Avengers: The Initiative #10 – Review

By Dan Slott & Chris Gage (writer), Stefano Caselli (art), Daniele Rudoni (colors)

Dan Slott should write every Marvel comic. He loves to play with continuity and history all while bringing fresh, fun stories every month. And even though I was hoping this story would have been wrapped up this issue, it’s still a strong showing and incredibly entertaining.

In a way, this book is a mess of sorts. There’s so much going on, and so many characters to keep track of that you almost feel like Dan Slott’s got some form of A.D.D. Personally, I think he just loves playing in the sandbox. I mean, there’s absolutely no real reason why The New Warriors should even be in this story, but there they are. I’ll admit, I’m not a fan of the New Warriors and probably never will be. But what Slott does with them ain’t too bad, thankfully. However, had he excluded them, this story most likely would have been wrapped up.

I love how there’s a billion versions of MVP running around. From issue #1, we knew the character was special. But with the advent of KIA, who’s now armed with the Tactigon, well, you’ve got one of the toughest bad guys around. I really hope he’s not killed off. As mindless and as robotic as he is now, with a little brain tweaking and charisma, he could be one of the best villains around. Think of it? An evil Captain America!

Anyway, this book’s worth buying just for the scene between Ant-Man and Taskmaster alone. It just wouldn’t be right without mentioning Stefano Caselli’s incredible artwork. This guy can do no wrong. (Grade: B+)

– J. Montes

Avengers: The Initiative #9 – Review

By Dan Slott & Chris Gage (writers), Stefano Caselli (art), Daniele Rudoni (colors)

Wow, the Taskmaster as a trainer for The Initiative? I didn’t see that coming! But then again, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised after seeing the post Civil War Thunderbolts team. A new Skrull is introduced right off the bat, which is more than I can say for the other Avengers books. It’s about time we saw more of these guys – especially with Marvel hyping about the Secret Invasion for months now. That being said, there’s a lot that happens in this issue. The on-going story of MVP, which has been running since issue #1, finally climaxes with lots of blood being spilled. There’s also a line from Ant Man that actually made me laugh out loud.

There’s so much death in this issue that I have no idea how the series will recover from it. It’s crazy, but oh so daring! Big kudos to Dan Slott and Chris Gage for going all out. Now, I have to admit, Slott’s Skrully dialogue is a little silly – reminding me of stuff I’d read were this a book produced in the 1980s. And then there’s the subtle stuff he brings to the table like his deep history of the Marvel Universe. He draws subtle elements from old stories to the forefront, educating the reader while still entertaining. It’s a great balance. It’s also part of Slott’s charm.

As usual, Stefano Caelli brings the goods on art chores. I really dig his art style. Some might say this book is over-colored month in and month out, but I believe it’s perfect. It completely matches the diverse personalities that dominate this book. And while it carries the Avengers title, don’t be fooled – it’s the most different book of the Avengers line, and dare I say it, the most entertaining. (Grade: A+)

-J.Montes