Joel Phillips
Jun 10, 2003, 04:22 pm
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/avengv3-67.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/avengv3-67t.jpg" align=left alt="Avengers (3rd series) #67"></a> Reviewer: Joel Phillips, old_ky_shark@hotmail.com
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Unclassified (Red Zone: Part Three)
The Avengers scramble to stop the spread of a deadly bio-agent, with a source that hits a little too close to home.
Written by: Geoff Johns
Penciled by: Olivier Coipel
Inked by: Andy Lanning
Lettered by: RS & Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne
Colored by: Chris Sotomayor
Assistant Editors: Marc Sumerak & Andy Schmidt
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
For years now the Avengers have been the global policemen, using all their significant clout to put down menaces the world over. No threat was too large and no nation too small. Though they rested on American soil they were a neutral party, one that any ailing nation could turn to when a threat arose within its borders that no conventional force could overcome.
Of course the job of “the global policeman” is a very different one now then it was, say, five years ago. Writer Geoff Johns knows this, and what he has been delivering since the start of his run is the Avengers of 2003, Earth’s Mightiest Mortals as part of the new, post-9/11 world order.
Though not an unknown topic in years past, the idea of attack with a deadly biological agent certainly resonates more with readers now then it would have previously. There’s something that is disturbingly symbolic about the sight of that red cloud descending over the park, the presidential heads of Mount Rushmore fading away behind it. These elements give added weight to a story that, five years ago, might have been dismissed as just another fantastical comic book tale.
Last issue, the Avengers stumbled upon the cause of the plague: a secret military bio-research lab hidden beneath Mount Rushmore. It’s a revelation that, truth be told, doesn’t thrill me: much of the first two chapters of this arc contained the typical “who could do such a thing” style dialogue one expects (and forgives) in this sort of story, and as such the “oh my God, this was us” revelation just presses too firmly on the cliché for my liking. This issue follows that up by tying responsibility for the plague to a familiar foe, but the connection at this point seems superfluous, as if added purely to give us long-term readers a familiar name to shout while balling our fists and shaking them above our heads.
Now that the secret source of the plague is out, the dialogue in this issue loosens itself up a bit, though not throughout. Captain America’s reaction is textbook, which isn’t a good thing. Still the rest of the cast manages to hold onto their humanity (yes, even the Vision), and despite the severity of the situation the majority of them manage to avoid spiraling into the maudlin. As for the Avengers doing their part back in the lab, trying to analyze the plague and seek out a cure, there’s too much exposition and a touching off of too many of the checklist points for this type of story. Explanation of origin of deadly agent? Check. Scientific classification of said agent? Check. “There’s no cure.”-type statement? Check. It’s drama by numbers, which is unnecessary given the real life drama the subject matter brings with it.
I’m also particularly bothered by the character of Dell Rusk, the Secretary of Defense. He’s the textbook dark room politico: a powerful government man with his own, dark agenda who wants to spin everything, including the current tragedy. There’s nothing about the character that distinguishes him from, say, Henry Gyrich back in the day, except he’s higher on the political food chain and, these days, Gyrich is repentant and just as disgusted with Rusk’s behavior as we are. Any problems with Rusk that I’ve had since his introduction a short while ago are only magnified by his actions in this issue, where he truly descends into the realm of “only in comic books” villainy. And given the real world roots to this story, I expect more.
The end of this issue adds a new element of danger to the story, placing a member of the cast in peril. Though not a totally unexpected twist it is dramatic, and given the fact that it is only briefly touched upon before issue’s end, we have plenty of time between now and next issue to worry about the character’s fate.
Though the story this issue stutters in places, the art is top notch. Coipel’s characters are excellently rendered, and he has a good eye for facial expressions and body language. That said, the closer we are to his subjects the better they look, as there are one or two group shots, from a distance, that seem slightly below the quality of the rest of the issue. Of course the bar is set pretty high, so take it for what it’s worth.
(I’d also like to point out, as long as I’m on the subject of Coipel’s art, how marvelous some of his new character designs are. In this issue most of the characters are covered up by bio-suits, meaning you’ll have to either go back an issue or two or wait to see his fantastic new designs. Which is a shame, since Coipel’s new costume for the Scarlet Witch is, hands down, the best she has ever had, EVER.)
Special credit also needs to be given to colorist Chris Sotomayor for his red cloud, which is one of those subtle but crucial touches that shows how the right color man can make or break the mood of a given issue. The cloud effects are just there, hovering over everything in a barely perceptible way… which is exactly the way it should be.
All in all a good middle chapter to an intriguing story. Not the strongest entry of Johns’ run, or even of this arc, but good enough to support the story and move us on towards what promises to be an interesting conclusion.
