Secret Avengers #1
A new volume means new recruits and new adventures. For being a more low profile team, they sure get themselves into some big action. It’s bound to happen when you mix three sassy S.H.I.E.L.D. agents with three loose Avengers, and just to top it all off, throw M.O.D.O.K. into the mix.
Writer: Ales Kot
Artists: Michael Walsh, Matthew Wilson
Cover: Tradd Moore, Matthew Wilson
Publisher: Marvel
This fourth volume marks Kot’s return to Secret Avengers, ready to take the team to a new place and a whole new direction, punting our heroes in places they’ve never been before, and managing to do it so naturally that we don’t question one iota of it. It’s also an incredibly fine #1 that marks for a great place to jump into the Secret Avengers, despite knowing little or nothing about the team, so long as you’re somewhat familiar with the Marvel world and its characters.
Each character is introduced in a way that is incredibly familiar to us all—Black Widow spa-ing it up, Coulson, Hill, and Fury conspiring in S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, and Hawkeye, well, being Hawkeye. While not explicitly stating where these characters have been in their other titles prior, although to those who read Hawkeye’s solo, there are quite a few references tossed in that Clint can’t quite seem to escape from (but they’re placed in with good humour). What’s definitely noticeable in Kot’s work this time around, is the way the characters are written—you’re aware that they have a story, and their voices hold a bit of gravitas from other titles as well, managing to really tie them into the Marvel universe, which is a remarkable feat, and definitely a chalked up win for readers.
There’s a great deal of fun, wit, and humour amongst the characters, that makes Secret Avengers an incredibly entertaining read. It’s not all just fun and laughter though. They are, after all, super spies, so espionage and big action is a go. The writing is immaculate in its balance of the two. On one page you’re on the edge of suspense, or biting your nails while rooting for the good guys, and the next page you’re having a good chuckle. As the series progresses, it’s bound to have darker pages, but so far it’s the laughs that make it worthwhile. It’s cheesy without being corny in the most delightful way.
It’s not Kot’s first time teaming up with Walsh either for art. They’ve proven to be an impeccable team. Walsh’s detailed simplicity hugely compliments Kot’s writing and is a perfect match for story telling. Not to mention Wilson’s bright colours that just liven the pages to make it even better. All together, they provide good action, story telling and characters that remain unique among a team.
To those who are fans of the Hawkeye solo, Secret Avengers follows a similar temperament in writing and art, while not at all being like Fraction + Aja, it bears similar qualities at points that induces a similar feeling of charm that makes it hard to put the issue down.
It’s easy to see Secret Avengers being a hit, with it’s spy secrets and enigmatic cliffhangers, not to mention to see how M.O.D.O.K, plays out as a team member, looking forward to the next issue doesn’t even require a second thought.
Writer: Ales Kot
Artists: Michael Walsh, Matthew Wilson
Cover: Tradd Moore, Matthew Wilson
Publisher: Marvel
This fourth volume marks Kot’s return to Secret Avengers, ready to take the team to a new place and a whole new direction, punting our heroes in places they’ve never been before, and managing to do it so naturally that we don’t question one iota of it. It’s also an incredibly fine #1 that marks for a great place to jump into the Secret Avengers, despite knowing little or nothing about the team, so long as you’re somewhat familiar with the Marvel world and its characters.
Each character is introduced in a way that is incredibly familiar to us all—Black Widow spa-ing it up, Coulson, Hill, and Fury conspiring in S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, and Hawkeye, well, being Hawkeye. While not explicitly stating where these characters have been in their other titles prior, although to those who read Hawkeye’s solo, there are quite a few references tossed in that Clint can’t quite seem to escape from (but they’re placed in with good humour). What’s definitely noticeable in Kot’s work this time around, is the way the characters are written—you’re aware that they have a story, and their voices hold a bit of gravitas from other titles as well, managing to really tie them into the Marvel universe, which is a remarkable feat, and definitely a chalked up win for readers.
There’s a great deal of fun, wit, and humour amongst the characters, that makes Secret Avengers an incredibly entertaining read. It’s not all just fun and laughter though. They are, after all, super spies, so espionage and big action is a go. The writing is immaculate in its balance of the two. On one page you’re on the edge of suspense, or biting your nails while rooting for the good guys, and the next page you’re having a good chuckle. As the series progresses, it’s bound to have darker pages, but so far it’s the laughs that make it worthwhile. It’s cheesy without being corny in the most delightful way.
It’s not Kot’s first time teaming up with Walsh either for art. They’ve proven to be an impeccable team. Walsh’s detailed simplicity hugely compliments Kot’s writing and is a perfect match for story telling. Not to mention Wilson’s bright colours that just liven the pages to make it even better. All together, they provide good action, story telling and characters that remain unique among a team.
To those who are fans of the Hawkeye solo, Secret Avengers follows a similar temperament in writing and art, while not at all being like Fraction + Aja, it bears similar qualities at points that induces a similar feeling of charm that makes it hard to put the issue down.
It’s easy to see Secret Avengers being a hit, with it’s spy secrets and enigmatic cliffhangers, not to mention to see how M.O.D.O.K, plays out as a team member, looking forward to the next issue doesn’t even require a second thought.
A Look Inside
