Jason Grasso
Apr 28, 2008, 09:32 am
<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/marvel/0408/MAVN012_col.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/marvel/0408/MAVN012_colt.jpg" align="left" hspace=10 alt="The Mighty Avengers #12"></A> Reviewer: Jason Grasso Desperad07@aol.com
Fury. Nick Fury.
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Aritst: Alex Maleev
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Artmonkey’s Dave Lanhpear
Cover Artist: Marko Djurdjevic
Assistant Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Published by: Marvel Comics (http://www.marvel.com)
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Nick Fury’s been everything from a Howling Commando to the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. But the thing he hasn’t been in a long time is a spy. I’m not talking leader of a spy organization. Fury had become the type of omnipresence that Tony Stark is now, the world’s cop to superheroes and supervillains. His appearances so ubiquitous that the character had become repetitive and part of the background. No, I’m talking about a real spy. Like Jason Bourne and James Bond.
In Mighty Avengers #12, Nick Fury is restored to his spy origins in a fascinating thriller that interweaves events in the Marvel Universe since his departure during the Secret War and by the end sets him up as a prominent player through the rest of Secret Invasion. But first we take a stroll through the timeline to find out where Nick has been the last few months. (Kudos notwithstanding to Ed Brubaker for utilizing Fury in a similar, albeit reduced, capacity in his Captain America run.)
The issue appropriately starts at the climax of Secret War, with Fury’s Life Model Decoy getting gutted by Wolverine in response to his betrayal of the assembled heroes. Fury's message: a concession of his own fallacies but also an ominous warning that things are not what they seem. This has been a recurring thread in New Avengers and a publicly known “ace” up Bendis’ sleeve for the last few years, looming over the proceedings waiting to reveal itself, finally culminating with the Skrull infiltration and invasion.
The opening scene ends from Fury’s angle, in hiding and starting on his journey of discovery. A month later, we find him in Mexico, meeting up with Contessa de Fontaine in something more than an operational capacity. Fury is growing suspicious of everyone, including the person he’s sharing his bed with. As de Fontaine heads off for food, he uses cloaking technology to track her…to co-conspirators who are attempting to gain his S.H.I.E.L.D. pass codes. When she returns to the hotel, Fury’s waiting and handles her betrayal abruptly, unveiling her Skrull corpse. The co-conspirators eventually make their way to the hotel, where Nick monitors and ascertains their hidden identities as well.
Shortly thereafter, Fury visits his replacement aboard the Helicarrier. This scene struck me as an obvious homage to the James Bond films. The spy nonchalantly gaining access to intel while the scantily-clad female agent sleeps and awakes to the surprising visitor. In this case, it’s S.H.I.E.L.D. director Maria Hill. His ambiguous warning to her and swift climactic escape all capture the spirit of a better Bond film but are also in keeping with his character.
All of it expertly framed by Alex Maleev. Bendis gets help from his frequent collaborator in this arc and he’s a welcome addition to the fray. Mighty Avengers, with Frank Cho, Mark Bagley and epic action, has been like a big summer movie through the lens of George Lucas or James Cameron. Here, it’s more akin to a Cinéma-vérité thriller (like the Bourne trilogy), focusing on the dark dealings between the cracks of the bigger events. This really is Mighty Avengers in name only. Of particular note are the scenes with the cloaked Fury, utilizing a visual style I had never seen.
There are still questions to be answered that could help fill in even more of the blanks that this issue started on. The ending spread launches Fury on a quest that we’re going to see spillover into the Secret Invasion mini-series. (Though I wouldn’t look too much into the circled pictures as there’s no indication whether these heroes are being indicted, excluded or questioned.) Fury’s entrance back into the fray couldn’t come at a better time because the seeds of distrust have long been sowed in the Marvel Universe and he’s one of few characters who have sat out the storylines that have planted those very seeds.
Most importantly, it’s great to see Nick Fury back in action and out of the shadows. Bendis and Maleev tapped into something really intriguing here, a compelling read that would’ve have been as enjoyable had it played out over 4 or 5 issues. Bendis and the aforementioned Brubaker have brought Fury onto the ground and into the shadows, helping him break free of that cigar-chomping angry-cop image so unfairly heaped on him for so many years. On a larger note, Secret Invasion continues to play out as the alien love child of science fiction and spy fiction, focusing on two of the best genres of Marvel right now.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-WORLD and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=2628&cat=MIGHTY+AVENGERS)
Fury. Nick Fury.
