By: Brian Michael Bendis (story), Michael Avon Oeming (art), Rain Beredo (colors), and Joe Caramagna (letters)
The Story: Daniel Drumm continues to wreak havoc as Dr. Strange looks increasingly murderous to SHIELD.
The Review: Without a doubt, the star of this issue is the artwork. Of course, I’m also left thinking how bloody WEIRD this arc is going to look when it’s collected, as we’ve gone from artists as wildly different from each other as Michael Gaydos to Carlos Pacheco to, now, Michael Avon Oeming. And apparently next issue, we’re going to Mike Deodato, because why not?
But hey, as a single issue reader, it’s kind of fun seeing each Bendis buddy get a chance to shine on Bendis’ farewell to his baby. Without a doubt, Oeming’s art is the star with this issue and it’s really something. It’s guaranteed to be the most distinctive and unique looking Marvel comic of the week. To put it simply, there is only one Oeming. I know some people who can’t stand his work – it’s “cartoony”, heavily stylized, and not necessarily the most detailed. That being said, as a long-time fan of Powers, I love Oeming’s stuff. It’s just so damned fun to look at and it just feels very, well, “comic book-y.” Also, when it comes to lay-outs, Oeming is second to none and while this issue is more conservative than, say, Powers, it’s still very fluid stuff here. Oeming’s style is so idiosyncratic and contrary to the typical Marvel style that it’s just a real treat getting to see him draw an issue of New Avengers – it ends up feeling like a fun jam session more than just another Avengers issue, as though we’re reading some kind of out of continuity one-shot. It’s just fun.
As far as Bendis’ script goes, having Oeming along certainly helps, but I really felt like I was reading an issue of Powers here. Given that the main focus of the issue is SHIELD chasing down a superhero, Dr. Strange, for murdering other mystic heroes as Strange is finding himself framed again and again, it’s clear that Bendis is bringing a little Powers into the Marvel Universe in this one, so it’s only fitting that Oeming show up for the ride. Given that Powers was a big part of Bendis’ landing a job at Marvel, it’s only fitting that he link it to New Avenger so directly in his final farewell to the long-running title. There’s also something really meta about it that I’m still wrapping my head around: there’s something wonderfully amusing about a superhero comic mimicking a comic that was meant to be a deconstruction of superhero comics. It feels weirdly cyclical.
All this being said, I will say that this issue isn’t as strong as the last insofar as it feels a little more “transitional.” Furthermore, there’s something slightly underwhelming in seeing the chaos that was so well-portrayed last issue eventually just devolve into heroes punching each other this issue. It just doesn’t feel quite as smart. That being said, this is sort of rectified by the cliffhanger, which brings the focus back around to Daniel Drumm’s game against Doctor Strange and sets up next week’s conclusion very well.
Conclusion: A fun enough issue for most, but a real treat if you’re a Powers fan.
Grade: B
-Alex Evans
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