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The New Avengers # 12
Title: “Ronin” Part Two
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: David Finch
Inker: Danny Miki
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letters: Richard Starkings and
Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne
PLOT:
The next issue in the saga of the enigmatic Ronin shows the scene with
Silver Samurai being given back his armour, only this time with words. 
Though Silver assumed the Hand were trying to kill him, Cap’s suspicions
last issue are confirmed when the Yashida representative offers Silver
control of his clan.  Viper then arrives with Hydra operatives, and
expresses her disgust at how rotten Hydra has become.  She kisses the
Samurai, who has no idea what is going on, but they are interrupted by a
ninja reporting on Ronin’s intrusion.
Meanwhile, at their hotel, the New Avengers (though not Sentry) find
themselves surrounded by Hand ninjas, and engage them amid “humorous quip”s,
while Iron Man flies Jarvis out of harm’s way.  He comments on how he could
end it quickly, but everyone is too cramped and entwined amid the torrent of
ninjas.  Luke Cage is then knocked off the building, and lands in (or, more
appropriately, through) a lorry.
Back at the yakuza fortress, Viper explains to the Silver Samurai how his
influence over the Japanese underworld, coupled with her organization, could
result in building a power base against SHIELD, and the people who really
run it and Hydra (she won’t say who, unfortunately, as she’s not sure she
can trust the Samurai yet—he seems a little unwilling to conform to her
plans).  Viper says otherwise SHIELD will assassinate him, but is
interrupted again by a ninja—the costumed heroes have been engaged, and the
terrorist leader isn’t too happy about it.
We then rejoin Cage in an elevator, in one of the best parts of the issue,
as he makes his way back up to the top of the hotel with elevator music in
the background (his invulnerable skin saved him from the fall).  At the top,
he comes out swinging, and is met by more Spidey-quips.  Then, just as Iron
Man is about to end the fight, the ninjas retreat, under orders, and Ronin,
battered and bruised, apologizes for letting them follow him/her back to the
hotel.  Spidey then notices that Spider-Woman is not with them.
Jessica, it seems, has glided over to the Yashida base, and confronts Viper
alone.  Apparently, they have some sort of deal going on, which Jess has
just broken.  Viper is very angry, threatening to take Spider-Woman’s powers
back (!?), but then tells her to knock her out with a venom blast—the
Avengers are flying in behind her.  The red-and-yellow-clad heroine
complies, but Cap seems suspicious as he saw the two women talking. 
Spider-Woman brushes this off by saying Viper called her fat, and Iron Man
and Spidey prepare to take the terrorist leader away and into custody.  The
issue ends, however, with a beautiful double-page spread of the Silver
Samurai and more ninjas standing in front of our heroes.

LIKES:
• Beautiful art once more, particularly in the hectic fight scenes and final
double-page.
• The plot and action is much faster in the issue, to its credit.
• The mystery and possible treachery regarding Spider-Woman and Viper is
intriguing, original, and unexpected; a welcome story element.
• Spidey gets a lot more good lines and appearance within this issue, making
it feel more fun overall.

DISLIKES:
• The mystery regarding Ronin is much too slow and uninteresting—the only
real problem with the comic.

FAVORITE QUOTE:
Cage: “We should probably take this fight up onto the roof.”
Cap: “I could ask them for a time-out.”
Spidey: “Hey! Cap made a funny.”
Cap: “I can be funny.”

A great little exchange within the banter between the heroes.

RATING:
4 out of 5 webs—not perfect, but a great ride nonetheless-this is what a New
Avengers book should all be about.

Reviewed by Matt Harris.

