Writer: Roger Stern Artists: Sean Chen (p), Scott Hanna (i), Steve Oliff (c) Published by Marvel Comics
The plot: The fill-in Avengers learn more about the threat they face on the other side of the galaxy, while they battle a legion of Servitors.
This miniseries, happily, seems to be following a reverse pattern from Stern's recent Wonder-Man/Beast miniseries. In that case, I was hopeful after the first issue, but it only got worse and worse. Here, I had my doubt with issue #1, but things are looking up with the second issue.
I still hate Starfox, and don't like Tigra much better, but I came away from this issue a little more convinced these are Avengers, however second-rate they might be. The characters seem to interact more naturally here, and the developing conflict between Photon and Thor is at least interesting.
Sean Chen seems to be working a Gil Kane mojo in spots here (check Thor's look on the cover or page 9 panel 4), but there are much worse artists he could be influenced by; indeed, the former Iron Man penciler's grasp of the Thunder God seems much improved this issue, and his Photon remains as sexy and convincing as she was last month.
Frankly, much of this issue is devoted to battling the Servitor robots, but the plot seems to be coming together and Chen remains one of Marvel's best artists, served well by Hanna's inks. I still don't think this is a worthy successor to Avengers Forever, but if the creative team maintains the level of quality on display in this issue, Avengers Infinity is at least an entertaining read.
