On August 19th, 2009, Marvel will release an original graphic novel titled “NEW AVENGERS VOL. 11: SEARCH FOR THE SORCERER SUPREME.” In an unprecedented promotional move, the company is releasing short sections of the upcoming project over the course of four months, almost as if they were single issues of a monthly comic book series. These installments cost about a dollar more than your typical comic book, but such is a small expense for a preview of the complete work, months ahead of its release.
Read the review of this month’s sample and comment!
THE NEW AVENGERS #53
WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILS: Billy Tan
INKS: Matt Banning
COLORS: Justin Ponsor
LETTERING: Albert Deschense & Jimmy Betancourt
PLOT:
THOUGHTS:
Brian Michael Bendis’ habit of stretching simple concepts into paperback-sized extravaganzas meant expanding this arc’s expository stage into two issues of boring, dinner-table chats, but at least he draws the good bits out too–Bendis hasn’t written a New Avengers this action-packed in years. Although the villain involved, Madame Masque, poses little difficulty to the team, her skills, arsenal, and willingness to play dirty gives them a valid run for their money.
One must aknowledge Billy Tan for demonstrating his tightest, cleanest work on this title yet, while mixing in unique visuals like a smoke-obscured Kung-Fu duel depicted in silhouette. The other attraction, the magical characters versus the Hood, looks climactic too. Tan may not render the Hood as strikingly as Chris Bachalo, but at least he can coherently convey action.
Bendis, meanwhile, tries to convey personality through the action, mostly succeeding at individuating his cast. However, some characterization seems superficial and obvious: Bucky likes guns, Spider-Man won’t shut up, and so on. Bendis’ cocky-yet-battle-seasoned Hellstorm, on the other hand, really shines, as do his perennial pets, Luke Cage and Spiderwoman. The former plays off of The Annoying Spider-Man with a series of priceless expressions until he breaks, while the latter finally comes into her own after a period of post-Skrull Queen uncertainty.
Though well-executed, the proceedings suffer from an unshakable sense of pointlessness, like the ordeal was mere time killer leading up to the reveal. All the punching and shooting seems to have had no bearing on the Sorcerer Supreme’s selection, so I’m left wondering if it was really necessary.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“I’m giving you to the count of three.”
“No, I’m giving YOU to the count of three.”
“How about we all count to a hundred?”
RATING:
3.5 webheads out of 5. Finally, the Avengers do some avenging. Let’s hope it ends up mattering.
REVIEWED BY: CrazyChris
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Spotify
Pandora
Amazon Music
iHeartRadio
Podbean
Amazon Alexa
Player.fm
Listen Notes
Stitcher
How to mix using cdj 400 anyone help i am looking for some info or site that can help me improve my skills on my new cdj400,s thanks
Brother Voodoo was in a Marvel Team-Up issue in the 1970s.
I don’t remember who Spider-man teamed up with.
Now I have to sleep with one eye open…
Well if each NA comic was as action-packed as this one, it wouldn’t matter if the scenes were necessary, it would just be a kick-ass comic! (as long as there’s a main plot thread, of course) Thanks for the laughs, man!
Web pits!!!
Best review of the year? I say Best Review Ever. Well done Chris. Are those web pits on Spider-Woman in your first drawing or…?
Best Review of the Year.
I loved that opening.
The ics are made of win. I think I like them better than Ramos.
Well I guess we’ll be seen more of this character soon for those of you bitching that you don’t know who he is.
He was in 1 issue of Cable And Deadpool when the title became deadpool team-up after messiah complex, which is pretty much the only exposure I’ve had to the character in my nearly 15 years of reading comics.
Wasn’t brother Voodoo in Deadpool?
I’ve posted this elsewhere, but if people are interested in reading a Spider-Man with an actual fulfilling role in the NA, pick up of Agents of Atlas, b/c it’s not here…
Also, I thought Tan’s art was very strong in this issue, but the ‘silhouette-style Kung Fu’ is something the TMNT books have been doing for a couple of years now (i believe Tales of TMNT V2 #5 is where it started)…wonder if he was influenced…
As far as the sketches/review…can you say ‘left-brained’…haha…nice job…
My thoughts on the issue: My honest reaction when I hit the last page: “You’ve got to be ****ing kidding me.” It’s hard enough to care about all this magicial bull the face of it is someone we grew up with or perhaps even like (Doc Strange) but brother freaking voodoo, bendis better have something good coming up to make this work. My interest in this arc is waning with every issue and I just find myself waiting for some NA on DA action.
My thoughts on the review: Hehehe, you summed up exactly how i felt with buckys forced characterization, no better then spideys really like you said. Any particular reason you felt the need to draw the pictures? Seems a bit…unusual but still entertaining.