New Avengers #17

Genre action Author Brian Michael Bendis Publisher Marvel Comics External Links Official Marvel Comics Website

Brian Bendis has done it again. For the second issue in a row, he's wasted a good seven pages of storytelling space, no mean feat in graphic storytelling. In issue sixteen of the New Avengers, Bendis wasted eight pages to splash pages. In issue seventeen, he spent seven pages showing the New Avengers standing on a street. Granted, it's a funny joke, and it's well-written, but it doesn't serve the story one bit. So far in this story arc, Bendis has wasted fifteen pages. That's almost a whole issue.

After the gag is over, the Avengers jump into action. They are briefed by Maria Hill, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., en route to Cleveland. A super-powered male-introduced in issue sixteen-has moved through Canada, destroying everything in its path. Hill is summoning the Avengers to stop the unstoppable.

After the first seven pages, the story reaches a level of pacing that fits the book. There's action, Bendis's trademark humorous dialogue, and a plethora of great art. Mike Deodato Jr. might be, of all the artists to draw New Avengers, the best-suited to draw this book. Not only are his characters well-rendered, but his sense of storytelling is impeccable. We can only hope that his pencils grace these pages more often in the future.

So, after a wasted issue and seven pages, the "Collective" story arc is finally under way. It doesn't look like Bendis will have any excuse to digress from the main storyline, but he's found excuses to digress before. Hopefully, the rest of the story will be as well paced as the second half of this issue. At least the art is good.