#IReadsYou Review: STAR WARS: The High Republic #1

STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC No. 1
MARVEL COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Cavan Scott
PENCILS: Ario Anindito
INKS: Mark Morales
COLORS: Annalisa Leoni
LETTERS: VC's Ariana Maher
EDITOR: Mark Paniccia
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Phil Noto
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Ario Anindito with Rain Beredo; Joshua “Sway” Swaby; Stephanie Hans; Pascal Blanche and Gonzalo Kenny
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 6, 2021)

Rated T

“There is No Fear” Chapter One: “Trial by Ordeal”

Star Wars: The High Republic is a new publishing initiative that includes novels (adult, young adult, middle-grade, and young readers), comic books (including all-ages, graphic novels, and manga), and other prose and multimedia releases.  Lucasfilm, the bosses of all things Star Wars, announced The High Republic in February 2020, with the first publication to be released in August 2020.  Delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, January 2021 sees the release of the first novels and comic books.

Star Wars: The High Republic is set 200 years before the film, Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace.   The Jedi Knights are at the height of their power, but they must face a deadly serious threat to the Republic, the antagonistic “Nihil,” a race of “space Vikings.”

The first comic book release is the ongoing comic book series, Star Wars: The High Republic, from Marvel Comics.  It is written by Cavan Scott; drawn by Ario Anindito (pencils) and Mark Morales (inks); colored by Annalisa Leoni; and lettered by Ariana Maher.  The High Republic comic book is set directly after the events depicted in the first High Republic novel, Star Wars: The High Republic – Light of the Jedi (released January 5th).

Star Wars: The High Republic #1 (“Trial by Ordeal”) opens on Shuraden, on the Republic frontier.  Padawan Keeve Trennis, under the direction of her Master Sskeer, prepares to complete her “Jedi Trials.”  It would help if one of the planet's inhabitants, a “Ximbi” named Kanri, would stop pestering her.  However, she will face a bigger challenge when she must protect the innocents from  the “Redadi” – a species of star-locust, but is the problem really what she thinks it is.

Meanwhile, the Frontier prepares for the dedication of the majestic “Starlight Beacon,” which will help Republic pioneers as they push into new territories in the Outer Rim.  Now, Master Avar Kriss faces two legendary Jedi “Grandmasters” who have arrived with a momentous announcement for her.

THE LOWDOWN:  I had not heard anything about the rumored “Project Luminous,” which was revealed in February 2020 to be the Star Wars: The High Republic publishing initiative.  I am a longtime Star Wars fan, but I don't dedicate much time to following Star Wars news.

So what do I think of Star Wars: The High Republic #1?  It is good, but not great.  I have enjoyed writer Cavan Scott's work on IDW's young readers Star Wars comic book, Star Wars Adventures.  His writing on Star Wars: The High Republic #1 is a little more intense than his IDW work.  Right from the beginning, Scott makes Keeve Trennis a strong character that is very likable, and he seems to have a handle on Master Avar Kriss, another strong and engaging female character.

Ario Anindito's art looks like it was drawn for a young adult graphic novel.  It seems closer to the sensibilities of animation than it does to the work of other Star Wars comic book artists like Jesus Saiz, Will Sliney, John Cassidy, and Salvado Larroca, to name a few.  If anything, Anindito's art here reminds me of artist Denys Cowan's work on the 2017-18 miniseries, Star Wars: Mace Windu.  I think Anindito's art will make Star Wars: The High Republic appeal to young readers who don't go to comic book shops, but will find the eventual trade paperback or graphic novel collection of this first High Republic story arc, “There is No Fear,” in bookstores.

Star Wars: The High Republic #1 makes me curious about where this comic book is going, and I plan to read more.  I do recommend that Star Wars readers check it out.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Star Wars comic books will want to sample Star Wars: The High Republic.

[This issue includes afterwords by Cavan Scott and Ario Anindito.]

