by Brian Michael Bendis (story), Terry Dodson (pencils), Rachel Dodson (inks), Jason Keith (colors), and Cory Petit (letters)
The Story: The Avengers try to save the Wasp from Lord Gouzar and leave behind the Microverse once and for all.
The Review: Comics like this are really frustrating, particularly when it comes to reviewing, let alone grading them. What the hell do you do with a comic that is so perfectly inoffensive? Bendis and the Dodsons give us that this month, providing us with an issue that is completely passable on every front but not a whole lot more than that. There’s not a lot to praise, but there’s also nothing to really gripe about either.
That being said, in giving us a by the numbers “fun” Avengers story, it can definitely be argued that this issue feels a bit like comfort food. It’s archetypal “big” superhero comics and everything is adequately and professionally done. As such, it’s a nice, easy read and a fun way to pass the time, without causing any real irritation or frustration.
At the very least, Bendis gives us a nicely balanced comic here – there’s a good amount of action, plot progression, snappy dialogue, and humour, as well as genuine emotion in the reunion of the Pyms. Overall, it’s a fairly rounded experience that never drags.
Of course, there are also the issues that make this issue seem a bit forgettable. For one thing, this “Lord Gouzar” villain is about as derivative as possible. Hell, Janet almost goes out of her way to basically say “yeah, he’s just some derivative bad guy.” In that respect, it’s pretty uninspiring. This, combined with the fact that this is little more than yet another “lost in a hostile world” storyline, a basic narrative that’s a dime a dozen for the genre, makes the book feel a tad generic. This only emphasizes the point that really, this entire arc is really just a means for bringing back Janet. Everything else is, to some extent, just going through the motions and filling the pages. But, at least it’s competently done and fun, for the most part.
Even the Dodsons’ artwork is irritatingly inoffensive. Normally, the Dodsons’ work is really eye-catching, popping off the page and brimming with energy with its very distinct style. I just didn’t feel that this month. Again, I can’t find a panel or page where anything goes wrong, persay, but I get the feeling that this issue was a bit rushed. There just isn’t quite that same level of eye-catching definition that usually marks out Dodson artwork. Instead it’s just…there, perfectly good and yet far more unremarkable than Dodson’s work usually is. Perhaps the work is a little rougher and a little less dynamic. It’s hard to put my finger on it, but I just don’t get that same level of energy that I normally get out of Dodson’s art. That being said, for all my complaining, it’s perfectly serviceable artwork.
Conclusion: A perfectly adequate Avengers comic book that hits all the right buttons, but it never really rises above “adequate,” nor does it really seem to attempt to.
Grade: C+
-Alex Evans
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