Avengers

Avengers #10

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avengerrs-10-coverDanger Room meet the Avengers, Avengers meet the Danger Room.

Our heroes split up to recover the remaining Infinity Gems leading each team into a bit of trouble as the members of the Illuminati didn’t exactly make them easily accessible. Along the way we learn Noh-Varr doesn’t understand sarcasm (much to Spider-Man‘s dismay), and the fact that Tony Stark now owns Area 51.

Issue 10 is filled with action and some very entertaining interplay between out heroes. There’s a humorous one-page conversation between Ant-Man and Iron Fist while the pair are stuck together on monitor duty (and similar situation between Hawkeye and Mockingbird), Spider-Woman and Ms. Marvel‘s reaction to the Danger Room, and Iron Man’s attempt to justify his actions.

All that plus our heroes finally come face-to-face with the villain amassing the Infinity Gems for himself – the Hood (who’s gotten his grubby hands on yet another gem). Must-read.

[Marvel $3.99]

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New Avengers #8

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new-avengers-8-coverWhen Brian Michael Bendis is good he’s really good. First, let me just say this is the best explanation of Doombots I’ve ever seen.

Issue #8 is centered around Luke Cage and Jessica Jones having dinner together, something they don’t often do (Cage even idly wonders if this is their first real date). The pair seriously discuss and playfully bicker over the topic of whether or not she plans to put back on the tights as an Avenger. There’s plenty of laughs including Cage’s suggestion of a possible new super-hero name for his wife which doesn’t go over anywhere near as well as he hoped.

The dinner is interrupted by Ms. Marvel, a falling object and Dr. Doom all crashing into the street across from the restaurant. (That’s Marvel’s New York for you.) What follows is a husband and wife takedown of what is actually a Doombot before the other New Avengers arrive, followed by a group meal, Jones’ decision about being a hero, and Spider-Man getting in the last word at Cage’s expense.

[Marvel $3.99]

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Avengers #8

/ / Comics

For both good and ill the latest issue of Avengers is set up to allow our heroes to get caught up on the events of the previous issue. The Illuminati come back together to discover not one but two of the Infinity Gems they split among themselves have been stolen.

The conversations between the characters work well, but the story itself lacks some punch. The only action sequence we get is a flashback to Parker Robbins beating the snot out of the Red Hulk. Speaking of Parker Robbins, am I the only one who finds it strange (pardon the pun) that Dr. Strange can’t mystically identify the identity of the villain putting the stones back together again?

The issue’s final panel sets up what looks like more retreading of the same points as Steve Rogers shows up to find out what Tony Stark and his friends are hiding. That initial conflict should be interesting, but I hope we’ll get some real advancement of the plot as well.

This is actually an issue you could easily skip and not miss any big developments in the story arc. That said, it’s still worth a look for the interactions between the Illuminati, but it’s far from a must-read.

[Marvel $3.99]

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Avengers #7

/ / Comics

The recent launch of several new Avengers titles, and new teams, has been a mixed success. The characters I like seem stretched across multiple teams, and the dynamic I enjoyed in the old New Avengers still has yet to be replicated.

I wasn’t impressed with the first story arc of this title involving time travel, Kang and futuristic versions of Tony Stark and the Hulk. The story didn’t work for me, and it seemed the team was missing something. Maybe they’ve found it.

Issue #7 introduces the Red Hulk as a possible new member of the team. Okay, I’m intrigued. I’m a little less intrigued by the villain which will force the team to accept the Red Hulk’s help – Parker Robbins, who it seems Marvel Comics is insistent on making a cosmic level bad guy, again. His latest ploy is to collect two of the Infinity Gems (with unheard of ease, by the way) giving him immense power and the ability to bend reality.

If the story moves forward Parker should be a match for the Avengers, and a villain worthy of the team needing all the help they can get. I just hope writer Brian Michael Bendis isn’t set on putting all the gems in the hands of this two-time loser.

[Marvel $3.99]

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