Comic Book Rebel Reviews for 7/18/12
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 25 July 2012 01:00
- Written by Kevin
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While The Dark Knight Rises being the big comic book related release of the past week it does not mean the comic book world itself stopped. This week had a number of big releases from Marvel with Avengers Academy #38, Avengers vs. X-Men #8, Captain Marvel #1 and Daredevil #15. With an Avengers-focused week how did this Earth’s Mightiest Heroes fair? Click and find out.
Avengers Academy #33
Creative Team
Writer: Christos Gage
Artist: Timothy Green II
Inker: Jeff Huet
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 5 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Review
With Avengers vs. X-Men and many of its tie-in books deal with all the battles between both teams Christos Gage has decided to focus more on the affects the event has emotionally. Case in point Avengers Academy #33 that does feature a fight with the Phoenix Force powered Emma Frost against the kids at Avengers Academy. Though the fight is the main focus what the story really is about is the various reactions all the kids have towards Emma Frost trying to kill their own, Justin’s Sentinel, in a story that is reminiscent of The Iron Giant.
As much fun as the fight is in this issue it is the dialogue that is the real star of the show. Gage has a great sense of how to give every character a unique voice. From Emma’s tyrannical speeches, X-23 not backing down, Justin’s plea to his Sentinel to run and all the other characters at the Academy there are a lot different personalities at work. This gives the story much more of an emotional connection that when the Sentinel is destroyed and is brought back the reader is both sadden and happy within the 20 page span of the issue.
The only downside is that the artwork by Timothy Green is just average. It’s more of the typical comic book style art that gets the job done but doesn’t do more to enhance the story. Its nothing against Green but in a story that is able to get the reader so emotionally invested the entire comic could have been better with stronger art.
Overall: Avengers Academy #33 delivers an emotionally heavy story that will remind you of The Iron Giant. From all the various personalities involved Christos Gage is able to show how all the student, no matter their differences, are friends and will stand by each other in the worst situation. This issue really helps get over how much all the kids at the Avengers Academy have evolved over the course of the series which is extremely satisfying for readers that have been reading the series from the beginning.
Avengers vs. X-Men #8
Creative Team
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Adam Kubert
Inker: John Dell
Colorist: Laura Martin and Larry Molinar
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Review
As Act 2 of Marvel’s mega event comes to a close Brian Bendis and Adam Kubert combine to deliver strong end to this Act with Avengers vs. X-Men #8. I have to hand to Bendis and his fellow writers because as dull as the first act of AvX was ever since we have entered the second act this event has gotten continuously better. AvX adds to how big the event was with giving us a full battle between the Avengers and Phoenix Five member Namor.
Avengers vs. X-Men #8 does a great job in setting the scope of the event. There is finally a sense that the event taking place has large ramifications on not just the two groups involved but the entire world. It is what I have been waiting for and Bendis delivers that and all it took was a large wave by Namor to make this happen.
This is really the first full issue fight we have had in Avengers vs. X-Men and it delivered on showing off both sides. We get to see Namor in full power and the Avengers, specifically Captain America and Black Panther, show off how strong of a resolve they have. The dialogue hit the nail on the head with the Avengers finally catching a break by defeating Namor only to have their hopes dash when they find out they only made the other Phoenix Five, now Four, even more powerful. The end really between Hope and the Avengers speaks to how little hope the Avengers now have, setting things to be even bigger in Act 3.
For his part Adam Kubert delivers artwork that makes the entire battle sequence feel huge. From the massive title wave that hits Black Panther’s country to how the Avengers take down Namor everything is given the proper scale. While not as strong as other Kubert drawn comics the choreography and mood the art sets was just right.
Overall: Avengers vs. X-Men #8 continues the strong developments we have gotten from Act 2 of Marvel’s big event. While things may have started slow things have really picked up steam as the X-Men continue to get stronger and the Avengers lose more hope. The ending does a great job having the Avengers hit their lowest point as now they are the ones to face the adversity that the X-Men have long known.
Captain Marvel #1
Creative Team
Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Artist: Dexter Soy
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
Review
After last week’s Avenging Spider-Man set the bar high for what to expect from Kelly DeConnick’s Captain Marvel I am happy to say Captain Marvel #1 delivered on those expectations. I will fully admit that I’ve never been a fan of Carol Danvers fan, though I have liked the increase role she has had in the Avengers. The character just never had that connection to me as a Marvel fan. That is until this first issue of her brand new series.
What the best comic book characters have is a depth in personality, especially the best Marvel characters, and DeConnick is able to give that to Carol Danvers. In taking the mantle of Captain Marvel we are able to see what exactly the role means to Carol and other characters connected to her through the Avengers and the Captain Marvel name. It was something that was great to see because DeConnick is able to give us a wide view of various parts of Carol’s life and personality. And the tone set by this first issue works in showing how as Captain Marvel and an Avenger that the character can work in both grounded and space adventures.
While the initial previews of Captain Marvel #1 did not win me over on Dexter Soy’s being the ongoing artist for this series as the issue progressed I was slowly won over. The heavy color palate still bothers me but his pencils are able to nail the talking head moments. As the issue progressed how Soy draws Carol in and out of costume become better with the final spread of the issue having look forward to seeing how Soy draws the more cosmic part of the character.
Overall: Captain Marvel #1 is a strong start to Carol Danvers latest series as she picks up the Captain Marvel mantle, with all-new costume to go along with the new title. Kelly DeConnick is able to capture the various aspects of the characters life, from her grounded personality to the cosmic basis of her powers. With how well we are able to get to know who Carol is and what point in her life that she is in there is a lot to look forward to for future stories in this series. If you are looking not just for a strong female-lead book but great comic book to read pick up Captain Marvel #1. It is a great starting point for the character and a comic book that will be a lot of fun to read.
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Kevin started reading comics as a kid when he watched the first episodes of Batman: The Animated Series and Spider-Man: The Animated Series. After that his parents bought him a few random Spider-Man and Batman comics and he has been hooked ever since. When he is not reading and writing about comics you can find Kevin as the destroyer of worlds, champion of fighting tournaments and ace Madden player on the PS3. You can catch up with Kevin and all his thoughts at the following links:
Twitter: @KevinL007
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Avengers Academy