Pick of the Week
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PENCILS: ALAN DAVIS
INKS: MARK FARMER
COLORED BY: JAVIER RODRIGUEZ
LETTERED BY: NEUROTIC CARTOONIST, INC
COVER BY: ALAN DAVIS
Size: 40 pages
Price: 3.99
Classic, classic, classic, classic, classic.
This new onslaught of Avengers books hasn’t even started yet, but I’m already feeling overwhelmed. Normally, I’d beg off on a couple of the titles, but the thing is, most of the Avengers books have something in them that intrigues me. Secret Avengers wouldn’t necessarily interest me, but it’s Ed Brubaker and Steve Rogers. The New Avengers is a title I could skip, but Stuart Immonen is my favorite Avengers artist these days. The main Avengers book is, well, the main Avengers book. I mean, ease up on me Marvel! That leaves Avengers Prime as a book, I think I could seriously not have anything to do with. I am not, like my partners, a giant fan of Alan Davis. But then I went and listened to Brian Bendis on Word Balloon, and Bendis compared it to Civil War: The Confession, which was the absolute best part, the shining light of Civil War. These three characters, the prototypical Avengers: Steve Rogers, Thor, and Tony Stark have a lot of issues with each other, and this is where they hash it out. I love these characters, and I know from years of experience that these are the kinds of stories Brian Bendis does best.
So as Cameron once stammered, “I’ll go. I’ll go. I’ll go. I’ll go.”
I want to read comic books I like, and while it may not seem like a stretch to try out a Bendis-written Avengers comic book, they’ve been hit and miss with me, probably mostly because I’ve now read hundreds of them, so what is there left to say? But I love closure. I love a story with an ending, and if this is the mini-series that resolves the Tony/Steve/Thor rifts, then let’s do this thing.
What smacks you in the face right away is a skewed two page spread of Thor, old-armor Iron Man, and Steve McQueen Rogers standing in front of a wrecked and burning Asgard. Good start. Since Davis wasn’t a selling point with me, I was pleased to really enjoy his and inker Mark Farmer’s work in this book, but not at first. Once stuff started happening, Davis shined on his dynamic, yet classic Marvel style layouts. Seriously, this is the work of a man who knows how to make superhero pages come alive. Check out trippy panels when the dimensional rainbow vortex whisks the heroes away. Look at the number of angry trolls Steve Rogers has to fight. Admire how incredibly badass Steve Rogers looks after he picks up that shield. He owned the pages of Tony just sitting in a field trying to fix his outdated armor. Then, the last double pager was classic Marvel, done with the very best of hands. Brian Bendis was not wrong when he described his joy at getting these pages back. It was a tour de force from a guy who has a hell of resume behind him, and a lot of younger artists are going to be looking at this and wondering if they can keep up with this old timer. And most of them won’t be able to.
In the story, Bendis wastes no time getting to the meat of the conflict between these characters. I was thrown off a bit to be honest, because it just started up and seemed so inappropriate, but the more I thought about it, why waste time? These guys loved each other, and their worlds, their giant, exceptionally complicated worlds were intertwined, so the resentment when they upset each other must be epic. Steve Rogers lost it. He said everything he’d been thinking, everything we’d all be thinking about how Tony dropped the ball. Tony knew Steve was right, and it’s more that he hated himself for the fact. But he’s not the most mentally well person, so of course he got defensive. All the while, Thor sat stoic among them, until he let the humans know that he basically didn’t have time for their shit, and they all realized it, and kicked into hero mode… just before the aforementioned dimensional rainbow vortex messed things up. Tony wakes up on a field, Steve is somewhere among the trolls, and Thor has some Enchantress issues to deal with. Game on!
What I really like about this whole thing, story wise, is that it seems to be taking place sort of outside current events, but it also matters. Bendis willing, it will take care of all this lingering resentment and anger the characters have had toward one another for years now, so we’ll see actual character development and arc conclusion, or as close as you get to it in mainstream superhero comics, and maybe things will finally get back to a point where these guys can go Avengin’ with each other without all the tension, because as far as I’m concerned, it’s gone on long enough, and the story is played out. Repair that status quo, and make good on The Heroic Age concept. Let’s get back to seeing skilled people who are great at their jobs doing what they do, instead of sniping at each other.
If you liked Civil War: The Confession, or you’re ready to clear the decks with this drama, all in the backdrop of a ruined Asgard, and all the business that goes along with it, this five issue miniseries might be right up your alley. It doesn’t look like you have to read anything else for this story, so it can just be enjoyed on its own. Plus, Alan Davis is undeniably bringing his A-game. It’s just so much fun to see the Avengers actually moving forward, and doing it in such style.
Josh Flanagan
Tony has no problem impressing himself.
josh@ifanboy.com
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Yes, keep up with the early picks! Thanks!