The New Avengers # 11
Title: “Ronin” Part One
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: David Finch
Inker: Danny Miki
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letters: Richard Starkings and
Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne
PLOT:
Well, true believers, we’re nearing one full year of New Avengers, and this
eleventh issue also welcomes back David Finch (who drew the first six
issues).  Steve McNiven was excellent, but it’s good to see Finch back; his
gritty, powerful action sequences are a joy to look at.
The issue itself begins with ‘Ronin’, the mysterious, heralded new arrival
to the Avengers (seen only on variant covers thus far), beat up a load of
Japanese Yakuza in Osaka, Japan.  The masked warrior needs information, and
is not afraid to lay the smackdown in order to get it.
We then flick back to the day before, in New York, where Matt Murdock and
Captain America (both out of costume) meet up in Central Park.  Matt stands
by his decision not to join the New Avengers, while Cap tells him about the
consequences of the Silver Samurai being one of the Raft breakout escapees. 
Apparently, Silver was taken to Japan after escaping, possibly by Hydra, the
Hand or yakuza.  Matt tells Cap about the power and influence of the Yashida
clan, and Cap replies by saying “we need Daredevil”.
Cut back to Osaka, and we see Ronin make his way into a large Japanese
mansion.  Meanwhile, Cap tries to persuade Murdock to become an Avenger; the
world’s organized crime is in disarray, and a major move by the Yashida clan
would start to bring it together.  This needs to be stopped soon, but Matt
is having none of it.  The feds are after him, and he can’t risk bringing
all his baggage into the team.  To this, Cap replies by saying how he was
once disillusioned, and worked under the name Nomad, with loyalty to no
country.  As Matt starts to take an interest, we again see Ronin within the
yakuza fortress, avoiding sentries and watching silently as Silver Samurai
is presented with his armour and weaponry.
Murdock is next shown telling Cap about someone he knows with the same skill
and Japanese underworld knowledge as himself, who could do the job instead. 
Ronin, who this mystery individual apparently is, then witnesses the Samurai
meet Viper, the Hydra terrorist, and they kiss.  Ronin, however, is then
ambushed by ninjas.
Cap is then shown (previously) telling Ronin to slip into Yashida HQ, find
out what is needed, and not to kill anyone.  Ronin also apparently has
tenuous connections to Wilson Fisk.  The black and gold warrior is then
shown fighting his/her way past ninjas, with a fair bit of bloodshed, and is
forced to flee back to the hotel where the other Avengers are staying. 
After telling what happened, Ronin collapses as the ninjas fire darts and
arrows, and the Avengers prepare to do battle.

LIKES:
• In what seems a growing trend in this book, the art is once more
magnificent, putting many other modern comic artists (such as Pat Lee in
current issues of MK Spider-Man) to shame.
• The story seems exciting, and is a welcome change of pace from the
psychologically-charged Sentry story.

DISLIKES:
• As usual, very little Spidey, but few of the other Avengers have much
exposure here either.
• The story seems quite slow-moving and padded in parts, and I wonder
already if this four-issue arc could not have been compressed into three
issues.

RATING:
3 out of five webs— not bad art and plot wise, but too slow, not the best in
terms of Bendis’ much-famed dialogue, and generally carries a feeling of
padding.

Reviewed by Matt Harris

The New Avengers #10
Title: The Sentry- Part 4 (Conclusion)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Steve McNiven
Inker: Mark Morales
Colorist: Morry Hollowell 

Background: As a result of the events of New Avengers #1-6 a new team of Avengers has been created with Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Woman, Spider-man, Power Man, and Wolverine in its roster. In this story arc the New Avengers among numerous other guest stars came to confront the Sentry, who helped out in the prison breakout that brought together the New Avengers.  The Sentry is a mystery because stories of him were chronicled in a comic book series by Paul Jenkins and he thought he was responsible for his wife’s death but she is alive.  The Sentry is having psychological issues brought upon by Mastermind and a shadowy character who made it so the Sentry would think that if he uses his powers a being called the Void would attack everyone. Also the Sentry was unknowingly erasing everyone’s memories of his existence…big problems, but have no fear…Emma Frost and Mr. Fantastic are on the job (and no, they are not part of the Avengers). 

Plot: On the SHIELD Helicarrier Paul Jenkins is talking Lindy Reynolds, fascinated by the fact that his own comic book creation is a real life.  Lindy is not comfortable talking to Mr. Jenkins though and lets him know, then seconds afterwards she falls to the ground into unconsciousness.  In this state, Emma Frost is there to greet her and inform her that, “[her] subconscious has been placed inside [her] husband’s subconscious.” Frost’s plan is to use one of Lindy’s memories to calm down Bob Reynolds.  The memory is of Bob and Lindy’s first date, and it has the desired effect on Bob. 

Meanwhile outside of Bob Reynolds’ physical body the combined might of the New Avengers, Fantastic Four, Astonishing X-men, the Inhumans, and Namor are fighting the Void (who is a creation of the Sentry’s mind). Suddenly the Void stops fighting…

Inside his mind Bob Reynolds talks to Emma Frost as she convinces him to let her unlock his mind.  Reynolds listens and comes out in the physical world, where the New Avengers invite him into the team (to keep an eye on him and help him).  At that point Emma Frost takes the Sentry aside and they unlock his mind. After the procedure, the Sentry is now in his costume and everything is seemingly well again. Immediately Jarvis phones in and tells the New Avengers that they need to come home. As they fly back to the tower they see a large structure on top of it, the Sentry’s tower, which he was hiding from himself. 

