Biff Bam Pow Comics

Here’s one definition of a good comic book.

“A book that stays with you almost a full week after you first read it.”

***SPOILER ALERT***

After reading this book, I was planning to give it a 3 out of 5 score, as I’d decided it was a fairly average book. But then my Dad came down, and I got a little sidetracked. Consequently, I didn’t get a chance to post a review. Or much else.

(sorry about that)

But as it happens, it’s probably a good thing that I didn’t. As around about now - I’d be posting my first ever retraction.

I was going to tell you how I wasn’t quite as gripped as I was expecting to be, and how I would have liked to see a little more in the issue, but now… Somewhat surprisingly… I have a different opinion entirely.

This issue of Avengers / Invaders stayed with me throughout the past week. I couldn’t help but remember scenes from the book;

• Captain America, and the Sub-Mariner emerging from a night in the subway;
• Iron Man putting the Invaders ‘down’ with the help of some ‘Mighty’ Avengers;
• The (original) Human Torch, kept captive in an indoor rainstorm;
• Bucky cutting his arm open to facilitate an escape;
• the ‘New’ Avengers plotting to ’save’ the Invaders.

Having thought about it - I think I can explain why my opinion changed. All of the above scenes carry weight. Not just a ‘good story’ weight. But a ‘historic weight’.

Jim Krueger, Alex Ross and Steve Sadowski have created something quite wonderful. So wonderful in fact, that it fits squarely in that ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ area of our collective vision.

If you read issue 2 like I did the first time - quickly, in amongst other books - I bet you’ll be of the same opinion as me a week ago. Average.

But read it when you’re free of distraction, sitting in a relaxing chair, by an open window, with a coffee, and you’ll read a true piece of Marvel history.

This series is shaping up to be more than good. Its shaping up to be special.

Pete’s Score: 4 out of 5
(think coffee - think favourite chair - think relaxing breeze - think avengers / invaders issue 2) 

I’m always interested in new Alex Ross books. Although this is a new Alex Ross book, this isn’t quite the kind of book I mean when I say that. I’m talking, of course, about the artwork. Alex Ross’ art is nothing short of jaw droppingly beautiful.

This book, isn’t draw by Alex Ross - it’s co-plotted by him (with Jim Krueger). So is it still worth picking up, and more importantly, does it have the same seal of quality as his other work?

***SPOILER ALERT***

The book opens during World War 2, with the Invaders on a mission to steal the ‘Ordmung Zeitgeist from Monte Cassino’ (to keep it from Hitler’s hands). During their mission, Captain America, The Sub-Mariner, The (original) Human Torch, Toro and Bucky enter strange green mists, while the others around them are pinned down by German gunfire…

Flash forwards to today, and we see Spider-Man on the run from The Thunderbolts, who are taking delight in their attempts to capture him (as an ‘outlaw’) in the most painful ways possible.

Green mists appear, and so do our five Invaders…

Initially, I was a little skeptical of this book - but being an interesting concept, I decided to pick it up anyway. So glad I did.

Steve Sadowski’s pencils are top notch, managing to be somehow strangely fitting for capturing the essence of the out-of-time WW2 heroes drawn within the book. Jim Krueger has done a fantastic job of fleshing out the story within the book, and of creating enough interest from the outset for me to ‘tentatively’ commit to buying the next 11 issues.

So to answer my earlier seal of quality question, “yes - yes it does”.

Pete’s Score: 4 out of 5
(very worthwhile read - something that will no doubt approach some very hard issues throughout its course)