So I didn’t get a chance to go through the Preview Books thanks to shorter hours at work (oooh, the holidays hit hard, I tell ya), but I did read the New Avengers: Illuminati #1 (of 5). The co-writer Brian Reed fully admits that these are rushed through spot stories that really could be books in and of themselves and it shows. It’s a shame too because these are all highly important people with greater ideals who, sitting down to discuss these, could literally change the world. I mean, how do Namor and Black Bolt get along? What’s Reed Richards view on mutants? In fact, how do men of science like Iron Man and Mister Fantastic handle a man of pure magic like Doctor Strange? This could be a fascinating character study of major themes and paradigms that could help remind us of what’s being lost in setting from the fractioning done by Civil War.
Instead, I get the A-Team.
Silly me, thinking they were going to be a shadowy board of figures working behind the scenes. Right off, page three has them teleporting into a big ol’ Skrull ship and stating their demands to lay off Earth. When they don’t get a surrender, they blow shit up and ‘port away. Namor even wants a ‘Hoo-hah!’ after their action-adventure scene, something the others seem to deplore. And why would they? This isn’t a serious book. You don’t just jump over to the Skrull warship and demand they lay off then run away. These guys are smart, one of them a notable diplomat in the continual struggle between mutant-human relations, so when did ‘go in, make obviously unwelcome demands, then blow up the ship and then take off’ become a good idea? Couldn’t they think of something better? Something that would work?
In any case, they get caught and put through their own personal Bond trap (something that was hilarious and cute for the Marvel Adventures Avengers, let me tell you) which they escape from with guns a-blazing, sell a quick illusion of Galactus to get themselves clear and then realize that yeah, it was sort of a bad idea wasn’t it? “Well, at least they know it will be a good fight,” the ship acknowledges in a word bubble as they zoom off and the Skrull seem to have all they need for some dastardly plot.
It’s gutsy, it’s funny and it’s loud. It’s the A-Team and I really wonder if all the issues are going to be like this.
(and no, I have no idea how Black Bolt, Doctor Strange, Mister Fantastic, Iron Man, Namor or Charles Xavier pan out to actually being Hannibal, Faceman, “B.A.” Baracus or “Howling Mad” Murdock, especially since they are missing two….)
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I’d say Iron Man (Tony Stark) is Face. Xavier’s powers and tech lend themselves most to being Hannibal (master of disguise is pretty easy when you have an image inducer, and can convince people they’re seeing whatever you want them to see…). Namor is probably the closest to the Howling Mad Murdock. Meaning either Mister Fantastic or Black Bolt is the girl that was hanging out with the team a lot.
Personally, I’d say Reed’s the girl…
Making Black Bolt the van.
I would award you a trophy, but we still have no BA… anyone?
Black Bolt is BA. BA tends to just chill, making nonsense talk until its time to be the ass kicker on the team. Black Bolt hangs out in the back, doesn’t communicate much unless its a weird hand gesture in New Avengers: Illuminati which can be confusing, and kicks a whole lot more ass than everyone else.
I liked this comic.
On pure ass-kicking? Hells yes.
I gotta say - after “Black Bolt, what do YOU have to say?” - turning to that 2 page spread I literally laughed out loud and clapped my hands with glee. One of the better timed intros I’ve seen. Of course, then they immediately got their asses captured which kind of stole the thunder of it all, but still..
Who needs well-thought out characters - hey look a bright shiny object!