Sometime later there is a second meeting between the big names in heroes (Dr. Strange, Mr. Fantastic, Black Bolt, Namor, and Iron Man) where Iron Man makes the official announcement that the Sentry will be on the New Avengers.  Mr. Fantastic then switches the topic and asks about what happened with SHIELD in the Savage Land…Iron Man lies and says it is nothing.

Likes:

-         This is a well written issue, no doubt

-         The Sentry’s tower looks cool.

-         The Sentry is a really interesting character and I’m glad to have him on the team

Dislikes:
-  Emma Frost plays the main role

-  Could have fit excellently into three issues…four feels a little padded.  

Favorite Quote: Iron Man (after seeing that the Sentry’s watchtower is atop the New Avengers tower): “Oh, and by the way…that thing you said before about fate and the Avengers? Okay, now I believe you.” 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 webs. Some good moments in this issue but nothing here completely wows me. 

Overall Arc Rating: 3.5 out of 5 webs. Just a little bit too padded.  The story was good but the Avengers weren’t as much in the front seat as I would have liked.  Otherwise, very good story and art. 

Reviewed by: BtmxComedy

The New Avengers #9
Title: The Sentry- Part 3
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Steve McNiven
Inker: Mark Morales
Colorist: Morry Hollowell 

Background: As a result of the events of New Avengers #1-6 a new team of Avengers has been created with Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Woman, Spider-man, Power Man, and Wolverine in its roster. Last issue the New Avengers among numerous other guest stars came to confront the Sentry, who helped out in the prison breakout that brought together the New Avengers.  The Sentry is a mystery because stories of him were chronicled in a comic book series by Paul Jenkins and he thought he was responsible for his wife’s death but she is alive.  The Sentry although extremely powerful appears to be having psychological issues… Oh and his evil nemesis the Void is expected to have an entrance…

Plot:   Yesterday: Back in the superhero meeting from issue #7, we continue where we left off with a discussion about the Sentry.  Iron Man knows that Mr. Fantastic sent Matt Murdock to check up on Bob Reynolds (The Sentry), however Mr. Fantastic remembers none of this. In fact Mr. Fantastic can not recall anything involving the Sentry but after a quick search on his computer device it appears that he has had dealings with the Sentry.  Professor X proposes his hunch that Mr. Fantastic’s brain has been tampered with.

Now we return to our scene with the New Avengers and the numerous guest stars confronting the Sentry, who panics because the Void is coming!  The Void makes his appearance known as the heroes fight his formless self.  Only Mr. Fantastic and Emma Frost stand out to talk directly to Reynolds.  They explain to him that they need his fully cooperation and tell him that he is capable of stopping the Void. When the Reynolds asks how they know, they show him a video message that he made himself and sent to Mr. Fantastic.  In the video the Sentry reveals that people’s memories of him and even his own memory of himself seem to be washed away at random instants and that the Void is a part of him. He also begs that if his future self is watching the video for some reason he must allow Mr. Fantastic to help him.  When the video is done playing, Bob Reynolds concedes to Mr. Fantastic and Emma Frost doing whatever they can to fix the problem. 

Reynolds allows Emma Frost to enter his mind where she witnesses tons of repressed memories.  One of those repressed memories is the Sentry’s origin (he drank a professor’s formula).  This is not what Emma Frost is looking for though and she quickly spots the memory she seeks.  It is locked so she uses her powers to open it.  The memory is of Mastermind and a mysterious figure discussing the operation that Mastermind has just preformed whose results are Sentry’s current condition.

After viewing this scene, the Sentry freaks out and runs away. Meanwhile outside the Void has annihilated all the heroes who have fought him. 

Likes:

-  The mystery of the Sentry is revealed

Dislikes:
-  This story arc is beginning to get a little padded.

