Secret Avengers #27 – Review

by Rick Remender (writer), Renato Guedes (art), Bettie Breitweiser & Matthew Wilson (colors), and Chris Eliopoulos (letters)

The Story: Mar-Vell, Noh-Varr, and Ms. Marvel deliver a beatdown on a Hala gone mad.

The Review: This is an issue where in many respects, the script plays second-fiddle to the art.  Much as was the case last month, Renato Guedes is cranking out some of the best work of his career here.  Seriously, this is miles above the work he put out on Wolverine not too long ago.  It’s clear that Guedes excels at drawing outlandish, alien, science fiction environments and narratives.  His work is incredibly detailed, almost uncomfortably so.  His work on Secret Avengers has felt almost as much a comic as some kind of European sci-fi artbook.  Bettie Breitweiser and Matthew Wilson really do a lot to enhance this feel, with a very unique palette that furthers the European aesthetic.  This is particularly impressive in the case of Breitweiser, who has clearly completely changed up her game for this series.

Unfortunately, unlike last month, this issue feels somewhat forgettable insofar as the plot.  I love the fact that Remender is telling a cosmic story, but I’m sort of non-plussed that we’re ultimately just getting yet another “mind control” story in a comic.  It always feels like an “out” when writers do this, a way to cheat by having heroes double-cross each other or do bad things, without having to deal with the consequences or ramifications, without Marvel actually having to commit to the swerve.  It leads to stories and characterization that doesn’t really have he significance that it would otherwise have.

As a result, when you see Ms. Marvel and Mar-Vell romancing and rekindling a flame and taking their relationship to a new level, should we really care?  What could be a significant moment for the two characters is undercut by the fact that it’s probably not for real and could very well just be part of their being mind controlled.

Captain Marvel #4 (of 5) – Review

By Brian Reed (writer), Lee Weeks (pencils), Stefano Gaudiano (inks), Jason Keith (colors)

This Captain Marvel mini-series is probably one of the best kept secrets of the year. I realize it’s now getting more attention, with its Secret Invasion tie-in, but it’s not just  relationship it shares with Marvel’s upcoming blockbuster that makes it so worthy, it’s the entire package. Lee Week’s art consistently dazzles the eye each issue, and Brian Reed does an excellent job juggling the various themes that make up this series. And this latest issue is no exception.

If you’re expecting Captain Marvel to be revealed as a Skrull, prepare to be disappointed. Reed does a nice job dancing around the idea, but doesn’t show us his hand just yet. Instead, we’re shown how Mar-Vell and Tony Stark react to this newly found (possible) revelation. On the other end of the spectrum, things finally come to a head with the Church of Hala. It almost seems too easy and predictable that Reed would give us the “evil cult gone bad” routine. But I gotta say, what he does with the Church in this issue is a nice twist – and an eye opener.

With one issue left in this series, I’m very, very eager to see how things will end. There’s still a lot left to be answered, so I hope we don’t get some kind of “To be continued in Secret Invasion” cliffhanger. I’ve never read a Captain Marvel comic before this series, so in my humble opinion, what Brian Reed and Lee Weeks have done with this series speaks volumes. Oh, and the variant cover by Terry Dodson is to die for.  (Grade: A-)

– J. Montes

Captain Marvel #3 (of 5) – Review

By Brian Reed (writer), Lee Weeks (pencils), Stefano Guadiano with Butch Guice (inks), Jason Keith (colors)

This issue picks up with a battalion of Kree soldiers on the SHIELD Helicarrier deck ready to attack Captain Marvel. Iron Man does his standard warning spiel, but it’s no use. A fight breaks out and the twist comes when the two men realize these aren’t Kree soldiers – they’re Skrulls!

The story then gets back it’s more intriguing subplot, the Church of Hala – an organization (or cult), that’s been on the rise since Captain Marvel’s return. They see him as a god of sorts, and it’s creeping out a lot of people, including a journalist for The Pulse newspaper who’s gone in undercover to investigate their motives. Meanwhile, the SHIELD agent who’s been investigating Captain Marvel infiltrates the Church and stumbles upon a corpse of a prominent Church figurehead only to discover he’s a Skrull!

I like how Brian Reed has interwoven Captain Marvel’s story line with the Secret Invasion threat. In fact, this series has done more to facilitate the Secret Invasion story line than any other Marvel book – and it’s fascinating, not to mention well written. Lee Weeks does really strong work with this issue. His art gels well with Reed’s script. I just wish he’d draw the covers, too – I prefer his art over Ed McGuinness any day.

While other heroes languish, debate, and fight amongst themselves when it comes to who’s a Skrull, Mar-Vell wastes no time getting to business. The end of this book leaves us with a hell of a cliffhanger. And it’s about time a character in the Marvel universe questions why super heroes are always coming back from the dead! We now have a good answer, too.

I’m usually not keen when it comes to mini-series, but Captain Marvel, much like last year’s Namor mini-series, is a great story that actually affects continuity. Highly recommended. (Grade: A)

– J. Montes