Comments on: Mighty Avengers #1 http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1200.htm/ We Know You Love Comics. We Do Too. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:07:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Matthew Peterson http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1200.htm/#comment-11008 Matthew Peterson Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:34:49 +0000 http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1200.htm/#comment-11008 Ms. Marvel is talking from her heart, so I can accept it. It's actually interesting characterization that she's so willing to call her friend and confidante the "second best" Avenger regardless of evidence to the contrary. He's fair to middling, at best, though admittedly I love him. As for Thor as the greatest Avenger, that's a misnomer. Thor is the all-around workhorse, the impact player, last line of defense, yes, but in my eyes, he's a terrible Avenger because he's a terrible team player. The job of any chairman working with a team including the big guy is to just let Thor be Thor, and sort out the details later. Keep your team out of the way when the lightning starts flying. Would I want him on MY Avengers team? Possibly, for his power, connections, and sheer muscle, but as a <i>team player?</i> He's a wash. Ms. Marvel is talking from her heart, so I can accept it. It’s actually interesting characterization that she’s so willing to call her friend and confidante the “second best” Avenger regardless of evidence to the contrary. He’s fair to middling, at best, though admittedly I love him.

As for Thor as the greatest Avenger, that’s a misnomer. Thor is the all-around workhorse, the impact player, last line of defense, yes, but in my eyes, he’s a terrible Avenger because he’s a terrible team player. The job of any chairman working with a team including the big guy is to just let Thor be Thor, and sort out the details later. Keep your team out of the way when the lightning starts flying. Would I want him on MY Avengers team? Possibly, for his power, connections, and sheer muscle, but as a team player? He’s a wash.

]]> By: Mark I. http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1200.htm/#comment-10980 Mark I. Mon, 02 Apr 2007 16:11:50 +0000 http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1200.htm/#comment-10980 Ms. Marvel's "second best" Avenger comment regarding WONDER MAN of all heroes was just weird. If anything, he's their fourth or fifth-best "pure no-frills powerhouse" ever. Still, if purposely discounting Captain America and himself, Hombre de Hierro calling Thor the best Avenger is pretty close to the mark if you consider the man saying it is thinking in pure terms of ability. Thor could fly, was super-strong, nigh-indestructible, could summon the lightning, and had connections in Asgard. That's one heck of an asset. Sure, Hawkeye and Wasp were intelligent, gutsy, and ultra-reliable, but a CEO doesn't want guts, he wants the hammer. Ms. Marvel’s “second best” Avenger comment regarding WONDER MAN of all heroes was just weird. If anything, he’s their fourth or fifth-best “pure no-frills powerhouse” ever. Still, if purposely discounting Captain America and himself, Hombre de Hierro calling Thor the best Avenger is pretty close to the mark if you consider the man saying it is thinking in pure terms of ability. Thor could fly, was super-strong, nigh-indestructible, could summon the lightning, and had connections in Asgard. That’s one heck of an asset. Sure, Hawkeye and Wasp were intelligent, gutsy, and ultra-reliable, but a CEO doesn’t want guts, he wants the hammer.

]]> By: Matthew Peterson http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1200.htm/#comment-10909 Matthew Peterson Mon, 02 Apr 2007 13:32:27 +0000 http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1200.htm/#comment-10909 <i>TomGrice sez: "Hmmm…given your excellent explanation of your grading scale (which I think only underscores that JSA #4 was better than you scored it but that belongs on the other post and I am literally beating a dead horse with that so I should just drop it because I am not going to convince you otherwise) I also think Mighty Avengers #1 should get a slightly higher rating."</i> This is an interesting point, and bears addressing. A 3.5 star book is an awesome, "Hell, yeah!" comic. Putting things into perspective, comparitive 3.5 star books would include Crisis On Infinite Earths #1, Big Numbers #1, Marvel Zombies Vs. Army of Darkness #1, and Sandman #54 (The Prez issue). It's not like I'm poking JSA in the eye while pouring sugar in it's gas tank. As for Mighty Avengers, when I mentioned a two star book in my rating rant, I said the following: <b>"2 stars: This is the point where the flaws overwhelm the good bits. Art that’s bad, not just inappropriate or strange in places. The characters may act completely stupid, or the plot my labor under it’s own pretensions, or worse, may be cliche and stupid. A 2 star book is the level at which you CANNOT have a “Hell, YEAH!” moment, because that would push it back up to 2.5. A book like this tries, but doesn’t succeed."</b> The art isn't bad at all here, it's actually quite good. However, the characters <em>are</em> acting stupid (Sentry and Wonder Man, notably) and the plot is (intentionally, I think) incomprehensible. Tony and Carol's interaction is nice, if weird, and there's been no indication in the past of Ultron being able to control the weather or earthquakes, etc. With the sole exception of Ares and Iron Man trying to out-testosterone each other, nothing comes close to a "Hell, yeah" markout moment for me, and that sequence mostly stands out because of Ares distaste and contempt for the mortals in general, and 'Tin Man' in particular. There's a Cyclops/Wolverine dynamic going on there which may bear watching. I was disappointed by the synthesis of art and story, and was confused and distracted by the last three pages of the issue. I really wanted more out of the book (especially a book that kept being hyped as "the beginnings of the new Marvel Universe!") than I got, prompting me to deem it a "tries, but doesn't QUITE succeed" issue. Sometimes a comic just leaves you with an unquantifiable feeling that is hard to express, and that's what I had here. Certainly my feelings will change as the story does, and I may regret this rating down the road, but for now, I think it's appropriate. Your mileage, as always, may vary. TomGrice sez: “Hmmm…given your excellent explanation of your grading scale (which I think only underscores that JSA #4 was better than you scored it but that belongs on the other post and I am literally beating a dead horse with that so I should just drop it because I am not going to convince you otherwise) I also think Mighty Avengers #1 should get a slightly higher rating.”

