Review: Fearless Defenders #7

Written By:  Cullen Bunn
Art By:  Stephanie Hans
Lettered By:  VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover By:  Mark Brooks

Last issue of Fearless Defenders was filled with controversy.  Fan-favorite character Annabelle Riggs sacrificed herself to stop Valkyrie, who had fallen under the spell of the Doom Maiden.  It appeared the loosely-assembled team of Defenders were no more.  Does that change with issue seven?  If you were worried about where this book was heading, I think by the end you will have changed your mind.

What I Liked

Stephanie Hans stepped in to fill the art duties for Will Sliney.  I love the painted elegance she provided to each page.  Since the majority of this issue took place in Valhalla, it made sense to switch up the artistic style.

And since we are in Valhalla, where the valkyrie lead those who have fallen in combat, we get to check on Annabelle.  Even though she died in combat, she feels out of place with all the other tenants of Valhalla.  Once again, she’s a fish out of water.

The ending I didn’t see coming, but I can’t say I was surprised or displeased with it.  We all knew something like this would happen, but weren’t sure in what way.  It is definitely a new development to keep an eye on going forward.

The creator in me is fascinated by how Cullen Bunn thought up this idea and pitched it to Marvel.  This “surprise” had to be his original plan all along, and I’m sure Marvel liked all the different stories that could spin out of it.

What I Didn’t Like

The only negative I will bring up is there is no time to digest the developments of last issue to what happens here.  Bunn chooses not to have any lingering issues before switching up the status quo again.  I, myself, am fine with this.  But there could be others who feel that this is all rushed.

Summary

If you were on the fence about giving up Fearless Defenders after issue six, I have a feeling you’ll be changing your mind now.  The band is back together, only slightly different than before.  Plus a new Defender was possibly added to the team.  Bunn has done a nice job keeping the readers on their toes.  We don’t know what to expect next.  We just have to keep reading to find out.

This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network.  They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/

 

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE

  • dirtmound

    I actually gave up after the first issue.