The New Avengers: Illuminati #3

May 29, 2007

Quick Rating: Average
Rating: T+

Between Secret Wars, the Illuminati seeks to deal with the Beyonder.

Writers: Brian Michael Bendis & Brian Reed
Pencils: Jim Cheung
Inks: Mark Morales
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Letters: Cory Petit
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Cover Art: Jim Cheung
Publisher: Marvel comics

Set in-between the first two Secret Wars crossovers, the members of the Illuminati discover a startling secret about the Beyonder, and attempt to use that knowledge to put a stop to his menace.

That “secret” they discover is, in fact, the biggest problem with this issue. By the end, it’s rather ambiguous whether it was real or if it was merely a game played by the Beyonder. If it’s real, then it’s an absolutely gargantuan retcon, and an utterly unnecessary one as well. If it was just a game, then the issue as a whole becomes irrelevant.

The real saving grace – not only of this issue, but thus far of the entire miniseries – is excellent artwork by Jim Cheung. He gets a chance to draw some Marvel favorites in more classic forms although I don’t recall Namor wearing his leather get-up at this time period) and his cover is a nice little homage to the original Secret Wars #1.

I still can’t quite grasp the point of this series. Certainly, the idea here is to show that the Illuminati were, in fact, present for the big events in Marvel history, but thus far, we haven’t really seen the significance of that (except for the somewhat farfetched idea that each of them now possesses one of the Infinity Gems, which happened last issue, which chronologically had to have taken place long after this issue). Hopefully there’s a rabbit to come out of the hat before this series ends.

Rating: 5/10

World War Hulk: X-Men #1

June 26, 2007

Quick Rating: Surprisingly Good
Title: Hard Questions
Rating: A

The Hulk hunts Charles Xavier – but he’ll have to go through the New X-Men first!

Writer: Christos Gage
Art: Andrea DiVito
Colors: Laura Villari
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Editor: Andy Schmidt
Cover Art: Ed McGuinness
Publisher: Marvel Comics

When the Illuminati voted to blast the Hulk into space, one of their number was missing – Charles Xavier. Now that Xavier has returned to Earth, his powers and ability to walk both restored, the Hulk has a question for him. After issuing his ultimatum to New York, demanding Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic and Dr. Strange be turned over to him, he pays a visit to Xavier’s school, seeking Xavier, and as most of the instructors are absent, it’s up to the New X-Men to hold the line.

It doesn’t hurt that the Beast (my all-time favorite X-Man) is the defacto leader in this issue, but I was totally surprised. I was worried that we’d have another superfluous miniseries that doesn’t really matter or interest me at all, and while the ultimate impact on the overall WWH storyline remains to be seen, taken as a self-contained story, this is actually really good. Gage absolutely nails both Hank McCoy and the students at Xavier’s. In fact, by the time I put this book down, I was ready to start a letter-writing campaign to have him take over writing New X-Men full-time. The only real problem is the question the Hulk asks at the end of the issue. While it’s certainly a valid one, it’s hard to believe that it would be a top priority for him at this point. That doesn’t hurt the book much, though, just adds a nugget of disbelief.

Andrea DiVito’s artwork, naturally, is gorgeous. This is the sort of old-school “Hulk versus the X-Men” brawl that you’ve got to want to see if you bother picking up this issue at all.

This book was a total surprise, and for once, it was a good one.

Rating: 8/10

Incredible Hulk (2000 Series) #111

November 19, 2007

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Warbound Part VI (A World War Hulk tie-in)
Rating: A

The renegades face the end of the War!

Writers: Greg Pak & Jeff Parker
Art: Leonard Kirk
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Cory Petit
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Cover Art: Carlos Pagulayan
Publisher: Marvel Comics

World War Hulk may have ended last week, but there’s still time for one last tie-in comic. The last chapter of “Warbound” happens pretty much simultaneously with World War Hulk issues four and five, and basically shows the events of those two issues from the perspective of Amadeus Cho and his ragtag group. As the Hulk forces the Illuminati in their own battle, then takes on the Sentry, Cho and his group are forced to hunt down the demon inadvertently unleashed by Dr. Strange.

Not surprising, given who’s going to be taking over this title in short order, there’s a lot of room given to Amadeus and Hercules, and to a lesser extent, the rest of the “Renegades.” The story itself isn’t particularly groundbreaking, especially if you read the core miniseries, but it’s a nice angle to take.

Leonard Kirk’s art, as always, is great. He has a good handle on all the diverse characters in this group, and who else could possibly draw such a convincing demon-inhabited suit of Hulkbuster Iron Man armor slugging it out with Hercules? That’s right, no one.

The new lead character for this book is a bizarre choice, but an intriguing one. As long as Greg Pak is staying with this title, I will too.

Rating: 8/10

New Avengers: Illuminati #1

December 19, 2006

Quick Rating: Fair
Rating: T+

The Illuminati intervene in the Kree-Skrull War.

Writers: Brian Michael Bendis & Brian Reed
Pencils: Jim Cheung
Inks: Mark Morales
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Letters: Cory Petit
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Cover Art: Jim Cheung
Publisher: Marvel Comics

So apparently, as we learned in the New Avengers: Illuminati one-shot, a group of Marvel’s top brains (plus Namor) have been working behind-the-scenes for many years, trying to keep things from spiraling out of control. This issue begins the massive continuity inserts that tell us what they were up to all those years.

Both Marvel and DC are guilty of this sort of continuity shoehorn from time to time, so it’s forgivable. The real question is how well the writers manage to wedge it into existing continuity. This story seems to take place immediately after the classic Kree-Skrull war storyline. The Kree, stinging from their humiliation at the hands of the Avengers, are plotting an invasion of Earth, until the braintrust called the Illuminati show up to make sure they stay away from our planet for good. The story is okay, although it feels like a hodgepodge of elements from the comics of the day. The strongest idea is really the different ways the Kree find to deal with the different members of the team.

The artwork, on the other hand, is very strong. Jim Cheung is one of the best in Marvel’s stable at the moment, and it’s a real kick seeing him draw 70s-era Avengers costumes and Iron Man in his classic armor. Really, though, seeing this just makes me long even more for the return of Young Avengers.

The book is okay, but it’s hard to judge how successful it will be until we know exactly how these continuity implants will affect things in the long run, which there’s no way to gauge until the miniseries is complete.

Rating: 6/10