This is an interesting point, and bears addressing. A 3.5 star book is an awesome, “Hell, yeah!” comic. Putting things into perspective, comparitive 3.5 star books would include Crisis On Infinite Earths #1, Big Numbers #1, Marvel Zombies Vs. Army of Darkness #1, and Sandman #54 (The Prez issue). It’s not like I’m poking JSA in the eye while pouring sugar in it’s gas tank. As for Mighty Avengers, when I mentioned a two star book in my rating rant, I said the following:

“2 stars: This is the point where the flaws overwhelm the good bits. Art that’s bad, not just inappropriate or strange in places. The characters may act completely stupid, or the plot my labor under it’s own pretensions, or worse, may be cliche and stupid. A 2 star book is the level at which you CANNOT have a “Hell, YEAH!” moment, because that would push it back up to 2.5. A book like this tries, but doesn’t succeed.”

The art isn’t bad at all here, it’s actually quite good. However, the characters are acting stupid (Sentry and Wonder Man, notably) and the plot is (intentionally, I think) incomprehensible. Tony and Carol’s interaction is nice, if weird, and there’s been no indication in the past of Ultron being able to control the weather or earthquakes, etc. With the sole exception of Ares and Iron Man trying to out-testosterone each other, nothing comes close to a “Hell, yeah” markout moment for me, and that sequence mostly stands out because of Ares distaste and contempt for the mortals in general, and ‘Tin Man’ in particular. There’s a Cyclops/Wolverine dynamic going on there which may bear watching.

I was disappointed by the synthesis of art and story, and was confused and distracted by the last three pages of the issue. I really wanted more out of the book (especially a book that kept being hyped as “the beginnings of the new Marvel Universe!”) than I got, prompting me to deem it a “tries, but doesn’t QUITE succeed” issue. Sometimes a comic just leaves you with an unquantifiable feeling that is hard to express, and that’s what I had here. Certainly my feelings will change as the story does, and I may regret this rating down the road, but for now, I think it’s appropriate. Your mileage, as always, may vary.

]]> By: Matthew Peterson http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1200.htm/#comment-10710 Matthew Peterson Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:55:37 +0000 http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1200.htm/#comment-10710 Monica Rambeau is power incarnate, has leadership potential, and is smart as a whip. Wonder Man's claim to fame is being completely invulnerable to harm, yet still managing to DIE every 7 years. What sort of pedigree is that? She-Hulk & The Black Knight would make the top twenty, easily. Ditto on the wanting to slap Tony Stark. I sincerely hope that the incipient return of Doctor Banner will engender the smackdown that he so richly deserves... Monica Rambeau is power incarnate, has leadership potential, and is smart as a whip. Wonder Man’s claim to fame is being completely invulnerable to harm, yet still managing to DIE every 7 years. What sort of pedigree is that? She-Hulk & The Black Knight would make the top twenty, easily.

Ditto on the wanting to slap Tony Stark. I sincerely hope that the incipient return of Doctor Banner will engender the smackdown that he so richly deserves…

]]> By: TomGrice http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1200.htm/#comment-10645 TomGrice Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:26:06 +0000 http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1200.htm/#comment-10645 Hmmm...given your excellent explanation of your grading scale (which I think only underscores that JSA #4 was better than you scored it but that belongs on the other post and I am literally beating a dead horse with that so I should just drop it because I am not going to convince you otherwise) I also think Mighty Avengers #1 should get a slightly higher rating. Still, I did enjoy your review of a book I have been struggling with a bit myself. My biggest problem now is my intense hatred of Tony Stark in every book but his own. In the actual Iron Man title his motivations make sense and you feel the conflict in his heart and realize this is killing him. Here and in other titles he just seems self-righteuous and smug. And I want to slap him. But Ares was cool and worth the price of the book, along with Cho's art. Your top 10 Avengers is... interesting. Captain Marvel II? Luke Cage? What about Scarlett Witch, She-Hulk, Giant Man/Yellowjacket/Ant-Man/Goliath/Dr. Pym, Hercules, Black Widow, the Black Knight, or Namor? For that matter Wonder Man is clearly higher than Captain Marvel II! I love Luke Cage so I won't really argue him, but CMII? Buddy... Hmmm…given your excellent explanation of your grading scale (which I think only underscores that JSA #4 was better than you scored it but that belongs on the other post and I am literally beating a dead horse with that so I should just drop it because I am not going to convince you otherwise) I also think Mighty Avengers #1 should get a slightly higher rating. Still, I did enjoy your review of a book I have been struggling with a bit myself. My biggest problem now is my intense hatred of Tony Stark in every book but his own. In the actual Iron Man title his motivations make sense and you feel the conflict in his heart and realize this is killing him. Here and in other titles he just seems self-righteuous and smug. And I want to slap him. But Ares was cool and worth the price of the book, along with Cho’s art.

Your top 10 Avengers is… interesting. Captain Marvel II? Luke Cage? What about Scarlett Witch, She-Hulk, Giant Man/Yellowjacket/Ant-Man/Goliath/Dr. Pym, Hercules, Black Widow, the Black Knight, or Namor? For that matter Wonder Man is clearly higher than Captain Marvel II! I love Luke Cage so I won’t really argue him, but CMII? Buddy…

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