Jan-Ken-Pon – New Avengers #50 review

New Avengers#50 is an anticipated straightforward collision course turned into something much more interesting, and no less so for being rather sensible. We have no problems buying into how dangerous the Green Goblin is. He is a ‘villainous’ figure that we are all used to who has enough historical credence for us not to feel awkward viewing him as an adversary, and a dangerous one. The choice Bendis makes here, however, allows us to look beyond the Goblin as a threat, and enables us to get used to an Osborn status quo. He is not a power hungry, unbalanced, opportunist who fell into a roll. He is a power hungry, disturbed, opportunist, who created a new roll that gives him something close to ultimate authority. He even acknowledges this and tells us that he won’t be stock:

“Listen, lady, no one appreciates a good ‘ol fashioned, “Show them what ya got” more than me.”

“But you just don’t have anything to offer me”

    
We are on the Osborn plan. Our vantage point, the way Dark Reign is going to go will be effected by decisions he would make, be it responses or actions he initiates— not super hero/villain protocol, and it’s occurring in ‘our world’. It is these two elements that make Dark Reign intriguing. We aren’t in a hexed up reality, nor are we on the super hero’s plan—it’s our grave old world.

All that, however, occurs after a sizable portion of the issue that continues the reactions of the New Avengers as we left them in the last issue. Any writer at this level has detractors, but if we can credit Bendis with anything, it is his making us accept that in a (the) hero team book one can read deep into an issue with nothing ‘super’ occurring. We’ve seen creators do this to great effect with a Daredevil or Spiderman; single characters who have the added benefit of swinging or leaping from rooftops as their thought balloons roll on, but in portions of this issue, we have many of the Marvel powerhouses in one house who never leave a single room. Indeed, the first half dozen pages change very little beyond the team turning around when learning of Wolverine’s status as a father.

    
You know what?

    
We like this. Bendis gives us the conversation we all used to assume happened, and has an ability to make them come off in manner that fits assumption, yet still has timed instances of spontaneity that goes beyond our internal script. It is beyond knowing the right words; it is an understanding of personality. I know there is a minority that views this as a negative addition and even came up with a word they apparently don’t know what means to label it as, but in the end, his stories (this issue included) tend to still deliver big action. There is still Avengers kicking ass. In this issue different artists are given panels to draw certain characters as they ponder their current situations as a team while in the heat of battle. I don’t care when you started reading comics or what comics you read now, you will enjoy seeing Iron Fist and Cage side-by-side- boyz. You will recognize the classic, witty, Spidey thought process; still unable to not do what’s right even while considering real world implications. We are comforted by the familiarity of the ferocity of Wolverine’s single-minded battle and survival instinct. His own legacy, we see that Bendis loves Spiderwoman- he has to beat her up more. No, they aren’t fighting the Dark Avengers. Instead they get the Hood and his minions sent by Osborn. It is here that once again Bendis gives us more faith in Osborn and his reign while also giving him the out we may have wondered about having read the occurrences in Dark Avengers#2 (last week). With that synergy and transition in mind, the titles themselves (Dark Avengers and New Avengers) still (for now) work well independently. That the segue is done so smoothly it actually hinders our appreciation of it as it’s made to look too effortless, but it’s still a very nice detail that gives both autonomy and connectivity. We also see a Cap who goes beyond just seeking acceptance, he accepts, and more than just the singular mantle he has assumed, but the identity of being an Avenger that comes with it. These Avengers. It’s capped – and not with any less gravity due to it being a call for retreat – when Ms. Marvel, the former leader of a team whose name is being disputed:

“Avengers. . . Let’s get the @#$% out of here.”

    
Earlier I used the word ‘anticipation’ when considering a Dark versus New brawl. it is a term that at first seems inappropriate considering that we’ve only been introduced to this intrusion and are still in the initial stages of the reign. It is, however, a correct description, and a sensation that in this issue Bendis is able to extend. In my review of Dark Avengers#1 I spoke of my sole concern of being able to make Dark Reign substantial enough, and not be something that will start succomb to early cracks correlating with Osborn’s sanity, leading us toward a snap ending. Here, Bendis steers us away from the wall and provides us with the feeling that there is more to come. When I get this vibe from the Bendis flag, it makes me feel even better about the exceptional work I’m enjoying elsewhere (with books like Agents of Atlas, Thunderbolts, Deadpool, Secret Warriors, Captain Britain & MI:13 etc), in that ground is still being laid, perhaps even a sure foundation, and not something prepping to be magically swept away, or son-of-Odin-yanked from under us. We also continue (as I noted of Dark Avengers#2) the use of instant media that just adds to the contemporary reality of this war. If Civil War taught our heroes anything — it is that public opinion matters.

The time for trepidation is passed. Bring on and long live the reign. This is West Coast Avengers good. For those who can feel that, I’m not sure it could be said or get any better.

    
- Jay Tomio

_{Jan-ken-pon is the time traveling, force-walking, multiverse crossing column of Jay Tomio, owner of 1/3 of everything you see currently on screen, and the editor of Heliotrope. Some call him the Bodhisattva.}