7 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://www.starwars.com/the-high-republic
https://twitter.com/Marvel
https://twitter.com/starwars
https://www.starwars.com/


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: POWERS OF X #1

POWERS OF X No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Jonathan Hickman
PENCILS: R.B. Silva
INKS: R.B. Silva and Adriana Di Benedetto
COLORS: Marte Gracia
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
EDITOR: Jordan D. White
EiC: Akria Yoshida a.k.a. “C.B. Cebuski”
COVER: R.B. Silva with Marte Gracia
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Mark Brooks; Joshua Cassara with Rachelle Rosenberg; John Tyler Christopher; Stephanie Hans; Jack Kirby with Edgar Delgado; Mike Huddleston; George Perez with Jason Keith; Dustin Weaver; Skottie Young
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (September 2019)

Rated T+

The X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

“The Last Dream of Professor X”

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team.  Created by editor Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the X-Men debuted in the comic book The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963).  The focus of that comic book was Professor Charles Xavier a/k/a “Professor X” and his small circle of students.  Each student had a unique power or ability granted to them because each student was a mutant, and each had a code name.  The students were Scott Summers (Cyclops), Jean Grey (Marvel Girl), Warren Worthington III (Angel), Henry “Hank” McCoy (Beast), and Bobby Drake (Iceman).

From time to time the X-Men concept is changed in some way via a relaunch or revamp.  The most famous revamp was and still is the “new X-Men,” which debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (cover dated: May 1975).  Once consistently among the bestselling comic books in the United States (and often the bestselling comic book), the X-Men have fallen on hard times.  The editorial powers that be at Marvel Comics have spent much of the last two decades revamping, relaunching, and remaking the X-Men.

The latest remodeling comes via a pair of six-issue miniseries written by Jonathan Hickman.  The first is House of X, and the second and the subject of this review is Powers of X; they are being published biweekly on an alternating schedule.  Powers of X is written by written Jonathan Hickman; drawn by R.B. Silva (pencils) and Silva and Adriana Di Benedetto (inks); colored by Marte Gracia; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Powers of X #1 (“The Last Dream of Professor X”) takes place in four time periods.  The title, “Powers of X,” means “Powers of Ten” – 1; 10 x 1 is 10; 10 x 10 is 100; 10 x 100 is 1000.

X0 is The X-Men, Year One, “The Dream.” X1 is The X-Men, Year Ten, “The World.”  X2 is The X-Men, Year One Hundred, “The War.”  X3 is The X-Men, Year One Thousand, “Ascension.”

In X0, Charles Xavier meets Moira MacTaggert, who has a history to share with Xavier.  In X1, on the mutant sanctuary homeland of Krakoa, Professor X obtains the data Mystique and Sabertooth stole (as seen in House of X #1).  In X2, Rasputin and Cardinal find their teammate, Cylobel, in trouble, so Rasputin launches a one-woman rescue operation to keep her friend from falling into the clutches of Nimrod.  In X3, humanity, mutant-kind, who is left?

That Powers of X #1 takes place in four time periods is not confusing.  That each time period can only tease the story to come is irritating.  I found writer Jonathan Hickman's work in House of X #1 quite intriguing, and I find his offerings in Powers of X #1 intriguing, but a less satisfying read than House of X #1.

The work of colorist Marte Gracia and letterer Clayton Cowles turns out to be just as stellar in Powers of X #1 as it was in the first issue of House of X.  The art of R.B. Silva and Adriano Di Benedetto, with its clear storytelling, is pretty, especially the illustrations for the last two chapters.  When combined with Gracia colors, Silva and Di Benedetto's Powers of X art is flat-out gorgeous.

So I assume the second issue will justify Hickman's approach to Powers of X #1.  I know, however, that good ideas for stories can lose their luster because of poor execution in the storytelling.  We'll see.

7 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.


