After the first issue, which helped set the stage for this new series, most of us are coming back to The New Avengers for more action. While there is little synergy with the MCU, mainly just the naming/name change in this series, the creative team is certainly looking to build upon successful comics such as Brian Michael Bendis’ original run on New Avengers and Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing’s runs on Captain America and Thunderbolts. The last issue marked the formation of a team (or perhaps a group of like-minded individuals) featuring Black Widow, Winter Soldier, Laura Kinney (Wolverine), and Namor, pitting four against an evil set of Illuminati clones. The big questions that arise are: who lives, who dies, and who wants to join?
Marvel
This issue opens with a flashback of the Jackal being solicited to create clones, and then continues the adrenaline-fueled ride from last issue. I love that one of the opening panels features the Jackal’s head lying lifelessly on the ground; the creative team does a fine job of bringing in and taking out the sleazeball. Winter Soldier’s makeshift team does a good job of surviving because they are not winning in this issue.
Still, luckily, they manage to even the odds as another player, Clea Strange, joins the group, and with her help, they can even the score by eliminating two of the “Killuminati.” The group does a decent job, but I don’t see them having an easy battle with an evil Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Ouroboros, and the other survivors.
Marvel
I appreciate that Sam Humphries’ script continues the journey Bucky Barnes has been on with previous writers Kelly and Lanzing, as it builds on the character growth rather than relying on the trope of “new series, rookie styling of character.” The dynamics of the book also pay homage to Bendis’ building of his New Avengers team, as it was essentially a matter of luck that it came together, which also celebrates the legacy of the original Avengers formation. The art team of Ton Lima and Rain Beredo creates a world that appears dynamic, featuring fights between angry and emotionally charged “heroes” and impish-looking villains. I can see Lima had lots of fun taking familiar characters and using their powersets for evil.
This opening arc has hooked me in, and now I want to know how the others join up and interact with each other, because if they can make Laura and Namor an “interesting” couple, then this should be fun. So, to answer those initial questions, in order, it appears to be “heroes,” “villains,” and “no one.”
The New Avengers #2 keeps the momentum rolling from the explosive debut issue, delivering a fast-paced, morally complex chapter that puts Bucky Barnes and his ragtag crew through the wringer with clone chaos, magical reinforcements, and the threat of an evil “Killuminati” looming large. This new lineup is barely holding on. Sam Humphries, Ton Lima, and Rain Beredo continue building on killer characters in intense action, adding depth and flair to a familiar formula that’s surprisingly fresh.
You must be logged in to post a comment.