Written by Kurt Busiek & George Pérez
Art by George Pérez; Al Vey; Tom Smith; Richard Starkings; & Comicraft
Cover Art by (Uncredited – probably George Pérez)
SUMMARY:
Published by Marvel Comics for December 1999, this issue is entitled “Showdown.” While there is growing public unrest re: the Avengers’ lack of racial diversity, members of the team (Captain America; Thor; Iron Man; Firestar; Justice; and guest star Black Panther) work a combat exercise at Avengers Mansion. Giant Man and the Wasp update Captain America and Iron Man re: the protesters outside. Confronting a sulking Vision, the Scarlet Witch observes her ex-husband vent on Simon “Wonder Man” Williams. The former ‘brothers’ reveal their mutual animosity. Meanwhile, in the Himalayas, the villainous Exemplars resurface.
Note: Amidst Marvel’s innumerable Avengers series reboots, this series qualifies as the second re-launch.
REVIEW:
Though the well-played cover implies a long-simmering love triangle, co-writers Kurt Busiek & George Pérez smartly unveil the true ulterior reason for the Vision’s jealousy. Wonder Man’s follow-up sequence baring his own jealousies re: the ‘non-corrupted’ Vision is a well-articulated boost for his character’s growth. To the art team’s credit, the visuals capably support this issue. Their only ‘off’ element is that both T’Challa (Black Panther) and Tony Stark (Iron Man)’s faces are oddly depicted as being much closer to fifty-ish vs. an expected estimate of thirty-five years old. Still, for long-time fans for the Vision and/or Wonder Man, Avengers # 23 is a great read that initiates a new definition of ‘sibling rivalry.’
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Featured separately in single-page form, there is an “Avengers Assemble!” letters-and-answers column and the “Bullpen Bulletins” news-and-notes column. There is also an eight-page “Daily Bugle Book Watch 1999,” which includes black-and-white sample pages from two new series Doomsday # 1 (pages 4-6) and Young Allies # 1 (pages 2-4). Both of these titles are billed under Marvel’s “Heroes Reborn” banner.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
