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Post by starfoxxx on Nov 14, 2012 17:00:51 GMT -5
I just got the new Marvel Preview, and it looks like SECRET AVENGERS will be cancelled in a few issues.
I'm not shedding any tears, (I was gonna post about how EXTREMELY confusing and lame this "Descendents" arc has been in SA. And (sorry HB, BUT)... the BLACK ANT??? Pretty lame. I was really hoping the villain was gonna turn out to be Dr Doom, oh well. The whole series has been a big let-down from issue #1, so I won't miss payin $4 for a so-so title...
EXCEPT... that SECRET and AVENGERS ACADEMY were two of the 3 mainstream comics I've been reading regularly the last few years. So far now I'm down to Levitz' Legion, and I'll probably pick up Avengers: Arena, and possibly the FF title with the Antman/SheHulk team (I like that artist, hope the writing is decent). I'd like to start reading another Avengers title, since Bendis won't be on them, but I gotta admit, the book with the "movie" line-up looks pretty bad (maybe I can't get over the lame Hawkeye costume), and the one with MrFantastic/Namor/Black Panther looks pretty lame, too. And if any of them still have Spidey, Wolvie, or Luke Cage on the teams, I'm probably gonna be reluctant to spend money on that book, too.
As always, I'm hoping my fellow Assemblers on these boards can help me if any of the new Avengers titles are worth picking up.
But I think only myself, spiderwasp, tomspasic, HB, and woodside are even READING any new comics (probably forgot some--sorry)
Anyway, let me know what's good, PLEASE---starfoxxx
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Post by tomspasic on Nov 14, 2012 17:32:08 GMT -5
I felt Secret Avengers was a stupid concept that turned out to be a halfway decent read.
The "stupid Concept" is flying around in a mini carrier dressed in primary coloured skintight costumes shouting "AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!" and calling that "covert" or "secret". Oh, and blowing stuff up. Lots and lots of blowing stuff up.
Regardless of my mean spirited quibbling and pedantry, the book itself was better than anything Bendis wrote. It still was not really an "Avengers" book, but it was a generally entertaining read. The Warren Ellis issues were to my mind his best mainstream work since "Extremis" era Iron Man.
Remender's issues have not been terribly coherent, or I haven't paid enough attention, but I have not hated them by any means.
OK, on to what will be worth reading.
I very much enjoyed Avengers Assemble 9 by Kelly Sue DeConnick. It was witty, funny, light hearted and above all not stupid. Now, I would say I don't want another comic like DC's JLI that died a long slow comedic death, but an occasional issue with some laughs in that are in-character and apposite is welcome.
So I'd recommend that.
I was genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed it, (even though Spider-Woman is still on the team). And I've liked other stuff that she's written, so I'm on board for at leas an "arc" or two.
The Hunger Games/Battle Royale knock-off Avengers:Arena sounds terrible to me, so it may well turn out to be quite good, in the manner of Young Avengers, Academy and Initiative. All of which I hated the pitches for, but all of which I liked the comics of.
I'm hoping that Hickman gives us more Fantastic Four Hickman rather than Secret Warriors Hickman. Complex but not impenetrable, a large cast but actual emotional weight and characterization. Big Ideas and some continuity nods to the past.
The biggest loss is Academy, and not getting Gage on any of the main Avengers books. It's as if they hate me. Maybe one day....
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Post by starfoxxx on Nov 14, 2012 18:00:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback, tomspasic. I'm not saying I "hated" the Secret Avengers---I don't buy anything I would ever consider hating, money is too tight. But when the best part of the comic is the Art Adams cover---well that's not good, esp for $4. Funny, the only arc/issues I didn't pick up was the Ellis arc, i just couldn't get my head around it after an issue or two.
And I agree, most of the series was just dumb. I loved the "look" of that first line-up--Beast, War Machine, Ant-man, Valkyrie, Widow.....but why would Beast and Valkyrie be on "espionage" missions? And then heroes would pop-in, fart, then dissappear for a number of issues---Capt Britain, Hawkeye, etc....
Oh, and Valkyrie will be joining a "NEW, NEW, NEWEST" incarnation of the DEFENDERS, apparantly...
I'm surprisingly excited about Avengers:Arena....I know it's a played out- rip-off concept (kinda like "Secret" Avengers), but i wanna see what happens to the Academy kids. And I admit, I hope if anyone dies it's STRIKER or REPTYL. Sorry to be so morbid, but they suck, IMHO.
Oh, and that Preview solicit DID have an ad for an upcoming Avengers Annual (forgot which one) written by Cristos Gage (yay!) with a cool VISION cover.
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Post by woodside on Nov 14, 2012 20:30:11 GMT -5
Marvel is doing a new Secret Avengers. Let me find the article here . . . hrm . . . hmm . . . Ah! Here it is! www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=41551Oh, and that Preview solicit DID have an ad for an upcoming Avengers Annual (forgot which one) written by Cristos Gage (yay!) with a cool VISION cover. I'll be picking this up. Cristos Gage is one of Marvel's most under-appreciated talents and I love to see him get more work! |
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Post by tomspasic on Nov 14, 2012 20:36:53 GMT -5
Re: Gage on Annual: Yay! Thanks for the head's up.
Re: Pointless renumbering of rather pointless title: Oh, for "heaven's" sake!