- The New Avengers played a very small role in their own comic 

Favorite Quote: The Sentry: “It’s me, I’m the Void. I know this” 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 webs. Not bad at all but this story needed to be over this issue… 

Reviewed by: BtmxComedy

The New Avengers #8
Title: The Sentry- Part 2
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Steve McNiven
Inker: Mark Morales
Colorist: Morry Hollowell 

Background: As a result of the events of New Avengers #1-6 a new team of Avengers has been created with Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Woman, Spider-man, Power Man, and Wolverine in its roster. Last issue Captain America and Iron Man went to confront the Sentry who helped out in the prison breakout that brought together the New Avengers.  The Sentry is a mystery because stories of him were chronicled in a comic book series by Paul Jenkins and he thought he was responsible for his wife’s death but she is alive.  The Sentry although extremely powerful appears to be having psychological issues…Oh and Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Power Man, and Wolverine are fighting the Wrecker by Long Island.

Plot:   The issue starts as a 1960s comic written by “Perky” Paul Jenkins and with art by “Sassy” Sal Bucema in which the Sentry fights the Super-Skrull and his Skrull warriors on the splash page. In the issue the Sentry is flying around, greets Thor, and fights The Void.  The real Sentry is reading this comic with a sense of confusion and Captain America expresses his desire to help the Sentry make sense of it all. 

FLASHBACK to a week ago aboard the SHIELD Helicarrier to events that take place shortly after the end of New Avengers #6.  Iron Man, who already convinced Captain America of the necessity of Wolverine in the team, confronts Wolverine himself.  Wolverine is at first reluctant to join but Iron Man has a heart to heart with him which ends with him bribing Wolverine onboard.

The flashback ends and we return to today where Wolverine goes flying into some trash.  We are where we were last issue with Spider-Woman standing in front of the Wrecker alone.  Instead of fighting him, Spider-Woman claims she wants to help him. 

We return to Arizona where the Sentry’s wife tries to talk with her husband but he becomes frustrated insisting that he has seen her die and disappears in a blinding light.  While all in the cave wonder where he had gone, we are treated to the answer. Apparently the Sentry is in his bed, hair much shorter, gets up and sits in front of the television like nothing had happened…

We come back to our Long Island scene where Spider-Woman is talking friendly with the Wrecker, allowing him to get his guard down and surprise him with an attack by Wolverine.  Spider-Woman quickly whacks the Wrecker with his own crowbar before he has time to react and Power Man shows up and knocks the Wrecker right into a web Spider-Man has made from him.  Now that the job is done Wolverine, Power Man, and Spider-Man are wondering how in the world Spider-Woman was able to stall the Wrecker.  Spider-Woman fesses up that part of her power includes pheromones.  Next Iron Man appears in a holographic message and tells them that they need to board the Quinjet and meet up in Hartford, Connecticut. 

The Sentry has fallen asleep on his couch when Emma Frost appears on his television and communicates directly to him, she instructs him to exit his home.  He does so and finds the SHIELD helicarrier with numerous SHIELD agents, Namor, the Fantastic Four, the New Avengers, the Astonishing X-men team, Doctor Strange, and the Inhumans.  The Sentry (Bob Reynolds) falls to the ground in horror because the congregation of all these heroes will surely bring about the Void’s appearance.

Likes:

-         The 1960s style comic in the beginning of the issue

-         The conversation that led to Wolverine joining the team is finally presented

-         A lot of guest stars in this issue 

Dislikes:
-  The Wrecker fight this issue was not as exciting as last issue and the fight seemed a little drawn out. 

Favorite Quote: Spider-Man: “I mean I love my wife” 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 webs. It was an entertaining issue but not much happened in terms of the main plot line, the Sentry. He simply escaped and now we are in the same situation except in a different geographic location and with more heroes present. 

Reviewed by: BtmxComedy

The New Avengers #7
Title: The Sentry- Part 1
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Steve McNiven
Inker: Mark Morales
Colorist: Morry Hollowell 

Background: Honestly if you haven’t read New Avengers #1-6 do so now… you’re missing a great story and an essential piece of current Spider-man history.  If you really can’t get those issues what basically happened is that the team of Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, and Luke Cage came together after a massive prison outbreak in which they all fought to contain.  However forty-two got away as did the prisoner the breakout was meant for, Sauron.  The New Avengers took a trip to the Savage Lands where they met up with Wolverine, captured Sauron, and had a few pretty sketchy encounters with SHIELD. 

Plot: Iron Man is heading off to a meeting with some of the big shots in the Superhero business. On his way he is briefed by Spider-woman who relays to him that one of the escaped convicts has been spotted near Long Island and that she is taking whoever is available for the recapture mission.  Iron Man arrives at his destination, a small warehouse, in which Dr. Strange, Mr. Fantastic, Charles Xavier, Black Bolt, and Namor are already congregated.  Iron Man informs them on the existence of the team and each in attendance has their own questions that they want answered and Iron Man obliges.  Once all the questions have been answered, Iron Man tells the group that there may be a big problem in the character by the name of the Sentry.

