Avengers # 67 Review

Archive

Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Red Zone: Part 3 – Unclassified

Written by: Geoff Johns
Penciled by: Oliver Coipel
Inked by: Andy Lanning
Colored by: Chris Sotomayor
Lettered by: RS & Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Publisher: Marvel Comics

I won’t hide the fact that Geoff Johns is one of my favorite writers. I’ve liked nearly all of his work, especially his fine stories on FLASH. I started reading AVENGERS, after a layoff of many years, because of Johns joining the title. The stories since I joined on have been very good, and even though it’s the book by Johns I enjoy the least, it’s in no way a bad thing to not be as good as HAWKMAN, JSA, or the previously mentioned FLASH. To sort of steal a line from Brutus (the Roman, not Popeye’s nemesis [wasn’t Popeye’s nemesis called Bluto? – Dave]), it’s not that I love AVENGERS less, it’s that I love FLASH more. Now that the Geoff Johns Fan Club meeting is over, let’s get to the review.

The Red Zone storyline has followed the Avengers efforts to stop the spread of a powerful flesh-eating virus. The virus began its spread from Mt. Rushmore, which is ground zero, and where some answers lie. Recently sanctioned by the United Nations, the Avengers are meeting resistance from some factions within the U.S. government leading to a tenser situation.

Geoff Johns is at home writing a book like AVENGERS. He excels at giving each of the large cast of characters time to shine, much like his work on JSA with David Goyer. Being a comic fan he knows how Captain America or Jack of Hearts should act, and they never seem out of character. The dialogue is enjoyable, and does a good job catching readers up on what’s happened already.

Oliver Coipel is yet another reason to pick up AVENGERS on a regular basis. While his work is missed from the pages of LEGION, luckily he’s on another outstanding book. He is especially good at keeping the mayhem that unfolds in the military base interesting and distinguishable from panel to panel. Coipel is yet another fine artist that Marvel snagged from the clutches of DC.

Following some weak issues artistically earlier in Johns run, Avengers has become a near total package. There aren’t too many books, especially in the Marvel stable, that can boast such fine writing and art. When Geoff Johns departs the title, due to the recent contract he signed as a DC exclusive, I hope another strong writer will be brought on to team with Coipel.