Post by goldenfist on May 22, 2008 7:44:13 GMT -5
Here's a review from ign.com on Avengers The Initiative #13.
Avengers: The Initiative #13 is in the unenviable position of twiddling its thumbs in the lull between the closing of the first story arc and the beginning of the book's Secret Invasion tie-in issues. As such, Christos N. Gage takes the opportunity to tell an Annual-style story that's certainly pleasant enough on the surface but, for one reason or another, fails to leave me feeling satisfied.
The first class of Camp Hammond recruits shipped out last issue, so this issue duly sets about stocking the camp with a fresh batch. It's quite light on concept - essentially, it's a rehash of the first issue, with the new heroes meeting the faculty and adjusting to life on base. The only problem is, it doesn't contain anything as engaging as the MVP death at the end. This entire issue feels hollow and washed-out, and its characters could be the problem.
It's a fair indication that there might be trouble in paradise when the cast's main draw is a surly Prodigy. The former Slinger is actually a high point in these pages, with his turn in Civil War: Frontline forgiven but not forgotten. At the other end of the spectrum we've got the new lens character Emery Schaub, who's as insufferable a creation as any Marvel's seen in quite some time. I suspect I'm meant to connect with him on some level, but the script takes every opportunity to make that impossible by providing him with terrible dialogue and a character arc so saccharine Walt Disney would be gagging. The bland interactions between the heroes don't help matters. A story like this rises or falls on details like character chemistry, and apart from the always-reliable Taskmaster, most of these characters are boring and one-dimensional. I can't be alone in hoping this cast is quietly swept under the rug after Secret Invasion has wreaked its havoc on the title.
Steve Uy turns up on art duties for the second month in a row, and judging from fan reaction his art isn't as unpopular with most readers as it is with me. That said, I'll just err on the side of objectivity and say Avengers: The Initiative #13 probably has very little chance of changing your opinion of his work, whatever that may be. I will note, however, that Taskmaster's mask ends up looking less like a skull and more like Michael Jackson. If he's going for creepy, uh... well done.
A nice but ultimately boring and skippable issue. There are passing moments of the title's signature light comedy, but unfortunately they're not nearly enough to save the sinking ship. Released as an Annual, the creative team would've just barely pulled it off, but instead as a proper issue of Avengers: The Initiative this one probably won't be looked back upon too fondly.
Review Score: 5.5 Mediocre
Avengers: The Initiative #13 is in the unenviable position of twiddling its thumbs in the lull between the closing of the first story arc and the beginning of the book's Secret Invasion tie-in issues. As such, Christos N. Gage takes the opportunity to tell an Annual-style story that's certainly pleasant enough on the surface but, for one reason or another, fails to leave me feeling satisfied.
The first class of Camp Hammond recruits shipped out last issue, so this issue duly sets about stocking the camp with a fresh batch. It's quite light on concept - essentially, it's a rehash of the first issue, with the new heroes meeting the faculty and adjusting to life on base. The only problem is, it doesn't contain anything as engaging as the MVP death at the end. This entire issue feels hollow and washed-out, and its characters could be the problem.
It's a fair indication that there might be trouble in paradise when the cast's main draw is a surly Prodigy. The former Slinger is actually a high point in these pages, with his turn in Civil War: Frontline forgiven but not forgotten. At the other end of the spectrum we've got the new lens character Emery Schaub, who's as insufferable a creation as any Marvel's seen in quite some time. I suspect I'm meant to connect with him on some level, but the script takes every opportunity to make that impossible by providing him with terrible dialogue and a character arc so saccharine Walt Disney would be gagging. The bland interactions between the heroes don't help matters. A story like this rises or falls on details like character chemistry, and apart from the always-reliable Taskmaster, most of these characters are boring and one-dimensional. I can't be alone in hoping this cast is quietly swept under the rug after Secret Invasion has wreaked its havoc on the title.
Steve Uy turns up on art duties for the second month in a row, and judging from fan reaction his art isn't as unpopular with most readers as it is with me. That said, I'll just err on the side of objectivity and say Avengers: The Initiative #13 probably has very little chance of changing your opinion of his work, whatever that may be. I will note, however, that Taskmaster's mask ends up looking less like a skull and more like Michael Jackson. If he's going for creepy, uh... well done.
A nice but ultimately boring and skippable issue. There are passing moments of the title's signature light comedy, but unfortunately they're not nearly enough to save the sinking ship. Released as an Annual, the creative team would've just barely pulled it off, but instead as a proper issue of Avengers: The Initiative this one probably won't be looked back upon too fondly.
Review Score: 5.5 Mediocre
