Post by goldenfist on Aug 7, 2008 7:32:06 GMT -5
Here is a review of Avengers/Invaders #4 from ign.com
I'm not sure I would have expected any book dealing in the return of Steve Rogers to be so... boring. The fact is that Marvel has teased readers with potential new Caps and possible resurrections that, when it actually happens, I don't care, Or maybe it's just the fact that Avengers/Invaders replays that same, tired old time travel routine. We know there can't possibly be anything of consequence to come out of this story, despite all insistence to the contrary, so why even bother.
The pervasive sense of boredom runs far deeper than just the time travel concept, which finally starts being addressed this month. With each issue, it becomes more and more apparent that 12 issues are just unnecessary. It allows Alex Ross and Jim Kreuger too much room for decompression wand wasted space. Remember the hapless soldier who was whisked forward in time along with the Invaders and whose struggle is supposed to be the driving force of the narrative? He doesn't even appear this month. Instead - Invaders fight Avengers. Avengers fight Avengers. Then, some Avengers team up with invaders to fight other Avengers. I really didn't think the regular Marvel U needed its own answer to Ultimate Power, and yet now it has one. Granted, it is interesting to see current Bucky confront his WWII-era self, enough so that I think the series should have focused squarely on him. It doesn't, though, and what we're left with is far too shallow to be enjoyable even on a dumb fun level.
I did find myself enjoying Steve Sadowski's art more than usual. Comparisons to other Golden Age revival series are inevitable, and Sadowski has always been outclassed by Chris Weston's superb artwork in The Twelve. Sadowski still isn't on that level, but his work seems more consistent, and the greater amount of characters this month allows him to stretch his muscles more.
More annoying than anything, this issue ends on a pseudo cliffhanger with the promise that Avengers/Invaders will return in October. I really don't find the series to be worth waiting that long. It's already drawn out and lacking in substance as it is. I suggest readers spend this two-month vacation catching up on The Twelve and learning how this type of series can be done properly.
Review Score: 5.8 Mediocre
I'm not sure I would have expected any book dealing in the return of Steve Rogers to be so... boring. The fact is that Marvel has teased readers with potential new Caps and possible resurrections that, when it actually happens, I don't care, Or maybe it's just the fact that Avengers/Invaders replays that same, tired old time travel routine. We know there can't possibly be anything of consequence to come out of this story, despite all insistence to the contrary, so why even bother.
The pervasive sense of boredom runs far deeper than just the time travel concept, which finally starts being addressed this month. With each issue, it becomes more and more apparent that 12 issues are just unnecessary. It allows Alex Ross and Jim Kreuger too much room for decompression wand wasted space. Remember the hapless soldier who was whisked forward in time along with the Invaders and whose struggle is supposed to be the driving force of the narrative? He doesn't even appear this month. Instead - Invaders fight Avengers. Avengers fight Avengers. Then, some Avengers team up with invaders to fight other Avengers. I really didn't think the regular Marvel U needed its own answer to Ultimate Power, and yet now it has one. Granted, it is interesting to see current Bucky confront his WWII-era self, enough so that I think the series should have focused squarely on him. It doesn't, though, and what we're left with is far too shallow to be enjoyable even on a dumb fun level.
I did find myself enjoying Steve Sadowski's art more than usual. Comparisons to other Golden Age revival series are inevitable, and Sadowski has always been outclassed by Chris Weston's superb artwork in The Twelve. Sadowski still isn't on that level, but his work seems more consistent, and the greater amount of characters this month allows him to stretch his muscles more.
More annoying than anything, this issue ends on a pseudo cliffhanger with the promise that Avengers/Invaders will return in October. I really don't find the series to be worth waiting that long. It's already drawn out and lacking in substance as it is. I suggest readers spend this two-month vacation catching up on The Twelve and learning how this type of series can be done properly.
Review Score: 5.8 Mediocre