Secret Avengers #1 Review

Word Association #1: What’s this?!  Something new?!  Yes, yes it is.  How does this work?  Simple; I look at the cover of the issue that I am reviewing and spit out the first five things that I think of.  Play along, if you’d like!  Here we go:

Random

Cat-Ape

Underestimated

Chemistry?

Cluster ****

Enjoy the review, and be sure to leave your comments below.  There’s no telling how long I will remain on this book.  I think I can hear Brad writing my pink slip as we speak!

SECRET AVENGERS #1: Secret Histories Part One

WRITER: Ed Brubaker

ARTIST: Mike Deodato

COLOR ART: Rain Beredo

COVER: Marko Djurdjevic

PLOT:

The issue starts out with a drunken slob and two hot babes who turn out to be Black Widow and Valkyrie undercover as escorts.  They, with the help of Steve Rogers, recover “the package” but are tailed as they leave (unbeknownst to them).  “The Package” happens to be “a distant cousin of the serpent crown,” something which Hank McCoy aka Beast will further investigate.  Steve Rogers and Sharon share a…er…moment, Moon Knight and Ant Man infiltrate Roxxon Corporate Headquarters, and Steve sends a member of his team to Mars.  That member, Nova, finds himself in over his head as he approaches the REAL serpent crown, and the rest of the Secret Avengers go to Mars in order to find him.  The issue wraps up with Sharon getting pistol-whipped and the Shadow Council looking for the crown.

REVIEW:

Now THAT is what I’m talking about!  This was what I was looking for in THE AVENGERS #1 but I did not get.  I think that the odds were stacked against Brubaker in a way; I mean, he’s up against Bendis…BENDIS…the “god of the Avengers books Bendis”, and he’s coming in with this eclectic, melting pot team…the strangest combination I have ever seen, but he delivers!

This was the perfect meld of introduction and action.  Brubaker does not begin the issue by having a quaint introduction of all the characters and then a non-segued rush into action.  Rather, he starts the issue off as if this book has been going for years and has introductions to each of the team members where needed and where appropriate.  There are not any superfluous asides and Brubaker even lets only the artwork speak for Ant-Man’s intro, rather than bog it down with words.

And how about that art?  I already knew that Deodato had a good eye and a good hand, and his style, mixed with the dark colors, really work with a book that is all about a team that is doing what is necessary and NOT being seen!  I’m not sure if Deodato designed Steve’s new uniform, but I think that it works wonderfully.  Steve is creating his own identity separate from that of Captain America, though he still retains ties to the Captain America-wear (cf. Stephanie Brown and her Batgirl costume).

So what about this team?  Moon Knight, Nova, Valkyrie, Black Widow, Beast, Ant-Man, War Machine, and Steve Rogers…boy, is that strange or what?  I remember the boards when all these names were coming out, and just like the new X-Men team, I thought it was the strangest grouping ever.  At the time, I felt like I had fallen through a wormhole.  You know what?  It works!  Each member brings something new to the table (cf. JLU episode “Initiation”) and this queer team is why this book is going to rock!  I’m just sorry that I had such reservations in getting it in the first place!  Heck, I was sold when I heard Sharon Carter was going to be in it!  Sharon is definitely going to be a great liaison, and Steve had it right when saying that she will have to be the one to keep tabs on Maria Hill and Victoria Hand.  Who is better than Agent 13?!  And FINALLY!  Somebody admits that he is not a team-player!  Goodness, it feels good to know that at least one writer can recognize the loaners from the popular kids!

Why get this book?  I’ll give you nine reasons: War Machine, Ant-Man, Beast, Black Widow, Valkyrie, Nova, Moon Knight, Steve Rogers, and Sharon Carter…’nuff said!  With such a strange and intense lineup as that how could you POSSIBLY say “no?”

GRADE:

5.0 out of 5.0 Webheads: THAT…is how you write an effin’ #1!

Ex animo,

Your friendly neighborhood, Spider-Girl!