Post by goldenfist on Jan 3, 2009 10:20:58 GMT -5
Read what Ign.com had to say about Avengers The Initiative #20
One of Secret Invasion's broader strokes was the dissolution of the Initiative as we know it, and the vilification of the whole operation to the public at large. Even its members and personnel now know that it was essentially a small piece in the larger Skrull takeover. So that begs the question, then, where does Avengers: The Initiative go, as a title created solely as a vehicle for a now-defunct operative?
Dan Slott & Christos Gage answer that question, mostly by not answering that question. True to form, A:TI just plays around with the toys in the Marvel Universe toybox and sets up later developments in books like Mighty Avengers, Skrull Kill Krew, and Thunderbolts.
One of the bigger ideas in issue #20 is the rehabilitation of those affected by the Skrull invasion/abduction. In a strangely effective scene, Doc Samson counsels some heroes in a therapy group, among them Dum Dum Dugan, Mockingbird, and Thor Girl. Like most of A:TI it's borderline ridiculous, but it works. The issue also pays service to its longtime readers by continuing its own affairs, featuring characters like Gauntlet, Komodo, and Taskmaster, as well as the grand Mutant Zero reveal.
But perhaps the biggest draw is the Hank Pym portion. This issue ostensibly bridges the gap for the character between the end of Secret Invasion and becoming the new Wasp, and it sees him confront Janet one last time in a very clever, Slott-ian use of Marvel backwater continuity. It's the highlight of the issue and has some really great, snappy dialogue that keeps the pace moving. It's clear that going into 2009, Hank Pym is getting a major push, and pieces like this certainly help the character.
There's still the big question mark of how exactly A:TI will work in the coming year, and just how effectively. But for now, its scattershot subject matter and shapeless directive are perfectly indicative of the state of the characters' lives and the overarching premise of the series.
Review Score: 7.9 Good
One of Secret Invasion's broader strokes was the dissolution of the Initiative as we know it, and the vilification of the whole operation to the public at large. Even its members and personnel now know that it was essentially a small piece in the larger Skrull takeover. So that begs the question, then, where does Avengers: The Initiative go, as a title created solely as a vehicle for a now-defunct operative?
Dan Slott & Christos Gage answer that question, mostly by not answering that question. True to form, A:TI just plays around with the toys in the Marvel Universe toybox and sets up later developments in books like Mighty Avengers, Skrull Kill Krew, and Thunderbolts.
One of the bigger ideas in issue #20 is the rehabilitation of those affected by the Skrull invasion/abduction. In a strangely effective scene, Doc Samson counsels some heroes in a therapy group, among them Dum Dum Dugan, Mockingbird, and Thor Girl. Like most of A:TI it's borderline ridiculous, but it works. The issue also pays service to its longtime readers by continuing its own affairs, featuring characters like Gauntlet, Komodo, and Taskmaster, as well as the grand Mutant Zero reveal.
But perhaps the biggest draw is the Hank Pym portion. This issue ostensibly bridges the gap for the character between the end of Secret Invasion and becoming the new Wasp, and it sees him confront Janet one last time in a very clever, Slott-ian use of Marvel backwater continuity. It's the highlight of the issue and has some really great, snappy dialogue that keeps the pace moving. It's clear that going into 2009, Hank Pym is getting a major push, and pieces like this certainly help the character.
There's still the big question mark of how exactly A:TI will work in the coming year, and just how effectively. But for now, its scattershot subject matter and shapeless directive are perfectly indicative of the state of the characters' lives and the overarching premise of the series.
Review Score: 7.9 Good
