New Avengers (Vol. 1) #27

Background

Back in New Avengers 13 Maya Lopez A.K.A. Ronin left the team to keep watch on the Japanese underground. While the rest of the team fight the civil war, Maya realizes she is alone.

Story Details

The story starts with Maya's email to Matt Murdock A.K.A. Daredevil. In the email she talks about being recruited by Captain America to infiltrate the Japanese Mafia. Maya then notes she got the idea of Ronin, her male disguise, from Daredevil who has become a force for justice. She writes that being a party girl in the evening helps her get close to the gangsters so she can learn their plans, and then later as Ronin use their plans against them. Maya loves the way they talk about Ronin and how they wonder who he is, but the point of this was to report back to the Avengers and now there are no Avengers and she is alone. She wonders whose side she would be on and eventually comes to the conclusion she hates Tony Stark.

While out as Ronin, Maya is confronted by the Hand and their leader Elektra. Ronin fights and beats the ninjas and is set upon by Elektra. The two fight until Elektra stabs Ronin, in a very familiar style. Elektra unmasks Ronin shocked that its a woman under the suit. Later back at the Hand base, Elektra tells her men to bring Maya back as she is of value to them. Elektra tells her that it was an honour to fight her and it will be an honour to fight along side her. Maya is then thrown into a pit, while Elektra tells her that the Hand will change her life and she will become part of something truly profound.

In the pit Maya's email pleads to Matt not to let the Hand use her, while she starts to hallucinate she sees a blue dragon, if they kill her for him to avenger her. At that moment the new, New Avengers arrive. While new team fights the Hand ninjas, Luke Cage confronts Elektra and tells her he has a message from Matt Murdock - he kicks her in the crotch, as Elektra goes over Spidey webs her up. Spidey then rescues Maya, (lifting his mask so she can read his lips). He tells her they're the new New Avengers and they're going to take her home. Once Spidey gets back to the team Maya asks the new Ronin if he's Matt, he replies "not exactly". Iron fist breaks a hole in the wall and the team escapes.

Elektra tells her men they know what to do, this new team will not leave Japan.

General Comments

Ill start with this, in my recent Spiderfan rant I wrote that the New Avengers book has not lived up to its promise, Marvels best on one team. The team has never been together for one issue either The Sentry or Ronin were missing. Bendis has now assembled (see what I did there?) a new team of street level heroes, with the exception of Dr Strange. In the first issue of the new line up they are all in it, 27 issues in and we have a New Avengers book with the full roster!

Another New Avengers problem is there have been issues with very little of the New Avengers line up being involved, and when I started to read this issue for the first time I thought it would be Ronin/Maya only book. I was ecstatic when the team arrived to help their team-mate and I'm looking forward to see what they do next.

The new artist is Leinil Yu pencils give this book a new tone and energy. For a while the NA haven't had a regular artist since David Finch left, which SHOULD NOT be the case for one of Marvels flagship books. Bendis continues to write in his style which works well with the characters he has chosen, speaking of which here's the team in case you don't know:

• Luke Cage - Leader
• Spider-Man
• Wolverine
• Maya Lopez/Echo
• Spider-Woman
• Dr Strange
• Iron Fist
• A new Ronin

Overall Rating

4 webs - Great start for the new teams both Avengers and creative. I just cannot help wonder will this team rotate every 27 issues so they can keep the "New Avengers" name? If so will each roster change come with a new Ronin? Like when you buy a new TV and you get a new remote to figure out.