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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 5, 2018

IMAGE COMICS
OCT180148    BLACKBIRD #3 CVR A BARTEL    $3.99
OCT180149    BLACKBIRD #3 CVR B LOISH    $3.99
OCT180150    BLACKBIRD #3 CVR C HERO INITIATIVE VAR    $3.99
OCT180162    BULLY WARS #4 CVR A CONLEY    $3.99
OCT180163    BULLY WARS #4 CVR B YOUNG    $3.99
OCT180056    CHRONICLES OF HATE COLLECTED ED TP (MR)    $29.99
OCT180170    CROWDED #5 CVR A STEIN BRANDT & FARRELL    $3.99
OCT180171    CROWDED #5 CVR B GANUCHEAU    $3.99
SEP180153    CURSE WORDS #18 CVR A BROWNE (MR)    $3.99
SEP180154    CURSE WORDS #18 CVR B X-RAY SPECS BROWNE (MR)    $3.99
OCT180012    DIE #1 CVR A HANS (MR)    $3.99
OCT180013    DIE #1 CVR B MCKELVIE (MR)    $3.99
OCT180191    ERRAND BOYS #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
OCT180028    FREEZE #1    $3.99
OCT180194    GASOLINA #13 (MR)    $3.99
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OCT180211    KICK-ASS #10 CVR B FRUSIN (MR)    $3.99
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SEP188835    MAN-EATERS #2 2ND PTG    $3.99
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OCT180106    PARADISO TP VOL 02 DARK DWELLERS    $16.99
OCT180018    PRODIGY #1 (OF 6) CVR A ALBUQUERQUE (MR)    $3.99
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OCT180255    UNNATURAL #5 (OF 12) CVR A ANDOLFO (MR)    $3.99
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OCT180266    WICKED & DIVINE #40 CVR C HERO INITIATIVE VAR (MR)    $3.99
OCT180135    WICKED & DIVINE HC VOL 03 (MR)    $44.99

Review: GENERATIONS: Phoenix & Jean Grey #1

GENERATIONS: PHOENIX & JEAN GREY No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Cullen Bunn
PENCILS: R. B. Silva
INKS: Adriano Di Benedetto with R. B. Silva
COLORS: Rain Beredo
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
COVER: Stephanie Hans
VARIANT COVERS: Terry Dodson with Rachel Dodson; Alex Ross; Stephane Roux
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (October 2017)

Rated T+

Jean Grey created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee; Phoenix created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum

“The Phoenix”

Generations is a ten-issue anthology, weekly comic book series published by Marvel Comics.  Each issue is written and drawn by a different creative team, and each issue will feature a different team-up of a classic Marvel superhero with his or her modern-day counterpart.  The series is meant to unite the legacy of classic Marvel Comics characters with the next generation of heroes, as both move into the future of Marvel Comics storytelling.

The second issue of this series is Generations: Phoenix & Jean Grey.  This stand-alone story brings together two versions of Marvel Girl/Jean Grey.  First is the young Jean Grey of the original X-Men, who was brought to the future/present and stranded there beginning in the series, All-New X-Men (written by Brian Michael Bendis).  The second is The Phoenix/Jean Grey, the version of the character that came into existence in X-Men #101 (cover dated:  October 1976) when Jean was possessed by the nigh-all-powerful cosmic entity, the “Phoenix Force.”  This entry in the Generations series is written by Cullen Bunn; drawn by R.B. Silva and Adriano Di Benedetto; colored by Rain Beredo; and lettered by Travis Lanham.

Generations: Phoenix & Jean Grey #1 (“The Phoenix”) opens as young Jean Grey finds herself somewhere she shouldn't be – another world.  After a short walk, she discovers a beach and an older version of herself sunning on the beach.  Jean knows that this older Jean is “The Phoenix.”  Young Jean knows that the Phoenix Force is coming for her (in fact, it already is back in her world).  Now, is the time to ask questions about the Phoenix, but older Jean seems reluctant to tell.  Plus, Jean Grey/The Phoenix suspects that young Jean knows something about her fate – something terrible.  Plus, three classic Marvel Comics cosmic entities guest star.

I wanted to be cynical, but I really enjoyed Generations: Phoenix & Jean Grey.  Writer Cullen Bunn makes young Jean Grey ask Jean Grey/The Phoenix ALL the questions she should.  Older Jean Grey should be annoyed, but Bunn depicts her as reticent and troubled.  Bunn's approach not only makes this issue of Generations intriguing, but also makes the current ongoing Jean Grey series seem like a comic book that should be read (and yes, you should be reading it.)