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Aritst: Alex Maleev
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Artmonkey’s Dave Lanhpear
Cover Artist: Marko Djurdjevic
Assistant Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Published by: Marvel Comics (http://www.marvel.com)
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Nick Fury’s been everything from a Howling Commando to the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. But the thing he hasn’t been in a long time is a spy. I’m not talking leader of a spy organization. Fury had become the type of omnipresence that Tony Stark is now, the world’s cop to superheroes and supervillains. His appearances so ubiquitous that the character had become repetitive and part of the background. No, I’m talking about a real spy. Like Jason Bourne and James Bond.
In Mighty Avengers #12, Nick Fury is restored to his spy origins in a fascinating thriller that interweaves events in the Marvel Universe since his departure during the Secret War and by the end sets him up as a prominent player through the rest of Secret Invasion. But first we take a stroll through the timeline to find out where Nick has been the last few months. (Kudos notwithstanding to Ed Brubaker for utilizing Fury in a similar, albeit reduced, capacity in his Captain America run.)
The issue appropriately starts at the climax of Secret War, with Fury’s Life Model Decoy getting gutted by Wolverine in response to his betrayal of the assembled heroes. Fury's message: a concession of his own fallacies but also an ominous warning that things are not what they seem. This has been a recurring thread in New Avengers and a publicly known “ace” up Bendis’ sleeve for the last few years, looming over the proceedings waiting to reveal itself, finally culminating with the Skrull infiltration and invasion.
The opening scene ends from Fury’s angle, in hiding and starting on his journey of discovery. A month later, we find him in Mexico, meeting up with Contessa de Fontaine in something more than an operational capacity. Fury is growing suspicious of everyone, including the person he’s sharing his bed with. As de Fontaine heads off for food, he uses cloaking technology to track her…to co-conspirators who are attempting to gain his S.H.I.E.L.D. pass codes. When she returns to the hotel, Fury’s waiting and handles her betrayal abruptly, unveiling her Skrull corpse. The co-conspirators eventually make their way to the hotel, where Nick monitors and ascertains their hidden identities as well.
Shortly thereafter, Fury visits his replacement aboard the Helicarrier. This scene struck me as an obvious homage to the James Bond films. The spy nonchalantly gaining access to intel while the scantily-clad female agent sleeps and awakes to the surprising visitor. In this case, it’s S.H.I.E.L.D. director Maria Hill. His ambiguous warning to her and swift climactic escape all capture the spirit of a better Bond film but are also in keeping with his character.
All of it expertly framed by Alex Maleev. Bendis gets help from his frequent collaborator in this arc and he’s a welcome addition to the fray. Mighty Avengers, with Frank Cho, Mark Bagley and epic action, has been like a big summer movie through the lens of George Lucas or James Cameron. Here, it’s more akin to a Cinéma-vérité thriller (like the Bourne trilogy), focusing on the dark dealings between the cracks of the bigger events. This really is Mighty Avengers in name only. Of particular note are the scenes with the cloaked Fury, utilizing a visual style I had never seen.
There are still questions to be answered that could help fill in even more of the blanks that this issue started on. The ending spread launches Fury on a quest that we’re going to see spillover into the Secret Invasion mini-series. (Though I wouldn’t look too much into the circled pictures as there’s no indication whether these heroes are being indicted, excluded or questioned.) Fury’s entrance back into the fray couldn’t come at a better time because the seeds of distrust have long been sowed in the Marvel Universe and he’s one of few characters who have sat out the storylines that have planted those very seeds.
Most importantly, it’s great to see Nick Fury back in action and out of the shadows. Bendis and Maleev tapped into something really intriguing here, a compelling read that would’ve have been as enjoyable had it played out over 4 or 5 issues. Bendis and the aforementioned Brubaker have brought Fury onto the ground and into the shadows, helping him break free of that cigar-chomping angry-cop image so unfairly heaped on him for so many years. On a larger note, Secret Invasion continues to play out as the alien love child of science fiction and spy fiction, focusing on two of the best genres of Marvel right now.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/avfull.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-WORLD and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=2628&cat=MIGHTY+AVENGERS)