New Avengers #8 Review

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Daniel Acuna
Cover by: Mike Deodato Jr.

Wolvie Meter: (1/5) “He’s in this book?”

New Avengers is the book that seems to go nowhere, but still continues to entertain me. We have a new artist in Daniel Acuna, who did a pretty good job; no complaints from me. The first part of this issue focuses on Luke Cage’s relationship with his wife, Jessica Jones. While out to dinner, Luke insists that Jessica join the team and become Power Woman, an offer that is repeatedly turned down. Jessica tries to communicate to Luke that she is a mother now, and she can’t take the risk, but she can’t seem to get it through Luke’s thick skull (or maybe it’s his skin). Although it’s completely understandable since she doesn’t want her child to grow up without parents like she did, Luke’s not taking no for an answer, so the debate gets semi-heated. The argument is interrupted when a strange spacecraft happens to crash down outside the restaurant.

It’s Doctor Doom and Cage immediately engages him in a fight as Jessica calls the rest of the Avengers. Although he seemed to be in control, Doom soon gets the upper hand and Jessica Jones has to come to the aid of her husband to defeat the supervillain. It turns out that this is NOT in fact Victor von Doom, but rather a “Doombot,” constructed to look like him. Of course, the Avengers are just finally arriving now that the action is over. Must have been traffic (in the skies?!?). By the end of the issue Jessica announces that she will join the team as “Power Woman,” but Luke’s celebratory reaction sparks another battle in the never ending war called marriage.

Once again we get plenty of witty dialogue and some great interactions amongst the characters. This is obviously the strong point of the book. Bendis never fails to make me laugh in this series, but when are we going to get some real action again? Right now it’s focusing more on the relationships amongst the team more than anything else, which is great, but it doesn’t come without problems. The story is moving at a snail’s pace, basically focusing on no more than one or two small aspects an issue. Last month was about how Dr. Strange joined the team and Squirrel Girl became the nanny for the Cage's. This month is about how Jessica Jones becomes Power Woman and joins the Avengers. Baby steps. Maybe by the time the real team is finally assembled, it will be time for another reboot and renumbering already.