The art team of Generations: Phoenix & Jean Grey – R.B. Silva, Adriano Di Benedetto, and Rain Beredo – deliver some gorgeous art, and the storytelling is quite good.  The character scenes are dramatic and even a little poignant and maybe even sad, and the action scenes come across as something a little different – or different enough from standard X-Men franchise fare.  In fact, the art in Generations: Phoenix & Jean Grey reminds me of the best of Stuart Immonen and company in one of the few high-quality recent X-Men comic books, All-New X-Men (2012),

So Generations: Phoenix & Jean Grey #1, the second entry in the Generations series, is the best so far.  If the Generations to come are better than this one, the entire series will end up being more than just another cynical Marvel editorial ploy

A
8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: BLACK WIDOW #1

BLACK WIDOW No. 1 (2016)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Chris Samnee and Mark Waid
ART: Chris Samnee
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Chris Samnee with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVERS: John Tyler Christopher; Stephanie Hans; Tula Lotay; Phil Noto; Kevin Wada; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2016)

Rated “T+”

Black Widow is a Marvel Comics female superhero.  She was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck and first appeared in Tales of Suspense No. 52 (cover dated: April 1964).  When she was first introduced, Black Widow was Natasha Romanova, a Russian spy who did not wear a superhero costume.  She was an antagonist of Iron Man, but later defected to the United States, where she became an agent of the spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D., and a member of the Avengers, becoming, of course, a superhero.

The All-New, All-Different Marvel presents a new comic book featuring Ms. Romanova, entitled (of course), Black Widow.  The series is written by Chris Samnee and Mark Waid; drawn by Samnee; colored by Matthew Wilson; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

Black Widow #1 opens with the title character fighting her way through an office section of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.  Black Widow has gone rogue and is fighting former colleagues.  She is now S.H.I.E.L.D. public enemy #1.  Why?

I have never read a single issue of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's Eisner Award-winning run on Daredevil, but I keep planning on doing so.  I did read their thrilling IDW Publishing miniseries, The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom, which I quite enjoyed (Encore! Encore!).

I'm curious about Black Widow because I am a fan of actress Scarlett Johanson's portrayal of the character in several Marvel Studio films.  So now I'm all like, let's read some Black Widow comics.  Well, this new Black Widow #1 is comprised of a long action sequence.  It is neither imaginative nor thrilling.  At the end of the book, Waid, Samnee, and editor Jake Thomas swear that we are in for something really good.  Just wait until the next issue... or the one after that... or the one after that...  [Just wait for the trade!]

This first issue is but a taste... OK.  So I'll give Black Widow #1 a grade of “B-” with the hope of a better grade on layaway.

