front page  ·  comicbook reviews  ·  interviews  ·  comics  ·  merchandise  ·  contact us  ·  newsfeed: rss xml

New Avengers Annual #1 Review posted: 01 May 2006 Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artist: Olivier Coipel Ink: Geraci, Hennesy, Livesay, Magyar, Miki, Editor: Tom Brevoort Publisher: Marvel Comics  4.00 out of 5 Stars Reviewed by Matt Yocum

I’m going to say something later in this review that will have many of you shaking their heads in disagreement and possibly think I need committed to a mental institution. I will warn you before I say it so that you’re properly prepared.

Now, with that out of the way, let’s talk about the joy that is the New Avengers Annual. For some out there, that statement may be the thing you think should have me committed. Many among my fellow writers on ComicCritique.com and other fans I know are convinced that Bendis is past his prime, or at the very least that he

The thing I liked most about this issue is that, despite what appears on the cover, it was a great Avengers adventure of mayhem and destruction in New York.

simply writes too many books and no longer measures up. That reminds me of something said in the movie Amadeus, that there are “too many notes.” That was an absurd statement in that context, and the statement that Bendis’ work is suffering due to too many books is an equally absurd statement. I don’t hear that about Ed Brubaker’s current inspired work, and he’s putting out just as many as Bendis and the rest. It cannot be a maxim that writing “too many books” makes the work suffer on every book.

But I digress. (I guess that line’s taken already from a much more seasoned writer than I, if you know who I mean.) New Avengers Annual #1 is a great romp of an adventure against a villain from early in the New Avengers history (which doesn’t extend back very far). However this villain, thanks to Hydra and A.I.M., comes packaged in a new form and with greatly expanded powers. Powers truly worthy to take on a full squad of Avengers, including the Sentry.

The thing I liked most about this issue is that, despite what appears on the cover, it was a great Avengers adventure of mayhem and destruction in New York first, a tale about a wedding second. Granted, I really enjoyed the wedding moments: Jessica Jones’ answer to Luke Cage’s proposal, Luke’s facial expressions at the answer, who served as the minister (which was both a funny surprise and appropriate), the old woman’s reaction at hearing Jessica has already had Luke’s child. These were pitch perfect moments in a wedding that, in my mind, is a bigger deal than the conjured nuptials of Storm and Black Panther. This wedding comes from years of set-up and the natural growth of a maturing relationship. It was right for these two to get married.

But it was the kick-assedness™ of the story that really grabbed me (that word’s not really trademarked, but I think maybe I should try to). We find in this issue: a threat big enough to take on the entire team; major destruction throughout New York; Spider-Man’s kung fu kick; Wolverine’s new fastball special. All this is what made the book sing.

And in the center of it all — be prepared, here’s where you may think I need to be committed — the best artist in the business right now, Olivier Coipel. Yes, the same Olivier Coipel that many fans denigrated for House of M. Even with Jim Lee, John Cassaday, Frank Quitely, and a host of others out there, Olivier Coipel has the best layouts, action scenes, and storytelling ability of anyone out there right now. He can do wonders with facial expressions, even though Michael Turner gets more recognition and can only draw two types of faces — long, lean male face and long, lean female face. Coipel makes me believe I’m there in New York watching it get destroyed and that I’m hopping rooftops with Captain America. He makes it real.

Here’s what did not work in this book — the assembly of inkers. Coipel did a great job, but no two inkers are going to come off exactly the same for a single artist, let alone eight inkers. Unfortunately, this made the art a bit distorted, sometimes with thin, clean lines, sometimes thick, bold lines.

The length of this comic was perfect. Bendis had room to build up to a great adventure, give each Avenger their due, and still get two people married. And he didn’t have to do this over the course of five or six issues, spreading it thin.

This is the best Avenger tale Bendis has yet told. And he did it with the artist that should be on the monthly book, Olivier Coipel. I look forward to their next collaboration.

Comments about my comments? Feel free to email me at myocum@comiccritique.com.