What's Fun About This Book
The creative team of Ales Kot, Michael Walsh, Matthew Wilson (on colors) and Tradd Moore (cover) have something special in their hands with "Secret Avengers." I took a risk on this book when I first pulled it off the shelf, but I laughed so hard while reading the first issue that I promptly added it to my subscription list at my local shop. The book is well-crafted. It's a team book, and I enjoy reading team books. It's an action comedy. Consider this: Agent Coulson, Nick Fury, Black Widow, Spider-Woman, Hawkeye, Director Maria Hill and M.O.D.O.K. — Yes...M.O.D.O.K. The very thought of a clandestine, rag-tag group of misfits equal fun. And comics oughta be fun, right? Secret Avengers #4 is no less.
I AM SCIENCE. I AM M.O.D.O.K.
M.O.D.O.K. adds a dimension to this book that a different Secret Avengers book without him would lack. Half of it is comedic relief. But the other half is an intriguing role with SHIELD that makes me more interested in the character and his development in ways I've never been before. The whole mad scientist, former terrorist and killing machine himself (hence the acronym — Mental/Mobile/Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing) working to stop another killing machine built to exterminate all life is an interesting premise in and of itself. The working relationship that he and Director Hill share is crazy, but it works in a Pinky and the Brain kind of way. No disrespect to Hill. She's definitely no Pinky. We see more aspects of this relationship fleshed out in this issue. Plus, the Lair of Mad Science is such a great tribute to such a large ego.
Overall, the issue was good. Plenty of one-liners and great dialogue between the characters, especially where M.O.D.O.K. was involved. I'm really enjoying Michael Walsh's and Matthew Wilson's work on the artistic end of the story-telling.
What's Not So Fun
I miss Black Widow, Spider-Woman and Agent Coulson. Their mission concluded in issue no. 3. I still trying to figure out Nick Fury's part in the team. I'm more moored to the original Silver Age Nick Fury and the Marvel Cinematic Universe's "Ultimate" take on the character. However, the Nick Fury as presented here seems less of a straight man and more anxiety-prone shell of his former self. Will he turn out to be a life model decoy? One final note; the agents who accompanied our heroes on the mission may as well have been "red shrts." If you know what I mean.
The Punch-Line
Secret Avengers #4 makes me realize how much this comic is actually a SHIELD book than an Avengers book. What's fun about this is the fact that any self-respectable Avenger would have a problem with M.O.D.O.K. having a part in it. But even that's a secret. Secrets are meant to be uncovered.
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