Written by Christos Gage
Illustrated by Sean ChenThe return of the Wasp? The return of Korvac? It’s two book-shaking issues in one month — and issue #12 guest-stars the Avengers! First it’s a “day in the life” of the students, with special guest instructors Protector and Dr. Strange! Then Thor, Steve Rogers, Iron Man and more assemble as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ most powerful villains storms the school as Korvac comes back! Enroll in AVENGERS ACADEMY now and find out why ComicBookResources.com calls it “one of my favorite new series to come along in a while.”
I was THIS close to dropping this book. I really was. I had such high hopes for it that up until this issue were really not met by the book’s output. However, Gage and guest artist Sean Chen really turned things around with this one (and, admittedly, last month’s too), ensuring this book a spot on my pull list for the foreseeable future. Intrigued enough to find out why? Click on down, young adventurers!
Given the large cast of this book, it would be fairly tricky to give each and every student and teacher a point to shine in each issue. So rather than muddy things down, Gage has done a fairly good job in balancing focus from one bunch of characters to another. In this case, the issue focuses more or less on Veil, Hazmat and Speedball. After her near expulsion two issues ago, Veil is eager to prover herself and get back into the good graces of the Academy faculty. However, in a stunningly real moment of personal weakness, her stressed and frazzled mind lead to her saying some things she really shouldn’t have in regard to the destruction of Stamford, Connecticut (remember wayyyy back in that Civil War thing everyone forgot about once Skrulls were the new black?)In trying to redeem this most recent gaff of hers, she becomes aware of something that only we as readers knew: Speedball was still cutting himself with his Penance armor. While the issue is later resolved later in the story, the extent to which Veil is unable to not speak her mind, I suspect, will become a very important factor in her ongoing struggle to gain control of her powers and exists amongst her fellow students.
Meanwhile, Hank Pym makes partial good on his promise to make Hazmat non-deadly to those around her by bringing in an unsolicited guest star: everyone’s favorite power sucking mutant Leech, fresh from his recent appearances in Fantastic Four. After stripping all toxic elements from her system, Leech is able to give Hazmat one worry free, suit-less day outside. After an all too brief trip to the park and visit with her parents, the pair return home. However, later in the issue, when the inevitable villain sneak attack comes a’callin, Hazmat has not built up enough of a radiation store to defend herself, making her realize just how vulnerable she is without her powers. It seems the she prefers lack of human contact to vulnerability, as she then refuses Pym’s offer to make her visits with Leech a regular occurrence. This brief window into her psyche is immensely powerful given how happy she looked to be outside earlier in the issue.
Finally, the last major story from this issue deals with Speedball’s return to Stamford after being indirectly responsible for the massacre that happened there. While he is in the middle of explaining why he is not worthy to read the names listed at, or even spend time near, the memorial of the event, the group is attacked by the Cobalt Men, roughshod villains with outdated technology, looking for faux-redemption. After their quick dispatching by Speedball (using his Penance powers), a Stamford local reveals that at least he forgive’s Speedball and encourages him to spend some time at the memorial. Later, Speedball explains to Veil and the others that he was not cutting in order to self-mutilate, but only in order to have his Penance powers at his disposal when he thinks they’ll be necessary. While the group buys this and Pym offers to find a way to activate those powers painlessly, I suspect this is something of a lie on Speedball’s part, mostly since when we first saw him doing it, it was in such a way that was meant to be alarming and also because what kind of trouble could he possibly have expected going to visit a memorial?
Continued belowIn other news, I wish beyond belief that Sean Chen were the new regular artist for this book. I’ve been a fan of his since way back on his Wolverine run with Frank Tieri and I think his bright, natural style that skirts the line between the realistic and the animated perfectly fits both the high action moments and the quiet, interpersonal ones that this book as to offer. His true-to-life character composition combined with his detailed facial expressions are also nice touches.
Next issue (landing two weeks from now) promises at least one significant Avengers return, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious to see how this crop of neophyte heroes stands up to one of the most impressive villains in Avengers history. However, I’m probably more excited for the young super hero prom two months later, but thats because I am an eternal 17 year-old. Either way…
Final Verdict: 8.5 – Buy