Meanwhile, Dirk Garthwaite wants his stuff back. By stuff I mean his costume and weapon which had been sold to some man by his Dirk’s own brother.  However this man is not present when Dirk arrives to collect his things, however the man’s daughter is.  He forces her to lead him down to the room where the man’s supervillian costume collection is located (There’s a Vulture one, Beetle, Mysterio, Scorpion, Mirage, Shocker, Rhino, and Kraven’s just to name some).  Dirk quickly finds his own…the costume and crowbar of the Wrecker.  Once he is fully adorned he attempts to make his escape with the girl but New Avengers Spider-Woman, Spider-Man, Power Man, and Wolverine (Yes, he’s on the team now) arrive at the scene.  Wrecker holds his own against the four heroes and manages to knock every hero out of the scene except for Spider-Woman, who stands facing him. 

In the Nevada Desert SHIELD Director Hill waits for Captain America and Iron Man to land before taking them both to a nearby cave where the Sentry is against the wall in a fetal position.  The Sentry tells the two heroes that they should go because the Void is coming.  He is sure that the Void is coming because the Void always finds him when he uses his powers.  Iron Man stops the Sentry to tell him that another guest has been invited…his very own wife whom he believed to have killed.  The Sentry is shocked at this and Iron Man quickly brings in another guest...comic book creator Paul Jenkins. Paul Jenkins has been writing comics about the Sentry for a while, so the question becomes…Who is the Sentry?

Likes:

-         The meeting between the big head of the Marvel Universe

-         The fight with the Wrecker

-         The mysterious Sentry’s return to the title

-         Paul Jenkins in a comic 

Dislikes:
-  Before it was forty two villains on the loose, now we get the number forty five…it’s a bit inconsistent and confusing. 

Favorite Quote: Spider-Woman to Iron Man, his response, and hers: “This line is secure right?” “Of course you never have to ask” “Spider-man says hi” 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 webs.  The second New Avengers story arc starts on the right foot, the Sentry mystery is really intriguing.  

Reviewed by: BtmxComedy

The New Avengers #6
Breakout! - Part 6
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: David Finch
Inker: Danny Miki  

Background: The Avengers were disassembled since the Scarlet Witch had an emotional breakdown and killed some Avengers…we’re six months later and Electro was just paid off to create a breakout in Ryker’s prison. We had various superheroes present at the fight of which all but Daredevil and the mysterious Sentry joined to form the New Avengers.  The current Avenger’s roster now includes Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-man, Spider-woman, and Power Man.  The New Avengers find Electro and also discover whom he was trying to break out.  It turns out to be Sauron and the team takes it down to the Savage Land where they are attacked by dinosaurs and where they meet up with Wolverine who is looking for the very same mutant.  Sauron gets them first though but the New Avengers plus Wolverine manage to escape him and fight.  The battle ends unexpectedly though, as Sauron is shot in the head.

Plot:  The shooting of Sauron, which was done by a SHIELD unit, required that there would be no witnesses. So SHIELD agents (under the command of a Black Widow but not the Black Widow, a different one…Black Widow III according to the Marvel Chronology project) attack the New Avengers (and Wolverine) however the New Avengers take them out pretty quickly.  Now comes the interrogation part where we try to make sense of the pieces. Spider-woman interrogates “Black Widow” and demands to know whom she is working for, to which “Black Widow” responds that she is working for the same people Spider-woman is working for.

            Wolverine is getting impatient and wants to leave, but that idea is interrupted by Sauron’s (bleeding head included) flying up and fire-breathes “Black Widow” to heck. While “Black Widow” is running away in flames, the New Avengers knock out Sauron and he becomes unconscious and reverts to his human form.

            At this point the New Avengers realize that they have no ride home and plan on taking a ride back with SHIELD, which is actually risky business considering that SHIELD just tried to off them all.  Iron Man finds out where a SHIELD unit is dispatched through his suit, and the group marches on…with an unconscious Sauron intact.  They find the SHIELD unit and red handed at that because the SHIELD unit is enslaving indigenous Savage Land people.  So the group goes on the offensive but before they get too far missiles are hurdling at them.  Iron Man quickly creates a force field around the team, and so they are spared the fate of the evil SHIELD agents as well as the enslaved Savage Landers.  The source of the missiles passes over their heads…it’s the SHIELD Hellicarrier.

