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AVENGERS #45
"Life During Wartime"
Recommended (8/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Pencils: Manuel Garcia
Inks: Bob Layton
Colors: Tom Smith
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Price: $2.25 US/$3.50 CAN |
In Avengers Forever, Busiek wrote one of the definitive Kang stories, but he's looking to top himself with the current Avengers storyline. The concept of Kang's invasion is a constant threat in the background, and the driving force behind other conflicts and plots as they occur, and the result is a feeling that Kang is dangerous, powerful and smart; all things that he should be. In addition, Busiek is blending these epic super-hero plots with smaller subplots, whether it's the interpersonal dynamics of the Avengers or the continuing story of the Triune Understanding. I do wish that the artwork on the book was on the level of George Perez or Alan Davis, but it's solid, if not terribly flashy. Because he has done such ground-breaking work as Astro City and Marvels, Busiek doesn't always get credit for his more straightforward super-hero work, but his work on the Avengers is great stuff, up there with the classics by
Shooter, Stern and Englehart.
Far too few creators have managed to make
Kang an effective villain. He's essentially Dr. Doom, one of the all-time great
super-villains, but with 10 centuries of additional technology and easy access
to time manipulation. Busiek is putting him into the role he belongs in, that of
a warrior king who guides armies and conquers entire timelines, rather than
someone who merely schemes on how to defeat the Avengers. Introducing Marcus, a
continuity-heavy character, in such a way that those unfamiliar with him still
get his basic role, that of the crown prince, is another nice touch.
I'm also greatly enjoying seeing the
Avengers operating more like a military force than a club of super-heroes. The
Avengers having a meeting with the American military seemed just right,
especially with Captain America taking the lead, and it's a nice tie-in to the
squad-based operations that were introduced when Davis came aboard. And the
addition of yet another player in the field with this issue's cliffhanger really
helped to keep the feeling of high-stakes that Busiek has been going for as
well.
However, while the creative team has captured the feel of widescreen super-heroes, they haven't lost the characterization and interaction that made the Avengers what it was. The continual growth of Triathlon,
and his budding friendships with the others, made for a nice scene this issue.
I'm also enjoying the responsibility that Warbird is taking on in the Avengers,
forming a sort of "espionage squad" that reminds me in a pleasant way of the
Legion of Super-Heroes Espionage Squad. Short character moments with
Yellowjacket, Scarlet Witch, Firebird, Thor and Quicksilver help to round out
the issue and keep the balance of action and characterization even.
In fact, if I have a complaint, it's the
artwork, and it's largely a matter of degrees. After the precise and beautiful
work of Perez and the fantastic work by Davis, pretty much anyone would be a
disappointment. However, I seem to remember enjoying the work by Garcia and
Layton more last issue, and I'm not sure if it's a weaker outing this time or
simply my perceptions that have changed, but the details seemed a bit imprecise,
particuarly on the faces, this time around. The art is getting the point across,
and the storytelling is immaculate, but I find it lacks the excitement of
previous artists or of Busiek's script.
Email Randy Lander comments about this review. |
