New Avengers (Vol. 1) #18

Background

After meeting the mysterious glowing man Michael, The Avengers were no closer to figuring out who or what he is. Ms. Marvel appears to have gained her old cosmic powers, something she will need if The Avengers are to stop Michael.

Story Details

The issue starts with Agent Johnson being recalled by S.H.I.E.L.D. At first she refuses until Sharon Carter tells her its Captain America who needs her. We then see the Young Avengers in the Avengers Tower. An image of Iron Man appears and tells the Vision he needs his hard drive files and for him to help them, he also tells the Young Avengers this mission is too dangerous for them and for them to stay put.

Back in Cleveland Iron Man is about to confront a now sixty foot tall Michael. The rest of the Avengers arrive to help out. Spider-Man tells Spider-Woman that he needs to learn how to fly the Quinjet, and he does not have a driving license as he has been web swinging since he was fifteen. Iron Man is scanning Michael when he reads an energy surge which strips him of his armour. Ms. Marvel swoops in and saves him, then drops him off on a nearby rooftop. She decides to try her old powers on Michael, he grabs her and attacks her with various powers until he's taken away by The Sentry. The Sentry takes Michael into space and they start to fight.

Meanwhile back on Earth The Avengers find Ms. Marvel she tells them it was like being attacked by fifty people at once. Wolverine tells her to remember what Xavier taught her - focus, she tells them she was attacked with ice, force fields then magnetism. Cap activates the Remote Iron Man armour and uses it to locate and take him to Tony. Back in space Michael and The Sentry are still fighting, until Michael pushes The Sentry into deep space and starts to head back to Earth.

On the S.H.E.I.L.D. helicarrier Spider-Man is introduced to Director Hill, she tells him Iron Man is waiting to speak to him on Comm. Iron Man tells Spidey to tell Spider-Woman to get back there with the Quinjet, Spidey says she's already on her way. Iron Man informs them The Sentry has taken Michael into space so they have a chance to figure out what they are dealing with. Hill tells them they are trying to track them via satellite. Iron Man tells them he's prepping his armour for space travel. Spidey asks Iron Man what are they looking for, Iron Man tells him he's sending the data he has collected to him and for him to cross check it against S.H.E.I.L.D. files and the Avengers files. Spidey asks him how they can have files if they've only been together for two weeks. Iron Man tells him about the old mansion files and they're right behind him. Spidey turns to see The Vision, he tells Spidey that he can process all the files and compare them very quickly, Spidey says he once owned a Spider-Mobile once.

Hill tells them the footage from the impact in Alaska is ready. We see the energy blasting into a post office and Michael rising from wreckage. Hill says they have a list of men called Michael in Alaska, Spidey asks if one of them is a mail-man, Yes there is one Michael Pointer who works for the post office. Hill tells everyone that she wants to know everything about Michael, Vision tells her that there is nothing about him in the Avengers files, but there is a match with the energy signatures Michael has. Vision shows them the matches, Michael has the powers of all mutants de-powered during the House of M. Spidey realises what Michael is.

Back in space Michael is still heading towards Earth...

General Comments

Yup more good stuff from Bendis and Deodato. I assume this issue takes place after Young Avengers 12, but that will be due to the delays YA has. We have some decent action scenes and finally The Sentry gets involved. It's about time he did something!

Spidey being the one who figures out who/what Michael is makes sense. He's a smart guy plus he has been around nearly every villain ever, so he would have first hand experience of Michaels powers.

Now for the negatives on this issue - I know Spidey can drive, he used to drive when he lost his powers, so Bendis needs to check his research. This is a minor point but I think it's worth mentioning. Also the NA have been together for two weeks? Eighteen issues in and that's over two weeks, I guess that makes sense if Spidey's counting the team only being together since they got out of the Savage Land.

Overall Rating

4 webs - great art, great writing. The freaking Sentry! Big battles and Spidey being so out of his league its funny.

I would have given this book 4.5 but as Spiderfan.org is not mentioned in the list of fan/news websites in the back I'm marking it down.