New Avengers #29
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Lenil Yu
Okay, what the hell happened here? Issue 27 was a return to form for New Avengers, it was an action-packed romp, and actually had an interesting plot. Last issue, Bendis decided to "Tarantino it" and go back to the beginning to before the New Avengers got to Japan. So last issue and this issue we are juggling storylines, seeing more of the past than the more exciting present. Last issue we saw the new HQ, a disguised Sanctom Sanctorum, and the New Avengers traveled to the Helicarrier to get Captain America because "he didn't die". Issue 29 picks up here, and it's a trap by the Mighty Avengers. Rather than the brawl that the cover promises, Dr. Strange teleports them to safety. I felt left out here. They've been teasing the battle, but this issue doesn't deliver. The other half of the book is Iron Man berating Danny Rand at his corporation and gets intimidated by Rand's lawyer. He's Tony Stark, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. he shouldn't take crap from anyone. The fact that S.H.I.E.L.D. attacked Luke Cage right at midnight when the act passsed, but won't bother here to take Danny Rand into custody is just perplexing. It seems like the actual law isn't yet written in the Marvel Universe or the Marvel offices. Story moments seem to override past continuity, even in Bendis' own book. Sure Luke Cage isn't the head of a national corporation like Danny Rand apparently is, but that didn't stop them from throwing Martha Stewart into jail. This issue ends like last issue, Elektra arrives, and teases the next issue. I sincerely hope that next issue we don't have the narrative jumping that we had in 28 and 29. If not, then New Avengers will continue to lose its luster that grabbed me two months ago with issue 27.
On the other Hand, Lenil Yu is still delivering great art. It looks great, especially in the fight scenes, but sometimes works against itself in the slow sections. A few parts in this issue feel slow, because they are talking scenes, and Lenil's current style calls for movement and excitement. A few people may have issues with his style on this book, but with the current fugitive status quo, I think the down and dirty look is great for the book, when its moving along that is. The slowness of this issue brought the grade down, here's hoping that it picks up next month. C-
I used to hate this book. Now, its not so bad. At least its better than it has been the past 20 something issues. I still think its silly to think these group of characters are hiding from the goverment.
I was just happy for every scene in the past, they made the issue. All the present scenes had was the boring fight with the ninjas. Nothing at all happened in the fight scenes, I'd much rather had the book be all about the flashback scenes, and Elektra entirely cut out of the book.