Avengers: The Last White Event, Jonathan Hickman

"The Avengers must scramble to deal with the threat of another Universal SYSTEM. The New Adam is transformed, and his true self revealed. And the most dangerous hero on Earth is created. The Avengers face off against the World Breaker. Discover the imminent threat to the Avengers World. Watch the first hints of the hidden connections between the events of Avengers and New Avengers. COLLECTING: Avengers 7-12."












These are incredibly handsome books - I commented about that on the last one of these, but they are just incredibly beautiful. Hickman has such a talent for the creation of spectacular designs, and nowhere is this clearer than here, where he can cut loose with stuff and Marvel seem content to build their branding around him. Even his creator owned work like Manhattan Projects, East of West and God is Dead don't have the same cohesive structure of Avengers.

The actual story is somewhat less stellar. It's a quick read, that boils down to a lot of punching. Hickman is more concerned with giant actions affecting the Universe at large than giant consequences for the characters. To quote Andrew Wheeler's review of Infinity over at comicsalliance:

"Hickman doesn’t seem to enjoy writing character moments. It’s not where he takes the action. He’s an odd contrast to Brian Michael Bendis, whose character moments are typically so strong that he sometimes spends issue after issue building on them before he remembers to tell a story."

Considering that outside of the last 18 months or so BMB has written nearly every Avengers story for the past decade, that is a HUGE transition.

I still find myself terribly enjoying the book though, for all its lack of focus and love of action set pieces over anything like development. And I enjoy the large scale of cast, something which seemingly everyone else hates. I just wish we could get more Smasher, so luckily for me the next volume sets up Infinity, a space based event where the Shi'ar, and thus Smasher, are prominent.

Also Try:
Jonathan Hickman, The Manhattan Projects
Brian Michael Bendis, New Avengers vol. 1

Battle Scars, Fraction, Eaton and Yost

"Spinning out of the incredible events of Fear Itself, Battle Scars introduces a man in the crosshairs of the world's most deadly super villains. Who is he? And what does his existence mean for the future of the Marvel Universe? This major new title ties directly into the Marvel Fear Itself event and stars the Avengers."















Battle Scars is a pretty average book that sets up a lot of better books, and achieves its key aim of introducing a black Nick Fury and Agent Coulson to the mainstream 616 Marvel Universe, to tie it into the movie universe more easily. It's not pretty, but it does the job, and frankly on those grounds it's probably considered a win.

It's the very obvious definition of a comic that Marvel doesn't intend anyone to actually read. It's just there to be a part of continuity, so that they can point back to it as having happened. Marcu Johnson and 'Cheese' are two characters that feel wholly out of place in the Marvel universe - the stakes that they go up against (fighting Deadpool and Taskmaster) undermine those characters by association.

They aren't on the level of Johnson and Cheese. They shouldn't be at the same level. Putting them up against villains who have regularly taken on entire Superteams isn't just jobbing; it's stupidity.

Also Try:
Mark Millar, The Ultimates
Gail Simone, Agent X
Fabian Nicieza, Cable and Deadpool

Avengers: Avengers World, Jonathan Hickman

"The greatest heroes in comics together on one unbeatable team. The Avengers ""go large,"" expanding their roster and their sphere of influence to a global and even interplanetary level. When Captain America puts out his call -who will answer? Big threats, big ideas, big idealism these are the Avengers NOW!"














The first volume of the all new Avengers run by Jonathan Hickman is something I've been waiting for since the first issues was released. I picked it up as a comic but decided it was more cost effective to wait for the trade instead, so as this was released in mid-week I decided to treat myself today.

It was well worth it. Whilst not a decompressed storyteller in the style of Bendis, Hickman's Avengers run is one which is best enjoyed when you can see the bones of the whole arc. Unlike his Manhattan Projects, a comic which exists to be read monthly, this is a more epic, focussed run. Whilst some of the talking-head tropes of Bendis's run still exist, especially in how Tony and Steve interact in choosing the team, this is much more action focussed. Unlike many books on the shelves now Avengers is a comic that can be read monthly - the first six issues include three one-and-done origin stories (for Smasher, Hyperion and Captain Universe) as well as a three issue introduction to the new team.

