Avengers #1

The Avengers #1
Marvel Comics
Brian Michael Bendis
(a) John Romita Jr. & Klaus Janson
FC 32 pgs w/ ads $3.99 US / Higher in Canada

And so Marvel moves the Marvel U. from Dark Reign to the Heroic Age. But what does that really mean? A lighter, brighter day? Or just more super-heroics? Well, it seems to mean that there’s a whole bunch of new number one’s from the look at it. And here’s the first – Brian Michael Bendis’ re-launched Avengers title. After a little over 5 years and 64 issues, I guess the New Avengers stopped being new (although there is a new New Avengers title on it’s way). Steve Rogers is now in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. / H.A.M.M.E.R. or whatever they are calling it these days and he’s put together a new team of Avengers. The team is pretty much the old New Avengers with Thor and Iron Man added to the line up.

Most of this issue is just Steve Rogers establishing the team. and then they face their first threat which seems to be Kang the Conqueror returning from the future and demanding that something must be done about the Avengers’ kids. Bendis’ fills the issue with his usual witty dialogue “Please don’t say West Coast. Please don’t say West Coast. Please don’t say West Coast.” Romita’s art – well, I’ve never been a fan of his style. Everybody looks like an aging boxer that has gone one too many rounds in the ring. That said, this was a fun read and it should be interesting to see where the Secret Avengers and the new New Avengers fit in to the new status quo. (Shane Hnetka)

Powers #3

Powers #3
Icon / Marvel Comics
Brian Michael Bendis
(a) Michael Avon Oeming
FC 41 pgs $3.95 US / Higher in Canada

So far this new arc in Bendis and Oeming’s Powers has been just okay. Walker and his new partner are trying to solve a murder. They’ve arrested the daughter of an old school super-hero. And the daughter’s mother isn’t happy about it.

I don’t if it’s because both Bendis and Oeming are busy with other projects but Powers just hasn’t had the same intensity it once had. At one point this comic was one of my favorites and now, well,  it’s not terrible by any means, but it has lost some of its zip. I don’t think it’s the change in partners either. Sure Pilgrim was extremely entertaining but Enki Sunrise hasn’t had much of chance to build up her character or form any sort of dynamic with Walker other than they’re partners. But the last arc with Pilgrim was where the series started to lose its punch.

I keep hoping Bendis and Oeming will kick things up. They are trying – this issue was 41 pages of super violent car chasing but there still feels like something is missing. Maybe it is Pilgrim. Still it’s better than most of the other comics being put out there right now. (Shane Hnetka)

Siege #2

Siege #2
Marvel Comics
Brian Michael Bendis
(a) Olivier Coipel & Mark Morales
FC 32 pgs w/ ads $3.99 US / Higher Canada

Wow! Now that’s an event issue. It’s all out war for Osborn and his cronies. Thor has been knocked for a loop but is not out of the fight yet. Meanwhile Cap is prepping a team of Avengers to go assist Asgard.

Coipel’s art is amazing and the story is moving at a breakneck pace. Without giving any spoilers away, there are a couple of powerful moments in this issue and the last page is not only awesome, but promises of more awesomeness next issue. I’ve been enjoying DC’s Blackest Night for the most part, but eight issues sure drags out the event. Here we are at the halfway point already in Marvel’s Siege and you now in two issues Osborn is going to fall hard. Damn this is an entertaining series. (Shane Hnetka)

Ultimate Enemy #1

Ultimate Enemy #1
Marvel Comics
Brian Michael Bendis
(a) Rafa Sandoval & Roger Bonet
FC 32 pgs w/ ads $3.99 US / Higher in Canada

Wow! Another Ultimate title but this time without the comics thrown in the middle. I’m not sure about the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man / Avengers, etc. as a title. It is a mouthful. But here is Bendis’ latest mini-series and it’s only called Ultimate Enemy. Not Ultimate Comics Enemy. Or at least the issue is called Ultimate Enemy. And this is a pretty nasty enemy even without the comics moniker.

The story has a giant gelatinous blob with tentacles attacking several of the Ultimate universe superheroes. Spider-Woman, Reed Richards, Sue Richards and Nick Fury to be precise. There is no hint to who this horrible enemy is, although as always, it seems to be Nick Fury’s fault.

Most of this issue is catching up with what has happened to the remaining members of the Fantastic Four since Ultimatum. It isn’t a bad issue but other than the random attacks by a mysterious villain not much else happens – as seems to be the norm for the first issue of a mini-series. The art is good, although Ben Grimm’s jaw seems to over-power his face. I’ll stick with this series; it’s intriguing enough and I have faith in Bendis when it comes to the Ultimate universe. I can’t say the same about some other writers. (Shane Hnetka)

Spider-Woman #1

Spider-Woman #1
Marvel Comics
Brian Michael Bendis
(a) Alex Maleev
FC 32 pgs w/ ads $3.99 US / Higher in Canada

After a few false starts and a lot of talk, Bendis finally has his Spider-Woman comic book. I’ve been waiting for this title since Bendis and the Luna Brothers retold Spider-Woman’s origin in the appropriately named Spider-Woman: Origin mini-series. That was way back in 2005. The ongoing was suppose to follow shortly. Then Secret Invasion came around and everything changed. Spider-Woman was revealed to be the Skrull Queen in charge of the invasion of Earth. The war ended and the real Spider-Woman came back. That was in October of 2008. Here we are almost a full year later and now this fabled ongoing is before me.