The Immortal Iron Fist #5
If you haven’t already heard, this book is just a ton of fun.
What…you want more than that? Okay fine.
Try this then: the dueling Iron Fists (Danny and Randall) take their act to the Five Point subway station (which appears abandoned) and beat Hydra face in all over the place, something Aja depicts with loving linework and spot on choreography. Meanwhile, Danny’s lawyer goes to Heroes for Hire (hanging with Luke Cage) and admits how he betrayed his employer to the Hydra shell corporation because of his kidnapped daughter. They agree to help him (and Danny, be the transitive property). All looks like it is going well until…well that would be spoiling it, wouldn’t it?
A-
The New Avengers #30
Well, Ronin’s identity should be no surprise to anyone, which is actually something of a relief. I was worried that Bendis might try another last minute senseless swerve like he did the last time we learned who Ronin was.
Honestly though, that’s not really what this comic is about, which is actually a bigger relief.
Instead, we have the continuing story of the New Avengers adventures abroad where things just get worse. And no, the cover is not inaccurate.
This title continues its post Civil War streak of actually being pretty good. Bendis “gets†the characters here and their interactions might a great deal of sense. For example, Spider-Man, despite being the one who’s probably been hurt most by registration, speaks up as the voice of “what the hell are we doing and is it worth it?†a role that he has carved out in the Marvel U over the years. Others, like Cage, have been noticeably affected by the events of Civil War and nicely wear that evolution. Yu’s artwork is a strong fit as well, nicely conveying the dirt and the chaos of the New Avengers’ new lives. I know their some criticism of his faces looking a bit too, well, dead really and that criticism is not totally without merit. However, for me, it just works with the tone of this book.
B
Thunderbolts #114
There are plenty of folk that just don’t like this book and I guess I see why. It takes the direction that Marvel is heading in right now, perceived by many critics as a universe where there is no bad guys, really, just good guys fighting with one another, to its far fetched, but somehow still logical extreme. A lot of folks would rather the Marvel U not look like that. Also, Deodato has a tendency of drawing Norman Osborn like Tommy Lee Jones.
Truth is, I’m sort of on their side. I do wish we could see Spider-Man make Shocker whimper instead of seeing him web up Iron Man. I’d like to see Thor and Giant Man team up without thinking, “Does Thor know how Pym cloned him when he was dead and then that clone killed a fellow hero?†Still, given that, I think there is plenty of room in the world for the black hearted, but surprisingly charitable, Thunderbolts.
For one, there is that charitable side. No here featured in this book so far even rises close to the level of has-been. Jack Flag was a better left forgotten relic of a an empty, epic mess of a storyline that ended Mark Gruenwald’s otherwise quite respectable run on Captain America. Steel Spider is a punching bag even for the guy that used him most, Tom DeFalco, who often had a hero as low on the totem pole as the heroic Green Goblin (Phil Urich, now appearing in Loners) scoff at the odd combo of Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus. Shadowwoman and American Eagle…well, I know nothing about them at all, which just goes to show you how non-profile they are. And yet, while reading this story, including this issue, you can’t help but admire them. Even the arguably unstable Steel is all about being a hero and helping the innocent, damn the consequences. They face down a clearly more powerful team of superpowered folk who have the backing of an overaggressive government and a citizenry ruled by fear without blinking, not for glory but because they are doing what they believe is right. Even if it isn’t truly their fight (as in the case of Shadowwoman and Eagle) they do not hesitate to step in. When was the last time you read Iron Man and felt that sort of heroicism radiating off of him?
For the other, we have that dark side. Like it or not, that side is tremendously seductive. Whether it be the wicked glee of Moonstone at manipulating everyone around her, the over-the-top madness of Osborn, or the sick thrill of watching Bullseye become unchained, you cannot help but be drawn in by these characters. It’s like Silence of the Lambs. Yes, you hate and fear Lecter, of course. But aren’t you just a little charmed for him? Isn’t there a small beat of triumph in your heart when he escapes? That’s the tune that Thunderbolts plays.
So all of this is a long way of saying that yes, those critical of Thunderbolts are 100% right and still, somehow, wrong.
A-