I skipped right over this at my shop this week, for the reason just as you said, that all these Avengers relaunches were going on, and this seemed to me like a book that wasn’t as necessary to pick up. Now I’m regretting not getting it. Might pick it up next week if they still have a copy though.
Also, nice review. I’ll pick up a copy when I’m at the LCS today.
(Steve McQueen Rogers – Very Funny!)
I’m picking this up in trade because I’m trying to cut back on my pull list and mini’s like this are always the first to go. You have me excited for this trade sir.
Ferris reference? C’mon, man.
Absolutely! This was an outstanding issue. All the emotion and answers from the "big three" I felt like I was missing in Siege and the other Avengers books is right here! It was the first thing I read in a week of really strong books! Definetly a POTW contender for me.
THe downside, like I said in the books regular thread, is that we have to wait til December for the conclusion. Bi-monthly. Ugh.
D’oh! There’s $10 down the drain for thinking Hawkeye was gonna be the pick.
Great review though, although to be honest this doesn’t look to be my cup of tea. Bendis’s take on these three in Avengers #1 was so off putting. I can’t see myself picking up this mini even with beautiful Alan Davis art.
My pick was Sweet Tooth because….well like everyone on this site it was slightly better then anything else I picked up.
Kind of unexpected. Much like Josh this was the one title that I could have left on the shelf, but I’ve ordered mainly because I’m along for the bigger Avengers ride and want to see how it links in. The nicest thing about the review is that it’s done what all the best POWs do, and that’s make me excited for the comic. Roll on tomorrow….
I’m just now noticing the primary color scheme of this cover. Gotta love little things like that.
i laughed and laughed and laughed some more on the splash page where Cap frantically fought goblins. It felt very akin to internet humor.
Steve’s face when the goblin said "Eat Him!"
I laughed out loud.
Also, I love the concept of the rainbow bridge turning into a crazy maelstrom. Great concept and great visual. My kind of comicbooking.
I agree with this pick of the week. I felt there was a lot missing between the end of Siege and Secret Avengers #1. I think this mini is going to fill in some of those blanks for me as it seems like it’s right after Siege but before Steve Rogers puts together his team.
Not even for Alan Davis.
So Bendis is Ferris, and Josh is Cameron? Makes sense. Now who is Sloan? Who is the headmaster? I am thinking about this way too much.
Seriously, great review. You hit on just why a series like this is worthwhile.
A Hughes reference, A Sorkin Refernce, a Steve Mcqueen joke and a beffy review. That’s how it’s done tight there.
Did reference Sorkin without knowing it?
Was it the "skilled people who are good at their jobs" bit?
(Dave finds unintentional allusions in my stuff too. It’s his mutant power.)
It might be actually. I thought it was Mamet. But yeah, I think I heard it on a West Wing extra or something.
So, it looks like I did. I am a thief.
Alan Davis is among my favorite, if not THE favorite artist for me. I even proudly bought Ghost Boxes because he penciled it. I’m also a lifelong Avengers nut. And a Bendis fan. But, for me, this was a case where 1+1+1 = something less than 3. Whereas I enjoyed Bendis’ Avengers #1 quite a bit, for me this issue left me flat. I felt like we were brought into a Telenovela featuring three actors who were told to portray the history of Thor, Steve and Tony in as dramatic a way as possible. They literally ate up the scenery. All I can say is THANK THE GODS Alan Davis penciled this book and Mark Farmer inked it.
I was surprised that this was my POTW as well. I really didn’t want to pick up yet another Avengers book but I decided to give all of these first issues a shot. I’m finally happy that this will resolve the issues between Cap, Thor, and Iron Man. Seeing them really get into it was pleasing, I think everyone has been waiting for this moment. More than that, I really enjoyed the art. I don’t enjoy Alan Davis’ art all the time but when he does it right all I can say is Wow!!!! This was one of those issues and the best part… classic Iron Man armor.
This was really good, but one of these Avengers books are getting dropped.
@Josh and Paul I’m incapable of reading the eords "Game On!" without hearing Josh Lyman say it in the episode of the same name wherin Bartlet Debates Rictche
Then I imagie Sam Seaborn asking me for some skin and all is right in my world.
Anyway, those Avengers Prime sure kick some some ass, don’t they?
I liked this more than the avengers #1. I’m excited for the second issue.
@kaufman1972 – agreed.
I always heard the "Skilled people thing" attributed to Mamet but honestly I am sure it was said long before he said it too.
Great review. Wasn’t going to pick it up but now I am.
@TimmyWood: Yeah, it’s definitey Mamet.
I read the three page preview (which I normally aviod), but dam!!! I am glad I did, because this was a really fun read, and Alan Davis’s work… dam!!! once agian.
I loved this book as well, though "Tony knew Steve was right"?
Excuse me?
I think you’re projecting, sir.
BS. The confession, and a lot of stuff in Invincible indicates to me that Tony realizes his ego made mistakes. He might not admit it, but he knows it.