New Avengers (Vol. 1) #12

Background

Last issue Cap asked for Matt Murdock, AKA Daredevil help in capturing the Silver Samurai. Matt refused but told Cap of a mercenary who would help the New Avengers against the Samurai and the Hand. After being spotted by the Hand, the mysterious ninja flees to Starks base in Japan, only to get wounded and pass out when the Avengers find him...

Oh yeah, and a load of Hand ninjas followed him right to the Avengers!

Story Details

The issue begins 15 minutes ago back at the Yashida fortress, only this time we are told what this meeting was about. Basically the Samurai was brought back to take his place as the leader of his clan. Madame Hydra walks in and tells the Samurai, (who is not in his armour) that Hydra has become weak, before she can reveal her plan, they are informed that there is an intruder.

Back in the present the Avengers are surrounded by hundreds of Hand ninjas while Ronin lies unconscious. Spidey asks if hes the only one who thinks being an Avenger is cooler in the abstract. Cap tells the Hand they are trespassing stand down. Spidey tells Cap he was in the middle of a humorous quip, only for Cage to say Cap's was funnier. Iron Man flies Jarvis off to safety, while the rest of the Avengers fight the Hand and listen to Spidey yammer on. Iron Man tells the team to get behind him so he can use a concussion blast to take a bunch of them out, but while thats happening Cage and a few ninjas fall of the roof and Iron Man gets damaged.

Back at the Yashida fortress, Samurai and Madame Hydra are discussing why he was arrested. Madame Hydra tells the Samurai that his name holds the key to controlling the entire Japanese underworld, which could be used by her and the Hand to fight the people who are running Hydra and S.H.I.E.LD. Samurai asks who that is? Madame Hydra tells him she cannot let him know until she trusts him again. They are interrupted by the servant from before who tells them that the Hand have engaged the heroes who the ninja lead them to, Madame Hydra asks "Who told them to do that?"

Back at Stark's base, Luke Cage is in the lift on the way back up to the penthouse, ready for round two. Once the lift doors open he opens a can on the Hand, while the rest of the team including Ronin fight the Hand. Iron Man tells Cap hes back online and can wrap this up. The Hand retreat. Ronin tells the Avengers they didnt retreat but were ordered back. Cage asks who Ronin is. While Ronin apologises for whats happened, Cap says its not his fault. Spidey notices that Spider-woman is missing...

Spider-Woman heads towards the Yashida fortress where she meets Madame Hydra. Madame Hydra asks what she's doing there and that they have a deal, she shouldnt be in Japan knowing what's at stake. Jess says everything happened so fast she didnt have time to let her know. Hydra asks if she likes her powers, because she can take them away, and for her to hit her with a venom blast because the others are here. Spider-Woman knocks Hydra out. The Avengers take Madame Hydra into custody, while Spider-Woman asks what about the Silver Samurai? Cage says "I guess thats him" looking over at a now armoured Silver Samurai.

General Comments

This book is ok. We get some more details on Spider-Woman, Madame Hydra and the whole S.H.I.E.L.D conspiracy, but we get very little on Ronin, even though this arc is supposed to be about him. We get a cool battle and some Spidey banter, which is always a good thing. Art by Finch is great as usual.

Overall Rating

3 Webs - good middle part of a story. Few details given on the subplots, but nothing revealed about Ronin.

Footnote

This is my first review of New Avengers - all feedback is welcome! Thanks.