Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Dan Jurgens; Sandu Florea; Frank D’Armata; Richard Starkings; Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne; David Finch; Danny Miki; Rick Mays; Jason Martin; Rob Schwager; Dave Sharpe; Frank Cho; Jason Keith; Steve McNiven; Dexter Vines; Morry Hollowell; Mike Deodato Jr.; Joe Pimentel; Dave Stewart; Richard Isanove; Olivier Copiel; Drew Geraci; Drew Hennessy; Livesay; Rick Maygar; Mark Morales; Mike Perkins; Tim Townsend; June Chung; José Villarrubia; Alex Maleev; VC’s Chris Elipoulos; Howard Chaykin; Leinil Francis Yu; Dave McCaig; Pasqual Ferry; Paul Smith; Dean White; Jim Cheung; Justin Ponsor; & Josh Singh
Covers by Dan Jurgens, Sandu Florea, & Frank D’Armata; David Finch, Danny Miki, & Frank D’Armata; Andrea Di Vito & Laura Villari; Frank Cho & Jason Keith; Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines, & Morry Holowell; Mike Deodato Jr. & Dave Stewart; Olivier Coipel, Mark Morales, & José Villarrubia; Gabriele Dell’Otto; Howard Chaykin & Dave Stewart; Leinil Francis Yu & Dave McCaig; Oliver Coipel, Mark Morales, & Dave Stewart; Adi Granov; Jim Cheung, John Dell, & Justin Ponsar; & Alex Maleev
Collection Cover Art by David Finch; Danny Miki; & Frank D’Armata
SUMMARY:
Released by Marvel Comics in 2017, this 496-page compendium reprints The New Avengers # 11-25; the New Avengers Guest-Starring the Fantastic Four one-shot; the lead story from Giant-Size Spider-Woman # 1; New Avengers Annual # 1; the New Avengers: Illuminati one-shot; and the Civil War: The Confession one-shot (all from approximately 2006-2007).
First up is a New Avengers/Fantastic Four team-up investigating a mysterious alien craft hidden on Earth for five million years. Pursuing the Silver Samurai in Japan, the temporarily short-handed team recruits a stealthy new member, Ronin, for a heavy-duty skirmish vs. The Hand’s ninja forces backed by Madame Hydra (Viper) and the Yashida crime syndicate. Suspecting a team mole, Captain America demands answers from an evasive Spider-Woman.
Narrated by Ms. Marvel’s blog, The New Avengers publicly debuts for the world’s media. Luke Cage inspires the New Avengers’ new public relations policy in Detroit. In the aftermath of “The House of M,” a veteran super-team is massacred. The New Avengers and SHIELD descend on Cleveland to face off against the cosmic-level mutant threat: Michael Pointer. Even bolstered by Ms. Marvel (in fully Binary mode), the Vision, and Spider-Man’s new ‘Iron Spider’ costume, the heroes seemingly stands little chance. This fiery showdown leads to a Genosha horror-fest.
The renegade Black Widow II, Yelena Belova, mutates into a new threat. After the birth of their child, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones become the first married New Avengers. The Illuminati disbands over its exile of the Hulk and the onset of Iron Man’s commitment to forcing super-heroes’ government-approved subordination to SHIELD.
Marvel’s first Civil War ignites, as ideological dissension between Iron Man and Captain America shatters the team. The war’s dark outcome is seen through the eyes of these two perennial Avengers. Guest appearances include Alpha Flight; The Inhumans; The Young Avengers; Magneto; Daisy Johnson; Sharon Carter; the Hulk; Daredevil; The Illuminati; J. Jonah Jameson; and a surprise cameo by Stan Lee.
REVIEW:
After a fun Fantastic Four team-up, The New Avengers – Complete Collection, Volume 3 features some outstanding storytelling from Brian Michael Bendis. Adapting to various visual styles, Bendis’ structured plotting segues well from one arc to the next, especially the Illuminati’s behind-the-scenes dissension and individual showcases revealing the war’s effect on various members (Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, & Sentry).
In particular, the various Luke Cage-Jessica Jones segments are frankly stellar depictions of these two characters. The realistic personality depth Bendis instills in his hand-picked New Avengers (minus Spider-Man and Wolverine, who make minimal contributions) is also exceptionally well-played. However, there are some sporadic missteps, such as a New Avenger openly speculating about Michael Pointer as a potential super-hero (after all the mass destruction and deaths he has caused, no less), or Wolverine’s underwhelming emotional response to a tragic event impacting him.
Aside from some speechifying by Captain America & Iron Man, Bendis often finds the right formula of dialogue (i.e. team banter), action sequences, and plot twists. Readers also benefit from high-caliber artwork (particularly from David Finch) befitting the various storylines. Protected by an excellent binding, this compilation proves excellent in all its facets, minus some pages where the continuity order of the dialogue/art panels can be hard to follow.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
All the covers are included in a full-page format, as are the Wizard Magazine # 153 and # 171 promo covers. Howard Chaykin & Dave Stewart’s 2nd-run New Avengers # 21 cover is in full-page color. Their black-and-white sketch variant of their Issue # 23 cover also appears.
Provided in a half-page, black-and-white format are a Silver Samurai image by David Finch & Danny Miki (pages 21-22 from Issue # 12) and Frank Cho’s Spider-Woman montage (pages 4-6 from Issue # 14). There is also Annual # 1’s unused black-and-white full-page group shot from Oliver Coipel & Mark Morales. The front inside cover promotes Complete Collection, Volume 1.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
