So, I got bored today, and with House of M and New Avengers being two books that I’m really excited about, I decided to read Disassembled again to see if I gained anything new from it after recent events.
The first issue really threw out a lot of interesting ideas out into the open. The Avengers never really kept tabs on what happened to Jack Hart after he died, as well as countless other events. They really never stayed on top of that. Also, they allowed the Vision, a construct of Ultron, as well as She-Hulk on the team. I understand there’s a level of trust that has been established with these characters, but in the end, they both have very shady backgrounds.
In the second issue, we get a great scene from Hank Pym and some interesting dialogue between Tony, Cap, Hawkeye, and the Falcon. A lot of words are thrown around, but this feels very awkward upon further readings. I can picture this happening, but this group feels too small. This should have gone down with the group of people we see at the end of the issue. Also, this moment where the Avengers talk and plan makes the last issue of the series feel even more awkward. While this scene is necessary, it just seems to throw off the pacing for the book. Also, Tony flying off like that and running back seems pretty suspect. I just am very reluctant to believe him in the pages of New Avengers, for whatever reason, and I think it’s rubbing off on me here. It just feels that he was pulled away from the oncoming Kree battle, instead of leaving because he was deeply offended.
In the third issue, we’re shown Nick Fury trying to disperse the group. Now, I understand why he feels he needs to do it, but it seems unnecessary. These forces me to think that he may know more than he lets on, and recent events in Secret War and NA leads me to believe that I can’t really trust much of what this guy says. Hawkeye’s death, in my opinion, was handled well. I know I’m in the minority of this, but as soon as I saw him get hit, I thought he was done for. I just pictured all sorts of internal damage from the blow, which may be bad since I was making my own judgment before finishing the page, but it’s how I read the book. The two Skrulls in the book are also very odd. Are they there for a reason, or are they there because Wanda is losing it badly?
The fourth issue is where things fall apart for me. I really didn’t like that Dr. Strange ended up saving the day. It just felt too easy, after the events that had just occurred. Dr. Strange does bring up many good points though, but the exposition in the front of the book really takes a lot away from the climax. You get off the high that is the Kree battle and are put in a state of anticipation that drags a little too long in my opinion. One question I do have is about Wanda’s kids; they act very oddly. One’s bloodthirsty and the other is much more rational or scared. Is this a reflection of Wanda’s emotions or something more? Could they be constructs that are used to manipulate her, or are they just representative of her state of mind? Also, the Avengers handing over Wanda so easily doesn’t make sense to me. I just don’t understand that. And also, the ending and where it’s picked up in New Excalibur don’t match up at all. Whether this is a mistake or not remains to be seen.
I also really hated how the new Captain Britain was brushed aside, and that her kids were completely ignored. I didn’t necessarily like the character, but she was really swatted aside for the new changes. I’d like to hear from her in the future, or at least find out if her kids are alright.
Those are just my own thoughts. What do you guys think?
One thing I found interesting is Bendis makes a big point of the Avengers about the Avengers not keeping tabs on Jack of Hearts, like you said, but when Thor disappears, they don't do squat. If you point out a flaw like that, you should really do something about it, not perpetuate it.
Sure, you could say the Avengers disbanded, but it's not like they all stopped heroing, or that one of them couldn't say 'hey, Doc Strange, could you find out where Thor is while we all stand around and watch Magneto take the Scarlet Witch away with our thumbs up our butts?' I know the Hercules mini touches on this, but if anything, it just points out the flaw even more.
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I really wanted to like DA and New Avengers, but both left me feeling kinda neutral. Disassembled wasn't the worst book ever, like some people act, but it felt really rushed. I think it could have been a thousand times better had Bendis written the book for a year or so before going into it. He had to end the team in his first arc. That has to be nearly impossible to do well. We get no building sense of Wanda being insane. We just get references to years old stories and are asked to pretend she was unstable, which doesn't work for me at all. Hawkeye's death was just sort of lame. They announce in big letters on the cover that someone is going to die, so the whole issue you just sit and wait for it. And then it happens and its just sort of blah. Either he was so injured that he felt he was going to die regardless or he was just an idiot who couldn't operate straps. If he was that hurt, they sure as hell didn't get it across in the book. And he sure as hell wasn't dumb. So we're left with a plot hole. And I totally agree with you on the end. It made them all look like chumps. They just stand around in front of the mansion the whole time. And then Strange comes out of left field to explain things while the incredibly fucked up Magneto somehow warps in to save Wanda in a horrible example of Deus Ex Machina.
But even after the dissapointment in Avengers, I was more than willing to give NA a try. And I was again really dissapointed. I had built it up to be this amazing revolutionary comic, but it was just more of the same. They move from a Mansion to a Tower and lose their funding. Yet they still have jets and supetech. And Ironman, who wanted nothing to do with the name, just agrees to follow Caps lead. Meh. Add on the really slow pace of the book and I just found myself not caring. I'm sure I'll pick up and issue here and there to see if its gotten better, but I've moved on from the sort of ook it is now.
And I really don't like the art in either book. Its not that I think it bad really, its just not my style at all. And there are some weird errors in it. Wolverine having webbed hand being one of them. I don't drop a book for bad art, but it makes it easier to drop if I'm on the fence.
