Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Artists: Manuel Garcia (p), Scott Hanna (i)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Plot:
The book opens by revealing that the person who approached the Thunderbolts at the end of the last issue was Citizen V, and he's come to request help in dealing with a situation that he believes endangers the entire planet. We then learn that the engines of the V-Battalion's massive Vanguard vessel have undergone a mysterious transformation, as they've become an expanding energy void. As Hawkeye agrees to try and seal this anomaly, we see he's also able to strong-arm his group of villains into helping him. However, his plan to try any overload the anomaly by filling it up with debris proves to be a hopeless endeavor, as the void looks to be a bottomless pit. However, Hawkeye is able to impress the group with his heroic nature, as he leaps into the void to rescue Harrier, who strayed too close to the void, and when it becomes clear his plan isn't working, Hawkeye comes up with a plan that has him leaping into the void while holding onto one of his cable arrows. We then see the rest of the group decides to follow, with Amazon remaining behind to hold their safety lines. However when the void suddenly collapses, Hawkeye's group discover that something has followed them back to Earth.
Comments:
A pretty straight forward action adventure that has Hawkeye leading his motley collection of partially reformed villains on a daring mission. Now when one has been reading comics for as long as I have, then the expanding energy void threat the team faces in this issue feels a bit familiar, but Fabian Nicieza does a nice job creating a sense of urgency. Now Hawkeye's heroic dives into the void convince the villains he's working with a little too quickly for my liking. However, given I'm a die hard Hawkeye fan, I'm willing to overlook this idea, as these scenes treat Hawkeye's courage with the respect it deserves, as how can one not admire a character who would rush into battles against baddies like Kang, Ultron & Mephisto armed only with a bow & a quiver full of trick arrows. Now while I can hardly claim to be an expert in this field, I was a bit confused when the story referred to the void as a white hole, as I had been under the impression that this was the name given to a cosmic anomaly that worked exactly opposite of a black hole (e.g. it expelled matter, instead of drawing it in). However, the simple fact of the matter is that this issue is a classic battle to save the world from an expanding anomaly, and on this front it does a pretty good job of being entertaining.
Fabian Nicieza is nearing the end of his run on this book, and if nothing else one has to admire his willingness to make lasting changes to the cast of this book, as during his run half the team has died & been resurrected in new forms, with Atlas actually switching genders during his return. This latest arc has also seen the formation of two different teams, as we see most of the regulars have fallen back under the control of Baron Zemo, while Hawkeye has formed a new group of villains, who he is guiding down the straight & narrow. Now with the book slated to undergo a big lineup change, I hope that Hawkeye is snatched up by Geoff Johns for the Avengers, but I'd be lying if I said that I was pleased by the news that John Arcudi wouldn't be using the cast of characters that I've been following for close to six years. Now we know Songbird is at some point slated to become an Avenger, and I'm sure several members will likely return to their villainous ways (e.g. Baron Zemo, the Fixer & Moonstone), but with the end approaching, I'm a bit sad to see that this book needs the same kick in the pants that X-Force received, as like that book I rather like the characters that are being cast aside before the new blood steps in.
Manuel Garcia turns in a pretty impressive issue in that the work does a great job capturing the key moments in this issue. From our first look at the nightmarish environment that the Vanguard has become, to the closing scene where Amazon is straining to keep her teammates from being sucked into the void, this art does a creditable job of delivering the moments that it needs to make the reader invest their interest in the material. Hi-Fi Design also deserves a lot of credit on this issue as they are called upon the deliver the energy void, and the coloring work is absolutely lovely. The almost blinding light, and energy arcing is very nicely presented, and it marks one of the rare instants when a computer generated effect was seamlessly meshed with traditional pencil & ink work. The art also deliver some nice action shots, like the panel where Harrier fires his missiles, or the page where the group all gather together in front of the expanding void. This issue also features a cover by Udon Studios, and while they do some nice work on the elaborate costume design that Amazon wears, and the coloring effect of the background is impressive, it's doesn't really offer up an exciting image, that would leave one wanting to read this comic.
Final Word:
I've seen this story many times before, as the ever expanding anomaly is a staple plot device of most every team book. However, Fabian Nicieza does a pretty solid job using his cast of mostly villains to add a new twist, as except for Hawkeye & Songbird the rest of these characters have very little experience at performing heroic acts. The issue also nicely plays up the idea that Hawkeye leads by example, as not only does he come across as a fairly capable field leader, but we also see he's forever putting his life on the line to show his team that he's willing to risk it all, to save their lives. Now I was a bit disappointed by the rather abrupt finish this issue has, as in one panel the anomaly is there, and in the next it's suddenly gone. However the final page would seem to suggest that next issue will tell us what happened inside the void, and the observant reader can probably already guess who followed the team back through the void.
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