B-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 8, 2015

MARVEL COMICS

FEB150790     ALL NEW HAWKEYE #2     $3.99
JAN158143     ALL NEW X-MEN #38 SORRENTINO 2ND PTG VAR BV     $3.99
FEB150803     ANGELA ASGARDS ASSASSIN #5     $3.99
FEB150806     ANT-MAN #4     $3.99
NOV140869     AVENGERS BY JONATHAN HICKMAN HC VOL 01     $34.99
FEB150874     AVENGERS COLORING POSTER     $8.99
FEB150694     AVENGERS MILLENNIUM #2     $3.99
FEB150876     AVENGERS NEW AVENGERS TIME RUNS OUT POSTER     $8.99
FEB150875     AVENGERS ULTRON FOREVER BY DAVIS POSTER     $8.99
JAN150894     AVENGERS ULTRON UNBOUND TP     $24.99
NOV140862     AVENGERS VIBRANIUM COLLECTION SLIPCASE HC     $200.00
FEB150716     AVENGERS WORLD #19 TRO     $3.99
FEB150817     BUCKY BARNES WINTER SOLDIER #7     $3.99
JAN150900     CAPTAIN AMERICA TP VOL 04 IRON NAIL     $19.99
FEB150736     CAPTAIN MARVEL #14 BV     $3.99
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FEB150682     DARTH VADER #4     $3.99
FEB150830     DEADPOOL #45 (250TH ISSUE)     $9.99
FEB150749     GUARDIANS 3000 #7     $3.99
FEB150773     HOWARD THE DUCK #2     $3.99
FEB150793     HULK #14     $3.99
FEB150756     MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ASSEMBLE SEASON TWO #6     $2.99
FEB150689     MAX RIDE FIRST FLIGHT #1     $3.99
FEB150877     MAX RIDE FIRST FLIGHT POSTER     $8.99
FEB150718     MILES MORALES ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #12     $3.99
DEC140967     MIRACLEMAN PREM HC BOOK 03 OLYMPUS ADAMS CVR (MR)     $39.99
NOV140870     NEW AVENGERS BY JONATHAN HICKMAN HC VOL 01     $34.99
JAN150822     SHIELD #4     $3.99
JAN150893     SKULL SLAYER TP     $24.99
FEB150726     SPIDER-MAN 2099 #11     $3.99
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JAN150884     STAR WARS LEGENDS EPIC COLLECTION TP VOL 01 EMPIRE     $34.99
FEB150835     STORM #10     $3.99
FEB150763     TRUE BELIEVERS CIVIL WAR #1     $1.00
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I Reads You Review: ANGELA: Asgard's Assassin #1

ANGELA: ASGARD'S ASSASIN #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITERS: Kieron Gillen; Marguerite Bennett and Kieron Gillen
PENCILS: Phil Jimenez; Stephanie Hans
INKS: Tom Palmer; Stephanie Hans
COLORS: Romulo Fajardo; Stephanie Hans
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Stephanie Hans
VARIANT COVERS: Phil Jimenez and Dan Green with Frank D'armata; Joe Quesada; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Rated “T+”

Angela created by Todd McFarlane and Neil Gaiman

Angela: Asgard's Assassin is a new comic book series launched as part of Marvel Comics' “Avengers NOW!” initiative.  The series features a character that was not originally a Marvel Comics character.

Angela is a comic book character created by writer Neil Gaiman and artist Todd McFarlane.  She first appeared in Spawn #9 (cover dated: March 1993) as a supporting character and adversary.  Published by Image Comics, Spawn was McFarlane's creator-owned series, and Angela was later the subject of a protracted legal battle between McFarlane and Gaiman.

Gaiman eventually won the rights to the character and transferred those rights to Marvel Comics.  Angela's Marvel debut was in the event miniseries, Age of Ultron (#10; cover dated: June 2013).  Angela's origin and purpose were changed from what they were in Spawn.  In the Marvel Universe, Angela was revealed to be Aldrif, the daughter of Odin (King of Asgard) and his wife, Frigga, which makes her the sister of Thor and Loki.  Once believed to have been murdered, Angela is now “the deadliest warrior in all the Ten Realms.”

Angela: Asgard's Assassin #1 finds Angela walking through the desert of Limbo, facing down hordes, and carrying... a baby?!  Plus, her partner, Sera, tells a tale of Angela's past.

Hmmm... Wow...  Over two decades later, Angela belongs to another publisher, yet the new publisher releases an Angela comic book that seems as if it were produced by the old publisher 20 years ago.  By that, I mean pretty art, underwhelming story.

Phil Jimenez and the great inker, Tom Palmer, deliver stellar art, creating a tale that looks like a bizarre melding of J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard.  The gor-to-the-geous colors by Romulo Fajardo make the main story of Angela: Asgard's Assassin seem like a piece straight out of classic Heavy Metal.  However, the story does nothing for me, and I am not even interested in trying to talk about it.

