So I got caught up on Avengers Academy. I dropped it around issue 10 I think (the issue with the magic 101 on the cover). I liked it but it wasn't one of my favorites and, having to drop stuff, it got the cut. However, since that time I've been seeing so much praise, and I really did like the book, and it sounds like some Runaways might be joining the team soon, and I realized there were other books I buy that I like less than Academy.... so I made the switch.
I wish I hadn't listened to everyone's praise. It isn't that it's bad, but I got it hyped up in my head as having really gotten great based on how you guys talk about it and hype it. After reading it, I still like it, but it honestly doesn't feel like it's gotten any better in quality. I still like it better than Daken or X-Factor, so it was a good trade, but it's still likely a first or second teer cut if I need to cut again (and likely will soon).
I'm glad you gave it another chance.
Here's my thoughts on individual issues:
11-12 - These are the Korvac issues and I honestly thought they were just mediocre, probably my least favorite story since the beginning of the series. I read these two and started to feel that maybe I made a mistake spending the money to get caught up like I did. And I really didn't like that Reptil stayed an adult. I did, however, find it interesting that it was never the Wasp floating around out there.
I liked this story, although I do feel that while Korvac is a big time AVENGERS villain in terms of their history who hasn't been overused to death, it may have been better with a more recognizable figure. I'd have preferred to see Ultron, personally. If his rep could survive being defeated by Turbo, Ricochet, and Darkhawk for heaven's sake, losing to some kids shouldn't be too much of a stretch. The only caveat to that alternative is that unlike Korvac, Ultron IS overused - he turns up at least once a year, if not more. The purpose of the story was to show us a glimpse of the kids as adults, which has become a common trope for teenage team books - NEW MUTANTS and TEEN TITANS did it a few times.
These two issues represented the iconic, "it's all on the new kids" sort of deals, since Korvac had just defeated all the current Avengers. His wife was dusted off to provide exposition and devise a way for the cadets to get a boost in power so they could actually defeat Korvac - who had been briefly exhausted putting down Thor and Speedball. While powered up, it was their first battle without their mentors at their side, which is critical to their development. I agree it wasn't perfect, but I liked it. Raney's artwork was pretty solid, I thought.
13 - The Prom issue, fortunately, was a really good issue. I enjoyed it a lot with Hazmat and Mettle stealing the show. I was gad the Reptil reverted back to his younger self (and I wonder what the point of it was really). All in all, good issue.
SUPER HERO PROM remains a favorite by many, due to the cameos and the shockingly light-hearted tone. The point of that Reptil subplot was to get him to accept that he was not only part of the team (and not above them), but that they WERE becoming just that - a team. Before that, Reptil saw the squad as a collection of misfits, potential delinquents or people who didn't want to be a real hero like he did. He seemed to relate more to the adult mentors than his fellow cadets - which makes some degree of sense since he'd served in the Initiative (and had been personally trained by Tigra). He wanted to stay as an adult so he could be taken seriously as their leader as well as be apart from them. Once Spider-Girl pointed out that they were bonding just fine without him having to be an adult, he "let go" and reverted back.
14 - The Sinister Six were fun to see but I still hate Ock'slook and that really does take away from seeing them. I wasn't really impressed with this issue as it was obviously just a building block for a future story of Amazing Spider-Man, which I don't read. I liked aspects and character moments but overall I felt it was a little lacking.
I thought it worked as providing a harsh sense of humility and a reality check. Not even with the aid of their mentors will they prevail every time. Given how they were on a high after surviving Korvac and the prom, it was a gut-punch to see them owned so completely. The two issues of ASM that Gage wrote, BTW, had nothing to do with this; he merely had Spider-Man sub for a class, and they all fought Psycho-Man.
I don't care for Ock's new look either, but it is what it is.
14.1 - I loved the first half and hated the second half. I liked that the team was searching out other people who survived Osborn's tortures and I LOVED that the main kid was questioningthe use of spandex and heroics when good can be done without it. I hated, however, when he pretty much just branched into "villainy" for a while and ended it with a bit of a threatening mood. I thought the questions he presented was very interesting but spoiled by the result of his actions. A good idea that faultered in the end.
The angle of a character who deconstructs the superhero genre within a superhero comic is always touchy. What, the cadets were supposed to go, "Gee, you're right, being a superhero is silly" and end the series right there? I thought the issue was effective in providing the cadets with an enemy of their own - not merely one of the Avengers' enemies who bugs them. He worked as a young Lex Luthor type - someone who does shady, underhanded things that can't be proven. My biggest caveat is him being one of those standard villains who is powerful enough to fight the whole team; his mentioning being super-durable just as he was hit seemed to be a last minute thing to explain him being able to take the hit. But, I liked it and hope to see more of him. In fact, the cadet who leaves may end up working for him.
15-17 - Fear Itself (so far) and they're definately the best issues of the bunch (save maybe the prom issue). I like the action and how the kids react to the war. I'm growing to like Striker's issues and I hate that it's hinted that Veil will be going the way of evil (which is simply Veil rearranged). It's neat seeing Pym becoming very protective over the kids but there's something about it that doesn't feel legit. I get no real connection there. I don't really give a crap about Fear Itself or the Worthy, and therefor I don't care about Absorbing Man and Titania's roles here, but the kids's personal journeys are what's shining.
