Comics for December 20, 2006
There be spoilers in this here review - I'd spoiler tag them, but, really not enough tag-worthy actually HAPPENS in the issue.
New Avengers #26 (Bendis/Maleev; Marvel) Definitely a let-down, as I expected more answers and information. I'm not unaware of the irony of that, having had Dr. Strange hammer in the point that neither Clint - nor, by extension, the readers - would get much of an answer.
First, the good: the Maleev art. Lovely, emotive, very expressive. Interesting cool, muted color tones, with Wanda's burning reds the sole exception. Strange's Sanctum looks suitably stately and serious (though Strange himself looks more like something out of Chekhov, say Uncle Vanya) and the closed double doors to "Aunt Agatha's" room look pretty foreboding.
The rest, though - I can't really give an opinion of the story, because it's so obviously "to be continued." There are some elements I liked - Hawkeye talking about the friend he'd lost - but equally some I don’t like - Hawkeye talking about wanting "closure" like he's been visiting a therapist recently. Equally, Hawkeye sleeping with the clearly still insane Wanda was odd. I'm sure it pleases the Wizard "d-u-u-u-u-u-de, I'd so totally tap that" crowd, but it seems as though it's taking advantage of Wanda's diminished capacity and hence on the reprehensible side.
Also, what IS happening at the end? I gather Hawkeye does not open the door, and thought that was a hint of Wanda's signature chaos magic swirling around on his hand from touching the knob. But is he leaving or staying? In Disassembled, Bendis used Hawkeye as the mouthpiece for describing how the Avengers never really solved their own problems - so what is he having the character do here? Stay and try to solve the problem (which would be touching, because it's way beyond him) or cut and run? Do we really have to wait months to find out?
Far more comics to come, this was a HUGE week for me (Criminal! Fables! She-Hulk! So hard to pick a favorite!)
New Avengers #26 (Bendis/Maleev; Marvel) Definitely a let-down, as I expected more answers and information. I'm not unaware of the irony of that, having had Dr. Strange hammer in the point that neither Clint - nor, by extension, the readers - would get much of an answer.
First, the good: the Maleev art. Lovely, emotive, very expressive. Interesting cool, muted color tones, with Wanda's burning reds the sole exception. Strange's Sanctum looks suitably stately and serious (though Strange himself looks more like something out of Chekhov, say Uncle Vanya) and the closed double doors to "Aunt Agatha's" room look pretty foreboding.
The rest, though - I can't really give an opinion of the story, because it's so obviously "to be continued." There are some elements I liked - Hawkeye talking about the friend he'd lost - but equally some I don’t like - Hawkeye talking about wanting "closure" like he's been visiting a therapist recently. Equally, Hawkeye sleeping with the clearly still insane Wanda was odd. I'm sure it pleases the Wizard "d-u-u-u-u-u-de, I'd so totally tap that" crowd, but it seems as though it's taking advantage of Wanda's diminished capacity and hence on the reprehensible side.
Also, what IS happening at the end? I gather Hawkeye does not open the door, and thought that was a hint of Wanda's signature chaos magic swirling around on his hand from touching the knob. But is he leaving or staying? In Disassembled, Bendis used Hawkeye as the mouthpiece for describing how the Avengers never really solved their own problems - so what is he having the character do here? Stay and try to solve the problem (which would be touching, because it's way beyond him) or cut and run? Do we really have to wait months to find out?
Far more comics to come, this was a HUGE week for me (Criminal! Fables! She-Hulk! So hard to pick a favorite!)