The biggest controversy here is the expanded roster of the Avengers to include mission specific teams, including Shang Chi, Cannonball and Smasher. Whilst Cannonball is an established character in the X-Men and Shang Chi has a long history, if no real pedigree or status in the Marvel Universe, it's Smasher who's my early favourite new Avenger.

The first human member of the Shiar's Imperial Guard, she's one of many 'Smasher' class heroes, which nicely brings in the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe. If Bendis was all about street level heroics, then Hickman seems to be about every level - five of the characters included in the team could be classed as individual heavy hitters, yet they mix alongside Hawkeye and Black Widow - essentially, the Avengers movie team.

The book itself is of a different style to the standard Marvel Premiere edition design that they've used for whole Bendis era. It's obviously Hickman designed, showcasing his flair for branding and mechanics - it's a lovely book and stands out from the rest of the shelf, although its bare spine and blue on white treatment lends it a little too much of an Image title feel.

Definitely pick this up, it looks to be going some really good places. I can't wait to get the next volume!

Also Try:
Brian Michael Bendis, New Avengers
Jonathan Hickman, The Manhattan Projects
Matt Fraction, Hawkeye
Grant Morrison, New X-Men

Captain America; Hail Hydra, Jonathan Maberry

"From the dark days of World War II to the Heroic Age, witness the brutal battle between Captain America and the immortal evil known as Hydra! How far back has the gruesome group been killing its way to capture the secrets of eternal life? What can Steve Rogers do to halt its sinister spread when the horrific hordes of the undead rise to stop him? Find out as award-winning horror novelist Jonathan Maberry (DOOMWAR) teams with five different artists to capture five different time periods - including Sergio Cariello (Lone Ranger), Tom Scioli (Godland), Phil Winslade (Wonder Woman), Kyle Hotz (ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST - WRAITH) and Graham Nolan (X-MEN FOREVER)! Guest-starring the Falcon, Black Panther, Nomad, Nick Fury and the Avengers! Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA: HAIL HYDRA #1-5."







Because I've been picking up the Brubaker run of Cap stories I figured I would give this one a shot - the art looked nice and it was about Hydra, who are usually fun to see beaten up. But I definitely wasn't expecting this book to be quite so good.

Let me go further than that. This is the single best Captain America book I've read. Better than Brubaker.

It has everything you could want from a Captain America book - opening with a mission to destroy a Nazi science project reanimating the dead and continuing through the ages, from Classic Avengers, to Cap and Falcon, through the Busiek era and finally to the Heroic Age Cap. Each issue stands as a chapter in the ongoing war against Hydra and their mission to overcome death and create a new race of immortals.

It adds significantly to the Capt Mythos, positing that the Lazarus serum introduced here is what kept Cap alive alongside the Super Soldier Serum. Whilst it conveniently ignores Nick Fury's Infinity Formula, something that one would imagine would be of use to anyone gathering together materials for an elixir of youth, it ties in all sorts of great ideas, such as Thor being a target for his God blood.

But its the art that really makes it - a collection of excellent, but lesser known, artists each take the different ages and its great to see the different styles next to one another. Tom Scioli in particular draws one of the most fascinating versions of the first Avengers team I've ever seen. His art is so atypical of conventional superhero looks, yet so Kirby-esque in its design that it can look almost ridiculous - giants heads and massive smiles leave everyone looking like Puppet Master, but for some reason it works perfectly for a storyline that is all about the boundaries of science. It's made me want to hunt down more stuff by Scioli, because I absolutely love his art here, and that's a pretty fantastic thing for me to find.

If you're at all a fan of Captain America, Marvel or just great comics you need to read this.

Also Try:
Captain America: Winter Soldier, Ed Brubaker
Secret Warriors, Jonathan Hickman
Wolverine: Enemy of the State, Mark Millar

Siege: New Avengers, Brian Michael Bendis

"Steve Rogers makes his triumphant return to the Avengers, but is he too late? When the gods fall, what chance does a Super Soldier stand? Also, the ladies of the Avengers ban together to save the team. Plus, Ronin breaks into Avengers Tower to assassinate Osborn! This volume also includes the NEW AVENGERS conclusion by superstar Bryan Hitch."











