Avengers Academy #22

Composed By:

Writer: Christos Gage, Penciller: Sean Chen, Ink: Scott Hanna & Rebecca Buchman, Colours: Jeromy Cox, Letterer: Joe Caramagna, Cover Artist: Rodin Esquejo

Story:

Hank Pym tries to resurrect Jocasta following her brutal murder, calling on Magento, Emma Frost and Cyclops to help solve the mystery. Avengers Academy staff and students butt heads with these X-Men with some residual feelings clouding the judgment of some

Review:

It is hard to make a story feel as worthy as the one just past, in Avengers Academy #22, we see a story that takes the momentum that these stories have had and build a new dimension to it, one that sees this ball rolling fast and hard.

Issue #22 starts at a hairy moment in the Avengers Academy world when the safety of all is in jeopardy and all are in a frantic state. Gage builds his story around these feelings, showing us just how frayed around edges the characters are, and just how on alert they are too. Magneto coming into the story has a powerful feel, for these students had the tendency to turn bad, as Magneto did, so his presence can be seen as both a reminder of evil, or one of redemption, “Regenesis,” so to speak.

Gage proves his might with his handling of the guests in this issue, making it a touchy issue not only in the relationship of Magneto and Quicksilver, who do not see eye to eye and do not have any working relationship to speak of, but likewise, in Cyclops who quashes any affiliation the X-Men will have with Avengers Academy. Feeling are strained as Cyclops waves Pym off on his suggestion of a baseball game, isolating the Academy even more, after their run in with The Avengers last issue. Gage looks to make things more suffocating for this team, they have no one to turn to except in peril.

Chen has some nice artwork in this issue, it has a flavour that I particularly enjoy to see, it is vibrant and alive, filled with a kinetic energy. Often I have found though with Chen is that his art is not representational of the action and movement in the frame, he services the immediate action/reaction in the writing that isn’t always the right move, this is how he misses the mark. Frames need to feel like they work in tune with the writing, for a lot it is there however some do not convey the meaning accordingly.

It is not a hit and miss issue by any means, it just has its problems like most do to have the synthesis of writing to art, it is not new or uncommon, but in this issue I felt it could have been less obvious and frequent.

Verdict:

Although it has its flaws it is a good issue and has a really powerful team that works hard to produce quality. Its mistakes can be easily overlooked in favour of a suspenseful and enticing story and beautifully crafted frames that beckon us to read.

Rating: 7/10

Avengers Academy #21

Composed By:

Writer: Christos Gage, Penciller: Sean Chen, Inker: Scott Hanna, Colorists: Jeromy Cox & Veronica Gandini, Letterer: Joe Caramanga, Cover Artist: Rodin Esquejo, Assistant Editors: John Denning & Jake Thomas, Editor: Bill Rosemann, Editor in Chief: Axel Alonso, Chief Creative Officer: Joe Quesada, Publisher: Dan Buckley, Executive Producer: Alan Fine.

Story:

The Avengers team settles into their new home at the abandoned base of the West Coast Avengers. The Avengers Academy group find themselves intimidated by new comers who are stealing their spotlight. A shocking incident puts everyone on edge and some speculate that it might signal the end to the Academy initiative.

Review:

Avengers Academy #21 is a tantalising issue that sees the team taken beyond their limits and left thinking they will be dismissed, as two new members, Lightspeed and White Tiger, are added to the roster. The Academy team explodes out at The Avengers and fists are thrown, but no one anticipates what happens next.

Sean Chens’ work on this issue is quite remarkable; I haven’t seen an issue look this way before with its obvious grainy appearance and attention to solid line forms. It is a little less organic than the artwork that has appeared in the series, it is more neatly formed and noticeably framed within certain panels, and this causes it to be a little more static than flowing at times. I liked it as it framed the work well and has a lot more structure to it, but conclusively, I felt it was not matched to the subject matter as it lacked the ability to handle the issue’s movement.

Ink work by Hanna, on the other hand, allows there to be a more fluid feel within the panels and gives it a more round feel to it than can be seen in Chen’s work. In the issue the ink work appears to have a keener ability to show the internal struggle of the team, it provides the illusion of movement in the panels and layers of feelings, unlike what can be seen in Chen’s pencil work, and has been particularly more expressive in the highlighting of stress and tension lines that can be seen in this issue. Hanna seems simply more able to convey the information to the reader in a more precise manner as the ink is eye grabbing and distinctive on the page, whereas with Chen and his penciling its appearance is subtle and can sometimes be lost on us, as I felt it was this issue.

Gage, in the writing for this issue, places the Avengers Academy team at boiling point and tips it over, letting it all come out. He brings in two new team players even as the team struggles to work cohesively as they are, and adds a new challenge for them as they bring some of their worries to a closure and find the support to deal with these.  Betrayal plagues the mind of all as one of their own is killed, and all are on high alert as things began to look optimistic. Gage is really in his element this issue; his portrayal of Luke Cage as brutal and honest is refreshing from how everyone usually deals with the Academy team, he gives us a sad but touching and very honest look at Hazmat and Mettle’s personal life, and he formulates a twist at the end that is purely sensational.

