AVENGERS #73 REVIEW

[Joel Phillips]

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031112/avengv3-73.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031112/avengv3-73t.JPG" align=left alt="Avengers #73"></a>Reviewer: Joel Phillips, old_ky_shark@hotmail.com
Quick Rating: Poor
Story Title: Savage Attack (The Search for She-Hulk, Part 2)

Why is this arc called 'The Search for She-Hulk'? She's in Idaho. Mystery solved.

Written by: Geoff Johns
Art by: Scott Kolins
Lettered by: Virtual Calligraphy's Rus Wooton
Colored by: Chris Sotomayor
Assistant Editors: Marc Sumerak & Andy Schmidt
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

'The Search for She-Hulk' is boring. There, I said it. So far in two issues we've had roughly six pages of real story, and none of it particularly interesting. The recap page of this issue has more story in it than the issue itself.

What happens in the issue? She-Hulk breaks some stuff, and the Avengers try to stop her... sort of. I mean, that's what they're supposed to be doing, I guess, but to me it just looks like they are breaking more stuff before She-Hulk gets the chance. Preemptive property damage, as it were. Anyway, it's all pretty forgettable.

<table border=0 align=center><tr><td align=middle><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031112/avengv3-73-1.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031112/avengv3-73-1t.JPG" alt="Avengers #73 Page 1"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031112/avengv3-73-2.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031112/avengv3-73-2t.JPG" alt="Avengers #73 Page 2"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031112/avengv3-73-3.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031112/avengv3-73-3t.JPG" alt="Avengers #73 Page 3"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031112/avengv3-73-4.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031112/avengv3-73-4t.JPG" alt="Avengers #73 Page 4"></a></td></tr></table>

The art is substandard. The pencils are sloppy, with random lines being tossed about in blank spaces in a half-assed effort to provide the appearance of detail. She-Hulk's bulging muscle lines and throbbing veins are the best example of this, though the design on her bra seems to have been given a fair amount of attention. Kolins' faces are generic, and their expressions alternately confusing and muted. He's pretty good at drawing things that are all smashed up though, and since that's pretty much the entire background of the issue, at least he has that going for him.

The brief looks at Ant-Man and Jack of Hearts are alright: the art seems a little better and the two key characters express some kind of token emotional depth at least. And there's a cameo by a long absent Avenger on the final page that makes me fairly happy.

You know what would be sweet though? A story.. you know, with a plot and everything. I could really go for a story right about now. Even a bad story wouldn't be so bad... but this vacuum that we're currently trapped in the middle of is absolutely suffocating.

I don't know how comic book writers' contracts work, but if they get paid by the story Geoff Johns owes Marvel some money.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpg http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avnone.jpg http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avnone.jpg http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avnone.jpg http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=67&cat=AVENGERS)

[mavok]

i've never read a review all the way through until now. that was frekkin hilarious.

for the most part, i agree with everything. the she-hulk 'story' is stupid - cap on a normal day would be able to single handedly take care of her. the problem with cap, iron man, and scarlet is that they don't seem to have brains.

the jack of hearts and ant-man part of the 'story' is great though. it was very heart felt - pun intended.

mavok

[Dream]

Sadly this review is correct, it took me like 5 seconds to read this comic because absolutely nothing happened. Marvel's decompressed 'style' is getting worse. Let's hope Geoff Johns sticks with DC where he seems more at home.

[Jim Lemoine]

It's sad to see my favorite franchise in such a pathetic state.

Great review, Joel. You're right. I wish you weren't, but you are.

[Anthony Cordova]

... so I'm the only one who liked it, then? Pity.

[Merlin]

I still enjoyed this issue regardless of not much happening. I think Scotts art is much better than 1.5.
But you are correct that this story is a total made for TPB story arc, maybe that is why Geoff desided to sign an exclusive deal with DC.

[Kira Madison]

Huh, I didn't think the art was so terrible...*shrugs*

[Alex Guillen]

well I would have given it a little better ratings, maybe a 1/2 more but I have to agree with Joel that not much substance to this issue or the story plus I liked the art: 3/5 A's.

[lobofrag]

I agree with some parts of the review-some I disagree with.

- This recent "Search for She-Hulk" storyline is alot less impressive than the previous "Red Zone" Arc, which-delays aside, I loved!

- Scott Kolins art is a guilty pleasure of mine *blushes* but I do feel his work was much more effective on the Flash. Still-no complaints.

- This ish does lack story, but the ant-man/jack-of-hearts part made the issue worthwile. I really hope Austen can keep these two characters as interesting as Johns made them....but I guess that's like asking for monkey's to fly. ( I also have the feeling jack-of-hearts is going to be the "Avenger who falls") .

- In the end, I'm happy with the issue-but I feel i'm not enjoying it as much as usual, because in the back of my mind, I know Johns run is almost up, and the Avengers will go back to being garbage. =(