This is it: the big follow-up to “The Fearless” and Marvel’s new female-only team! With books like “Red She-Hulk” and “Captain Marvel” kicking ass, does this book fit in?
Written by Cullen Bunn
Will SlineyNEW TEAM! NEW VILLAINS! NEW CREATORS! Valkyrie and Misty Knight are the Fearless Defenders and not since Power Man and Iron Fist has an unlikely duo kicked this much—well, you know. Writer Cullen Bunn (Venom, Sixth Gun, The Fearless) and new-to-Marvel artist Will Sliney (MacGyver, Star Wars) bring you the book everyone is going to be talking about on Thursday morning.
If I had to venture a guess, I would imagine that the basic mantra for most Marvel books right now that are starting because of their NOW! initiative is something like, “Swing for the stars! Follow your dreams!” At least comparatively, most Marvel books seem a lot less fearless in this era (no pun intended) than, say, the launch of the New 52 books, which had very similar goals. Because really, and with no offense intended, who really saw something like “The Fearless Defenders” coming? A combination of a world-traveling solo mini-series now becoming a team book with the title of a book that just got cancelled for low sales despite an all-star creative team? It’s not exactly something that would be a surefire hit right out of the gate based on history alone.
Yet, “Fearless” is a pretty good word for the book here. It’s a bit difficult to come into this book with too many expectations because, for the most part, it’s sort of unpredictable. Is it going to be like “the Defenders?” Like “Power Man and Iron Fist?” Like any other team book you might buy? The answer is: none, and a bit of all of the above. “Fearless Defenders” #1 reads like a big mash-up of ideas that have been flexed and molded into what you see before you, featuring two characters who occupy archetypal roles while attempting to find a new home within the context of Marvel’s current crop. It’s sort of like Bunn, Sliney and perhaps some others at Marvel put together a scientific formula that can yield the best possible outcome when ostensibly taking from so many other things — and that’s without even discussing what actually happens in the book.
The best part of the book is how it comes with the light tongue-in-cheek flair that dominated the 70’s in shows like Starsky and Hutch. The comparison is perhaps a bit on the nose, but the roles that Valkyrie and Misty Knight play in the book very much mirror that buddy-cop icon that was almost beholden to a non-stop series of quips and unbelievable actions. This issue has its own set of moments that are very clearly played for that specific kind of comedy, where it can be serious enough to be considered a “threat” but never dangerous enough to be considered “life threatening,” and it works for the books advantage for the most part. That, really, is why “Fearless Defenders” stands out; not because of the solid creative team or that it has an all-female cast, but rather that it very carefully digs out a niche for its genre-based antics and then it exploits that fully.
That said, “Fearless Defenders” isn’t the most engrossing read. It has its highs certainly, but it also has a fair deal of lows with a scene or two that drags on a page too long, a moment thats over-played and a lot of aspects that appear to be thrown in for future-mining that could have benefitted from being a touch more subtle. If there’s one thing prevalent about Bunn’s Marvel work, if his other titles are any indication, is that he’s not afraid to put in a lot for a pay-off later, but you get the feeling that “Fearless Defenders” #1 should’ve been focused a bit less on the future and more about what readers are most likely here to see: Valkyrie and Misty Knight kick some ass. And, yes, we get that, but the book could’ve benefitted from a whole lot more of them together, because when you get to that point, boy, does it pick up big time.
Continued belowIn addition to that, the behavior of the characters can also be met with some slight contention. It shouldn’t be a new creative teams task to deliver the same book that anyone did before them, but Misty and Valkyrie both appear to be less themselves here and more completely different (perhaps more popular) characters now. Valkyrie, for instance, is very much like Thor now, or at least the version of Thor from writers who really like him to say “verily.” It’s not really a plus or a minus; it’ll be met and judged entirely based around your personal interactions with the character. If you’re familiar with books like “Heroes for Hire” or “Secret Avengers,” the titular heroines of “Fearless Defenders” will only passingly resemble iterations of those characters, for better or for worse (I fall somewhere in the middle). However, the caveat to this is that if this is your first time reading about these two, there’s a lot here to like in terms of personality that the changes actually seem to be for the benefit.
So it’s an odd give and take with the first issue of “Fearless Defenders.” It would appear that there were certain notes that Bunn and Sliney wanted to make sure were hit, and the book had to make a few sacrifices for that to happen. The idea behind this first arc that will assumedly lead to the team forming is certainly a clever one, but Misty Knight fans familiar with her stint running Heroes for Hire will wonder why the more direct approach was taken. Knight’s a great character and neither Bunn nor Sliney appear to have nothing but affection for her based on her portrayal in the book, but in using the “accidental team-up” trope they do appear to be playing it quite safe. Yet, when she shines, they shine, and when the characters meet and interact the book is at its definite best. It may seem obvious to say, but a team-up book is so much more interesting when everyone is together.
However, Bunn and Sliney have put together quite a good first issue here from a technical perspective. Yes, there are slight missteps here or there when we sit down to get picky about it (a la a review), but looking at the whole, finished product, there’s a lot to like. Bunn’s got a good sense of charm and whimsy to the characters here that doesn’t overplay that factor, and it’s silly enough to enjoy and chuckle to but not too goofy as to be off-putting. It’s a tough line to walk, but this is the first time Bunn seems to playing with humor as a driving force in his work, and it works. Sliney’s art is great as well, minus a few odd poses here or there. There are a few moments that seem where certain aspects of the leads are posed for accentuation, but Sliney’s backdrop work and panel structure are on point throughout. Sliney actually uses a great trick within the panels of the book, leaning the eye and driving the reader towards the action sequences, and he does a great job of keeping the book moving a steady visual pace between the action and the slower parts. The two working together make for a good mix.
“Fearless Defenders” sits on that interesting precipice of new comics where it’s good enough to want to read more but not astounding enough to make immediate waves. Over time, “Fearless” could certainly become a great book; if there is one thing certainly not missing from the first issue, it’s an abundance of heart and good intentions. Yet that’ll only take it so far – with the upcoming arc inherently being about the formation of the team, it’ll be a bit tough to judge the book until the end of said arc. Whether you want to stick around to see that play out is up to, but it doesn’t seem like it would be a bad idea to.
Final Verdict 7.0 – Buy/Browse
