As has become a trend this has been another packed week of comic book releases. We already had individual reviews for Batman and Robin #1, The Cull #2, Coda #1, Daredevil #1, and Green Lantern #3 live on the site. To give more of a spotlight on other releases this week’s comic book round-up will be highlighting Avengers Inc. #1, World’s Finest: Teen Titans #3, and X-Men Red #15. Scroll down to find out how these comic books turned out.
AVENGERS INC. #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Leonard Kirk
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Coy Petit
REVIEW
Right out of the gate Avengers Inc. #1 isn’t the most new reader friendly start. This series acts as a direct follow-up to the ending of Al Ewing’s Wasp series. Not only that but by the end if you didn’t know what’s been going on with Hank Pym the last few years here is also yet another layer where you could be lost. It all makes Avengers Inc. a series that is very much targeting a niche of a niche audience rather than just general Avengers fans.
The positive of all this is that Al Ewing knows how to capture the individual voices of Janet Van Dyne, Luke Cage, Hank Pym, and other characters. As the main driving force Janet comes across as the experienced veteran hero she is at this point. Similarly, you feel the weight of being Mayor of New York City that Luke Cage is carrying right now. While they haven’t interacted much Ewing understood that Janet and Luke are veterans who would speak to each other as peers. That allowed the dialogue to have a natural flow to it.
Moving forward Ewing will need to quickly get over Victor Shade as a character. The character is extremely niche that can fill the unknown “X Factor” role for the team. Though hopefully Ewing tones down the inner monologue as that does get distracting for a team book series. The emphasis should be on the chemistry between the members of Avengers Inc.
Leonard Kirk’s artwork was solid. Kirk’s at his best when giving a sense of movement to the action sequences. The slower, dialogue heavy scenes have some rushed look, especially at the end. That left it appear as a static image rather than having the momentum from panel to panel.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you’re a fan of Janet Van Dyne and Hank Pym then Avengers Inc. #1 is a comic book you’ll want to check out. Al Ewing is on a mission to bring both characters back into the spotlight. That does mean this isn’t a new reader friendly first issue. But if you can just accept, you’ll be learning as you follow the series Avengers Inc. is set up to do some big things.
Story Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
WORLD’S FINEST: TEEN TITANS #3
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Emanuela Lupacchino
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Steve Wands
REVIEW
The deeper we get into World’s Finest: Teen Titans the more Mark Waid and Emanuela Lupacchino are placing an emphasis the difference between the characters. It’s not just on the individuality of each of the original Teen Titans as characters. There is also various examples of how each member has been influenced, or not influenced, by their mentors. Some are in your face like Batman and Robin, but others like Kid Flash and Wonder Girl you get a sense of their relationships with their mentors by the way they act.
That’s what made the setting for World’s Finest: Teen Titans #3 being a convention dedicated to the team so fun. While most of the team goes together their experience at the convention is different for all of them. This is reflective where they are at this point in their life. With Wonder Girl, we see that she is still just taking in the world and everything is a new experience for Donna. Whereas for Bumblebee, Karen once again emphasizes the importance of her secret identity. Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Speedy are also given their moments that show where they are at in their lives.
This all made when things go south with the villain attack that is presented better than his gimmick would normally. Toyboy as a character isn’t that interesting, though his unique power brings an element of chaos that works for the setting. This villain battle once again highlights how important it is for the Teen Titans to work together as a team. It also makes the ending once again show how as the leader Dick Grayson approach to being a superhero is different not only from his teammates but how he grew up before becoming Robin.
Lupacchino artwork continues to hit the classic comic book art style fitting with the original Teen Titans era. At the same time, Lupacchino makes sure to have a lot of things that make the story feel more of a modern story. With the convention setting Lupacchino captures how overwhelmingly excited fans got once the Teen Titans appeared as the stars.
FINAL THOUGHTS
World’s Finest: Teen Titans #3 further cements this as one of the best comic books of the year for DC Comics. The convention setting opened new opportunities to explore where each Teen Titans member is at in this point in their lives in and out of their superhero identity. The continued build of the Terror Titans helps build up an endgame for when we get to the final issue of this mini-series.
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
X-MEN RED #15
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Yildiray Cinar
Colorist: Federico Blee
Letterer: Ariana Maher
REVIEW
While part of the Fall of X, Al Ewing and Yildiray Cinar have found a way to have X-Men Red exist on its own. There are obvious elements from Fall of X’s direction impacting X-Men Red. But to Ewing and Cinar’s credit Fall of X is utilized to enhance everything going on at Arakko to take it to the next level.
To X-Men Red #15 strength is that there is no fear in having a large cast. There are so many different groups, pairings, and individuals who are highlighted. The mix of all this allows even a conversation heavy issue like X-Men Red #15 keep interest high. Ewing understand how to keep the conversations moving from one to another so nothing overstays its welcome. Every scene and word spoken is given importance because the flow of the story works so well.
Most importantly, there is a feeling that every move characters make is important. There are consequences to the decisions Storm and her group make. The same goes for Genesis who continues to take her survival-of-the-fittest to another level. Everything gets Genesis over in particular as one of the biggest bads there is at Marvel right now. Which all leads into the big jaw dropping ending that gets you even further invested into X-Men Red, which is a home run because of Cinar’s great artwork.
FINAL THOUGHTS
X-Men Red #15 does a great job utilizing the Fall of X direction for the franchise to elevate what’s going on at Arakko. With each appearance Genesis is positioned as a terrifying villain. It makes what Storm and her group are doing being given greater importance. All that makes the ending be something where you’re left wanting to read the next issue right away.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10