deadpool to finally bring out the personality in the Thunderbolts team and make (almost) everything click. Long story short, Andy Diggle does quite a good job handling both his team and the guest of honor. Regarding the T-bolts, for the first time I actually find myself really looking forward to the next issue so that I can learn more about the cast of characters that I am fairly unfamiliar with thanks to the interesting team dynamics on display. As for Deadpool, Diggle effectively picks up where Daniel Way left off and doesn’t really miss a beat in handling the more unique aspects of the crazy mercenary.

Also worth mentioning about the latest issue of Thunderbolts is how damn nice it looks. The creative team does a fantastic job of handling the non-stop, explosive action without ever really letting it get too out of hand. From Bong Dazo’s kinetic scenes and stylish character work to the complimentary inks and vibrant colors that help the work jump off the page, the second chapter of “Magnum Opus” is a lot of fun to look at.

What’s Not So Good: Two key things hold Thunderbolts #130 from earning a higher grade. The first thing is that, while Diggle makes solid strides in bringing out the personality of his team, it still consists of characters that I have little, to no attachment to. While I understand that time is needed for them to grow on me, I had hoped for at least a character or two to really stand out by this point. I highly doubt I’m the only one feeling this way.

The second thing that needs to be mentioned is that from time to time the action gets a little bit too crazy. Either too much is going on, or character positioning leads to a bit of confusion. It doesn’t really detract from the strong visuals a whole lot, but it proves distracting at times.

Conclusion: The latest issue of Thunderbolts restores my faith in the series. I had thought about dropping it following the Deadpool crossover, but now I feel that the new team definitely has the potential to be quite memorable. You’ve got the ball back Diggle, now is the time to run with it.

Grade:  B

-Kyle Posluszny

Second Opinion

Fanboys take note: when somebody asks whether or not you dig the Bong, I promise you it’s okay to say “YES!”  This was my first introduction to artist Bong Dazo’s work, and I was incredibly impressed.  Although I believe his style is a bit to cartoonish and illustrative to be the regular artist for a dark and gritty title like Thunderbolts, it nicely complements Deadpool’s appearance here.  Dazo’s art is loose and flowing, yet incredibly detailed when the moment calls for it, and I hope the industry takes note and sends more work his way!  As for the story itself, I was surprised by how easily Deadpool took down the Thunderbolts, and disappointed by how utterly inept they came off looking.  I enjoyed this issue, don’t get me wrong, but when I finished it the first thing  I said to myself was “wow, why is it I’m reading this title?”  The ease with which Deadpool laid the smackdown on Osborn’s team of covert cutthroats is embarassing, and it makes them look like far less of a threat than Diggle was building them up to be in previous issues.  I hate to say it, but Diggle actually succeeded in making me want to drop this title and resume collecting Deadpool, and that was the last thing I expected to get from this issue.

Grade: C+

-Tony Rakittke

Secret Invasion: War of Kings – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Paul Pelletier & Bong Dazo (Pencils), Rick Magyar & Joe Pimentel (Inks), and Wil Quintana & Mike Kelleher (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Guardians of the Galaxy #8 definitely piqued my interest in the War of Kings. In addition, the Inhumans mini-series that tied into the Secret Invasion left me wondering about how Black Bolt and company would carry on in the aftermath of the Skrull’s plot. However, I figured it’d be probably worth checking out seeing as how the War of Kings one-shot is helmed by the creative team behind the excellent Guardians series and tells a story about the Inhumans.

The Story: Secret Invasion: War of Kings takes place in the aftermath of the Skrull invasion. With Black Bolt back as the driving force behind the Inhumans, the Kree science projects decide to finally take the fight to those that have wronged them. The Skrulls, the Kree, and the Shi’ar Empire all get a taste of what’s to come in a one-shot that provides all the action and exposition necessary to get readers ready for the War of Kings.

What’s Good: As cool as the Secret Invasion tie-in was at times (loved the way Black Bolt dispatched of his Skrull torturer), I never really “got” why many consider the Inhumans to be so cool. Now I do. They re-establish themselves in a big way throughout the action-packed (extremely colorful) one-shot and it definitely leaves me wanting more. Long story short, I’ve got to hand it to Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning for getting me hooked on an event I had almost zero interest in less than a month ago.

What’s Not So Good: The Inhuman Crystal’s narration throughout the book comes off as a bit too melodramatic and heavy handed for my taste. While I understand that the new Inhuman status quo is literally shaking the group to its very core, a little bit more subtlety would have been welcome. Also, while the artwork looks quite well-done for the most part, it suffers from an annoying lack of detail from time to time. And that’s something I find quite surprising considering the impressive work most of the team has done on the Guardians of the Galaxy series.

Conclusion: Secret Invasion: War of Kings works as an entertaining, action-packed prologue to the War of Kings event. While it has a few flaws, I really enjoyed my time with it. If you are a fan of the Inhumans or are thinking of investing in the cosmic crossover, consider it a must read.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Avengers: The Initiative #19 – Review

By Dan Slott & Christos N. Gage (Writers), Harvey Talibao & Bong Dazo (Artists), and Jay David Ramos & Chris Sotomayor (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Normally, I would be quite a bit disappointed with the fact that the latest issue of one of my favorites is still tagged with the Secret Invasion banner even after the event has reached a conclusion. However, that’s not the case with Avengers: The Initiative #19. The reason being mostly because of the Skrull Kill Krew and the entertaining battles being fought by the Initiative teams. I actually look forward to a bit more before I finally put Secret Invasion behind me in order to get ready for the series during Dark Reign.

The Story: The various state Initiative teams battle the Skrulls over the fate of Earth. I wish I could go into more detail, but since much of the issue relies on telling the story by checking in on locations all over the country at a rapid-fire pace, it is difficult to really explain much with ruining individual segments. That said, it is rarely confusing and it brings Initiative‘s Invasion arc to a satisfying close.

What’s Good: Dan Slott and Christos Gage once again manage to write some great character moments despite the frantic pace of the story. Each battle taking place is loaded with personality, so much so that it’s almost a shame more time isn’t spent on them. To add on, the artwork does an extremely admirable job keeping up with chaos happening on every page. The issue could have easily turned into one giant mess of action in less capable hands, so I give all the credit in the world to the art team.

What’s Not So Good: Despite how well all the chaos is handled, it is almost a bit too much at times. Good luck trying to keep up with the details regarding all the stuff that goes on. As for the story, I found it to be handled a bit too comically considering how things played out in previous issues.

Conclusion: Avengers: The Initiative works best when the creators are really playing in the Marvel sandbox. The latest issue is a prime example of why that is. Worth checking out, even if you’ve had your fill of Skrulls.

Grade:B

-Kyle Posluszny