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Post by Shiryu on Nov 14, 2012 22:27:24 GMT -5
But I think only myself, spiderwasp, tomspasic, HB, and woodside are even READING any new comics (probably forgot some--sorry) Anyway, let me know what's good, PLEASE---starfoxxx *lifts his hand up shouting "me, me!"*  It's not much to go on, but I personally liked Uncanny Avengers #1, and it's more contained cast of characters (relatively speaking). Oh, and Daredevil is still, consistently, really good since Waid came on. As for the rest, so many books are going through creative team changes that it will take some wait and see I suppose. |
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Post by starfoxxx on Nov 15, 2012 15:33:35 GMT -5
Thanks Shiryu. I know, I know, I've been hearing GREAT things about Waid's DD, I'm just not a Daredevil guy.
And that line-up for Uncanny Avengers does look pretty cool. I always thought Sunfire would be a good fit, especially since he was generally underused as an X-men. And Havok looks good, too. I just hope they drop Havok's tons and tons of baggage he has accrued since the early 90s. Oh, and the old, much cooler mask and costume, please.
Gotta admit, the name UNCANNY AVENGERS scares me. It just doesn't seem right, IMO.
Also, I am now really confused about what team is what and who's on which.....why not just East and West coast teams, like the good old days ??(the 80s ha-ha).
maybe eventually I'll post who's on what team, if I ever figure it out, and hopefully before they are all cancelled.
And thank you woodside for the news about the NEW Secret avengers. I think I'll skip this one , though. <Still hating that new Hawkeye "costume">
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Post by Marvel Boy on Nov 16, 2012 0:10:20 GMT -5
The new Avengers title by Hickman is supposed to have a larger cast made up of classic members, new members, and mutants. The scope is supposed to be global, more epic thus why the expanded cast.
In contrast, New Avengers by Hickman deals with Bendis' Illuminati, a concept that sounds cool aloud but one I never really grew to like. The main Avengers handle the overt public threats, the New Avengers will handle and manipulate the hidden threats.
Avengers Arena is a title I don't understand fully. Gladiator-arena type fighting, something like that? Why would they put the kids through that?
Next year, Gillen is doing a new Young Avengers book. It features the YA kids, of whom I've read very little of except for their few appearances in Mighty Avengers. I might check that one out, but Young Loki, who Gillen was writing in JIM, is now on the team, so that's a bigger draw for me.
Honestly, as of right now, Daredevil by Waid is THE best title Marvel is publishing IMHO. Waid, Rivera, Martin, Samnee, they are just hitting outta the park.
Which is why I think Waid's Indestructible Hulk might be good as well. Banner working with SHIELD, Hulk basically an agent/weapon for them. It sounds crazy but if anyone can pull this off, I think Waid can.
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comaboy
Great Lakes Avenger
Posts: 34 
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Post by comaboy on Nov 16, 2012 8:44:18 GMT -5
Next year, Gillen is doing a new Young Avengers book. It features the YA kids, of whom I've read very little of except for their few appearances in Mighty Avengers. I might check that one out, but Young Loki, who Gillen was writing in JIM, is now on the team, so that's a bigger draw for me. I just read an interview with Gillen about this book. It's probably good you haven't read too much YA because his vision for it sounds about as diametrically opposed to Heinberg's as you can get. IMO it sounds ridiculous. |
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Post by woodside on Nov 16, 2012 18:07:33 GMT -5
I have A LOT of faith in Gileon's vision for YA. His runs on Generation Hope and Uncanny X-Men were excellent and a lot of people enjoyed Journey into Mystery.
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Post by spiderwasp on Nov 17, 2012 23:33:43 GMT -5
I just read an interview with Gillen about this book. It's probably good you haven't read too much YA because his vision for it sounds about as diametrically opposed to Heinberg's as you can get. IMO it sounds ridiculous. I just read the interview. It doesn't feel with excitement but I certainly love the YA enough to give it a try. I wouldn't say I'm filled with dread, just not the enthusiasm I'd like based on what I read. Regarding the art, Im even less excited. The little bit they showed didn't look very appealling to me. |
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Post by humanbelly on Feb 27, 2013 21:47:01 GMT -5
Hunh.
Well, the final issue- #37- popped up in the mail last week. I'd actually forgotten I had that last remaining issue on that subscription. I haven't really been following this whole Descendants arc very closely at all, but I did sit down and read this last installment more closely.
And I think. . . I think that while Remender's writing isn't particularly great, he does at least seem to have. . . a respect, maybe?. . . for the workings of Marvel Universe continuity. On the other hand, his facility for identifiable character voices is iffy at best. On the other other-hand, the "big idea" for this plot wasn't a bad one at all, possibly very workable. . . IF. . .
IF. . . there had been maybe a better editor on board to guide the scope of this arc, and to infuse the whole thing with some more clarity. But even more. . . IF. . . there had been anything resembling good, solid, clear visual story-telling to support it. Even in earlier issues I skimmed through, I felt like I was trying to glean the story in SPITE of the art, rather than having that art clarify and enhance the story. Sketchy, scratchy, stylistically inconsistent, disjointed-- I'm not familiar w/ Scalera at all, but geeze, the WORST artists on ol' QUASAR did a far better job of actual storytelling than this young man. I do feel kind of bad about that, because Remender is CLEARLY the guy's biggest fan, and heaps praise upon him in his farewell letter at the end of the book.
The letter also leaves one with the impression that Remender's heart was certainly in the right place when it came to writing this book. He believed in it, he was committed to it, and he clearly felt respect for the material and the history. It's just-- man-- it wasn't workin' for me. . .
And I am once again a man w/out any new Avengers books coming in. Still won't spend that kind of money, I'm afraid. . .
HB
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