AVENGERS #75 REVIEW

[Joel Phillips]

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031210/avengv3-75.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031210/avengv3-75t.JPG" align=left alt="Avengers #75"></a>Reviewer: Joel Phillips, old_ky_shark@hotmail.com
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: With Friends Like These… (The Search for She-Hulk, Part 4)

The search for some good reading concludes… and we actually found some!

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

WARNING: This review contains spoilers.

Whoa. Where did this issue come from? After three incredibly lackluster issues, Geoff Johns ends this otherwise sad saga on a high note with Avengers #75.

First of all, Hawkeye is back. Since his triumphant last-page return two issues ago, Hawkeye has been an absolute delight. Even when Johns is struggling with his plots and with the other characters, he writes a very good Hawkeye. By the end of this issue, the wise-cracking archer announces he is officially back in the Avengers fold. Can I get an “Amen”?

Jack of Hearts is also very good in this issue. Honestly, I could take or leave the character most of the time, but his role in this finale is quite good. He’s well written, he’s well drawn, and he’s well used in service of the plot. Some aspects of his powers seem awfully convenient in this issue, but that’s pretty much the case for anyone’s powers in any story.

In fact, most of the characters are better here than they have been in quite a while. Iron Man gets some good lines in (“Nuts. Think I lost a tooth.”), and Ant-Man is used to good effect. Captain America is strong without being stoic, and he keeps the hackneyed patriot-speak dialogue to a minimum. Scarlet Witch is a relative non-entity, but other than that the overall dialogue and characterization is strong.

It’s not all grand, though. Doc Samson and the army are removed from the equation for no real reason other than Johns wanting them not to get in the Avengers way. It just makes their presence at the end of last issue stand out more clearly as the plot device it was, serving only to give Hawkeye some reason to trigger Bruce’s transformation for the big slugfest this issue. And though the Avengers are a little livelier this issue than in the last three, they’re still operating without a plot. This arc is still one extended, totally pointless fight sequence, strong end characterization notwithstanding.

<table border=0 align=center><tr><td align=middle><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031210/avengv3-75-1&2.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031210/avengv3-75-1&2t.JPG" alt="Avengers #75 Pages 1-2"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031210/avengv3-75-3.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031210/avengv3-75-3t.JPG" alt="Avengers #75 Page 3"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031210/avengv3-75-4.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031210/avengv3-75-4t.JPG" alt="Avengers #75 Page 4"></a></td></tr></table>

Kolins’ art is still very weak. He doesn’t do detail very well, and it’s clear in parts that he shouldn’t be inking his own pencils. He does draw a very good Jack of Hearts, but that’s about it.

‘The Search for She-Hulk’ was not a good arc, but this is about the best I could hope for in wrapping it all up. Next issue will be Geoff Johns’ last, so I’m hoping he can deliver an even stronger finale for his run as he did for this story arc.

ART:
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STORY:
http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpg http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpg http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpg http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avhalf.jpg http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avnone.jpg

OVERALL:
http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpg http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpg 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

Buy this issue online now from X-World and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=67&cat=AVENGERS)

[Sabretooth]

How the heck did Cap get ana rrow in his shoulder? Did I miss a panel somewhere or something? One minute he's fine and the next he's got one of Hawkeye's arrows in his shoulder.

[Mario J. Ramos]

Whats so wrong with the art??
I dont buy this book but by those images the art doesnt look bad.

[Merlin]

You are right about Scotts art needing to be inked
When he drew for Legion Of Superheroes his art was inked and much better, but then I still don't think its so bad.

After reading this arc from part 1-4 without stopping the story is good,

I remeber reading that Geoff was frustratred with marvel wanting to draw out his story arc, and since that comment the only ones he wrote were Red Zone and Search for She-Hulk. So don't blame Goeff for the made for trade search for she-hulk its marvel. He probably wanted it to be 1 or 2 issues. And rumor is this editorial presence on Avengers run is why he so easily left Avengers to join DC. Which makes sounds true if you look at his marvel work.

[Mesran]

Originally posted by Sabretooth
How the heck did Cap get ana rrow in his shoulder? Did I miss a panel somewhere or something? One minute he's fine and the next he's got one of Hawkeye's arrows in his shoulder.

The scene where Hulk slams a tree trunk between Cap and Hawkeye...if you look closely you see Hawkeye's backpack come loose and smack into Cap, the arrows go everywhere, one penetrating (hehe) his shoulder.