ART:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg
STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-WORLD and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=67&cat=AVENGERS)
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Unclassified (Red Zone: Part Three)
The Avengers scramble to stop the spread of a deadly bio-agent, with a source that hits a little too close to home.
Written by: Geoff Johns
Penciled by: Olivier Coipel
Inked by: Andy Lanning
Lettered by: RS & Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne
Colored by: Chris Sotomayor
Assistant Editors: Marc Sumerak & Andy Schmidt
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
For years now the Avengers have been the global policemen, using all their significant clout to put down menaces the world over. No threat was too large and no nation too small. Though they rested on American soil they were a neutral party, one that any ailing nation could turn to when a threat arose within its borders that no conventional force could overcome.
Of course the job of “the global policeman” is a very different one now then it was, say, five years ago. Writer Geoff Johns knows this, and what he has been delivering since the start of his run is the Avengers of 2003, Earth’s Mightiest Mortals as part of the new, post-9/11 world order.
Though not an unknown topic in years past, the idea of attack with a deadly biological agent certainly resonates more with readers now then it would have previously. There’s something that is disturbingly symbolic about the sight of that red cloud descending over the park, the presidential heads of Mount Rushmore fading away behind it. These elements give added weight to a story that, five years ago, might have been dismissed as just another fantastical comic book tale.
Last issue, the Avengers stumbled upon the cause of the plague: a secret military bio-research lab hidden beneath Mount Rushmore. It’s a revelation that, truth be told, doesn’t thrill me: much of the first two chapters of this arc contained the typical “who could do such a thing” style dialogue one expects (and forgives) in this sort of story, and as such the “oh my God, this was us” revelation just presses too firmly on the cliché for my liking. This issue follows that up by tying responsibility for the plague to a familiar foe, but the connection at this point seems superfluous, as if added purely to give us long-term readers a familiar name to shout while balling our fists and shaking them above our heads.
Now that the secret source of the plague is out, the dialogue in this issue loosens itself up a bit, though not throughout. Captain America’s reaction is textbook, which isn’t a good thing. Still the rest of the cast manages to hold onto their humanity (yes, even the Vision), and despite the severity of the situation the majority of them manage to avoid spiraling into the maudlin. As for the Avengers doing their part back in the lab, trying to analyze the plague and seek out a cure, there’s too much exposition and a touching off of too many of the checklist points for this type of story. Explanation of origin of deadly agent? Check. Scientific classification of said agent? Check. “There’s no cure.”-type statement? Check. It’s drama by numbers, which is unnecessary given the real life drama the subject matter brings with it.
I’m also particularly bothered by the character of Dell Rusk, the Secretary of Defense. He’s the textbook dark room politico: a powerful government man with his own, dark agenda who wants to spin everything, including the current tragedy. There’s nothing about the character that distinguishes him from, say, Henry Gyrich back in the day, except he’s higher on the political food chain and, these days, Gyrich is repentant and just as disgusted with Rusk’s behavior as we are. Any problems with Rusk that I’ve had since his introduction a short while ago are only magnified by his actions in this issue, where he truly descends into the realm of “only in comic books” villainy. And given the real world roots to this story, I expect more.
The end of this issue adds a new element of danger to the story, placing a member of the cast in peril. Though not a totally unexpected twist it is dramatic, and given the fact that it is only briefly touched upon before issue’s end, we have plenty of time between now and next issue to worry about the character’s fate.
Though the story this issue stutters in places, the art is top notch. Coipel’s characters are excellently rendered, and he has a good eye for facial expressions and body language. That said, the closer we are to his subjects the better they look, as there are one or two group shots, from a distance, that seem slightly below the quality of the rest of the issue. Of course the bar is set pretty high, so take it for what it’s worth.
(I’d also like to point out, as long as I’m on the subject of Coipel’s art, how marvelous some of his new character designs are. In this issue most of the characters are covered up by bio-suits, meaning you’ll have to either go back an issue or two or wait to see his fantastic new designs. Which is a shame, since Coipel’s new costume for the Scarlet Witch is, hands down, the best she has ever had, EVER.)
Special credit also needs to be given to colorist Chris Sotomayor for his red cloud, which is one of those subtle but crucial touches that shows how the right color man can make or break the mood of a given issue. The cloud effects are just there, hovering over everything in a barely perceptible way… which is exactly the way it should be.
All in all a good middle chapter to an intriguing story. Not the strongest entry of Johns’ run, or even of this arc, but good enough to support the story and move us on towards what promises to be an interesting conclusion.
ART:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg
STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-WORLD and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=67&cat=AVENGERS)