Post by goldenfist on Jul 24, 2008 7:28:36 GMT -5
Here's a Review of Avengers The Initiative #15 from ign.com
Like Incredible Hercules, Avengers: The Initiative is one of the titles most might expect to find the fun in the increasingly dire Secret Invasion. Last month's installment delivered on that, managing to keep the signature light-hearted tone while still playing in the scary, paranoia-laden sandbox of SI. This issue continues the same trend while bringing the title out of its relative seclusion from the event itself.
The end of last issue had things looking pretty bad for 3-D Man, which is a plot thread that's shoved on the backburner by the onset of the Skrull Invasion and Camp Hammond's immediate reaction. (For you continuity buffs, Avengers: The Initiative #15 fits nicely after Secret Invasion #2.) Pulled to the forefront is Skrull in disguise Crusader, a character who's had some interesting developments of late. Add him to the worryingly short list of Skrulls who are Earth-friendly, alongside Jazinda, Xavin, Hulkling, and John the Skrull,
If you're anything like me, you missed Robert Kirkman's 2004 Marvel Team-Up revival where all the juiciness went down with this all-new, all-Skrully Crusader and his pal Freedom Ring. This issue serves partly as a refresher course on how Crusader managed to obtain the Ring, as well as his full origin and where he stands now that his race has made it a point to overtake his new home. It's a nice growth opportunity for a character I'd already taken a liking to. Also, this issue puts the Camp Hammond recruits in the thick of the Manhattan battle, not unlike the first class crashing the World War Hulk party. It's nice to see the A:TI tie-in won't be as detached as the first issue suggested it might be.
Sometimes I feel like it's unfair to critique any non-Stefano Caselli artist on Avengers: The Initiative because Caselli has become so much a part of the book's style that anyone else's work is doomed to feel a little off. Still, fill-ins aren't new territory for A:TI, and we've certainly suffered through worse than Harvey Tolibao's pencils. They tell the story well and he handles the chaotic battle pages with little trouble. Some issues with characters' faces at funny perspectives (underneath, top down, etc.) crop up from time to time, but certainly nothing that hinders the script's effectiveness.
Avengers: The Initiative continues to be a solid and consistent title. Predictably, Dan Slott and Christos N. Gage carry their mastery of the large cast and sense of fun to the book's Secret Invasion tie-in and lose nothing in the transition.
Review Score: 7.7 Good
Like Incredible Hercules, Avengers: The Initiative is one of the titles most might expect to find the fun in the increasingly dire Secret Invasion. Last month's installment delivered on that, managing to keep the signature light-hearted tone while still playing in the scary, paranoia-laden sandbox of SI. This issue continues the same trend while bringing the title out of its relative seclusion from the event itself.
The end of last issue had things looking pretty bad for 3-D Man, which is a plot thread that's shoved on the backburner by the onset of the Skrull Invasion and Camp Hammond's immediate reaction. (For you continuity buffs, Avengers: The Initiative #15 fits nicely after Secret Invasion #2.) Pulled to the forefront is Skrull in disguise Crusader, a character who's had some interesting developments of late. Add him to the worryingly short list of Skrulls who are Earth-friendly, alongside Jazinda, Xavin, Hulkling, and John the Skrull,
If you're anything like me, you missed Robert Kirkman's 2004 Marvel Team-Up revival where all the juiciness went down with this all-new, all-Skrully Crusader and his pal Freedom Ring. This issue serves partly as a refresher course on how Crusader managed to obtain the Ring, as well as his full origin and where he stands now that his race has made it a point to overtake his new home. It's a nice growth opportunity for a character I'd already taken a liking to. Also, this issue puts the Camp Hammond recruits in the thick of the Manhattan battle, not unlike the first class crashing the World War Hulk party. It's nice to see the A:TI tie-in won't be as detached as the first issue suggested it might be.
Sometimes I feel like it's unfair to critique any non-Stefano Caselli artist on Avengers: The Initiative because Caselli has become so much a part of the book's style that anyone else's work is doomed to feel a little off. Still, fill-ins aren't new territory for A:TI, and we've certainly suffered through worse than Harvey Tolibao's pencils. They tell the story well and he handles the chaotic battle pages with little trouble. Some issues with characters' faces at funny perspectives (underneath, top down, etc.) crop up from time to time, but certainly nothing that hinders the script's effectiveness.
Avengers: The Initiative continues to be a solid and consistent title. Predictably, Dan Slott and Christos N. Gage carry their mastery of the large cast and sense of fun to the book's Secret Invasion tie-in and lose nothing in the transition.
Review Score: 7.7 Good