Marvel 2000 - Review: Avengers West Coast #41

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Dec 27, 2009, 10:47pm

Marvel 2000 :: Branches :: Heroes Branch :: Review: Avengers West Coast #41

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Topic: Review: Avengers West Coast #41 (Read 25 times)

Mike Exner III
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Review: Avengers West Coast #41
« Thread Started on Aug 21, 2009, 4:56pm »

I haven't seen this announced as being released yet, but I visited the AWC gatefold page and saw it, read it, enjoyed it... so now I'm reviewing it.

Let me get this out of the way first. I recently read Josh's entire run on AWC, and it is brilliant. I still vaguely remember the plans I had for the title after the sole issue I wrote lo' those many moons ago, and I can safely say that leaving the title in the lurch was probably the best thing I could have done to it. AWC is probably the centerpiece series on the site in terms of quality considering the Anderson/Munn and Reynolds runs on the title. And now Meraides is going to be taking over? Yeesh!

On to #41. I think one of the best things Josh has done on the title is bring the Serpent Society to the forefront as the primary enemy of the Whackos. If you're a fan of Josh's blog, and I is, you know he loves focusing on and/or upgrading little-known or underutilized characters. He's done that in spades with the Society. And the great thing about it is that they're not even after the AWC. They're just doing their own dastardly thing, and the Whackos occasionally rumble with them as a result. This issue is no exception to that concept, as the very next thing the Society plans to do is sure to raise hell with the Whackos. The SS is so well characterized that they seem to get as much of a kick out of their involvement as I do.

Speaking of characterization, Josh hits on all cylinders with the main cast too. Darkhawk leaves the roster this issue, and it is a shame, because he was a fantastic addition to the group. But though the departure could have been a chance for Stark and Powell to finally become buddies, it doesn't happen because that's not who the characters are. And in staying true to the characters, they end up bonding anyway. Pretty brilliant stuff.

The title of the story is "Funeral for an Ant", and the founders are gathered to see Pym to his resting place. The Hulk doesn't make it, but adding Rick Jones to the mix was a nice touch for any longtime Avengers fans paying attention.

I love Moon Knight in his role in the series. He's a lot like the Serpent Society in that he's always being placed (kicking and screaming) into the same zone as the Whackos whenever something happens in "his" city. Josh has done a great job making Moon Knight the reluctant associate of the AWC, and its a role that suits the character so well that I hope Meraides keeps him around. Or perhaps Josh will do a solo Moon Knight series? That'd be something.

The other great thing about this series that holds true in this issue is the balls-to-the-wall twists, turns and action. There's hardly a letdown in any issue. From AIM Mandroids popping up in Stygia, to Nikola crashing Pym's funeral to the Deviants turning the struggling San Francisco into their own personal playground, there's always something happening in this book. The reading experience is as exhilarating as the threats are overwhelming to the team. And that's not even mentioning the cliffhanger at the end. If you're not reading this series, you're definitely missing out...

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-Mike Exner III (X3)

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