The polar opposite of Heroes for Hire in so many ways, New Avengers is how to turn less well known characters into prime-time A-listers. From the very start of Brian Michael Bendis' run the Avengers franchise moved away from the big hitters (no Thor and Hulk for any of the run, Iron Man forming the Mighty Avengers and Captain America dying after Civil War) in favour of a mix of mass-media popular characters (Wolverine! Spider-Man!) and fan favourites (Jewell! Hawkeye! Luke Cage!). It gave the smaller characters a chance to shine, and built an Avengers team around the idea that alongside punching out a skeleton Nazi, genocide Robots or warring Alien races you can also stop drugs dealers and prison riots.

It's incredibly successful, especially for a book that mostly involved the street level heroes of the Marvel Universe sitting around and talking, or running away from fights with low grade villains (as great as Luke Cage vs Purple Man always is). The entirety of the run counts amongst my favourite series of all time. I've spoken in the past (on 'The Cape and The Cowl' over at http://www.impossiblepodcasts.com/) about how the Luke Cage centric issue from Civil War run is probably my favourite moment in comics.

I really love this series, you guys.

But unfortunately, this is the point where Bendis is starting to tread water.

To give you some context, in the last book Luke Cage was captured by the Hood's gang (after the authorities, led by Norman Osborne helped depower the New Avengers). He was rescued by his friends and teammates audaciously rushing into the heart of the Dark Avengers complex to save him.

This book starts with Hawkeye being captured by Norman Osborne, only to be rescued by the team straight away. It's less audacious, a lot easier and make a mockery of the urgency of the previous rescue mission. Then the Hood's gang are powered up, and go hunting for the heroes.

Just looking at those two books, both feature the New Avengers fighting the same enemies, in the same basic scenarios (way out of their power league) and in both cases having to rescue a captured team mate, again from the same enemy,

It's the same plot. By this point we've had a good 12 issues of the Hood and Osborne plotting how to take down the New Avengers, and with the relaunch imminent it feels like the series was padded out with a few Siege tie ins until they could start afresh.

As ever the best parts are the bits where the team simply hangs out. Spider-Man and Spider-Woman bounce off one another well, whilst the reaction to the return of Steve Rogers is pretty heartwarming. Best part though? Well, that's probably Hawkeye launching a one man assault on the Dark Avengers, in New Avengers: The List, a one shot put out just before Siege and included here for comepletionists sake.

Which really tells you all you need to know about where this book has got to.

Also Try:
Brian Michael Bendis, Civil War: New Avengers
Brian Michael Benids, Avengers Disassembled
Brian Michael Bendis, All New X-Men
Brian Michael Bendis, Ultimate Spider-Man

Death of Captain America: The Complete Collection, Ed Brubaker

"Captain America was a hero to millions, an inspiration to America's armed services and the representative of his nation's greatest ideals. He lived for his country - and now, he has given his last final measure for the nation he loved. In the aftermath of the superhuman Civil War, Captain America was shot down in cold blood. Those closest to him must come to terms with his death, finding new roles for themselves that will shock readers. Collecting: Captain America (2005) 22-42, Winter Soldier: Winter Kills"







This one is a mixture of stuff that I've read before plus some that I haven't culminating in my last reviewed book (Captain America Reborn), this is pretty much what you can guarantee from a Brubaker Cap book. It's well told, complex and hugely enjoyable, with great art and plotting that rewards a careful reader.

Following the return of the Winter Soldier, this book collects the death of Captain America after Civil War through to the point of his return. It's an interesting period in the life of the book, as for much of the time it's a book wholly lacking in Captain America. Bucky's step up from Winter Soldier to new Cap, juggling his anger about Steve's death, the guilt of his own crimes and the desire to kick Tony Stark in his shiny metal behind.

Split between a number of artists over the course of 21 issues, there's a consistently high quality, whether illustrating wet World War II missions, brutal one-on-one combat or giant brawls.

It's hard to talk about Captain America under Brubaker without at least mentioning the tone of the book.
This is essentially SHIELD book, pretty much an even split between Agent 13, Nick Fury and Bucky (with very little Captain America-ing). It's not until the last few issues that Bucky takes up the shield to take the fight to the Red Skull.