            A short while later and aboard the aircraft the New Avengers are throwing a hissy fit at the SHIELD director.  The New Avengers realize that something is a little shady about SHIELD and talk of the fact that they don’t even know whom their enemy is.  Iron Man at this point invites Wolverine to join the team and Captain America is completely against it, calling Wolverine a murderer (not to his face…just off to the side with Iron Man).  Iron Man says that the team needs Wolverine and Captain America realizes that this could be true.

            Meanwhile an off scene character is offering a burned and hospitalized “Black Widow” a chance to strike back at her enemies…

Likes:

-         The mystery surrounding SHIELD

-         The debate surrounding whether Wolverine should join the team or not

-         The art is as amazing as ever 

Dislikes:
-  Is it just me or could Iron Man have gone to the Savage Land alone and gotten the exact same results?

- I really couldn’t care less about “Black Widow” or Black Widow III or whoever she is, I’m not really worried about her giving the New Avengers problems so I thought the ending was rather unimpressive. 

Favorite Quote: Captain America: “You’re a murder Hill!… You’re a murder and I’m going to have you hide for this!!” 

Rating: 4 out of 5 webs.  Half of those webs are for the SHIELD mystery and the consequences that they impose. 

Overall Arc Rating: 4 out of 5 webs.  That’s the only thing I can really give it considering 5 out of the 6 parts got that score, with only issue 5 getting a half a web more.  The New Avengers definitely got off to a good start with this story arc.  The art looks good, the story is intriguing in that a conspiracy mystery arises…which is always fun 

Reviewed by: BtmxComedy

The New Avengers #5
Breakout! - Part 5
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: David Finch
Inker: Danny Miki  

Background: The original Avengers were disassembled since the Scarlet Witch had an emotional breakdown and killed some Avengers…we’re six months later and Electro was just paid off to create a breakout in Ryker’s prison. We had various superheroes present at the fight of which all but Daredevil and the mysterious Sentry joined to form the New Avengers.  The current Avenger’s roster now includes Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-man, Spider-woman, and Power Man.  The New Avengers find Electro and also discover whom he was trying to break out.  It turns out to be Sauron and the team takes it down to the Savage Land where they are attacked by dinosaurs and where Spider-woman in particular has some familiar claws facing her. 

Plot: Spider-woman quickly neutralizes the clawed figure a.k.a. Wolverine by slicing his neck with his own claws.  Wolverine is there for the exact same reason the New Avengers are there, he is looking for Karl Lykos. Wolverine has been having some problems with some beings called mutates during his search, and those mutates have followed him to his current location. This means that the New Avengers now have a problem with mutates too but before the fight can begin some female mutant puts the New Avengers plus Wolverine to sleep.

            When the heroes wake up they find themselves tied up and naked and at the mercy of Karl Lykos.   Tony Stark gets his suit to assemble telepathically somehow and a diversion is created in which the New Avengers (and Wolverine) free themselves.   The New Avengers get dressed and start fighting Karl’s mutant buddies, that’s not good enough for Wolverine though he’s after the main event.  However once Wolverine manages to slice Karl, Karl Lykos is able to absorb Wolverine’s mutant energies and become Sauron.  Sauron is about to ramble on about his current purpose and how he got to where he is when all of the sudden he is shot in the head. The New Avengers look in shock and a SHIELD agent explains to her underling that there must be no survivors.

Likes:

-         SHIELD is not in line with the New Avengers, this brings the team down closer to Spider-man’s social position. It’s a position I’m very comfortable with as a longtime Spider-man fan.

-         Wolverine. Nuff said.

-         Unless we’re talking about the Kingpin or Aunt May or something along those lines…nudity doesn’t bother me much… 

Dislikes:
- How does Wolverine who appears in like every X-men team, not know how Sauron works…what was he thinking? 

Favorite Quote: Spider-woman: “They couldn’t leave our underwear on?”

Spider-man: “I wasn’t wearing any.”

Spider-woman: “Why wouldn’t you be wearing any underwear?”

Spider-man: “I chafe”

Spider-woman: “…I want off the team” 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5. I’m having fun with this series. 

Reviewed by: BtmxComedy

The New Avengers #4
Breakout! - Part 4
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: David Finch
Inker: Danny Miki  

Background: The Avengers are disassembled since the Scarlet Witch had an emotional breakdown and killed some Avengers…we’re six months later and Electro was just paid off to create a breakout in Ryker’s prison. We had various superheroes present at the fight of which all but Daredevil and the mysterious Sentry joined to form the New Avengers.  The current Avenger’s roster now includes Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-man, Spider-woman, and Power Man. 