And I really don't like the art in either book. Its not that I think it bad really, its just not my style at all. And there are some weird errors in it. Wolverine having webbed hand being one of them. I don't drop a book for bad art, but it makes it easier to drop if I'm on the fence.
I decided I didn't like the art after I realized that The Sentry has long hair so we don't get him confused with Steve Rogers.
One thing I found interesting is Bendis makes a big point of the Avengers about the Avengers not keeping tabs on Jack of Hearts, like you said, but when Thor disappears, they don't do squat. If you point out a flaw like that, you should really do something about it, not perpetuate it.
Sure, you could say the Avengers disbanded, but it's not like they all stopped heroing, or that one of them couldn't say 'hey, Doc Strange, could you find out where Thor is while we all stand around and watch Magneto take the Scarlet Witch away with our thumbs up our butts?' I know the Hercules mini touches on this, but if anything, it just points out the flaw even more.
You're absolutely right. There really should be a "World without Thor" moment in the universe where people realize and mourn the loss of Thor. It really should be touched upon, and if it isn't, it may hurt his return. We really need to see some reprecussions for this.
I really wanted to like DA and New Avengers, but both left me feeling kinda neutral. Disassembled wasn't the worst book ever, like some people act, but it felt really rushed. I think it could have been a thousand times better had Bendis written the book for a year or so before going into it. He had to end the team in his first arc. That has to be nearly impossible to do well. We get no building sense of Wanda being insane. We just get references to years old stories and are asked to pretend she was unstable, which doesn't work for me at all. Hawkeye's death was just sort of lame. They announce in big letters on the cover that someone is going to die, so the whole issue you just sit and wait for it. And then it happens and its just sort of blah. Either he was so injured that he felt he was going to die regardless or he was just an idiot who couldn't operate straps. If he was that hurt, they sure as hell didn't get it across in the book. And he sure as hell wasn't dumb. So we're left with a plot hole. And I totally agree with you on the end. It made them all look like chumps. They just stand around in front of the mansion the whole time. And then Strange comes out of left field to explain things while the incredibly fucked up Magneto somehow warps in to save Wanda in a horrible example of Deus Ex Machina.
But even after the dissapointment in Avengers, I was more than willing to give NA a try. And I was again really dissapointed. I had built it up to be this amazing revolutionary comic, but it was just more of the same. They move from a Mansion to a Tower and lose their funding. Yet they still have jets and supetech. And Ironman, who wanted nothing to do with the name, just agrees to follow Caps lead. Meh. Add on the really slow pace of the book and I just found myself not caring. I'm sure I'll pick up and issue here and there to see if its gotten better, but I've moved on from the sort of ook it is now.
And I really don't like the art in either book. Its not that I think it bad really, its just not my style at all. And there are some weird errors in it. Wolverine having webbed hand being one of them. I don't drop a book for bad art, but it makes it easier to drop if I'm on the fence.
The whole Tony not having money is pretty dubious. I wanted to support it, and I support the idea of the tower, but not the jets and the fact that the Blackbird landed on the tower in House of M.
I also agree that Bendis needed more time to make these changes. He needed at least two stories, if not more before getting into Disassembled. He's tackling some broad ideas that will be hard to execute (keeping tabs on the villains and heroes being one of them) if there isn't enough time.
But I completely disagree on New Avengers. I really think it's a solid title that is much more than meets the eye. There's big stuff in that title, all culminating from Secret War. I really feel that big things are going to be happening with the New Avengers next year.
But I completely disagree on New Avengers. I really think it's a solid title that is much more than meets the eye. There's big stuff in that title, all culminating from Secret War. I really feel that big things are going to be happening with the New Avengers next year.
I plan on checking back into NA every know and again to see if Bendis has found his footing. But I didn't pick up Secret War. And is it even over yet? And we have HoM set in the future ruinng plot stuff from NA. It just all seems to damn sloppy.
You're absolutely right. There really should be a "World without Thor" moment in the universe where people realize and mourn the loss of Thor. It really should be touched upon, and if it isn't, it may hurt his return. We really need to see some reprecussions for this.
It's touched on in the one-shot that followed Disassembled. I've forgotten what it was called.
Wanda's children might represent her extremes, too. Or maybe even the influences in her life.
The blood thirsty child might represent the strong personalities and anger of her brother, or more likely, her father.
The timid, quiet one sounds a lot like Scarlet Witch herself when she was with the Brotherhood.
I plan on checking back into NA every know and again to see if Bendis has found his footing. But I didn't pick up Secret War. And is it even over yet? And we have HoM set in the future ruinng plot stuff from NA. It just all seems to damn sloppy.
The execution has definitely been sloppy. Wolverine is killing people in his book (which leads to an awkward scene in House of M #1), Spider-Man is already well established within the New Avengers in AMS and MKSpidey, Secret War (which is the first gathering of many of these members and has ties to what's going on) isn't going to come out till anywhere from August to October, the Sentry being on the team in House of M, Astonishing X-Men not being over and having Charley X information that we need, and probably a few more bits of information that I'm forgetting. I understand the need to tell House of M at this point in the year, but it really hurts the experience for the reader. I've been taken out of several books because I can't remember if a character has seen this or done whatever.
But, DC is also very guilty of this as well. It feels like they wanted to take all the good that's been done with Hawkman and just throw it out the window by confusing his current place in the universe.
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