I didn't know what to expect from this story, but I was looking forward to this new title all the same. I became a big fan of Jim Cheung's work after seeing him in action on CrossGen's Scion, and he certainly doesn't disappoint here either. But there's something else about the book that interested me, and I know exactly what it is: a sense of fun. There's an energy and brightness to the character designs and the campy quality suggested by the title itself that lured me in, and that feeling proved to be right on the money. Those looking for something deep or thought-provoking from their super-hero fiction should look elsewhere, but if sharp dialogue and colorful action is your thing, look no further.
A quartet of teen super-heroes appears in New York, saving lives and drawing the attention of Daily Bugle staff, from the photographer who grabs a page-one shot to the cranky old publisher hungry for a scoop. J. Jonah Jameson tasks reporter Kat Farrell and consultant and former super-hero Jessica Jones to learn more about these "young Avengers." They're not the only ones who are looking into the situation. The Avengers may be no more, but Captain America and Iron Man are looking to ask their youthful counterparts some questions. Meanwhile, Patriot, Iron Lad, Hulkling and the Asgardian burst into the middle of a hostage situation, determined to save lives and take out the five gunmen, but things do proceed as smoothly as they'd hoped.
When one looks at the faces of his characters, it's easy to see the simple charm of his art. Cheung manages to capture a truly weathered look for Jessica Jones, which makes for an interesting contrast with Kat's untouched youth. He conveys a lot of personality in those faces with few lines, but if one looks beyond the characters, one finds a dichotomous level of stunning detail in the backgrounds. I love Cheung's character designs here as well. Ponsor's colors are rich and full of energy, but they also manage to remain dark when the mood calls for it and to add depth and texture to the line art. I just had one difficulty with the visuals here, and that's the Hulkling. I honestly can't tell if the character is male or female. Maybe I missed a cue in the dialogue, but there's no clear answer to be found in the art.
I was surprised to find how much writer Allan Heinberg plays in Brian Michael Bendis's sandbox here, making extensive use of his characters from The Pulse, and it's not just a device to introduce the title characters. Jones and Farrell play an active role in the story here, especially the former. I'd normally react somewhat coolly to such a move, but I have to admit that Heinberg handles the characters quite well. We haven't seen this much interplay between Kat and Jessica before.
The best thing about this book is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. The heroes' inexperience makes for some entertaining exchanges in the dialogue, notably when it comes to Patriot, who wants to be intense and dark but sometimes just seems awkward. I'm pleased that the Captain America counterpart isn't the leader here; the lineup isn't mirroring the roles the adult Avengers play in their team. The twist that turns up on the final splash page is a great hook to get readers coming back for more as well. 7/10
