There are 7 Avengers titles on the market right now. No, seriously! There’s Avengers, New Avengers, Secret Avengers, Avengers Academy, Avengers: Prime, Ultimate Comics Avengers 3, and Avengers: Children’s Crusade – and that doesn’t even include all the mini’s that are planned (such as Avengers and the Infinity Gauntlet, out this week by Atomic Robo scribe Brian Clevinger!). With all these different books, we know that it’s difficult to know which title you want to follow most. This is why I’ve sat down with fellow MC writer Gil to hammer out which of the four on-going titles you need in your pull.
Gil and I will be taking a look at Avengers, New Avengers, Secret Avengers, and Avengers Academy, all of which are at least 3 issues deep now. Which books should stay? Which books should go? Or do we want to read them all? We’ll also take a brief look at the other Avengers titles and see if we can’t help you pick out a good mini to read.
It’s an Avengers Showdown here at Saturday Showdown, so take a look after the cut to see what’s what!
Matt Meylikhov: Welcome to this week’s Saturday Showdown! Today’s goal is for Gil and I to attempt to decide what Avengers title is best for you to read. Everyone has their various budgets, and there are at least 7 titles out there right now. Phew.
So, Gil. Let’s start at square one. Avengers by Brian Bendis and John Romita Jr. What are your thoughts?
Gilbert Short: There really are seven titles, huh? Jesus. Anyway. Adjectiveless Avengers I feel has the scope to be truly classic Avengers, and it proves Bendis can write more than simply crime and Spider-Man. The problem is Romita. I really don’t like his art (except for a few scenes) and the book really suffers because of it.
MM: Really? I’m actually quite a big Romita Jr fan myself. What don’t you like?
GS: I normally like him too. His work in Kick-Ass for instance was fantastic. But it just feels rushed and sloppy. The easiest way to express my points are by bringing up the way too butch (even for her) Maria Hill and the really awkward looking Horsemen.
MM: I suppose I can see where you’re coming from. I mean, I know his style often rubs people the wrong way. I suppose I just have such an appreciation for his work in Spider-Man (as well as his father’s) that I’m not put off by odd characterization in any other title.
GS: Oh, don’t get me wrong, his Spider-Man work is great.
MM: I would hope you think so! It’s so classic. And I feel like the adjectiveless Avengers, we need that classic art sensibility that Romita Jr can bring in. I really like how he can make characters very broad and bulky, though other people refer to it simply as boxy.
GS: I can see that. I just don’t think he’s trying as hard as he could. It’s not nearly as clean as Spider-Man or Kick-Ass.
MM: But you still dig the writing?
GS: Yes. Usually time stuff irritates me, but Bendis actually interested me in the Next Avengers movie. So I watched it to get a better feel for where we’re going.
MM: You’d never seen it before? Even I watched that, hahaha.
GS: Believe it or not, I owned it, but I never watched it. $4 sale at Best Buy, Holla!
MM: Hahaha, well it wasn’t very good. Easy movie to skip. Although Young Hawkeye was cool.
GS: I thought it was ok. I think it’s interesting he kind of combined that Hulk with Maestro Hulk.
MM: Oh definitely. And I’m loving Kang’s involvement as well. Love me some Kang.
GS: Kang’s a great villain. I’m afraid I’m not as familiar with him as I should be. Last time I read a book with him I was but a wee youngin’.
Continued belowMM: I have my timeless Marvel Masterwork’s Edition of the first 10 Avengers issues, including #8 which is Kang’s first appearance. Not as cool as owning the real comic, but I’ll take it for now! You should read Avengers Forever. That’s basically everything you ever wanted to know about Kang in there!
GS: I should. It’s one of those things on the list. God that list gets bigger every day.
MM: Ain’t that the truth… So Avengers: out of let’s say ten stars, what would you give it so far?
GS: I’d say a 6. Great story, medicre art (at best). You?
MM: I’d give it at least an 8. It’s pretty damn epic, and I’m a fan of the art.
Now, I know you’re a HUGE fan of New Avengers.
GS: Yeah. I definitely think that’s the best of the bunch actually. It’s picking up threads from the previous volume of NA, and on top of that, Immonen’s art is friggin fantastic.
MM: The current story arc is actually what I thought Siege would be focusing on.
GS: It kinda feels that way, huh?
MM: I just remember Daimon ranting after the Sorcerer Supreme arc and thinking, “Ah, here’s the clue for Siege’s premise.”
GS: Shame it wasn’t. It’s no secret I didn’t really care for Siege though.
MM: That’s fair. I actually think that Immonen’s art has improved tenfold as to what he was doing in New Avengers pre-Siege.
