Avengers Arena #3 *Spoilers*

**graffiX** · 01-09-2013, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by Home made ectoplasm

There's no body for Juston - hypothetically I think maybe his robot was protecting him by folding his body around Juston to keep him safe? So rather than the mysterious power destroying the robot the robot destroyed itself?

Yeah, could be. That whole scene was left ambiguous, but probably on purpose.

**BrotherUnitNo_4** · 01-09-2013, 08:02 AM

Another point, I like that the book really IS about survival thus far more than death games.

**Filthy Mutie** · 01-09-2013, 08:09 AM

I'm really enjoying this book so far--a lot more than I expected, for sure. It's great from top to bottom and I hope it continues to be.

Regarding the sentinel: Good riddance.

**USERNAME TAKEN** · 01-09-2013, 08:15 AM

I think Darkhawk just got his amulet ripped the heck out of him.

I don't think he's dead.

Excellent issue though. Hopeless continues to knock it out of the park.

**alf_to_the_rescue** · 01-09-2013, 08:19 AM

Poor Sentinel.

**Sanji** · 01-09-2013, 08:24 AM

The Sentinel is gone but I don't think the kid is dead, there was no lifebar. Also it's no fun if I don't see his gusts spilled all over the snow. God I hate that kid, his whole existence is offensive, I don't understand how Laura didn't gut him as soon as she joined the Academy. Speaking of X-23, it's nice to see she's gone back to her proper characterization instead of telling Cammi her life story and making best friend bracelets for her like she would've done a few months ago. Not only Hopeless is great at writing teenagers in general, he's also obviously done his research right and it shows - both here with X-23 and in X-force with Hope. Yay for him! Those were two characters I had come to dislike but now I like them again.

I don't know anything about Cammi but I like what I've seen here. Not sure what happened with Darkhawk: it looks like his armour turn against itself and then left. I don't know anything about him either (ok, I don't know anything about anyone except Laura) so I'll wait for the experts. He's not dead either though, he's in the next cover.

Katy is still my favourite, studying Cammi but not letting her in the group. Deathlockette is adorable but I fear for her if she doesn't wisen up soon. Katy's playing her like a doll.

The art is fantastic. There are so many great scenes: Cammi in the snow, Cammi and the Moon and Darkhawk in the woods. The atmosphere is just right.

It's canon now that the JGHSL has better defenses than S.W.O.R.D.

**AcesX1X** · 01-09-2013, 08:25 AM

this was a really great focus issue on cammi!

nice to see SWORD tied into her history a little. why abigail didn't just offer her a job with them....i mean a 13 yr old experienced space pirate! drax protege! that's a skillset that doesn't come along often.

three issues in and the series keeps up the momentum. glad they addressed darkhawk's presence amongst the rest....and i guess juston is dead along with his sentinel. good. i think they should have just let emma destroy it for good last summer, but this was a nice apology for that.

**The Black Guardian** · 01-09-2013, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by BrotherUnitNo_4

Another point, I like that the book really IS about survival thus far more than death games.

You're reading a different book that I am, then.

**LeonardEugenius** · 01-09-2013, 08:48 AM

A really great issue. The solicit for a future issue has Darkhawk versus X-23, so I don't think he's dead just yet. The last panel with the amulet hanging from the tree reminded me of back during Reign of Kings or War of Kings when they showed all the Darkhawk amulets hanging from their trees waiting for hosts. I wonder if it's meant to be an allusion to the amulet choosing or preparing to a choose a new host.

**BrotherUnitNo_4** · 01-09-2013, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by The Black Guardian

You're reading a different book that I am, then.

Really? The deathmatch aspect was completely out of play this issue. Even in the last issue it didn't play much of a part in the proceedings. Still a death game I guess, what with the mysterious lurker, but thus far it hasn't lived up to the "expected" premise for the book - teenaged superheroes tearing each other to pieces.

**BrotherUnitNo_4** · 01-09-2013, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by LeonardEugenius

A really great issue. The solicit for a future issue has Darkhawk versus X-23, so I don't think he's dead just yet. The last panel with the amulet hanging from the tree reminded me of back during Reign of Kings or War of Kings when they showed all the Darkhawk amulets hanging from their trees waiting for hosts. I wonder if it's meant to be an allusion to the amulet choosing or preparing to a choose a new host.

That would be interesting. I wonder who's going to be the worthy to bear the mantle of Darkhawk.

**kakitamike** · 01-09-2013, 08:57 AM

Maybe Chris Powell is dead, but we'll have a new darkhawk. Liked this backstory better than last issue, though it's nice to know people getting teleported out of SWORD HQ is par for the course. Wonder if Brand even put in a report.

**Majin Gojira** · 01-09-2013, 09:00 AM

Not as good as #2, but better than #1. The pacing is much improved (actually having a proper ending rather than just stopping) and the art remains strong (You really get the sterile environment of SWORD HQ), but some things (like the sentinel's folding up) weren't so good. The narration box helped clear what was going on, but it was still a bit off. Cammi's story was interesting, but for me at least it did not click as well. She still has some interesting traits (not wanting to go back home, now having Drax tattoos). It's actually good, somewhat logical development. Again, the things that annoyed me with #1 were not there, but the overall negatives remain as lingering reminds of how much my suspension of disbelief has been shattered, emphasized by the most recent "People Arcade has pissed off" addition.

So far, we have:
1) The Avengers (Hank Pym, Tigra)
2) The X-Men (Wolverine)
3) The Guardians of the Galaxy (Drax)
4) MI-13/The Braddock Academy (Captain Britain)
and now
5) SWORD

It strains Suspension of Disbelief further and further, which is the exact opposite of what a 'mystery' should do. The mystery assailant is better handled than the bigger mystery (My money is on either Nara or Anarchonism, unless Apex can bilocate as part of her 'unrevealed powerset' - I don't buy "I can only fly", and I don't think we're meant to either). However, the way it is handled raises a greater question regarding the 30 day time limit on a meta-narrative level: why have it at all if you're going to skip 9 days so readily like that?

I will say this however, Agent Brand's line about how Cammi was captured got an honest laugh out of me.

I too do not believe Darkhawk has been killed, but it is likely someone will steal his armored form. Of course, if this did kill him, then there's a litany of problems that would raise (and none of them would be unexpected at this point). If Darkhawk is killed in this instance, however, he'll have been the best set up one yet. And it wasn't that good a setup, but it's still a vast improvement over undermined morality and a site gag. It would still be somewhat poor, but it would be better.

Since this issue had no clear deaths, I rank it a 3/5. If it does turn out Darkhawk was killed, drop it a point.

**Voss** · 01-09-2013, 09:01 AM

Yea it wouldn't make sense for Darkhawk to be dead yet be on the cover of issue 4. No one died this issue.

**Majin Gojira** · 01-09-2013, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by kakitamike

Maybe Chris Powell is dead, but we'll have a new darkhawk.

There's precident for multiple Darkhawk armors being generated by the raptor gem thingy (The Loners mini), so a new Darkhawk isn't predicated on Chris' death.