Avengers (Vol. 4) #17

 Posted: Jan 2012
 Staff: spidermad (E-Mail)

Background

The Fear Itself event is ravaging the Marvel Universe. Washington and other major cities around the world have been attacked. The Avengers Tower has been attacked and destroyed by a possessed Thing and the Avengers are on the ropes, stretched thin, outgunned and frustrated.

Story 'Fear Itself'

  Avengers (Vol. 4) #17
Summary: Spider-Man Spider-Woman appear
Executive Producer: Alan Fine
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Chief Creative Officer: Joe Quesada
Editor In Chief: Axel Alonso
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Associate Editor: Lauren Sankovitch
Writer: Brian Bendis
Pencils: John Romita, Jr.
Inker: Klaus Janson
Lettering: VC's Cory Petit
Colorist: Paul Mounts

This issues is set in New York at the site of the destroyed Avengers Tower. The annoying 'interview' pages are back throughout the issue, with heroes commenting on the action and reflecting on the situation.

Basically, a few of the Avengers (Ms. Marvel, Protector, Hawkeye and Spider-woman) are gathered around the destruction of Avengers Tower and debating what to do. Sin, the originator of all the trouble appears and Hawkeye immediately shoots an arrow through her neck. The battle is on and the Avengers throw everything at Sin, including a whole bunch of Iron Man armor. A few of the New Avengers turn up to, but in the end they don't end up defeating Sin, but she does transport out of there. The End.

General Comments

A pretty pointless fight issue, with nothing of real significance happening at all. While previous issues of this Fear Itself have basically been pointless fights, they have at least had the extra dimension of trying to add depth to a certain character. This issue doesn't have that! The only point this issue seems to drive home is just how impotent the Avengers are in the face of the Fear Itself disaster.

I am a big fan of Romita, Jr. and even his pencils barely manage to lift this issue beyond boring. The Red Hulk issue was similar in some ways, but the Romtia, Jr's pencils on that issue were full of power and grit. This issue, there just didn't seem to be any of that 'weight' to the battles.

Overall Rating

A disappointing and ultimately boring and pointless issue.

 Posted: Jan 2012
 Staff: spidermad (E-Mail)