Reviewer: Tim Sheridan
Story Title: Chaos: Part Three of Four
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: David Finch
Inker: Danny Miki
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letterer: Albert Deschesne
Asst Editors: Nichole Wiley & Molly Lazer
Assoc Editor: Andy Schmidt
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Yeah, I’m pretty happy he is dead. Go ahead, hate me. I don’t care. People are talking about the Avengers again, and let’s face it, that hasn’t happened in a very long time. Last time people got this jazzed about the Avengers was back when it was relaunched with Busiek and Perez on board. And that was great. But since then, it’s been a nice little comic book, but with little buzz.
When Bendis took over, people were split. He promised big changes and people got all up in arms about that. Well good. I hear random people saying they are done with the title because of what Bendis has done, and what he continues to do. Well fine. Because for everyone who drops, I’m willing to bet that someone else will pick it up in your stead. I came on board with Bendis, as did thousands of others.
But back to this issue. Making no bones about it, the cover screams that “ONE OF THESE AVENGERS WILL DIE!” And hey, it’s one of those Avengers who no one really cares about. Now I know I’ll get mail saying, “I liked them, they were all great.” So maybe I overstate things with “no one”. Very few people like them. If people did like those characters, people like Wasp and Hawkeye would have had their own series like the popular Avengers do.
So if you’re reading this, or anything else having to do with comics, I’m sure you know that Hawkeye is the cat who doesn’t make it to page 22 alive. And why is that? Because he’s been with the Avengers for decades and people have gotten to know him. But so what? A lot of people know me…doesn’t mean they like me. Same with Clint. He’s well known, so it would be a good choice to kill him, if you wanna be all pseudo-shocking like this story is.
But don’t pretend like this is a big deal. Because it’s not. Chances are he’ll be back eventually anyway. And it was a good death for him. He died like a hero would. I wanna die fighting off an alien invasion too!
So yeah, back to the whole issue. This isn’t as good as Bendis’ #500, which I thought was great, but it’s still a very good comic. Finch’s art is head and shoulders above most other superhero artists. It’s clean, dynamic, and also pretty cool. This is primarily an action-based issue, so his art really is telling the story, and he keeps the pace going, and makes it interesting all the while.
Bendis does a great job of keeping the immediate crisis feel throughout. The Kree invasion is, in a word, awesome. It feels like a Jerry Bruckheimer flick, and whether you like it or not, it’s always exciting. The twist at the end, with Steve Strange coming in and saying that magic is all eff-ed up has got me non plussed, but it’s still an effective cameo and cliffhanger.
I can totally see where this story would not be working for some people. It’s a story that traditionalists would not dig. There is a real sense of change with this “Chaos” and change is scary to people. But it’s working for me. It’s not the best work by Bendis, and it’s not the best superhero stuff I’ve seen, but it’s a lot of fun, and it’s getting people interested in the book. So yeah, to me, it’s a success.
Final Word: A big fight, an invasion, people yelling at each other, a bunk hero offedâ?¦.a fun comic.