Plot:  Iron Man reveals the team to the woman currently in charge of SHIELD (Director Hill) and she is not pleased.  She contends that SHIELD can handle the prison break and the Sentry whom they have in custody.  However Iron Man has a “Champion License” so she can’t stop him from forming the team.  So we sense some SHIELD and Avengers hostility here, Spider-woman is in both so she’s playing a pivotal role in this point.  SHIELD woman asks to talk to Captain America privately and a short time later the Avengers are in the loop.

            Forty-two villains escaped during the prison breakout and Spider-man identifies Electro as the culprit of this attack after viewing some blurry surveillance images.  Iron Man immediately pinpoints Electro’s location as Boston through recent bank dealing records and off the team goes on the new Quinjet. 

            In Boston, Electro tries to convince his close female friend that she should run off with him, however while they talk, the New Avengers pop up right behind him.  He freaks out and tries to attack them but Iron Man gets him into some sort of bubble.  The Avengers need to know whom Electro was specifically trying to get out of prison and to intimidate Electro; Spider-man makes Luke Cage some web gloves.  Just at the sight of this Electro passes out.  Spider-woman has a plan B.  The Avengers make their way to Ryker’s island and extract the name of the target from the prisoners by bribing them with crumb cake.  As it turns out, Electro was hired to break out Karl Lykos a.k.a. Sauron from Ryker’s prison. 

            Sauron’s home is the Savage Lands so that’s where the Avengers are off to next. Sauron’s SHIELD file as well as the Savage Land’s SHIELD outposts are offline…hmm…So next Iron Man lands the Quinjet to Spider-man’s surprise because he was sure that every Savage Land trip always starts with a crash landing.  However the Quinjet is destroyed any ways shortly after touchdown and dinosaurs attack the group. Iron Man orders the team to split up and Power Man and Spider-woman end up together.  The issue ends with some familiar claws positioned by Spider-woman’s neck.

Likes:

-         I’m going to say this again…Excellent pacing, amazingly so considering this was written by Bendis

-         Some funny content which is helped along by our very own Spider-man

-         The New Avengers working together for the first time as the New Avengers.

Dislikes:

-         Basically everything involving Electro this issue wasn’t amazing.  First of all Electro, who looks a little too much like Ultimate Electro with his shaved head, came off as a dumb kid and not a career criminal.  Also Electro is taken in way too easily, he is the reason why the New Avengers have formed and it took like half a second to put him out…he didn’t even get a hit in!  Let us also consider the circumstances under which he was captured.  Instead of fleeing the country he goes to Boston to convince some girl to come with him.  Considering the risk one would think that Electro has strong feelings for this girl but wait…not too long ago in Marvel Knights Spider-man, Electro was with a shape-shifting prostitute…oh well. 

Favorite Quote: Spider-woman: “You said it was ok”

Spider-man: “I didn’t say you could lend it out. There’s like ten of you now” 

Rating: 4 out of 5. It was a good story except for the whole Electro thing.  The art is also worthy of praise. 

Reviewed by: BtmxComedy

The New Avengers #3
Breakout! - Part 3
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: David Finch
Inker: Danny Miki with Allen Martinez & Victor Olazaba  

Background: The Avengers are disassembled since the Scarlet Witch had an emotional breakdown and killed some Avengers…we’re six months later and Electro was just paid off to create a breakout in Ryker’s prison. This is also part three of this story, so where exactly have you been?  

Plot:  Although we were in the middle of an intense battle at Ryker’s last issue, this issue begins a day later on the SHIELD Hellicarrier with Captain America and Iron Man discussing the previous day over some doughnuts. Iron Man tells Cap that forty-two villains escaped that night but Cap has other things on his mind, he asks Iron Man to remember that day.  In this flashback we find out that last issue’s cliffhanger of Purple Man taking over Luke Cage was really not so because Purple Man was drugged too heavily in prison to be able to use his mind controlling powers.   What ends up happening is that Cage beats Purple Man senseless until Captain America stops him.

            So on that night the combined powers of Captain America, Iron Man, Luke Cage,  Spider-man, Spiderwoman, Matt Murdock, and the Sentry prevented forty-five villains from getting away.  End of flashback and back to SHIELD Hellicarrier, Captain America convinces Iron Man that its time to get the team together because, “the team assembled itself.”  Iron Man says he needs to think it over but Cap is already on his way to recruit. 

