After the M. dynasty
The Dynasty of M (that big event that ended with the extinction of most of the planet’s mutants due to the Scarlet Witch) ended, and we’re left hanging on what happened there as soon as this volume began. As any student of science knows, energy cannot be created or destroyed. With that in mind, where did the mutants suddenly lose their powers?
The answer is mutual. This is a character whose power is actually accumulating (the explanation of this list will have their explanation). And the enormity of this is clearly demonstrated by the Cleveland scriptwriter who obliterates the publishing team in just two pages and presents it almost without a second thought.
But it won’t be the only thing we see here in relation to this mutant event, because we will be in a meeting between two characters that we have been waiting for since the creation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes…
The Illuminati and the Civil War
And after Luke Cage and Jessica Jones’ wedding comes one of the most recent additions to the Marvel Comics legend’s screenwriter (in a way): Doctor Strange in the Madness: Illuminati. Here we are introduced to this group and the first parts of the conflict that we know as the Civil War begins to fall. What will happen in this event is known, but here we are talking about only and only what concerns our team of Avengers.
And we have a plot where we can get Ronnie back to fight an army of ninjas (in the original character, Maya Lopez, who is revealed here to wear the costume) and find him as a villain to fight Elektra. And here comes the first clue that makes our heroes suspect that the Skrulls are infiltrating their society and there’s no way to trust anyone, leading us inevitably to the publisher’s next big event: the mystery of the invasion. But that’s another story…
The great architect
What Grant Morrison did years ago with Mutants has now been masterfully subverted and improved by Brian Michael Bendis: each arc of this series is a summer blockbuster event. There are hardly any filler numbers here, it’s just jumping from one big arc to the next in no time at all.
But that doesn’t mean the characters aren’t fleshed out, the long-term plot isn’t fleshed out, and everything that happens here isn’t given context in relation to the rest of the Marvel Universe, because those are exactly its strengths. Screenwriter. We see how the dynamic between the main characters is the fat that makes everything flow clearly, how the context in which they move increases the three-dimensionality (with Maria Hill, who conquers the readers in every aspect and makes them forget). until Nick Fury returns) and how the plots spiral together like a small snowball rolling down the hill that gets bigger and bigger.
Cartoonists of the 21st century
In the art department we find a lot of illustrations here, some of which are common in Bendis works. If we focus on those who stand out for their good work, we must mention those who truly represent what was done in La Casa de las in the first decade of the 21st century.
Steve McNiven, responsible for titles like Civil War and Nemesis, shines when it comes to his video game style of special effects. Brazilian Mike Deodato Jr. has not yet excelled in his unique plots and page layouts filled with interspersed drawings, but his potential is already apparent. Alex Malev is a genius and we see him as powerful as he was in the Daredevil era. And what can we say about Oliver Coipel, who works incredibly well here, not only when acting (logically), but also when making talking heads?
Along with these, we mustn’t forget other great artists who have a place here, such as the legendary Howard Chaikin, the legendary Pascal Ferree, the extraordinary Leniel Francis Yu, the still promising Jim Cheung or the always entertaining David Mack.
As for the Marvelous Edition, the Deluxe Size Marvel Omnibus. Published in hardcover by Panini Comics, The New Avenger by Brian Michael Bedis 2 contains 728 full-color pages measuring 18.3 x 27.7 cm. And the US edition includes a translation of the one-shot Civil War: Testament and issues #16 through #39 of the regular series The New Avengers, as well as the first two annual issues and the special The New Avengers: Illuminati.
Also, Julian M. Clemente includes an introduction titled The Writer’s Journey, a small final section with additional material, and original coverage of all the subjects included in the composition. The recommended retail price for this size is €70 and it goes on sale in July 2023.