Avengers the Initiative

[Vort]

DAMN IT!

You guys got to stop getting me interested in these comics.... /sigh I'll add AI to my constant buy list.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Get it just for Taskmaster and Trauma

 

[Vort]

Get it just for Taskmaster and Trauma

I do love me some taskmaster.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Wish he'd go back to the hoodie costume though

 

[Vort]

Wish he'd go back to the hoodie costume though

/agree

 

[NightBeetle]

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #30 Preview

http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1509&page=7

THE STORY:
Can the Avengers Resistance and the Initiative unite to defeat a classic Marvel villain…or would that be a Nightmare? The lord of horrific dreams has invaded the physical world...and now that the Hood is no longer empowered by Dormammu, the only chance to defeat this near-omnipotent fiend is for two rival squads of heroes and villains to join forces. But how can they fight together if they’re stabbing each other in the back? Guest-starring Tigra, Justice and Taskmaster! Rated T …$2.99

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: November 25, 2009

 

[Anubis]

Who was that in Robbie's head?

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Perhaps Robbie himself(as Speedball) trying to fight against the brainwashing. I'd love it if Penance turned back into Speedball during Siege.

 

[imdaly]

Who was that in Robbie's head?

Perhaps Robbie himself(as Speedball) trying to fight against the brainwashing. I'd love it if Penance turned back into Speedball during Siege.

It's Trauma thinking to himself while he's watching everything happen.

 

[NightBeetle]

The Final Days of Dark Reign: Avengers the Initiative

On writing Taskmaster

Gage: "I've been a massive Taskmaster fan since his first appearance. One of the things I always liked about him is that he's not out to rule the world or prove he can out-fight Captain America...he wants money and an easy life, and he's got the sense to run when the odds aren't on his side. That's kept him from being viewed as being at the same level as the Venoms, Bullseyes and Norman Osborns of the world, but now he's starting to play in that league. Does he belong there? Is it a good idea for him? Or is it suicidal? He's one of the best fighters in the world, but will that mean anything when he goes up against Thor? It's been fun for me putting myself in his head and trying to figure out how he would react to certain events."

On Taskmaster joining the Cabal

Gage: "Taskmaster has risen through the ranks of the Initiative to the point where Norman offers him membership in the Cabal. He's always been more of a street level character than a world-beater, partly because of his smarts and highly developed sense of self preservation...there's more of a payoff in staying low profile than trying to take over Earth. Now that he has a chance to join the big boys, how will he respond? That's the crux of issue #31, a big Taskmaster-focused issue. And Taskmaster fans take notice: he is a huge part of Siege."

On Siege and the future of Avengers: The Initiative

Gage: "In the coming months, look for the explosive first meeting between Penance and his old New Warrior teammates...Tigra finally coming face to face with The Hood...the Initiative facing the Asgardian gods...and a final assault on Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. by the Avengers Resistance. Siege is going to rock this book to its foundation... and change everything!"

 

[NightBeetle]

The Initiative: Taskmaster's Choice

THE INITIATIVE #31 gives fans a unique chance to see how Taskmaster evaluates the opportunity and what motives and ambitions might be tickled by the invitation."Yes, there is an increase in power, money and influence, and that's a strong lure," admits the writer. "But Taskmaster, for all his talents, has never been one of the movers and shakers of the super villain world. He's more likely to be found working for someone else. Now he has the chance to rub shoulders with the elite, to make the rules everyone else has to play by. Who wouldn't be tempted by that?"
Of course, there remains one important factor that Taskmaster can ill-afford to discount: the man that has invited him to the big table.
"There's the question of whether it's even an option to say 'no' to Norman Osborn," Gage notes.
In the wake of twin betrayals by Namor and Emma Frost, Osborn finds himself more desperate than ever to control his Cabal and Taskmaster represents his attempt to reassert that influence.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'm really looking forward to what becomes of the Initiative when Osborn's taken down.

 

[imdaly]

I'm really looking forward to what happens to the whole Marvel U when Osborn's taken down!

I really love what they've done with Dark Reign.