Verdict:

Avengers Academy #21 starts a new era with a terrific punch. Gloves are off now and anything can ensue. The Academy team has a new roster and a new attitude to boot, it’s the perfect time to jump on board, it can only get better.

Rating: 9.5/10

Avengers Academy #20

Story:

The Avengers Academy students have to come to terms with the abrupt departure by Veil from the team, which has show cracks in the team’s foundation. The Avengers Academy team is dealt a second blow, as two more set their sights elsewhere. Giant Man makes a startling revelation that will alter the course of the team.

Review:

Avengers Academy #20 gives us a bright new outlook and opens a new adventure to the reader, all amidst the sad departure of those that have bid farewell to the Avengers Academy team.

Raney, Hanna and Cox do an especially great job this issue, there is some fine lead work being done with the characters facial and body language and there is solid handling of the décor and scenery that is noticeably seen.

Hanna has a real feel for the emotional and sentimental value that is worth a great deal in Avengers Academy #20, the movement of the contours and lines reflect a considerable investment into detail, and that is certainly felt when reading and viewing it.

Cox paints it as always with a working knowledge and insight into what feed into the story best, taking us deeper into what the issue tries to put across to us.

Christos Gage got a well tearjerker into this issue guys, playing around with the sadness surrounding Infinite Mansion, but more directly, Veil’s quit from the Avengers Academy team, which has echoed down the line and taken hold on some who have followed her cue. Speedball and Justice have woken to find their paths have changed there is a new lease on life. Hank Pym/Giant-Man has now taken to rebuild his world after it was crushed by Titania and Absorbing Man, but this may be a start to new and better beginnings.

Avengers Academy #20 starts off from the startling end it had in #19, and takes a new juicy twist, just to play with us a bit more. Things are on the move now, so don’t miss the next issue, a new era is about to begin.

Rating: 9.5/10

Avengers Academy #19

Story:

The Avengers Academy students must decide whether they can make the sacrifice to save the world, while Titania and Absorbing Man continue to cause havoc. Infinite Mansion is thrown into chaos, hurdling the students to a likely demise. Avengers Academy is changed forever as the team loses one of its own.

Review:

Avengers Academy #19 returns to its rightful throne of exciting and enthralling work, Tom Raney and Scott Hanna drive the artwork into some unknown territory and bring out something new and invigorating, while Christos Gage continues to show us why he is so well respected.

Tom Raney and Scott Hanna take a rightful place upon great artwork that has marked this series, and they do nothing less than impress us with their magic. Raney comes on board this issue as the talented penciller behind the artwork, and he does some magnificent work to bring out the conflicting emotions and emotional baggage that is weighing these children down.

Scott Hanna builds upon the artwork as this issue’s inker, and he takes shows an attention to detail and takes care to explore the emotional layers like the worry, fear and the helplessness in the Avengers Academy team, but as well, with Titania and Absorbing Man, the viciousness and eagerness for power and vengeance, that comes without remorse.

Jeromy Cox raises the bar just a little more with this issue, given a new platform to work with in the issue’s acting inker and penciller Raney and Hanna. Approaching the art much in the same way, it is his working eye for shapes and shades upon his canvas that has made this comic take a noticeable leap toward.

Christos Gage is a man with a vision, and he shows us exactly how you write a memorable story and one that shocks you and leaves you in awe. The Avengers Academy team is in utter despair, Giant-Man is hardly living and now the team must make a sacrifice that will have catastrophic repercussions. Even though they seem to make it out of the woods intact, one revelation will change the team dynamic altogether. Gage leaves us always wondering what will come next, but it is the dramatic suspense that he handles so well that keeps us coming back for more.

Rating: 9.5/10

Avengers Academy #18

Story:

The Avengers Academy students find themselves trapped in Infinite Mansion with no escape. Now with only one option left in their arsenal, will the students be forced into doing the unthinkable and sacrifice themselves to save the world.

Review:

Avengers Academy #18 is an issue that is vividly portrayed by artist Andrea Di Vito and coloured well by Jeremy Cox, it portrays the team in turmoil and running out of time as Titania and Absorbing Man close in.

Artist Andrea Di Vito seems to have a good understanding of Avengers Academy, because he shows a great sense of control over the art in this issue, they are cleverly illustrated to keep that lively and energetic feel, and the suspense within the story is definitely helped by choice of vivid colours and smartly drawn expressive frames.

Jeromy Cox, the colourist behind the issue, gives it a really dynamic feel and the textual layers are something that haven’t been explored nearly as well as they have in this issue. Cox demonstrates to us that he can play well with the tonal qualities of the artwork, he does so with a finesse that was not so obvious in the last issue, it shows off his skill in a more complex manner but while still having that amazing quality that he prides himself in with his work.

