Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Leinil Yu
Published by Marvel
Image is a pencil only version of the cover.
There's plenty of comparisons to be made between this issue of New Avengers and the recent video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. After all, the comic is about a relatively minor hero (Ronin) being captured by one bad guy (Elektra) and a massive number of disposable henchmen--Henchmen that all dress the same, and also happen to be ninjas. Nearing the close of the issue, a group of heroes that could have been constructed by any excited 14-year-old show up to rescue her. They have to fight through the swarm, rescue the minor hero, and are then teleported out by one of their number.
If you were doing this in the game, you have to press the "pause" button to teleport.
Are we being too harsh? Are we reaching too much for the comparison? After all, isn't that what this New Avengers series has always been about--hell, isn't that what all the big team books have always been about? A writer is given the job of making a group of popular characters, all of whom have their own respective series, also on sale, even more popular? It stands to fiscal reason that if somebody really likes this issue of New Avengers, they're more willing to purchase the latest copy of Wolverine, Iron Fist, any of Spider-man's fourteen series, and maybe, finally, under the cover of night and brown paper bags, a copy of something featuring Dr. Strange? Is that so wrong?
It wasn't wrong enough this week--maybe due to the art, or the sight of Peter Parker in the black costume--but if this trend so blatantly continues...nevermind. It's an empty threat. Team books have always been like this, and they always will be. At least this one has a big frightening black man (Luke Cage) kicking a woman in the groin.
Don't worry. She's a bad guy.
-Tucker Stone, 2007
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