All You Need to Know – New Avengers #40
Ever just wanted to pick up a book with the people on the cover on the inside of the book? I mean, you pick up a book called 'New Avengers' and sort expect to see... well, AVENGERS.
Not so this issue.
I will say this, Jim CHeung's artwork is really great. Every Skrull he draws has a unique personality and appearance that stays within the bounds of how we've seen our little green men in the past and some of the bigger space epic shots have a great layout and sense of scope. Like the Mighty Avengers issue that came before it, the artwork can not be denied.
The story isn't that bad either: the reason why the Skrull are still able to muster up this big invasion after the events of Annihilation are due in part to New Avengers: Illuminati #1, as the Skrulls obtained some genetic samples from the most powerful men in the Marvel Universe and reverse engineer their powers and genetics. Okay, this gets them a big boost in the Super Skrull program that allows them to xerox any combo of powers that the Skrulls can find a genetic sample of, not to mention bypass all the previous forms of Skrull detection by essentially becoming human in mind and body.
The other part of the equation is some sort of prophecy war, which a very pretty young royal woman takes her followers before the Skrull King and pleads for him to listen to the ancient foretelling of a great wave that will totally kick their ass in an six-issue mini-series. The King says 'Bah!', exiles her prettiness to some place far away so that she avoids Annihilation and comes back and better than ever now to finish the prophecy by conquering Earth.
Ehn. Now, there's a reason I have a problem with this. It seems kind of silly that there's a character who knew about the Annihilation wave that was conveniently dismissed and exiled and still lives and now totally kicks ass and has the biggest advantage right now and who wants to personally infiltrate the Marvel Universe and lead her people in this really... well, Mary-Sue like fashion. I don't see her flaws, I don't see her viscious conquest, it's all done out of this sense of destiny and ... yeah. It irks me.
And yes, she decides that the best form to infiltrate Earth in is MY PERSONAL HERO, Spider-Woman.
So maybe it's my vicious reverse-Bendis Spider-Woman distaste.
All you need to know? The Skrulls can't lose. But you know they will.
And Spider-Woman needs to be a secret counter-agent for the Kree and she may just Yahtzee.
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May 2nd, 2008 - 21:28
Thor better knock some heads together or I’m going to be sorely disappointed. Can’t you just imagine it? On one side, a horde of super-skrulls, their attack craft, and all kinds of super-tech. On the other, Thor, and the might of all Asgard.
Skrull Queen: This is our destiny! All is as the prophecy has foretold! Earth shall be ours!
Thor: Nay.
May 3rd, 2008 - 05:56
It kind of totally sucks that both flavors of Avengers don’t feature the characters we care and love for. They are still reasonably good stories but I’m kind of bothered by the hi-jack. All I can really suggest to get your traditional Avengers on is to hit up the Marvel Adventures, but if you like Mighty pre SI ( which even I didn’t) or NA pre SI, you are shit out of luck. Both of the books feel like some other books.
The other thing with Skrull Queen/Spider-woman is that her flaws are apparent once we know when she took over the life of Jessica Drew. I also kind of like the fact that she’s not really this blood thirsty conqueror. I imagine that when she presents her plan to the population of earth, she make a convincing argument that will convince people that it may not be so bad to have someone like her in charge.
May 3rd, 2008 - 11:39
Andrew: It’s very simple: Secret Invasion: Thor has all my hopes and dreams pinned on it right now and if it was anyone but Fraction, I’d be very afraid that Thor’d still be in that stupid diner in OK. =P
Pedro: Some day, sir, we will have an Avengers book… WITH AVENGERS IN IT. AVENGING THINGS. The Marvel Adventures line keeps me happy and humble (except for MA: Hulk. Shame that.)
I was at least looking forward to getting a story with a clear villain, but if they are going to make the Skrulls a sympathy case, I think there’s going to be a dramatic element that once again is passed by. GIVE ME VILLAINS. And let the Avengers hit them.
May 3rd, 2008 - 11:59
Wasp, Wonder Man, Ms. Marvel, Iron Man, and I’m pretty sure Black Widow were all Avengers for the longest time back in the day. It’s only Sentry and Ares who weren’t Avengers ever before. And Spider-Woman, if she’s on Mighty Avengers. It’s tough keeping track which team she’s on. But still. That’s like 5 out of 8 classic Avengers, and two of them were founding Avengers to boot.
And they just finished AVENGENING that whole symbiote attack on NYC that Doom’s lackeys unleashed, and probably cleared up all kinds of back AVENGENGING that Doom had coming. And they hit Doom and his Doombots and other bots while they were at it. And before that they were hitting Ultron who was going to blow up the world and AVENGENGED that.
New Avengers has less Avengers content, but they were fighting the Hood and his gang of C-listers, all of whom are unabashedly villains. They AVENGENED the crimes the Hood and Co. perpetrated and the savage, unwarranted treatment of Tigra.