GS: I don’t really think it improved, but Immonen was sharing the art duties with…McKone I believe, and they didn’t mesh so well. I think he works better by himself.
MM: Well, pre-Siege his art felt a bit more static. Sharper edges, a lot more jagged. This new stuff is so smooth and sexy you could bounce a quarter off it.
GS: I bet you say that to all of the comic art.
MM: Hahaha, maybe half. How are you feeling Bendis’ writing here? Better than adjectiveless? Worse?
GS: Much better, but that might be because it’s building on something else, as opposed to being a new story.
MM: I actually prefer new stories, especially in this whole Heroic Age branding. What I DO love, though, is that this feels closer to why New Avengers was such a great freaking title when it first started. It’s funny, fast, and looks GREAT.
GS: Yeah. I don’t personally have issues with his dialogue, but I guess I can see why people would have an issue with it. I’ve heard it compared to Gilmore Girls. I’m not sure how to take that.
MM: Well, when there’s a universe shattering disaster and the main characters are discussing Ghostbusters, I can kind of see why people raise eyebrows. But personally, I just love the fact that Bendis flat out addresses the ridiculous dialogue during these fight sequences. I find it curious when epic villainous entities talk with the same tonality, but Spider-Man goofing off in the middle of a battle makes sense to me.
GS: Exactly. Do you feel “everyone” sounds like Peter though?
MM: In a sense, yes. But it’s felt like that with Bendis for a while. I mean, the whole story of Dark Reign was that everyone was supposed to feel like Peter Parker feels, as Bendis said.
GS: I feel you there.
MM: But… I mean, it’s always been there. Look at Alias. Look at early New Avengers. Look at Powers! It’s just how Bendis writes dialouge. It’s very Mamet influenced in that he tries to capture realistic dialogue, and to him that means characters who speak fast and make quirks.
GS: What rating would you give NA?
MM: New Avengers volume 2 gets a solid 9 from me. It’s a bit better than Avengers, I will give it that. Though the dialogue in Avengers feels more realistic to the situations, haha.
GS: Yeah. I don’t think people always speak in these really cartoonishly “iconic” voices all the time.
MM: How about you? Whats NA get in stars?
GS: I’d say an 8.5.
MM: Less than me? I thought you liked it more than me!
Continued belowGS: I was just thinking that, haha.
MM: Any reason you give it the half mark and not a full 9?
GS: Not really. No offense intended, but I’m trying not to be so cavalier about giving out nines anymore. I’m not David and this ain’t Brian Wood!
MM: Well, when New Avengers was ending – really, anywhere around Secret Invasion, that book started going downhill a bit for me. It’d be great, then it’d be terrible. To see the book get it’s classic feel from me makes me give it a 9. But then again, I try and be an overly positive and optimistic comic fan.
So now that we’ve covered Bendis’ Avengers, let’s move on to the “underdogs.” First we have Secret Avengers, Brubaker’s team. Thoughts?
GS: I think I’m in the minority here, but I’m not feeling the book so much. The script seems to plod along, and I don’t feel like anything actually happened until the one that just came out this week.
MM: I get the impression Brubaker’s in for a long con here.
GS: I can see that too. I sort of got a Secret Warriors vibe here too. But still, I think it’s better in trade. Another shocker: I don’t really like Deodato on the book that much. I feel like someone told him “make it DARK,” not knowing Deodato already has moody dark art.
MM: I can kind of agree with you. I’m a fan of the story. This is the biggest book Brubaker’s done by far, at least thematically. I mean, he’s really channeling elements of his fellow writers here. It’s not his usual Criminal title.
GS: That’s true. But I’ve heard he suffers when he doesn’t do Crime. I mean, I never read his Uncanny X-Men, but…
MM: I enjoyed. I’ve only read Messiah CompleX and what came after it, though.
GS: You’re the first to say that to me.
MM: I feel like there’s a big kick coming… I’m just antsy for it to happen. The alt-Nick Fury thing is just begging for it’s big break out.
GS: Is it an Alt-Fury? I had some thought it might be related to Secret Warriors somehow, but I forget things sometimes.
MM: Secret Avengers 5 solicit: A secret foe has been revealed – or has he? Find out everything you need to know about the OTHER Nick Fury as Secret Avengers continues to explore the volatile landscape of Marvel’s new Heroic Age!
GS: Oh, I see.
MM: Yeah.
GS: I like how you had that right on hand.
MM: I got my Google on! So I’ve been enjoying Secret Avengers… but in the same way that I merely enjoy some of the comics I buy. I know it’s good, and I think it’s worth buying. I’m just not jazzed about it. At least, not anymore. So when you give it a star rating, you give it…
GS: Probably a 6, like Adjectiveless. The story is a little worse, and the art is a little better. It kind of evens out
how about yourself?
