See, I KNEW Matt Fraction could write.

After the debacle that was Fear Itself (a dead horse being mercilessly flogged into oblivion), I didn’t want to take another chance on the guy. Especially after I found out the main villain of the story was going to be a Fear Itself holdover.

Cut to me, standing in my LCS on Wednesday, looking at the new release wall and wondering what to pick up in an effort to pad my paltry 3-comic pull list. I noticed two things on that wall: Terry Dodson’s awesome artwork, and the 5,000 copies of Defenders #1 my LCS owner ordered with said artwork on display. Call me a sucker for a huge stack of floppies, but I couldn’t help but grab one and read the first few pages. The result? I put down my $4 and took it home.

Reading the issue in full helped me to realize that yes, Fraction is good in smaller chunks with less sprawling story lines, and no, none of these characters could really hold a title of their own. Fortunatley, we have this new series to bring us these character’s exploits. I’ve always liked Dr. Strange and Silver Surfer, I learned to like Iron Fist with New Avengers and Heroes For Hire and I’m intrigued by the concept of Betty Ross as a red force of destruction (now with added Action Sword!).

Under Fraction’s pen, these characters are interesting as people, and the group dynamic is strong. The book has humor, but it isn’t goofy, and though each character has their own internal monologue, they’re never overwhelming or act as obstacles to the narrative.

Dobson’s art is expressive and his characters look unique. I put him in the same class as Stuart Immonen and Olivier Coipel, two of my favorites. There are few artists whose work I could look at seperate from the story and just enjoy, and Dobson is one of them.

In all, I’d say pick this book up. Give Fraction another chance. It helped to wash the taste of Fear Itself out of my mouth, and maybe it can do the same for you.