Now this is a title that hasn’t been reviewed much on this site. This is my second issue of New Avengers I’ve bought. I’m not a fan of the series from the issues I’ve read over my friend’s house but I had to get this issue to check out the Sentry. The Sentry has become one of my favorite characters within the Marvel Universe. He’s just so complex and confused at times which makes him so entertaining. I’ve always said I’ve never liked how Sentry was handled in New Avengers compared to the way Paul Jenkins wrote the character. The two Sentry minis by Paul Jenkins easily made me fall in love with the character while Brian Michael Bendis just made me view him as a guy who throws people into space…. So now we have a story about Sentry’s feelings on the Civil War, and I think Bendis has finally given me the Sentry I want to see in this book.
The big question everyone has had is what side the Sentry is on. A lot of people believe that if Sentry picks a side, that side is the automatic winner. The problem is…. Sentry really doesn’t want any part of this Civil War. So get to see the conflicted thoughts of an already troubled superhero. To clear his head, Sentry goes to the Moon to think by himself, but what he didn’t know is the Moon is where the Inhumans currently live. Due to me not reading Son of M (Which I might have to pick up) I didn’t know of the Inhumans’ war with the human race. The interaction with the Inhumans and the Sentry is pretty interesting. At the same time the involvement of the Inhumans seems like nothing but a moment to just remind us where they are.
My “problem” with Bendis’ style of writing has decreased over the months. He seems to be getting a better handle of characters that aren’t of Ultimate origin. Like I’ve said before I’ve never been a fan of how he handled Sentry as a whole but he has had his moments. This issue is one of those moments. Bendis has convinced me that he understands how to portray the complex mind of the Sentry. He’s presented us with interesting solo stories of the New Avengers take on the Civil War and I can’t wait to see what he does with Iron Man’s point of view.
I think it is a shame that Adi Granov couldn’t do the art for this issue. Granov’s art on Iron Man was simply some of the best art I’ve seen in comics today. While Pasqual Ferry isn’t a bad artist, I just can’t help but think what this book would have been with Granov. I enjoyed Ferry’s art on Adam Strange but I didn’t get the same type of enjoyment from this issue.
I think it is sad the moment I actually start liking this unique line-up of Avengers, they are disbanded yet again. I honestly think Bendis gets a kick out of this but I’m actually looking forward to the Mighty Avengers. Let’s see if he can end this new Disassembled arc on a good note.