            First stop is PS 108 for our amazing Spider-man whom he convinces to join the team in the span of two pages. Also of note: they are not talking in their costumed identities.  Next stop is Luke Cage who is living with Jessica Jones who is carrying his baby.  Not before too long he convinces Cage to join the team too.  We skip ahead to Daredevil’s invite, but he flat out refuses based on the state of his life at that point, and gives away Peter Parker in the process but Cap already knew so whatever.  Things go much smoother with our original Spider-woman whom is quickly recruited.

Likes:

-         Excellent pacing, amazingly so considering this was written by Bendis

-         Purple Man getting tricked and his ass kicked 

Dislikes:

-         Is Daredevil talking to Steve with his back turned away from him? I mean I know that this is done in cinema and soap operas all the time but seriously think how weird that is in real life.  Steve just offered him a spot in the Avengers and he’s not even looking at him!  

Favorite Quote: Jessica Drew: “We are going to have a cool clubhouse though, right?”

Rating: 4 out of 5. I approve…but it’s not a classic or anything. 

Reviewed by: BtmxComedy

The New Avengers # 2
Title: Breakout! Part Two
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: David Finch
Inker: Danny Miki with Mark Morales
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letters: Richard Starkings and
Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne
PLOT: In the first issue of this series, and after the controversial events of “Disassembled”, our varied heroes (Cap, Spidey, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, and Daredevil) have been brought together on the max-security prison “The Raft”, where good ol’ Electro happens to be breaking out the super-powered criminals (to liberate a certain one).
     This issue opens with Cap and Spidey observing said liberation, and Spidey, in typical responsible manner, moving forward to see what he can do.  However, the web-head should have heeded the star-spangled hero, as he is thrown into the crowd of newly freed villains by ‘Count Nefaria’—the baddies, mostly B-List or lower, of course attack.  Before we know it, Jigsaw breaks Spidey’s arm with a resounding “CRACK!”  Ouch.
      Meanwhile, in the lower levels, Daredevil pleads with Sentry (held here for killing his wife) to help, but the powerful hero remains silent.  He, Cage, and Spider-Woman turn in time to see Foggy Nelson attacked from behind by Carnage, and a fun-filled fight ensues.  DD pushes Foggy to safety, but the three heroes have trouble against the alien symbiote, made worse when Mister Hyde joins the fight.
      Spidey continues to be beaten up, but Cap soon joins in to help as the Sentry, pep-talked by Foggy, flies Carnage into space and rips him in half.  The three heroes and Foggy then join Cap and Spidey in a Hydro-Man water blast, and things seem happy and victorious when Iron Man arrives.  This is, unfortunately, the moment that the mind-controlling Purple Man chooses to move on Mr. Cage.

LIKES:
• Like the first, this second issue (of a Bendis book!) is fast-paced, dynamic and original, leaving me wanting more as soon as possible.
• All of the heroes get exposure time in this book (no mean feat), from Cap’s helping Spidey to Cage and Spider-Woman’s fight with Carnage.
• Nice to see a few lesser-known villain faces, like Foolkiller and the aforementioned Jigsaw, as well as old faves Carnage, Purple Man and Hydro-Man.
• The art remains crisp and consistent, with dark inking.
• Spidey’s arm being broken and Carnage’s death are both unexpected and shocking.  I’m not a big fan of Carnage (Venom is many hundreds of times cooler), and this helps to illustrate how sudden and unexpected death can be, like Gwen in Ultimate Spider-Man (though Carnage may not be dead).

DISLIKES:
• Possibly a bit too action-heavy; then again, next issue may be calmer and more reflective after the breakout is brought under control.
• Probably said before, but his does seem a little like all of Marvel’s big names (Wolverine later) being crammed into one book to generate sales.  Maybe it’s just my natural cynicism, but it does seem a little squashed and contrived at times.

FAVORITE QUOTE: Foggy: Where’s this water coming from? Are we sinking?
   Hydro-Man: No…..but you ARE drowning.

RATING: 4 out of 5 webs.  Not perfect, but fun, action-packed and worth the money you pay.  Hope you enjoyed my first review, see ya next issue.

Reviewed By: Matt Harris

The New Avengers # 1
Title: Breakout! Part One
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: David Finch
Inker: Danny Miki
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letters: Richard Starkings and
Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne

Reviewed by: BMK!