Uncanny Avengers #2 *Advance Review*

[Hariel0079]

Uncanny Avengers is an interesting animal. Born in the ashes of Avengers vs. X-Men, it's only an Avengers title really in name. The actual traditional Avengers, like Cap and Thor, they're really just a cover. This book isn't what it seems — it's a mutant, through and through.

Even with A-list Avengers propping the book up, Rick Remender thrives the most with his mutant cast. Wolverine immediately gives the book its heart as the surprising de facto spokesman of the mutant race, and Remender writes Rogue — "ignorant trailer trash raised by a mutant terrorist," another character so viciously sums her — like he's been doing it his entire life. While his role is a bit more limited, Havok also gets a moment to shine, and Remender's take on the Scarlet Witch really reminds us why she's the most powerful mutant on the planet.

The other focus Remender takes here is the villains of the piece, now that the Red Skull is wielding a weapon that will hit very close to home for this team. Remender has all these smart touches to the Skull's plan, down to the name of the group that he's building in his secret lair. The Skull's plan helps establish him as a credible threat, although his underlings still leave something to be desired in terms of power sets and personalities. Right now, it does feel a bit like Rogue and company are fighting nameless peons than long-term enemy combatants.

The art continues to be a high point of this series. John Cassaday is often billed as a widescreen action guy, but for my money, his best moments are the punch-in-the-gut emotional beats. There's a moment where Rogue and the Scarlet Witch learn the secret of the Skull's plan, and you really do feel the rage and disgust and the overwhelming sadness that binds them, all based on images alone. Cassaday's Red Skull just exudes menace, and the irritable scowl on Rogue's face just makes her my favorite character. Cassaday also does great work making the environments seem real, particularly as Wolverine passes by anti-mutant graffiti scrawled across the city, but occasionally those details get lost in Laura Martin's ultra-hot reds and greens.

That said, this issue does feel surprisingly slow, and that's even including a couple of nice action beats with Rogue and the Scarlet Witch. This comic isn't just about punching, it's about perception, it's about public relations. There is still a lot of talking, a lot of explanations as to why Cap (who still feels like a bit of a cypher, like Thor) is recruiting Havok, or why Thor suddenly cares about the mutant plight, but I want to see the war of ideas played out visually, through actions rather than just speeches.

But perception is the name of the game here, both in terms of this book's theme and in terms of a consumer's prerogatives. Uncanny Avengers isn't the widescreen union of two great teams like it was billed, and that may wear on people's patience too much to stay on to the next issue. That would also be a mistake. Like Cap and Havok, Rick Remender is giving a PR facelift to Marvel's merry mutants, adding in A-list characters, A-list threats and A-list twists.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Hmmm, I hope Rogue isn't too rash now. I'm used to Legacy Rogue.

[Nomads1]

I may give it a look over once Wondy, Jan and Sunfire join, however, if the two characters I'm least intrested in reading about are going to be the central ones here, I definitly won't be staying.

Peace

[CJStriker]

Thanks for the Reveiw From Newsarama, Hariel0079.

This has made me much more excited for the book now. Where it is heading if for a deeper story that is not just focused on the Big Events battles (like AvX was), but for some deep Character Development in this new post AvX world. This sounds like it is going to be a heavy Scarlet Witch, Rogue and Red Skull issue and that please me. This is cause most of the best story and pushing it forward will come from those 3 right now. I do not want a story rushed out just to get it done or a story that drags on too long, but so far it sounds like Rick R. is doing the right amount of Story telling.

Put that in with Thor getting serious about the Mutant/Human Relations and the story going in deeper with Wolverines take are things, this will be a Treat not in just dialog, but in Images as well. As they say "A picture is worth a 1,000 Words", and I rather have more Epic Pages with less dialog, and ones that just in an Image says all that needs to be said. It is going to be a Good #2, a good series and has right now been Worth the Wait.