I was honestly stunned when I didn't enjoy Brian Michael Bendis's "Disassembled" story arc that brought the Avengers series to a close. Bendis's writing rarely disappoints, but that was one of those occasions. I was hope that House of M would boast the kind of strength we've seen from the writer on the new series, New Avengers, but unfortunately, this first issue harkens back to the kind of material that was such a led-down on "Disassembled." There are some strong odds and ends to be found in the script -- no one writes Spider-Man better than Bendis, for example -- and the book looks incredible, thanks to the efforts of Olivier Coipel. But at the heart of this story is an idea that just doesn't fit with these characters.
Professor Charles Xavier, the world's most powerful mutant telepath, has been working to heal the fractured mind of the Scarlet Witch for months in Genosha, and he's getting nowhere fast. The problem isn't her damaged psyche but its connection to her reality-warping powers. More drastic measures must be taken, and Xavier travels to New York to consult with old friends and allies. Meanwhile, Magneto laments his daughter's dark future, but Quicksilver -- his son, and the Scarlet Witch's brother -- spurs him to take action to save her.
Coipel's art captures the dark, intense mood that's called for by the plot. The X-Men and Avengers are serious people with serious powers and serious responsibilities. The art gives the cue that the characters are playing some major-league ball when it comes to super-hero crises. His work reminds me of a cross between the styles of Ron (JLA) Garney and Travis (WildCats) Charest. Spider-Man really stands out from the crowd of other characters, and it's because his featureless face calls for a smoother, rounder look. There's a softness to how he looks here, and it matches the lighter tone he tries to bring to this grim gathering in the script. Coipel's greatest contribution, I think, is how he conveys the scope of the story. From the Stark Tower jutting into the Manhattan skyline to the scarred buildings of the Genosha capital, this story just looks big.
Bendis makes room for little glimpses of personality from a number of the characters. The briefly joyful reunion between the X-Men and Professor X works well, and Wonder Man, Ms. Marvel and the Falcon's idle, indifferent chat about being left out of the new Avengers team had a ring of truth to it. I also enjoyed the notion of the Beast coveting Avengers toys and the no-fly edict to keep the New Avengers' HQ a secret from the public. These little touches reinforce a realistic tone for a darkly surreal story.
Professor X's suggested solution for the Scarlet Witch problem is... stupid. It makes no sense. It's not in keeping with these characters, especially the Avengers. It makes no sense that Quicksilver knows what the other heroes are discussing without being there. It makes no sense that no other solution is suggested or explored. We're expected to just take Professor X at his word. The writer treats these characters almost like military leaders rather than as heroes, as people who represents certain ideals. Furthermore, Bendis really hasn't established the critical nature of the situation before unloading the bombshell on the reader, and that's another reason why it doesn't work. On top of that, it seems all this ethical hand-wringing is for naught, given the cliffhanger ending. 5/10
