New Comics!: The "Fear Itself" Edition

Fear Itself #6:  OK, this issue...isn't that bad, actually.  The decision to split the team -- into a god squad, if you will, and an evacuation squad -- totally made sense.  Captain America chewing out Odin actually felt organic with Fraction (for once) showing us how the emotions of the events of the last few issues are finally taking their toll on everyone, including Steve Rogers.  Along those lines, Spidey's conversation with May and Odin's conversation with Thor are also both excellent.  It's like Fraction suddenly discovered how you write emotions and why doing so is important for a story based on one (fear).  Moreover, the idea that each Avenger is going to get some super-dooper, amped-up Stark Tech/uru magic weapon is awesome.  I can't wait to see Immonen unleashed on their design.

I do have some nitpicks, though.  Cap declares that they now know the Serpent is after the World Tree, implying the Avengers learned that during their brief sojourn to Asgard, despite the fact that no one in Asgard is shown as mentioning it during their time there.  In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the Serpent only discusses his plan with Skadi (Sin) and Odin only briefly mentions it to Thor before he returns to Midgard.  So, I'm not sure how exactly Cap "discovers" that the Serpent is after the World Tree.  Moreover, I'm not sure why Odin would send the Avengers to Broxton (conveniently where the Serpent is heading to enter Asgard), when they, after all, entered Asgard from New York.  Moreover, if the Serpent was in New York, why didn't he just enter Asgard from there?  He probably had to know that Heimdall's Observatory was attached to Avengers Tower.

But, in the end, I'm willing to overlook those failing because, finally, Fraction delivers us an issue that feels like it approaches the level of grandeur and emotion that this series promised.  I'll still be glad when this story ends, but maybe Fraction will redeem himself (not totally, because that ship sailed with Bucky-Cap's death, but somewhat) by the end.

New Avengers #16:  I thought this issue rocked.  I love the idea of Daredevil joining the Avengers, because it makes Luke Cage's team feel all the more like the family that the Avengers used to be.  I don't feel that in the main title, but I do here, in "New Avengers."  I'd love to see us exist "Fear Itself" with a New Avengers team of Luke Cage, Daredevil, Dr. Strange, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, Ms. Marvel, and Spider-Man.  With the possible exception of Ms. Marvel, the rest of these characters have such history together, intricate ties dating back decades of storytelling.  I never thought it was possible to see them all together on a team, and it really feels like the fruition of years of Bendis' storylines, aligning Luke Cage and his supporting cast with the Avengers' continuity.  It's really a moment of genius that makes me feel like Bendis has created his own old-school Avengers (or new-school Justice League).  Moreover, Bendis really sells the emotion of it.  It doesn't just feel like a way of bringing together all these street-level characters, but a honestly-reached decision based on the heroism Daredevil displayed in saving Squirrel Girl and Baby Cage.  I can't wait to see where this title goes.