I've liked the FI issues too. Gage had to do crossover tie in's with AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE and always ran well with them. He managed to give Tigra a satisfying finale to her subplot with Hood despite being editorially unable to have her defeat Hood; that takes skill. I don't feel Pym's compassion for the kids isn't legit - I actually like that some of the Avengers give a genuine damn about teenage heroes. None of the other Avengers, historically, gave a spit about any teenage hero unless it was to tell them to quit, boss them around, or punish them for screwing up (citing, ironically, their lack of guidance, while offering none). Not once did the Avengers do anything to assist the New Warriors; although if they showed up for some INFINITY CRUSADE thing, they'd merrily welcome the help/free labor. The same Captain America who lectured the Young Avengers to quit turned around and conscripted them to fight one of his HIS battles not once, but twice. Pym cares about the cadets because he's grown to over the time he's spent trying to train them, same as any teacher or social worker will eventually grow attached to their charges no matter how off putting they seem at first. He's also dealing with losing Jan and becoming a father via a Skrull.
Veil showing a dark side doesn't bother me. She was always my pick to go bad since she was the one who one would least suspect. Her motives are also good, which is the basis for almost every maniac in history. Everyone from Magneto to Hitler to Ted Bundy just thought they were doing what was best. Finesse, Striker, Hazmat, they're all too obvious. But sweet little Veil? You'd get drama out of her. Striker as a villain would just be a useless third rate Electro - and the BASTARDS OF EVIL already gave us that with Aftershock. But Veil's more unique - only Vapor from the U-Foes comes close to duplicating her power. It has been gradual - seeing her like a taste of Korvac's power as well as not sweating killing people if they're bad enough.
As for Absorbing Man and Titania, my biggest problem is whether or not any of The Worthy can be allowed to be defeated in a book that isn't "important" - i.e. a book written by Fraction, Bendis, or formerly written by either, or spun off from one of their titles. If none of the Worthy can lose in any guest stint, a battle becomes obligatory, and almost comical - baddie hits hero with a hammer and runs away. Given how this tie-in actually ties in to issue seven, I do hope Gage is allowed a concrete resolution here. I doubt it, though - Fraction will merely have THE MIGHTY beat all the Worthy in FEAR ITSELF #6 or something.
That was why the fight with Korvac was vital. Here was a threat who was major, and who no other editor or writer wanted or needed. He could be ALLOWED to be beaten. The fight could matter. That is something you couldn't say with the Sinister Six, or Hood, or maybe even the Worthy. They literally CAN'T LOSE in a book as "small" as this. And it takes all of Gage's skills as writer to get me to care about a conflict with a predetermined outcome.
Still, the FI issues have been better "testing their mettle" issues than the Korvac ones, and why? Because it's an event so it feels like it matters. Maybe there's something to that - maybe new character can catch on if you have them do things that are important and matter to the universe, instead of being off in a corner nobody notices. Just a thought, Marvel.
However, those saying this is the best Fear Itself book - I'd have to disagree. I think Iron Man 2.0, Uncanny X-Men, New Avengers, and some of Avengers have been more entertaining... for me anyway. I also enjoyed the first issue of FI: Uncanny X-Force better, or maybe about the same. It's definately better than the main mini though, hands down.
So that's my thoughts on Avengers Academy. Good read but not great. I'm mostly excited for the changing in the lineup to see who they add.
All of those cited titles are titles that are allowed to be important (even though IRON MAN 2.0's sales are rubbish) for aforementioned editorial reasons. I imagine that helps in the fun factor.
Still, glad you came around for another go. I'm not eager to lose any of the cadets, but I am curious who will come in. Julie Power coming in would be dumb because she's literally been a hero since she was ten and doesn't need the experience. And I am convinced that while the RUNAWAYS characters are fun when together, taken individually they're not quote a whole. Molly is just an annoying super strong brat alone. Nico is just a gothy girl magician with a gimmick, not to be confused with Zatanna who does the same thing for DC. They were characters made to play off each other, not alone with Iron Man. Imagine if I split up the Ninja Turtles and had each join a different Marvel team. I don't think it'd work out well. Sure, after the novelty of, say, Donatello working with Pym or Leonardo meditating with Iron Fist was over with, they would dissolve into background noise without each other. Granted, the novelty of such things can work in the short term.
Y'know who'd make an interesting cadet? Machine Teen. He was created by Marc Sumerak and Mike Hawthorne for a five issue mini series in 2005 for MARVEL NEXT. He is, basically, a teenage robot with modest super-strength and durability, but that "search for identity" crap would be fine on a team book. He's done nothing since and would seem to be fertile ground for Gage. And hey, as a robot, he'd be immune to Hazmat's radiation and complicate the triangle. He's a new character nobody is doing anything with, and ACADEMY could be a playground for those sorts of characters. Plus, he has zero fanbase so nobody would be pissed off; you can't say that with RUNAWAYS.