The side story by writer Marguerite Bennett and artist Stephanie Hans is better.  It is a familiar story type, and with its pretty art, it also recalls Marvel's old Epic Magazine.  That said, I can't see myself reading future issues of Angela: Asgard's Assassin.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 10, 2014

MARVEL COMICS

OCT140881     ALL NEW ULTIMATES #11     $3.99
OCT140829     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #11 SV     $3.99
OCT140824     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1     $4.99
OCT140802     AMAZING X-MEN #14 AXIS     $3.99
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OCT140794     AXIS CARNAGE #3     $3.99
OCT140897     DEADPOOLS ART OF WAR #3     $3.99
OCT140840     DEATH OF WOLVERINE LOGAN LEGACY #6     $3.99
SEP148352     DEATH WOLVERINE DEADPOOL CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 2ND PTG VAR     $4.99
OCT140880     GEORGE ROMEROS EMPIRE OF DEAD ACT TWO #4     $3.99
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JUN140674     GUARDIANS OF GALAXY ANNUAL #1     $4.99
SEP140931     MIGHTY AVENGERS TP VOL 03 ORIGINAL SIN NOT FATHERS AVENGERS     $14.99
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OCT140826     SPIDER-MAN AND X-MEN #1     $3.99
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OCT140862     THOR #3     $3.99
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SEP140925     WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION TP MADRIPOOR NIGHTS     $34.99
OCT140900     X-FORCE #13     $3.99
OCT140896     X-MEN #22     $3.99

I Reads You Review: AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #0

"Without a bang"

AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #0
MARVEL COMICS

WRITERS: Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron
ARTIST: Frank Cho
COLORS: Jason Keith
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
COVERS: Frank Cho with Jason Keith; Stephanie Hans (alternate cover)
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated: T+

Avengers vs. X-Men is Marvel Comics’ current giant, crossover, event series. I’ve read comments on the old Interweb that suggest Avengers vs. X-Men will be Marvel’s biggest publishing event in over a decade, at least from the point of view of sales.

I am sure that it will be a big thing. This planned 12-issue miniseries pits the Avengers and the X-Men against each other, apparently over The Phoenix. The X-Men are a sales and merchandising juggernaut for Marvel, and the franchise has produced five successful films for 20th Century Fox. The Avengers are a little less than a month away from their debut on the big screen, when the film, Marvel’s The Avengers, arrives. Two Iron Man movies have a combined gross of over one billion dollars in worldwide box office. In 2011, two other Avengers films, Thor and Captain America, each made more than 170 million dollars in domestic box office.

Avengers vs. X-Men #0 is a prologue to the main event and focuses on Avenger, Scarlet Witch, and X-Man, Hope Summers, and blends two separate stories starring each character. In the Scarlet Witch story (written by Brian Michael Bendis), the reality-warping mutant and long-time member of the Avengers hopes to get back into the superhero business. She takes on M.O.D.O.K., but ends up needing help from Spider-Woman and Ms. Marvel. This reunion leads to a bigger reunion, but perhaps, the Scarlet Witch can’t go home again.

In the Hope Summers story (written by Jason Aaron), the young woman called the “mutant messiah,” feels confined by others’ expectations of her. Hope spends her time ruthlessly punishing non-super-powered criminals, but now, she faces the Serpent Society.

For a prologue to a big, big event, Avengers vs. X-Men #0 is surprisingly blasé. The Avengers come across as stock figures in their appearance here, except for The Vision and the Scarlet Witch. This duo is where the fire is in this story, but the constraints forced upon the story smother the fire. The Hope Summers story is only a tad bit better – if it is actually appropriate for me to use the word “better” to describe this comic book. The other characters are wooden, and Hope is petulant, but in a totally boring king of way.

The art by Frank Cho is technically well-drawn, but looks like a mechanical exercise that at least 20 other robo-artists-for-hire could have done in the same drawing style and with the same lack of panache.

I hope issue #1 is better, and I’ll find out soon.

C+

Appearances:
HEROES: Scarlet Witch, Hope Summers; The Avengers: Beast, Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, Spider-Woman, Thor, The Vision, Wolverine; The X-Men: Cyclops, Emma Frost

VILLAINS: M.O.D.O.K.; The Serpent Society: Anaconda, Asp, Bushmaster, Cottonmouth, Puff Adder