Marvel NOW! Avengers #2 Review

| December 18, 2012 | Comics | 1 Comment

Writer:  Jonathan Hickman
Artist:  Jerome Opena

Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers #2 picks up with the “cinematic six” Avengers being thwarted on Mars by Ex Nihilo, while Captain America assembles a new expanded roster of Avengers to take the battle back to Mars.  We get flashbacks to how Captain America and Iron Man went through the process of selecting who would now be an Avenger.

What I Liked

I’m a sucker for a good recruitment montage.  Those are sequences where the viewer watches the leader(s) go to each team member and do their sale pitch.  We get to see this for every member of the expanded Avengers roster except a select few.  This leads me to believe that we will see those players featured in issue three perhaps.

Ex Nihilo was impressive taking down the Avengers in issue one.  Now we get to find out his origin.  Ex Nihilo is one of those Omega-level villains that believes he is doing what is best for the universe.  He does not see himself as the villain.  This gives him depth compared to the typical villains out for world domination.

I am very pleased to see two of my favorite heroes (Cannonball and Sunspot) step up and become full-fledged Avengers.  They have been around for so long that they should be past being merely New Mutants.  Honestly they should both be on an X-Men team, but for now I will take them on the Avengers.  They should provide much comic relief.

The final image by Jerome Opena gave me chills.  His art seemed to be extra crisp in issue two, compared to one.

What I Didn’t Like

I know the final roster is supposed to be 24, but no where have I heard that Iron Fist or Red Hulk are included.  Red Hulk is busy in Thunderbolts but since when has that stopped someone from being on multiple teams.  Plus he has been an Avenger for the last year or so.  Iron Fist has been a member for even longer.  And Iron Fist over Shang-Chi?  Really??  Also, why no Wasp, Giant-Man or Vision (I know Wasp is soon to be joining the Uncanny Avengers)?  They better be somewhere on this 24-man roster.

I like how things picked up with Avengers #2.  Hopefully Jerome Opena continues on art through this opening arc.  Jonathan Hickman has a real handle on the drama and epic feeling that one should expect from an Avengers-title.

What are your thoughts on Avengers thus far?  Is it one of the Marvel NOW! titles you look forward to reading each month?  Is there anything you think Hickman is missing in his storytelling?  Make sure to leave your thoughts in the Comments section below.

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

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  • Davenappy

    Hickman’s storytelling style takes some getting used to.  It may be a little dense for some.  I’ve learned to enjoy it, especially coming off of his FF stuff. I liked Opena’s art on this issue.  I agree that this issue seemed to look “cleaner” in terms of the art.

    That last two page sequence made me want to run through a brick wall for Cap.

    I have high hopes for this series.