NEW AVENGERS #1
Written by Al Ewing
Art by Gerardo Sandoval and Dono Sánchez Almara
Published by Marvel Comics
Release Date: October 14, 2015
Out of Secret Wars comes an all-new, all different team of… New Avengers!
Welcome to A.I.M., but not the beekeepers. Avengers Idea Mechanics, guided by Sunspot, is tasked with investigating crystal-headed people who are dragging humans to unknown places. Our team, Songbird, Wiccan, Hulking, Squirrel Girl, White Tiger, Power Man, and Tippy Toe, head to Paris to get a grasp of the mystery. They find themselves in the middle of a battleground, with a new mastermind behind the scenes: Reed Richards, a.k.a. the Maker.
Al Ewing has me curious enough to see where this story goes. I’m looking forward to see how the Maker fits into the series and how A.I.M. and our team of New Avengers grow as the story unfolds. Ewing captured a lot of the distinction between the characters, especially the campy and enthusiastic Squirrel Girl. He gave just enough, but not too much, to make me wonder what’s in store for this new team of Avengers.
Gerardo Sandoval and Dono Sanchez Almara’s art felt more gritty at first, but it grew on me as I flipped through the pages of this first issue. Their art style is perfect for battle scenes, and I’m a huge fan of stylized and somewhat exaggerated bodies. This type of art really jives with me and I think it’s an important way to showcase the visuals for comics. Playing with form, lines, shadow, and color add different dynamics to comics, so I think this art team is going to give a great edge to the New Avengers.
I cannot get over the addition of Songbird. I’ve loved her ever since I first encountered the Thunderbolts and she’s seen a lot of growth since she first came on the scene. From her first panel, Songbird immediately fits into a leader role. She’s more than capable and tactical and has every bit of gumption to head a team. I feel like Marvel hasn’t done enough with her, so to see her in action again is wonderful.
The diverse cast was one of the first things that caught my attention. Here, we have three women, one of whom is Latina. Two of the three men are gay. Power man is Afro-Dominican. And Squirrel Girl talks to animals. It’s great to see such a mixed team, reminiscent of the Young Avengers and the most recent incarnation of the Mighty Avengers. We need more teams that have better representation among members, and there truly is a wealth of characters to draw from. On this front, New Avengers delivers.
Questions are bouncing through my head about where the story will go. However, between the characters and the art, I’m definitely on board. All-New, All-Different seems to be gaining its footing rather quickly, so I’m excited to see where some of my favorite characters end up in the pages of New Avengers.
The Verdict: 8.0/10
