Mighty Avengers #9 – Review

By Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Mark Bagley (pencils), Danny Miki, Allen Martinez & Victor Olazaba (inks), Justin Ponsor (colors), Marko Djurdjevic (art)

Wow, where do I start? I guess it’s safe to say that this series is finally getting back on track after months and months of delays. The story picks up exactly where the last issue ended. alien symbiotes invaded New York and after a large battle the Avegers were able to repel them. Tracing the attack’s origin to Latveria, the whole Avengers fleet heads over there to give a smack down on Doctor Doom, who along with his scientists are completely unaware of what happened in New York. But that doesn’t stop the Avengers from starting a full scale war. In a glorious series of consecutive double page splashes (beautifully done by Mark Bagley), the Avengers completely decimate Doom’s army. Seriously, the scale of what we see here rivals the stuff Bryan Hitch did in Ultimates #2. It’s that chaotic!

Iron Man confronts Doom head on and in their struggle Doom resorts to arcane magic to bust through Tony’s shields. Luckily, the Sentry’s around for back up. What happens next is just completely weird, but let’s just say this issue had me laughing at the end! Tony Stark gets in more trouble than any superhero I know. I wonder how he’s going to get himself out of this one.

Brian Bendis is going all weird and random on this book. I’m not sure what its voice or direction is, but the constant odd-ball surprises are quite funny. There are some outstanding questions that need answers, however. If Doom didn’t order the attack on New York, who did? And where is Doom’s army of Atlantians (read last year’s Sub-Mariner if you don’t understand what I’m talking about). Mark Bagley?  Wow! This guy blows the doors wide open when he gets to the battle. If this is his last Marvel comic book, he definitely went out in style. (Grade: B-)

– J. Montes

Mighty Avengers #8 – Review

By: Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Mark Bagley (pencils), Danny Miki, Allen Martinez & Victor Olazaba (inks), Justin Ponsor & Stephane Peru (colors)

The long delayed series finally gets on track thanks to Mark Bagley. This storyline has been hampered with so many delays that it’s not even relevant to what’s going on in the Marvel Universe. Symbiotes have over run New York and it’s mayhem as both Avenger teams try to combat the menace that’s overtaken every man, woman, child, dog, cat, even birds! The situation is pretty funny, for as bad as it seems. And is it me or has New York been destroyed like 3-4 times over the past six months? What’s left to blow up and who in their right mind would want to continue living there?!

Iron Man is able to synthesize a spray to kill the symbiotes quickly enough, which makes me wonder why the likes of Venom and Carnage are still running around. And since when were the symbiotes diagnosed as viruses? This issue just doesn’t work for me – especially after reading New Avengers Annual #2 and how Ms. Marvel keeps letting the “outlaw Avengers” get away.

Because it’s so late, this issue feels like filler. Marvel should have just canned this story and moved on to a more current story. No new Skrulls are even revealed! All we get is Tony Stark’s revelation that he’s being played (by the Skrulls) and an answer as to whom sent the symbiotes in the first place. (Grade: D)

– J.Montes