REVIEW: Avengers Arena #1

[kakitamike]

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't expect a forbes CEO to put too much weight on a 5 year old's business acumen, but wanting to debate literary merits on a comic general forum and wanting someone to expand upon, or downright disregard someone's opinion of 'i like it cause it's awesome' is asking to be seen as combative or ignorant, or both.

Or at least, I would clearly state the goal foremost in my own thread topic.

[Home made ectoplasm]

This was objectively better than the first issue of Runaways, in my informed opinion.

[vampiric_cannibal]

This was objectively better than the first issue of Runaways, in my informed opinion.

For sure. Runaways v1 #1 tried really hard to introduce everyone, which sounds like a great idea, but it takes up too much space with too little substance. Gotta do the Mass Effect 2 style slow queue. Main character and a couple of exposition spouting foils, before picking up the main crew, one at a time. Once you got those groovy cats, get the interesting and quirky other characters. Or kill one and get the vampire daughter. I don't think Arena is going to kill X-23 and replace her with Jubilee, but that could work.
Shit, Arena is the effective successor to Runaways. Adults evil, kids abandoned, Marvel 616 teen book that isn't really about superheroics.
I don't get why people don't like the pacing. Hook happens in far future, and won't be returned to far ages, but the bulk of the story got things done suitably quickly, and importantly got things done. No decompression. It lit a fuse by blowing up a smaller piece of dynamite. I like reading dynamite and explosions.

[Majin Gojira]

For sure. Runaways v1 #1 tried really hard to introduce everyone, which sounds like a great idea, but it takes up too much space with too little substance.

I prefer a slow burn, myself. But the actual introduction of all the families and their kids are pretty much done in 6 pages (aside from the general introduction). Which is all I was what I was primarily referring to. The rest was how the kids interact with each other which for Arena could be definitely postponed for later issues (as that is Hopeless' intended main selling point).

Gotta do the Mass Effect 2 style slow queue. Main character and a couple of exposition spouting foils, before picking up the main crew, one at a time. Once you got those groovy cats, get the interesting and quirky other characters. Or kill one and get the vampire daughter. I don't think Arena is going to kill X-23 and replace her with Jubilee, but that could work.

Good example and good counterpoint. Both are good, certainly. Which fits better I couldn't say. I was going for a mixture of the two stiles rather than exclusively one (the 2x8 panel suggestion). Still, very good example and counterpoint.

Shit, Arena is the effective successor to Runaways. Adults evil, kids abandoned, Marvel 616 teen book that isn't really about superheroics.
I don't get why people don't like the pacing. Hook happens in far future, and won't be returned to far ages, but the bulk of the story got things done suitably quickly, and importantly got things done. No decompression. It lit a fuse by blowing up a smaller piece of dynamite. I like reading dynamite and explosions.

Well, I tried to explain why earlier, i you care to dig through all that (I certainly don't so I wouldn't blame ya if you didn't ). Thank you for explaining why you thought the pacing worked too. Obviously, I disagree, but I can see where you latched onto it pretty easily.

Such a sweet read.

[earth2sara]

I just finished this and my mind has been blown to a pulp. Holy crap. That was so intense!!!! I only picked this up because it was recommended to me by a guy at my shop. I had no idea it was gonna be so crazy! I didn't know about any of the characters or anything about it but wow I was impressed. I heard that Arcade hasn't been taken seriously until this series. Does anyone know more about him?

[Home made ectoplasm]

Glad you liked it! His wiki should tell you all you need to know

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcade_(Marvel_Comics)

It still hasn't been revealed exactly what is going on with Arcade, but it's only issue 2. He seems a lot more competent than previously. Looking forward to finding out.

[vampiric_cannibal]

This podcast I listened to, it seems like issue 6-8ish will reveal a lot more about what Arcade is doing and why, mostly through the question of 'is he streaming this?'.

[earth2sara]

This podcast I listened to, it seems like issue 6-8ish will reveal a lot more about what Arcade is doing and why, mostly through the question of 'is he streaming this?'.

Which podcast was it?

[vampiric_cannibal]

Which podcast was it?

Reality Check Fail: Pop Culture Radio, episode 24, available on iTunes, and I think it is where Hopeless gave the best explanations for his books. And for his early interviews where he was very insistent that people were going to die... because he didn't have much else to add and that was the premise anyway.

[Majin Gojira]

Reality Check Fail: Pop Culture Radio, episode 24, available on iTunes, and I think it is where Hopeless gave the best explanations for his books. And for his early interviews where he was very insistent that people were going to die... because he didn't have much else to add and that was the premise anyway.

Interesting, I may have to check it out. I hope it's not to long an interview.

[vampiric_cannibal]

Interesting, I may have to check it out. I hope it's not to long an interview.

45 minutes. There's a few minutes of basic intro stuff, then Arena, then the last half is Cable and X-Force.

[Majin Gojira]

45 minutes. There's a few minutes of basic intro stuff, then Arena, then the last half is Cable and X-Force.

Cool, thanks for the breakdown.

probably won't get to check it out properly until Monday or so.