Uncanny Avengers is not just another X-book or Avenger book. That is definitely not the case. It’s both. Yes, Marvel found a way to make you buy another damn title. And guess what? Wolverine is in this one too! So that makes about a hundred titles you can find your favorite Canadian mutant. I know Wolverine used to be a fan favorite but isn’t everyone done with the guy? He’s already had 6 movies all about him and he appears in every title Marvel puts out – why does he have to be part of Uncanny Avengers!? How does he even have time to do anything else!? Enough of my Wolverine rant let’s get this review going.
In case you haven’t heard, Uncanny Avengers is basically the result of Avengers vs. X-Men. Captain America realized his ignorance helped bring Scott to a whole new level of crazy. What if the Avengers had been there to help Scott in his most desperate of times? So this series is basically Captain America making a team of X-Men and Avengers. For some reason, Captain America isn’t the leader of this team but it appears he still calls the shots. No, Cap made Scott Summers brother – Alex Summers – the leader of this team. After all, Havok was one of the first X-Men and he has been a leader most of his life (X-Factor). Alright, so that is everything you need to know leading up to this issue. Oh, did I mention the first issue was magnificent!? As for issue two…
Uncanny Avengers #2 continues the journey of redemption for the Avengers. As the Avengers attempt to pull the world back together from the immense hatred people have for mutants, a former enemy plans an eerie return. Rick Remender continues on the path that he laid down in the first issue. You are immediately grabbed within the first two pages. One thing I hadn’t exactly counted on was how well this team dynamic was going to work out. These aren’t exactly all good friends. These are Avengers and these are X-Men. It wasn’t too long ago they were fighting each other on a day-to-day basis. Both teams have lost someone they considered a friend and mentor. Tension runs high in the ranks of Uncanny Avengers. There is even an uneasy tension between Logan and Cap, and these two have known each other for years. It might be that one time Cap kicked him out of a moving jet… but with those two guys, who knows?
Of course John Cassaday’s art is great, but it is much more gritty than normal. And I’m not entirely convinced that is a bad thing, especially for an issue like this. His depiction of the Red Skull is just so sadistic and menacing. He goes all-out drawing expressions of lost hope that sell the concept better than the words. The colors are equally vibrant and jaunting, and that is not necessarily a bad thing either. Other than everyone looking a little paler than goth kids I think the issue got it right.
The creativity behind Rogue never ceases to amaze me. Rogue has such a strong heart but even stronger powers and the writers know how to showcase them. As for the Red Skull, he seems more determined to bring about a change unlike anything we have ever seen. This isn’t world domination or being power-hungry; this is the Red Skull just wanting to create chaos with his own recipe. And poor Wanda looks like she is about to be put through the ringer again, just after she reunited with her buddy Janet Van Dyne. But these aren’t the reasons why the series works so well; no, this is just the creamy filling. The true essence of this comic stems from where this team is going to find the will to play ball together. Cooler heads will prevail, but not before hard heads clash. And it’s not like there is only one member who feels displaced. No, it is all of them. All of them – in their own way – doesn’t belong. Each person has made grave mistakes. Mistakes that changed the world.
But the best part so far? This team hasn’t even come together as a team. They have questioned each other, had doubts but only behind the scenes. Can’t wait to see where this takes us. Add Wonder-Man to the mix and you have the craziest batch of good guy nut jobs out there. If this is what happens when Marvel shakes it up, they should shake it up more often.
Much as I hate to say it… The first issue was, in my opinion, so boring that I just walked away from it completely.
But at least the cover for this issue is cool!
I think this series is really going to find its niche in the next ten issues and this is all just the build up.
Wolvie and Cap, Rogue and Wanda, I'm really digging those dynamics.