Uncanny Avengers #5:
Summary: We kick things off with Kang heading to the Akkaba base and meeting the Apocalypse twins. Seems he has plans for them... From there we learn that Wasp was serving as the Avengers PR director, and wanted the team to hold a press conference to try to halt the recent anti-mutant feelings the Red Skull stirred up. Wonder Man has joined the team as a favor to the Scarlet Witch, who feels everybody on the team hates her. Sunfire also joins up, as a favor to Wolverine and to honor the memory of Prof. X. The team holds their press conference, which sees Havok unmasking and telling the surprised press that he was the brother of mutant terrorist and failed world conqueror Cyclops. The press conference is interrupted by the Grim Reaper(!), who wants to kill the Scarlet Witch, who he blames for bringing him and Wonder Man back to life. With the element of surprise on his side, and lots of members of the press in the way, Reaper manages to take most of the team down and moves in to kill Scarlet Witch. However, Rogue manages to swipe Wonder Man's powers and socks Reaper in the face, apparently killing him, and ending this issue.
Thoughts: Good stuff here. I have no real complaints... Well, except for Rogue's continued bitchy/childish behavior, but besides that, no major complaints. I like the addition of Wonder Man to the team, and look forward to him being redeemed after the way Bendis had used him. As for Sunfire, the jury is still out on that one... I've never been a fan of the character, but I'm more than willing to see what Remender can do with him. Now, I AM a fan of the Grim Reaper. He's a great old school Avengers villain, and with Bendis disregarding Avengers history for most of his long Avengers run, he's been sitting on the sidelines for way too long, so I was glad to see him pop up here. Ditto for Kang. I really am happy to see Remender actually using AVENGERS villains in this Avengers book, unlike Bendis, who wanted to use Spider-Man villains, street-level villains and Fantastic Four villains as the Avengers nemeses. So as usual, good stuff here.
Score: 8 out of 10.
Huzzah for the return of classic Avengers villains!!
Evidently Kang has some past history with Apocalypse that the writer wanted to capitalize on to write a story that involved both Avenger and X-men history.
ReplyDeleteRama-Tut!!! I forgot all about that! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteOMG, yes, Rama-Tut. Actually, though, I'm just a fan of Kang whenever and however we get him.
ReplyDeleteI thought this issue was brilliant. I was just so happy to see Alex on top of his game. Like, he's the only one dedicated to keeping the peace, but he doesn't let Cap walk all over him. His response to the reporter's question -- "How about Alex?" -- was awesome.
Also, totally agree about using an Avengers villain. Actually, I feel like the whole thing is a great blend. You get the leadership bickering and press conferences that were always a hallmark of the Avengers (pre-Bendis) but all the focus on redemption (in the form of Sunfire) that always ruled the X-Men. Unity team, indeed.
Same here! I am such a fan of Kang! He's such an awesome villain. He could(and should!) be pestering the Avengers almost non-stop,
DeleteAgreed on the blend in this series too. It feels like a real Avengers book for the first time in... Like forever! Imagine if Hawkeye were on the team and had to take orders from Havok? Clint bristled at taking orders from Cap, imagine if he had to take orders from Alex? Man, now I really want an Uncanny Avengers/Secret Avengers team-up or something...
Dude, that would totally make me comics year. Then Cap could get involved and it could be a Blond Off!
DeleteHawkeye, Havok and Cap, together, on the same team, would be too much awesome for my meager mind to contemplate!
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