Dark Avengers #2
This review written by James Hunt on Feb.19, 2009.
As someone who was immediately enthusiastic about Dark Avengers, it’s good to see that the second issue holds up well to the first. The main draw, initially, was finding out who was on the team, and how they got there. The second issue… well, that’s where the fun needs to start. Especially since Dark Avengers is one of Marvel’s $3.99 ongoings, I’m expecting a LOT of entertainment from this series.
And entertainment is what I got. Without spoiling it, there’s at least one moment in this issue that utterly blew my mind. There’s not an Avengers fan around who wouldn’t have the same reaction to that scene. If Dark Avengers keeps up this level of consistency then I can almost begin to forgive the price tag.
After introducing the cast one at a time last issue, Bendis takes the opportunity to show them interacting a bit this time, with particular amusement being generated by Moonstone wondering exactly who Daken is, no doubt speaking with the voice of thousands of Dark Avengers readers. Bullseye gets some great dialogue too. The danger with using villains as your cast members is that many of them have poorly-defined characters, so it’s nice to see them getting a little time to be rounded out a bit.
Bendis is also avoiding – so far – the obvious reformation trope. The danger with villains is that the more you establish them as characters, the more sympathetic they become. So far, none of these characters want to reform, they’re just glad to be on top for a change.
If you’re not a Bendis fan, there’s little here that’s going to convince you to give the book a chance, of course. There are even some particularly self-indulgent scenes that consist mostly of Doom and Morgana Le Fey ranting at each other in an invented language that, one suspects, most writers would recognise as a bit superfluous to requirements, but it’s a bit par for the course for Bendis. At least he’s improved his Doom dialogue since the character turned up in Mighty Avengers, though…
Between Deodato’s art and Bendis’ writing, Dark Avengers looks like it’s going to be a rather epic series. The concept is great fun, and both creators are clearly having fun with it. If they can keep up this level of excitement in the future, then, despite the price tag, Marvel are going to be a lot of pleased customers on their hands.
February 20th, 2009 on 4:36 am
If we’re thinking of the same mind blowing moment, then I have to agree as well. Figuratively and literally (though not for myself as much on the latter ;))
The moment I was most fond of was Bullseye’s remark on Stark and the look Sentry and Ares gave. Despite the two siding with Osborn, it’ll be interesting to see if either of them still have any loyalty to Stark in the long run.
Also, another D-Man joke from Bendis? I’m almost expecting him to show up in this series as an actual member at some point.
February 21st, 2009 on 7:28 pm
yeah i will have to agree on almost everything imean im a pleased customer. dark avengers 2 is realy interesting but i think the best is when sentry is owning everybody. or just simply seeing dr. doom in action. im realy pumped for new avengers #50 now because of the end of dark avengers 2. not that i dont read the new avengers but its going to be spectacular to see what happen. and then secret warriors #2.
dark reign is realy pulling me in it started with just dark avengers #1 and new avengers #49 and they were so great together and then when i read secret warriors nick fury became a favorite to me, not that i never NOT liked him but its just great what he is doing also.
basicly what im hooked on is the dark avengers series, new avengers series 49 and up, and the secret warriors series.
and 1 more thing i would also like to through out is BENDIS IS GOD!