Post by Marvel Boy on Jul 19, 2016 9:55:47 GMT -5
Okay, so I finally decided to try out the Bob Harras run. This run occurred after I had stopped reading the title circa #337. But the information I read about his run in the first Assembled book piqued my interest, especially in connection with Dane Whitman who is probably my favorite Avenger who's never had a long running solo title.
I know that Harras' first real issue was #343 however I elected to start with #350. Immediately after #343 was Galactic Storm, a crossover that I've never read and which I'd rather read in it's entirety rather than just these specific chunks. I do know that the team's fractured decision to kill the Supreme Intelligence has lasting consequences throughout Harras' run. (Also, I'm given to understand that #348 is something of a milestone on the Vision's path to perhaps regaining his emotions).
#350-351 finds two members of the Starjammers, Raza and Hepzibah, taking a Kree soldier's contract to assassinate Dane for his killing of the Supreme Intelligence. I quite liked this two-parter, especially Raza's guilt over how he was deceived into doing this and the lengths that Carol Danvers went to calm the friction between the two groups once the Avengers realized what was going on. The sword fight between experienced warriors such as Raza and Dane was good though Dane sustains a wound that lingers and hinders him for quite a few issues after this as he recovers. I also liked the brewing love triangle between Dane, Crystal and Sersi.
Epting's art is quite good here along with the stalwart inking of Tom Palmer. #350 is a flip book, containing a reprint of #53 where the team faces of against the original X-Men under the sway of Magneto. That was nice, never read that story and it was fun.
#352-354 was a fill-in story from Len Kaminski and MC Wyman. The Grim Reaper gains vast supernatural powers from a being that is a giant hand with eyes on its' fingertips and a large mouth in it's palm. (Have to admit, both times we see this being, it was on double-page spreads which only increased how unsettling it looks to me).
He then sets about to lure our heroes into a trap with the intention of killing them in revenge for what they did to him. Kaminski does some nice characterization here as the team battles through undead hordes. Hercules recounts how this adventure reminds him of previous ones, Crystal is shocked and stunned by the zombies' very nature and actions, Sersi is perplexed. Things reach a fervor pitch when Reaper manages to revive the undead forms of former villains/associates who died at the hands of the Avengers, ranging from the first Red Guardian to Nefaria to the Nebulon Man. This undead Legion has our heroes on the ropes when the Vision manages to convince Reaper that his memories of past events is in error. This leads to his losing control of the zombie horde who then turn on him. Then the Giant Hand being returns for Reaper's failure.
While Wyman's art lacks a certain finesse, I thought Kaminski's story was solid and creepy.
#355-356 sees the return of Harras, Epting, and Palmer and another appearance of Proctor and his Gatherers. This overall story line with them is another aspect of Harras' run that I found interesting upon reading of it in the Assembled book. These issues didn't fail to deliver on that interest.
Swordsman is the wild card here, the newest convert of Proctor's. Magdalene, the Lady Cassandra and Sloth appear to be formidable foes while the Proctor's goals remain mysterious. I thought it was an extremely nice touch that the focus of this appearance was Coal Tiger who is based on the early designs by Kirby for Black Panther. His sacrifice to save his counterpart Black Panther was enough to cause the growing doubt within Swordsman over what the Gatherers true goals are to fully blossom.
I also think it's interesting seeing how the team has moved on past the schism caused by Galactic Storm. Cap's leaving over the moral questioning and later action is huge but Black Widow seems capable of marching on while Dane has assumed for the most part the de facto role of team leader. And he's doing quite a good job at it from all appearances. Now if he just can figure out what do about Crystal and Sersi.
So far, rather impressed with Harras' run.
I know that Harras' first real issue was #343 however I elected to start with #350. Immediately after #343 was Galactic Storm, a crossover that I've never read and which I'd rather read in it's entirety rather than just these specific chunks. I do know that the team's fractured decision to kill the Supreme Intelligence has lasting consequences throughout Harras' run. (Also, I'm given to understand that #348 is something of a milestone on the Vision's path to perhaps regaining his emotions).
#350-351 finds two members of the Starjammers, Raza and Hepzibah, taking a Kree soldier's contract to assassinate Dane for his killing of the Supreme Intelligence. I quite liked this two-parter, especially Raza's guilt over how he was deceived into doing this and the lengths that Carol Danvers went to calm the friction between the two groups once the Avengers realized what was going on. The sword fight between experienced warriors such as Raza and Dane was good though Dane sustains a wound that lingers and hinders him for quite a few issues after this as he recovers. I also liked the brewing love triangle between Dane, Crystal and Sersi.
Epting's art is quite good here along with the stalwart inking of Tom Palmer. #350 is a flip book, containing a reprint of #53 where the team faces of against the original X-Men under the sway of Magneto. That was nice, never read that story and it was fun.
#352-354 was a fill-in story from Len Kaminski and MC Wyman. The Grim Reaper gains vast supernatural powers from a being that is a giant hand with eyes on its' fingertips and a large mouth in it's palm. (Have to admit, both times we see this being, it was on double-page spreads which only increased how unsettling it looks to me).
He then sets about to lure our heroes into a trap with the intention of killing them in revenge for what they did to him. Kaminski does some nice characterization here as the team battles through undead hordes. Hercules recounts how this adventure reminds him of previous ones, Crystal is shocked and stunned by the zombies' very nature and actions, Sersi is perplexed. Things reach a fervor pitch when Reaper manages to revive the undead forms of former villains/associates who died at the hands of the Avengers, ranging from the first Red Guardian to Nefaria to the Nebulon Man. This undead Legion has our heroes on the ropes when the Vision manages to convince Reaper that his memories of past events is in error. This leads to his losing control of the zombie horde who then turn on him. Then the Giant Hand being returns for Reaper's failure.
While Wyman's art lacks a certain finesse, I thought Kaminski's story was solid and creepy.
#355-356 sees the return of Harras, Epting, and Palmer and another appearance of Proctor and his Gatherers. This overall story line with them is another aspect of Harras' run that I found interesting upon reading of it in the Assembled book. These issues didn't fail to deliver on that interest.
Swordsman is the wild card here, the newest convert of Proctor's. Magdalene, the Lady Cassandra and Sloth appear to be formidable foes while the Proctor's goals remain mysterious. I thought it was an extremely nice touch that the focus of this appearance was Coal Tiger who is based on the early designs by Kirby for Black Panther. His sacrifice to save his counterpart Black Panther was enough to cause the growing doubt within Swordsman over what the Gatherers true goals are to fully blossom.
I also think it's interesting seeing how the team has moved on past the schism caused by Galactic Storm. Cap's leaving over the moral questioning and later action is huge but Black Widow seems capable of marching on while Dane has assumed for the most part the de facto role of team leader. And he's doing quite a good job at it from all appearances. Now if he just can figure out what do about Crystal and Sersi.
So far, rather impressed with Harras' run.