[Iceman Xtreme]

I dont get this, that Art looks fine to me. Ok maybe it has some inconsistancies but 1.5. Why the hell does this get 1.5 but Kordeys work on XXM gets 3 or 4 an issue and its a lot worse than this, A LOT worse. I don't get you guys that review these books at all.

[Dylan McKay]

Look at Cap's head in the second picture/first panel. It looks like he's downs syndrome.

[theEYESofFIRE]

And the worst part is Chuck Austen is taking over this incredible book from the talented Geoff Johns:(

He has maligned Uncanny to the point of existing as nothing but a cancerous growth upon the x-line and i fear he'll do the same for Avengers. However, my hope is that with Brevoort as a strong and tenured editor(unlike the xoffice guys...hey its the truth!) Austen will be kept inline and not be allowed to distort and disfigure the personalities and relationships within another book.

But beware if he introduces any females talking about smut and monkey boys...it'll be all down hill from there folks...

[Joel Phillips]

Originally posted by Iceman Xtreme
I dont get this, that Art looks fine to me. Ok maybe it has some inconsistancies but 1.5. Why the hell does this get 1.5 but Kordeys work on XXM gets 3 or 4 an issue and its a lot worse than this, A LOT worse. I don't get you guys that review these books at all.

I don't see what Kordey's work on XXM has to do with this review, since I don't review XXM. I don't see what's inconsistent or in any way confusing about two different reviewers on two different books with two different artists having two different opinions.

[Iceman Xtreme]

I don't see what Kordey's work on XXM has to do with this review, since I don't review XXM. I don't see what's inconsistent or in any way confusing about two different reviewers on two different books with two different artists having two different opinions.

The point is this book is being blasted for weak art and yet week in and week out this forum and its mods and reviewers give XXM a great score for art. Seems a little bias to me. I find this art a lot more pleasing to the eye thasn Kordeys.

[Joel Phillips]

I got your point, but it makes no sense. We reviewers are individual people, we don't share the same taste across the board. The reviewer of XXM obviously likes Kordey's art, but that has absolutely nothing to do with my disliking Kolins' art. The two ratings aren't comparable, because they come from different sources.

[Patrick James]

I said it in the Avengers thread already, but I'll say it again here...

I personally thought that this issue was just as weak as the rest of this arc, largely due to the artwork and pacing, and was a total disaster as Geoff Johns's last full arc. I mean, World Trust was great, but nothing since has really measured up. I just hope that Jack's funeral next month (oh, come on, this issue could not have further identified who's going to kick the bucket) is a good send-off.

Oh, and could anyone tell what caused Wanda to break her wrist? I mean, I basically saw smoke coming at her, and I've not known smoke to be so concussive.

And why on earth wasn't Jan here for this arc? Isn't she supposed to be Jen's best friend, after all? Surely her one night in Vegas with Hank didn't take up all of the Red Zone and Search for She-Hulk. Just kinda silly to me...and wouldn't Vision have been helpful for this story too? It just doesn't make sense why Cap only had Wanda and Tony come in to help. Oh, and Clint.

BTW, Tony's tooth line was very amusing. VERY.

Good to see Hawk back, but his timing's all wrong, if you catch my drift;)

[@@liy@h]

:eek: Check Wanda's face! I'm glad I stopped reading Avengers with issue 70. Maybe I'll try #76 and see if it got better.

[mavok]

I agree, this issue was better than the last couple.

Its a shame that it looks like Jack of Hearts is gonna bite the big one because he was starting to grow on me as a character.

mavok

[Douglas Cuckler]

Wasn't someone supposed to die at the end of John's run? Or is that next issue?

[atxbomber]

Originally posted by dreamawake
Wasn't someone supposed to die at the ned of John's run? Or is that next issue?

Next issue.

[Michael Fisch]

While this arc wasn't the best ever, I think the reviews in general were a tad harsh, storywise and artwise. Both were not as bad as was indicated in my own opinion. Not nearly as good as Red Zone, though. I just gotta decide now if I'm going to keep picking up the Avengers after next issue.

[Alex Guillen]

I'm just glad Hawkeye is back and I did notice the arrow falling out of Clint's pack, the battle was brutal and the art was good, it could have been better. Overall 3.5 A's/5

[Youri Zoutman]

Originally posted by dreamawake
Wasn't someone supposed to die at the end of John's run? Or is that next issue?

It better not be Jack!!I've really gotten to like him!

[shizumadrive]

How'd Jen have time to fool around with Juggernaught?

:juggie: + :shehulk: ? :nonono:

[Mike Gonzalez]

I like Kolins' art. It reminds me of simpler days when stories were told cleanly and things were easier to read.