Kelly Sue DeConnick has built herself a name on some great comics so far with “Captain Marvel” and “Avengers Assemble” and now she is bringing the two together in a crossover event. Starting with “The Avengers: The Enemy Within” #1, how does it fare as the opening chapter of the event?
Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick
Illustrated by Scott HepburnTHE OPENING SALVO TO THE HOTLY ANTICIPATED AVENGERS/CAPTAIN MARVEL FOUR PART EVENT!
• Can’t keep a good Captain down!
• Vicious echoes of the Avengers’ past are cropping up all over Manhattan…and a grounded Captain Marvel refuses to be left behind.
• Who is the sinister figure behind these incursions and what does it have to do with Carol Danvers’ mysterious condition?
• But is this villain real or just a figment of Captain Marvel’s increasingly deadly imagination?
Incredibly well, is the quick answer to that. DeConnick has shown just how strong a writer she is so far with “Captain Marvel”, especially with the issues leading to this event, but by bringing the lead from that title and characters from her other series “Avengers Assemble” together, she has created a very personal story to drive this event. Following up from recent issues of “Captain Marvel”, “The Avengers: The Enemy Within” finds Carol Danvers still suffering from a brain lesion that is forcing her not to use her powers while an old foe has come back to wage a very personal war with her.
It has been shown in past titles that DeConnick has a great ear for dialogue, especially character building banter that would make even Bendis proud, and that is definitely showcased here. The issue has a definite focus on Captain Marvel with both Spider-Woman and Thor of “Avengers Assemble” putting in an appearance which leads to some really surprisingly funny character moments in an otherwise rather somber book. Yet, DeConnick never lets the banter overwhelm the seriousness of Carol’s affliction or the ominous tone as the villain sets up their game with Carol. Building from the supporting cast DeConnick created in the lead-up issues of “Captain Marvel”, Danvers finds herself responsible for these people’s lives as soon as she is targeted and it brings a real personal sense of jeopardy to the event.
It’s not entirely doom and gloom, though, as one humorous action beat in the issue really shows how great of an artist Scott Hepburn was for this book. Bringing back a classic villain team for Captain Marvel and Spider-Woman to face off with, Hepburn showcases a talent for powerful action scenes and being joined by series colorist Jordie Bellaire means that every panel is vibrant and looks great. The art throughout is just great, with Hepburn being able to capture just how lost and alone Danvers feels as she is targeted and how determined she is to keep those she cares about safe. It all brings a sense of poignancy to the story to see just how it affects her.
While it does say that it is a crossover between “Captain Marvel” and “Avengers Assemble” on the cover, the issue focuses more on the former to connect with Danvers’ personal stakes in the story, from the lesion forcing her not to fly to the villain targeting those close to her. The two other Avengers that are shown are those that have been close to Danvers and there to support her. It sets up really high stakes for the event going forward and allows the audience to see that early on. This is more than just about the Avengers showing up to punch the villain, this is about being a superhero and being responsible for those close to you when they are targeted.
Even though this issue builds from stories presented in the two titles, all the set up for the story that would be needed to progress further into the event is presented in this one issue. It seems to be a conscious decision from DeConnick not to require readers to have read every issue of both series so far to understand what is happening here and it is executed excellently. Even for first time readers jumping straight in with this issue, they would be presented with great characterisation to get them affiliated with each of the characters while not feeling like they had missed major plot points as is often the case. This issue is built in order for everyone to know what is happening going into the event and it is constructed magnificently.
Overall, this is a really well constructed opening chapter of what looks to be an engaging and personal event for the characters involved thanks largely to DeConnick’s handling of them. The art was superb and was completely in-fitting with the tone established for the story, capturing not only the powerful action scenes, but also the personal, human moments of the characters. This is how crossover events should be constructed.
Overall: 9.0 – A solid buy for a solid issue.
