Wait, So Is the Other Team Officially Called "New Avengers"?
Brian Michael Bendis and Daniel Acuna debut a new lineup of the Avengers now that Fear Itself has ended, and though a mixed bag of choices, it is a welcome change for a series that really hasn't felt like it has had much of a clear cast since relaunching.
Paralleling the latest issue of New Avengers in which Norman Osborn assembles his new Dark Avengers, this issue largely follows the same structure as Captain America puts together a new Avengers. It's not as comprehensive as New Avengers was, though. This story does not feature a series of scenes with Cap recruiting each member. It instead focuses on just a few recruitments mixed in with the greater story of Norman Osborn's escape from custody. While there are some characters I would have liked to have seen more of to understand why they're on the team, I do think Bendis strikes a good balance here with as much as he gives us while still touching on the plot as well.
As a heads up, what you see on the cover is not the actual new lineup. And if you want to stay completely surprised by who is on the lineup, you should probably go read the issue rather than this.
I find it hard to judge the new lineup as a whole. I mostly appreciate that we have a new lineup and how that has the potential for the series to actually focus on in. The lack of a focused cast of characters is something I think has hurt the series. But when it comes to specific members of this cast, there are too many things I like about it mixed in with things I don't.
It definitely feels like an Avengers team. There's no doubt about that, even with a few new or unconventional members. Bendis nails a nice balance in that regard. It's great that Noh-Varr is going to stick around, giving me increased hope that Bendis will get around to actually doing something with the character. As a Secret Warriors fan, I'm happy to see more of Quake as well despite how it doesn't really gel well with how she was left at the end of that series. Between Bendis' desire to use the character again and Ed Brubaker's desire to use Nick Fury, I never honestly expected Jonathan Hickman's developments to stick anyway.
The bait and switch in this issue with Black Panther is actually a blessing, because Bendis writes a rather terrible Black Panther. It's just not his type of character, and that is clearly shown in this issue. It doesn't seem like Storm should be his type of character either, but he does do a much better job of writing her here than T'Challa.
My biggest problem with the new cast is the return of a veteran Avenger who already has another version of him running around on another Avengers team. The return of this older version seriously diminishes the newer one in ways that really sucks, allowing for their to now be a clear and definitive distinction between the two. That is really not interesting at all. The way Bendis brings this character back is also extremely unceremonious. He just brings the character back. It's very underwhelming and combined with the damaging effect is has on the other version of the character, really doesn't seem worth it.
It is also disappointing that Red Hulk will be sticking around, because honestly, Bendis doesn't write a very good Thunderbolt Ross.
A high point comes when it is implied that Spider-Man and Wolverine will no longer be part of this team, meaning they will no longer be on two Avengers teams. Personally, I think that's great. It has always been really nonsensical having them on both teams, and an adequate explanation for why Captain America would really want them on the main team was never given. They have always fit better on the New Avengers, and I hope that is where they will be limited to now.
Normally, I am not a fan of Acuna's style of art, but it is a welcome change of pace in a series that has been dragged down by the art team led by John Romita Jr. Acuna's art here is superior in the quality of its style, inking and coloring that what we usually get from this book. Acuna wouldn't be among my top choices for this series, but I will gladly keep him rather than go back to JRJr's art.
I may not be thrilled by the new cast, but there is enough that I do enjoy about it. It also marks a direction that seems like it will make Avengers a stronger book. The end of the issue is a well done surprise that brings us right back into the Osborn plot and presents a really interesting situation to pick up on next issue. It's just too bad Hawkeye is the only one who got a new costume. He's not the only one who could have used a wardrobe change.