MM: Between a 7 and an 8. A 7.5 I guess, because who ever rates something .3 of a star? I’m into it because it’s Bru, I love the cast and am digging the art, but the story has yet to take off.
GS: That’s fair.
MM: Last of the four main books, we have Avengers Academy by Christos Gage. What’s your stance on this book so far?
GS: I LOVE it. It’s actually second only to New Avengers on my list. I think the art is lovely, and while I hoped for more focus on the teachers as well as the new characters, I love those little bastards. Finesse is a really interesting character.
MM: I was really hoping for more of a Runaways feel, to be honest. The book is good, but feels a bit broody.
GS: Well, this is why I love it. When the Heroic Age was announced, I felt like they were just…sweeping everything under the rug. But this book really made sure Dark Reign had some real lasting effect. These poor kids were all manipulated by Osborn, and I feel for them because of it. Hazmat is like Radioactive Man (she’s even Asian!) but can’t ever leave the suit. And then Mettle and his poor lack of lips.
Continued belowMM: Poor Mettle. I don’t know… I am enjoying the book a lot more than I thought I would, but as interesting as the book is, I don’t feel the characters will ever get out of their place within the title. These characters don’t feel like lasting characters so much as they feel like characters that work for this specific story.
GS: Maybe. But I also think it’s a good way to build them up to another title after a little while, like Eric O’Grady’s Ant-Man.
MM: O’Grady is a good example… I suppose we’ll see. Stars?
GS: Solid 8.
MM: I give this one a 6. It’s growing on my slowly, but not better than the others yet. Although, this week’s issue did a lot better with the Thunderbolts crossover than Thunderbolts did… not that Thunderbolts wasn’t great in it’s own right.
Now we have the rapid fire round! Are you ready?
GS: Oh no! Sure.
MM: Avengers: Prime – go!
GS: Boring with pretty art. 5 tops.
MM: Why boring?
GS: I just don’t really care. It’s Bendis’ weakest book for sure. It’s just not grabbing me.
MM: I just wish that, for a book that was supposed to be about people talking, people would talk. I give it a 5 as well.
Ultimate Comics Avengers 3 by Mark Millar! GO!
GS: Um…oops. I completely forgot about that book. It didn’t even hit my “Avengers” radar.
MM: HA! Well played. Well, I read it. When you stop even attempting to remotely take it seriously, it’s pretty damn funny. Much more funny than Deadpool. Plus Steve Dillon on art! Still gets a solid 5. Maybe a 5.5 on a good day.
GS: I’m not a follower of The Ultimate Universe. When do you ever take Millar seriously? Except Civil War and Red Son I guess.
MM: I used to take Millar seriously! You know… when he tried…
Final book – Avengers: Children’s Crusade! Go!
GS: I like it. I like the Young Avengers and I like that Heinberg gets to play with his creations. I just feel like it should have happened two years ago. Oh, and the art is great.
MM: It actually feels very appropriate coming out right now, now that Siege and all that stuff is done. I mean, granted it’s harder to rate this as there has been one whole issue… buuut… whatever. I’m digging it.
GS: You know you love it just because it has Magneto
MM: He has taken my Jew heart by force. I give it 7-8 stars. We’ll see how the second issue plays out.
GS: Same here. I’d say a 7-7.5. I’ll make it a 7.3 just because I can. Really though, I’ll give it the 7.5
MM: OH SNAP. Ok. Most difficult question of the Showdown: You can have two of the main four, and one of the lesser three. What do you take?
GS: Oh, that’s easy. New and Academy, and Children’s Crusade. What about you?
MM: Children’s Crusade as well, but Avengers and New Avengers for me. I’ve gotta keep my Bendis.
GS: Fair enough. That might happen if Davis took over after Prime was done.
MM: I don’t see that happening, hahaha.
GS: Me neither, unfortunately.
MM: Bonus Question: Avengers and the Infinity Gauntlet. Did you read it?
GS: No, I haven’t. Should I?
MM: You should. It’s obviously not the Infinity Gauntlet, but it’s Clevinger’s patented haw haw formula, and I had quite a “lulz fest” as the kids call it.
GS: I see. It’s actually really weird how little the Avengers are actually in the original title, so I guess I’ll have to check it out.
MM: I enjoyed the first issue. It’s worth a read.
Well, that wraps it up! Any last words for the fans?
GS: Don’t do drugs. Just Kidding. No, I really don’t.
MM: I’m sure there’s a message in there somewhere.
GS: I probably do, but I’m terrible at saying stuff on the spot.