 

[louiebling$]

Yes Age of Heroes should very interesting to say the least.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

I just hope Thor gets on an Avengers team permanently; preferably one not written by Bendis after how helpless he wrote Thor in that Free Comic Book Day issue. MA already has Herc but I'd love to see Slott write him.

 

[Dread]

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE has really turned into a terrific, solid title month in and month out. I'm a big fan of Dan Slott, but even I have to admit that Christos Gage has seemed to make it a tighter book since Slott left monthly co-writing duty. He just seems to juggle the premise well and make every scene shine, even if it's a character who may only get a few panels or a page. Slott laid the foundation, but Gage's constructed a lovely building from those blue-prints.

Sadly, sales have really dwindled; in October it sold outside the Top 50 and in a few months it may be selling in INCREDIBLE HERCULES 24k territory. Issue #33 has been solicited but I am not sure what sales will be by issue #36, which would be the third year for the title. This book is where, if it lasts, DARK AVENGERS will be in a year.

Taskmaster has shown, and it is good that Osborn is showing him to the big table. Unlike the Hood, he's really earned it. He isn't some "kid out of nowhere" like Hood is. Tigra is also another character who has really shined; Bendis made her a victim, but Gage has all but made her a leader.

If the book wanted to relaunch, it could call itself NEW WARRIORS; I mean, it actually has more actual NEW WARRIORS in it than the last title that called itself that.

 

[THANOSRULES]

It's shaping out that way dread.

I'd really like to see that happen. In any event, I don't think any of us ever even expected this book to last as long as it did....it was basically a post civil war book with a dwindling "relevance timeline" attached to it from the get go.

A really formidible New Warriors team could be assembled...

Namorita seems back. Nova is super powered, so is darkhawk. Penance is a threat of epic porportions (and finally getting interesting). The only wild card is firestar...I havnt read the divas stuff so I'm not sure how she's doing.

Getting together the New warriors of Volume 1 issue 25 would be a team that could take on ANY threat in the marvel universe. Throw in newer characters like slappy and ultra girl and Gage would Knock that out of the park.

I mean it, they could take on anybody.

 

[NightBeetle]

Avengers: The Initative #31 Preview

A SIEGE: THE CABAL TIE-IN! Months of story threads finally weave together as Norman Osborn offers Taskmaster a seat at the Cabal's table...the Avengers Resistance uncovers a horrifying secret...and members of the Initiative are called up for an assault on an enemy of incalculable power!

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Hahahaha, "If yer drunk, sober up! If yer crazy, take yer meds!" Oh, Taskie.

 

[Dread]

Good preview, even if there is an error with a speech balloon; it looks like Diamondback is clearly saying a line that is Constrictor's. Those sort of little lettering mistakes really should be caught by an editor.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I noticed that. No big deal, though.

 

[Dread]

It's little errors that make the House of Ideas look like a House of Fratboys.

I write articles for Examiner and, at least by hit count, barely get paid .50 cents per article. But lord knows if I have a typo or grammar error that the spell-check missed, I hear about it and fix it. So I expect editors who make, oh, 100,000 times that a year (at least) to do the same.

I believe a comic writer, I forget who, said once, "A comic writer doesn't have critics. They have people who want their job." I think this applies to other areas, which is why excellence is key.

It's no deal breaker, just a pet peeve. I mean, Marvel should strive for the sort of perfect level that is expected on, say, Deviant Art.

 

[MightyAvenge]

I heard the Initiative is going to be retitled Avengers Academy. I agree and have already thought to myslef that the Initiative could be retitled New Warriors.

 

[Dread]

"AVENGERS ACADEMY" sounds fine too. The AVENGERS title is kind of like X-MEN, SPIDER-MAN, and WOLVERINE now in that Marvel feels that retailers have confidence in it. Even if half the cast are New Warriors. They're movin' on up.

 

[NightBeetle]

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #34
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Penciled by JORGE MOLINA
Cover by DAVID YARDIN

SIEGE BLOCKBUSTER TIE-IN!!

In Asgard, Taskmaster clashes with Captain America! Meanwhile, the battle for Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. reaches a fever pitch...but whose side is Penance on? And will Night Thrasher betray his friends to get back his brother? This is the story that changes the Initiative forever!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99