Christos Gage delivers an exciting story with a climactic end, but it seems to miss something that sets this apart. What I had become accustomed to was the self-reflective frames and sense behind each of them, knowing and seeing the tug towards good or evil. It was left out in this issue for the most part, and I couldn’t help wondering what they all thought behind the calm façade. Veil particularly is thrown into a time-stressed situation, but we don’t see the workings as much as we had before, I kind of liked that element. Arguably, it could be said it shows the maturity in the characters, that they have stopped dwelling and started fighting, taking charge of their situations and being heroes for themselves.

Avengers Academy #18 is a sustainable read but I wanted to see less destruction and more feeling behind the characters, give us a keener sense and more concentrated look into the characters, not just what we see expressed externally.

RATING: 7.6/10

Avengers Academy #17

Story:

The Avengers Academy students are left without mentors and direction as Tigra leaves to help save Giant Man who has been left badly wounded from battle. Absorbing Man and Titania break into the academy and the students fail to hold them back and must run for cover.

Review:

Avengers Academy #17 shapes itself into a thought provoking and moving piece that has its heroes question exactly what it is to take a human life, and the regrets some have in doing so.

Washington D.C.  is saved from harm by the Avengers Academy students but the human carnage leaves something to be desired from within the team.

Feeling vulnerable and downhearted, the Avengers Academy students are now left by Tigra in the hands of Jocasta, the long and solemn faces telling us that everything is but “Good”, the painstaking and aching expressions reaching out without any luck.

Absorbing Man and Titania wielding the mystic hammers lay siege to Giant Man’s research station but when proving worthless they forge a portal to escape.

Mettle and Hazmat take some downtime and Mettle picks her brain about whether any of the men Hazmat hurt had died as a result. Hazmat tells him he did a heroes duty today and should be proud of himself, but Mettle is pained by his actions.

Hazmat worried for him seeks Veil, telling her to speak to him as only she knows how it felt to have taken a life,Veil having to come to terms with this in herself too.

Veil opens up to Mettle about how she had took a man’s life in spite, wanting him to die. Veil speaks about the necessity to do harm in saving a life, killed or be killed, but how difficult that choice is to make.

Absorbing Man and Titania make their way into Underspace, finding a world of dimensional doors that will lead them to the Avengers Academy, motivated to break them together.

Reptil and Finesse sit and speak candidly about what the feeling is to kill somebody; joined then by Striker whom Finesse forcibly asks about the man he killed. Striker interjects about how it shook him but made him stronger, and how he has no remorse for the Nazi men he killed.

Striker stands his ground about abandoning the team against Korvac, about it being no business of his, but then making a point of seeing people at harm and reasoning that that was worth fighting for.

Absorbing Man abruptly barge through the room and Reptil holds them while Striker and Finesse can escape.

Reptil is locked in battle with Absorbing Man, taking his leave last minute as a small insect; Absorbing Man and Titania left stewing.

Striker almost plummets to his death trying to escape and the team suddenly becomes aware they are stuck with no communication.

Absorbing Man and Titania corners them all and there is no hope to escape for the team. Titania takes her hammer and levels the building with all inside, and there seems like little chance of survival.

RATING: 8.4

Avengers Academy #16

Story:

The Avengers Academy team battle to protect the city from destruction and death, Giant-Man is incapacitated in his fight with Absorbing Man and Titania, and the Avengers Academy students look to have sought a clear victory finally but this is short lived as it is marked and strained with unnecessary blood.

Review:

Avengers Academy #16 is by far one of the most enjoyable and solid comic books I have had the chance to read this year, utterly gripping and riveting.

Giant Man and Quicksilver battle Titania and Absorbing Man, fear serving a great part in the combat and doubt that arises in them, especially Giant Man, as he is easily outwitted and outdone.

Absorbing Man puts the moves on Giant Man, and he is momentarily incapacitates him causing harm to the city.

Giant Man fights to gain back control but Absorbing Man whimsically causes thousands of deaths before Giant Man can do so.

Justice fends off Titania but his defense is breached and Quicksilver smartly intervening but is too outmatched in brute force of the hammer.

Wielding these Thor-like hammers, Giant Man and the others do not seem to have the capacity to beat them, and although Giant Man outsmarts them finally and stops them for the meantime, a looming fear is gathering about how they can be beaten.

The Avengers Academy students are left alone in the city  and have to work under the strain. Veil is put to the test in being the hero that is asked of her, as opposed to the fear of the villain she may become.

Falling boulders and crumbling buildings almost toppled onto a young girl but Veil is able to vaporise and phase through all this to push the girl out of danger.

The girl’s mother is found to have been knocked out when the building collapsed and the support is about to give way so Veil devises a way to get her out, and with coaxing and some luck there is a good outcome.

Veil prevails against all that could be humanly managed getting the mother to her child, but tragedy strikes and all is lost in an instance. Anger blows out of Veil and she succumbs to vengeance, taking a life at the cost of another.

Kneeling broken in the rubble, Veil breaks down in anguish and in seeing the fear in the girls eyes Veil is shown how monstrous she can become.

RATING: 9.1/10