Uncanny Avengers #4

by Tori B. on February 27, 2013

…Well that was quite the ending to an issue.
 
 
Writer: Rick Remender | Artists: John Cassaday & Laura Martin
Cover: Cassaday & Martin | Publisher: Marvel
 
 
Uncanny Avengers has been pretty split it seems among the fans and been getting some flack on it’s production quality especially considering the delays it’s already had, but this issue is most likely going to be the deal maker (or breaker). If this issue didn’t do it for you, it’s unlikely that Uncanny Avengers will ever be your thing. That being said, for most, it should be a deal maker. While issue one was a pretty steady start, and issues two and three had its bumps along the way, four is as solid as ever.
 
Skipping Havok’s flashback, we open on what may go down as one of the more hardcore battles to happen among Avengers. I still haven’t been sold on Cassaday’s art, his faces are a little too square for me, but the battle between Thor and Scarlet Witch, nearly had me professing an undying love to his art. I’m honestly blow away by how epic the battle looks, and with Remender’s pacing, it’s littered throughout the entire issue, not just finishing within the first few pages. So it’s an epic that belies the entire issue, always drawing the reader back in. Martin also has to be credited, the colourings, especially on Wanda’s hexes, are beautiful, truly showing broadcasting the chaos of her powers (and combined with Havok’s beams—wow stunning!).
 
The moments between the Red Skull and Captain America are a little slow, similar to previous issues, Red Skull spends a lot of time sermonizing his ideal world and how he plans on achieving it, and we get a lot of flashes to accompany it. The thing about Remender it seems, is that he truly is a writer, in the sense that the issue you read Is going to involve a lot of words, not necessarily dialogue even, and speeches. Red Skull seems like the type who enjoys hearing his own voice anyways, so it seems natural for him to speak a lot, the only thing is, its not very interesting. Especially on a premise that isn’t wholly original (someone else is trying to eliminate the mutant race, what else is new). But what does make reading a Remender piece enjoyable is that his characterizations are well looked after. Just when I was starting to feel a little repulsed by Red Skulls ramblings, Rogue pops in with her sassy self, and it’s all okay again.
 
There’s also some great warm moments between most characters and for a fragile soul like mine, heartstrings were pulled. You know, this issue could have ended on a really nice note of Charles Xavier’s legacy living on, and we’d call it a wrap, but Remender clearly has other plans for us. Without revealing his surprise at the end, I’m just saying you can’t get rid of Xavier that easily—either that or Red Skull is a creepy fanboy of the late telepath.
 
Either way, I beg that everyone give this issue a chance because I think it’s finally reaching the hype and praise the title has been seeking after.

Our Score:

8/10

A Look Inside