Venom #13.4: OMG, this issue was boring. Seriously, I barely got through it. I have no real idea what happened, though a lot of people seemed to be talking and planning and scheming. But, I can't say I cared. Yadda yadda yadda, the good guys died, now they're back, Ghost Rider betrayed...[yawn]. Is this arc done yet?
Secret Avengers #23: This issue is an editorial nightmare. First, would it have killed anyone to give us an Editor's Note on the intro page to tell us that this issue happened after the current "Venom: Circle of Four" arc, given that it hadn't yet concluded when this issue hit the stands? I stopped reading it once Cap mentioned the events in Las Vegas. I had intended to wait until I read "Venom" #14 before picking up this issue again, but, as you can tell from the above review, it's not like I'm particularly invested in the "Circle of Four" storyline, so I don't really care if it gets spoiled here. However, I was surprised that we learn in this issue, and not a "Venom" issue, how Hank Pym has managed to silence the symbiote so that Flash can use the suit for 24 hours without worrying it will take control. Doesn't that seem like something that we should've heard in "Venom?" Basically, we've seen the entire original cast of characters in "Venom" -- the "Project: Rebirth" folks, etc. -- discarded after only 13 issues (17, if you count the Point One issues). It seems really early in its run for a reboot, particularly one that, a), came in a different series and, b), probably won't change the premise of the story all that much, given that I'm guessing Flash will still have to struggle against the symbiote. I essentially feel like I've been cheated of something. "Venom" was high concept, with its 48 hours and 20 missions and kill button, and it's bizarre that we just threw that entirely over the side without ever really exploring it that much.
But, in theory, we're talking about "Secret Avengers" here. But, that brings me to my second editorial lament. Did we know that the villains we saw last issue were "adaptoids" or is this pet peeve #1 in full effect here, when the intro page tells us they were? (Plus, I'm not really sure what an adaptoid is. We learn here the original Human Torch is one, so does that mean "the Father" is his original creator? I thought he was dead?)
Turning to the issue itself, I'm still confused. I'm not really sure why the Pakistani woman was a "marriage of Nature and her daughter Science" (which, um, ick, incest). I don't feel like Remender has done a good job explaining what exactly his goal is beyond the usual world domination. He seems to have some sort of affiliation with mutants, which seems weird, given that he's got Reavers on his team. Remender has to clarify this guy's deal soon, because I'm already spending most of these issues finding my eyes glazing over his monologuing.
Also, let's talk about Hawkeye a minute: I liked Beast's conversation with him, but let's now be done with him as "dyspeptic drill instructor." It's bordering on yet another example of authors portraying Clint as emotionally unstable, and I'm tired of it. It's yet again ignoring he's already led two teams -- Avengers West Coast and the Thunderbolts. If you re-read old "Avengers West Coast" issues, it's almost hard to tell it's the same person, and that was the first time that Hawkeye lead a team. Beast has never lead a team, so it's bizarre to have him giving advice on how to do it to someone who's done it twice. I don't know who decide he's this way, but he seems to appear this way in every series lately.
Last complaint and then I'll move onto a positive: did we really need another team member? Last issue, we had six members: Hawkeye, Ant-Man, Beast, Black Widow, Captain Britain, and Valkyrie. In this issue, we suddenly add the Human Torch and Venom to the mix. I'm not sure if Human Torch is staying, but, if he does, we now have eight members. Why? What's wrong with six? For the life of me, I'll never understand why everyone decided Bendis had the right idea with these maxi-teams.
OK, now, the positive: the Ant-Man parts of this story are well done. Remender does a great job with him, possibly better than anyone's ever done with him. I almost choked up a bit at the end when he talked about saving the kid without even thinking about it. It's a great moment, and it has extra impact because I find myself wondering if he's actually going to die. I thought several times over the issue, "I wonder how they're going to work in Scott Lang's return (assuming he survives in "Avengers: Children's Crusade" #9) with Eric Grady having the suit?" The fact that he might actually die certainly heightens the tension of this scene. It calls to mind the types of stories Remender might one day be able to tell in this series if it manages to stabilize the roster, so that we actually get to know the characters. I'm not dropping it yet, but I really hope we make some progress at some point in keeping it more focused.
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