But it's the maturity of the work that's the biggest difference. This isn't the Red Skull of Uncanny Avengers, using a telepathic brain to control the world. This is a Red Skull who mainpulates stock markets, crashes the American Economy, bribes senators and congressmen and engineers a shoot-out between law enforcement and protesters.

The Red Skull is an incredibly Political villain (most of Captain America's enemies are), and it's nice to see this side of him played up, just as it was in Geoff Johns' Avengers: Red Zone. He works best as the anti-Cap, and positioning him as the architect of the actual threats to real people is a neat touch. It also means Bucky has to face the recession, something he can't punch in the face.

In amongst all that smart stuff though we still get some great action sequences, notably the takedown of a SHIELD team by Bucky's detached arm, and his first pistol packing fight with AIM.

Again, not a great starting point (go back and pick up Winter Soldier), but brilliant if you love Captain America, or comics.

Also Try:

Geoff Johns, Avengers; Red Zone

Rick Remender, Uncanny Avengers

Mark Millar, Old Man Logan

Captain America Reborn, Brubaker

"Steve Rogers was Captain America, the world's greatest hero since the days of WWII, a champion for all citizens of the world. One fateful day, the Sentinel of Liberty was struck down - and how the American Dream died that day. But now there may be a way to bring back the world's greatest hero! Collects Captain America #600 and Captain America: Reborn #1-5."







The sad thing about Captain America Reborn is that it was released so close to that other superhero battles through time to return from the dead epic, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne. They're totally incomparable, mostly because Batman is utterly insane (although CAR takes a good stab at equalling it). The thing that's always great to read Brubaker on Cap for is that he grounds the character in a more recognisable world than most. Here, that's a problem: it's somehow too serious (I hesitate to say Realistic) a setting for a tale about a man unhinged in time, whose fate is controlled by the brain of his worst enemy, in the body of a robot.

When I say that this ends with Captain America (reborn) and his sidekick, (also) Captain America, fighting a giant robot Nazi on the steps of the Lincoln memorial, it's because I want you to understand that this is a pretty crazy book. But it never really embraces that concept. The best 'thrown through time' stories can go anywhere, but this sticks to Cap's life from WWII through to the present - hardly boring, but not actually all that bizarre by the standards of most Marvel comics.

The main thing about Captain America, and the reason why Reborn works less well than Bruce Wayne does, is that he's better as a symbol than an actual character. One of the most interesting things about the Brubaker Captain America books is that Captain America (the person) transitions from a character to an ideal. Cap (the person) is constantly held up as Captain America (the myth), until his death creates a void that is filled by Bucky Barnes, former sidekick and now the new Captain America.

So the previous stories have been the passing of the torch, just as how Batman has Dick Grayson take up the mantle of Bruce Wayne. But what always felt like a place holding for Batman's inevitable return actually felt natural in Captain America. It felt right that Cap's sacrifice should inspire his friend to become more than just a man.

And in undoing that it lessens Bucky's growth. He's no longer the man struggling to fill the shoes of his mentor. He's the other Captain America. The less good one.

Cap should be an ideal, an icon. He works better that way. It's one of the many reasons why Civil War was so ill conceived. Pitting the very spirit of America ( Marvel's Superman, the embodiment of Truth, Justice and the American Way, who inspires all around him to strive harder) against an alcoholic with a metal suit ran into the brick wall that even in a post-9/11 world fans didn't want to support the 'realism' of Iron Man over the 'idealism' of Captain America.

In a war between the humble patriotism of the past and the hardheaded pragmatism of the present, the only side the audience would ever choose is the one that's less like their own. Why ruin your escapist fantasy with a slice of real life?

The story itself is good, and Brubaker has a handle on all of the characters that works well. The opening #600 issue is by far the best part (it features Rikki Barnes!) but nobody draws people fighting giants as well as Bryan Hitch.

This is worth checking out, but try Batman first. That book is AMAZING!

Also Try:
Batman; The Return of Bruce Wayne, Grant Morrison
The Ultimates, Mark Millar
Thunderbolts: The Geat Escape, Jeff Parker