Who would have thought that a writer who doesn’t like mainstream comics at all could write the best run of a mainstream comic? The first issue of Warren Ellis’s run on Secret Avengers was the kick in the butt the series needed. His idea of making each issue a one shot of sorts each month is a great idea. Because it won’t be bogged down too much into continuity and we can get six separate, action packed issues. This month we have the second issue of Warren Ellis with artist Kev Walker taking the reigns. Can this title go 2/2?

Short answer: Yes

Long Answer: What I like about this particular issue is how Ellis made this completely interesting with very little explanation on what’s going on. All we know is that someone is kidnapping innocent civilians in an Eastern European country and the Secret Avengers are the only one’s that can stop them. Most of the issue is just Cap N’ Steve and his crew getting chased by ‘Meat Robots’ and fighting them off to get the the bad guys HQ. While there isn’t much in terms of characterization there is a lot of entertaining moments peppered throughout the book My favorite thing about the book is how the ‘Meat Robots’ talked. In general this felt like a toned down issue for Ellis, and no sign of his wacky dialogue. But then the robot piloting the fighter plane gets a line or two and it just lost me. That was basically ‘Nextwave’ writing in that panel and it made me laugh so hard when I read it. The issue does end kinda flat though. I mean we get an explanation of the plot…sort of. Felt like Ellis didn’t know how to end it properly with just one page.

The art by Kev Walker though is pretty great. If you loved him on Thunderbolts you’ll love him here. Heck Moonstone is in the issue which is…..wait I’m being told that’s actually Sharon Carter. Okay, so that’s a bit of a problem with this issue with Walker clearly using the same models from some characters in Thunderbolts for this. But it’s a tiny issue when you got so much great layouts and action sequences in here. We get another great two page spread with the Quincarrier breaking in half. It might not be as epic in scope as McKelvie’s Moon Knight two page spread from before but it’s a great highlight for the issue.

I’m not sure why Marvel didn’t think of this sooner with Warren Ellis taking over the Secret Avengers. Yes he despises writing for mainstream comics but let’s face it, he’s really good at it. This was just an action packed, entertaining issue through out. This comic has become that mindless action series it was labeled in the first place. Let’s see where the book takes us next time with David Aja.