Saga, Bendis New Avengers

Saga 31-36

After borrowing through issue 30 at the library, I bought everything up to 36, since volumes 4-6 are collected a really nice oversized hardcover.  (Volumes 7-9 are already out in trade, but I’m waiting for that collected HC in June.)

I don’t have much to say aside from the fact that Brian K Vaughan maintains the high quality of the previous issues.  (Surprising considering his poor track record, less surprising for Saga itself.)  The plot zips along at a brisk, wonderful pace, with every development both plausible and surprising.  The characters are all distinct, with their own personalities and beautiful visual designs. A couple of stand out moments:

Ghus rules.

Tearjerking reunion.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

New Avengers 1-16

I was travelling this past week, which means it was time to read the next trade in my pile of Bendis Avengers.  This one covers the Luke Cage Avengers after Norman Osborn’s Dark Reign.  It breaks down into six issues of fighting Agamotto (yes, he of Dr Strange’s famed Eye), two issues of downtime, five issues of fighting Superia, and three issues of Fear Itself crossover.  

Excellent art throughout, with Stuart Immonen and Mike Deodato covering most of it.  Some highlights:

Love Wong's stance.

It does look cool.

Two words:

Bendis does some remarkable things here.  I would not have expected to enjoy a mystical story starring Dr Strange, Daimon Hellstrom, and Jericho (the Sorcerer Supreme of the time).  The magic side of the Marvel Universe rarely interested me. Bendis succeeds by focusing on the dynamics between the Avengers. It’s their banter and determination to win that gives the story strength, not the plot itself.  His humor is in top form here.

No one does a better face montage.

Heh.  Poor Wolverine's just a bystander.

The Victoria Hand subplot is interesting.  Bendis is doing a fine job of disguising her real intentions from the reader.  It makes sense that Peter Parker would never trust someone who willingly worked for Osborn, even with Steve Roger’s backing.

I’m a huge fan of how Bendis calls out every spell that the magicians cast, along with the proper book citation.  It’s like what Matt Fraction did on Immortal Iron Fist a couple of years before this.  (Which Bendis also calls out.) It adds depth and a hints at a huge repository of things we just haven’t seen yet.  

Part of me wants to compile all these spells and books into a list.

This is what Spidey's talking about.

Blatant Ferris Bueller’s Day Off rip off (it’s too on the nose to feel like an homage):

The Nick Fury story is utterly unnecessary.  I could have done without five issues of intercutting just to give background on the contents of a briefcase.  

The Fear Itself issues are spectacular, action-packed issues, the perfect way to do tie-ins.  The spotlight on Squirrel Girl is great (perhaps inspiring her future title?), as are the opportunities given to Mockingbird and Daredevil.  (Though calling DD the epitome of Avengers material is a bit much.)

All in all, this is a great chunk of Avengers material.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good