Secret Avengers #27 Review

The current arc of Secret Avengers makes for a strange read because it barely feels like a Secret Avengers story at all. The "run the mission, don't get seen" aspect is tossed out in favor of a flashier, more cosmic conflict. The current cast is a hodgepodge of different Avengers squads, with only Beast, Valkyrie, and Captain Britain providing any sense of continuity with Remender's first arc. This isn't a poor tie-in to Avengers vs. X-Men, but it is a fractured one that derails the momentum of Remender's larger plot threads.

The return of Captain Marvel may be the most controversial aspect of this arc, but it's also the most enjoyable. Remender has a really interesting take on Mar-Vell's voice and how he perceives his surroundings via cosmic awareness. There's also the fact that the character is suffering from some degree of brainwashing. It's questionable how long this return will last, and thanks to Remender's deft handling of the character, there's no reason to fear his legacy being tarnished. That said, Mar-Vell's sudden romantic fling with Ms. Marvel is a little strange, even if it is the result of mind-control. It seems in poor taste to involve Ms. Marvel in anything of the sort given her history with such matters.

Remender's characterization is generally spot-on, even with his much bemoaned handling of Captain Britain. It could certainly be argued that portraying Brian as weak-willed and lacking in confidence regresses the character back several decades, but the dynamic it creates among his teammates justifies the treatment. Frankly, something needed to be done with the character following the cancellation of Captain Britain and the MI:13.

Renato Guedes' artwork is practically unrecognizable thanks to his new style. His work now has a distinctly indie feel to it, almost as if Marvel convinced Farel Dalrymple to draw an Avengers book. The new style works well in some scenes (particularly during Mar-Vell's ruminations on his death and rebirth), but at times Guedes' distorted figures and odd camera angles threaten to overwhelm the story.

There's a lot of good character work on tap in this arc. Unfortunately, it's difficult to see what larger purpose it all serves. This arc doesn't fit very well into the confines of Avengers vs. X-Men, and the fact that it takes before many current AvX threads suggests that little of lasting consequence will actually come of this tie-in. The sooner this book can resume its ongoing conflicts, the better.




Source : http://www.ign.com