Matt Fraction has proven he's a capable writer on Punisher War Journal and Immortal Iron Fist, but here he has the chance to really prove himself by handling a team book full of unknown characters. The first issue introduced us to The Order and by the end of the issue almost the entire team got kicked out for "breaking the rules", those rules being getting drunk in public after celebrating their first successful mission. It showed us up front that no team member is safe. Now Fraction has the dubious task of making us like yet another team line up and it's only the second issue. The team leader already has a hard time to win anyone over as his background is basically that he played "Tony Stark" on a TV show. This team is based out of California after all.

If having a actor-turned-superhero wasn't bad enough for the team lead, it seems that another team member, Becky Ryan (Aralune), is based off of Britney Spears. This issue is centered on her, and you would have to be blind, deaf and dumb not to notice the similarities between Spears and Ryan. It seems that it's based on the Britney before she met Kevin Federline so maybe there's a little hope. It's almost as if Fraction is challenging himself to invent characters that the readers first gut reaction is to dislike (if not hate). I will admit that by the end of the issue I actually kinda liked the character of Becky Ryan. Her character is actually kinda funny during the huge battle against the Cold War-Era Russian Super-Villains without going into pure silliness. It's an interesting notion to have a team based out of California where it seems they're number one priority is public image and appeal. There's actually a scene in this issue with the team's PR rep where she basically points out all the challenges this team has to be even liked, and the funny part is they are all true for the reader.

Barry Kitson's artwork, while not outstanding, is really above average to say the least. He has a nice clean style mixed in with some detail that works nicely. The book itself as a whole has tremendous potential under this creative team, but it's just suffering a little bit right now because all the characters still feel unknown to the reader. It's still worth checking out.