Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Uncanny Avengers #5Uncanny Avengers #5
Marvel Comics
Remender, Coipel, Morales & Martin

Remender continues to build his cast of characters in the latest issue of Uncanny Avengers. This book provides a perfect jump on point for new readers because it introduces a new threat but is really more about the characters, which is where Remender excels. Remender introduces potential love interests, adds new members and gives some nice tension between existing members. I like this book and I think it is a great start to an arc. I recommend picking this up.

This comic takes the time to hit the reset button as this comic establishes a great dynamic between how Captain America interacts with the team versus Havok's style. It's good because Remender acknowledges the problems that is inherent with Havok leading and Cap following, both within the team and with the public's eye. There are a lot directions this can all go in, but it isn't the standard power struggle that you might expect and that is a good thing.

The other aspect of the comic that is good is how Remender builds the team. The team members that are brought in aren't hunted and recruited across the board. Two of them simply walk into the mansion and just join up with events occurring off panel. Remender does a great job of establishing the reasons and reluctance for the characters to join up without beating it over the reader's heads.

One criticism is that the book doesn't really launch into something meaty until the very end. Those that are more in tune with a Bendis book might find it perfectly fine to have an entire issue of the team talking about various things, but I look for something a little more from a Remender comic. Then again, it is the start of an arc and generally those need to take a little more time in lifting off the ground, so it's a mild concern.

Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle ReviewsThe artwork is good. Visually, this book has a lot to offer in a variety of places, specifically the scenes with Wolverine and his new recruit. There are certainly some panels that lack details. For example, the panel with Thor in the background is ghostly in parts. Overall, the book looks nice and presents a very super hero-like book and it works well with Remender's character driven story.

If you are looking to jump on to this title then this is the perfect issue to do so. Knowing Remender's previous works his story will probably take off in multiple directions from here and this may be the last, best point to get onto that ride. I enjoyed the comic and it seems like the start of a good arc and a good base for future character situations. I recommend checking this comic out.

3.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles