This variant cover looks a lot cooler than the standard. Don’t let it fool you, though, because this issue does not focus on Bullseye. Instead, it offers some inspired Norman Osborn characterization and a good Sentry-centered scene. Yeah, I’m just as shocked.
And don’t forget to leave your opinion on the issue or the review in the comments section!
DARK AVENGERS #3
WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: Mike Deodato
COLOR ART: Rain Beredo
LETTERER: Chris Eliopolus
PLOT:
Days ago, Norman Osborn visits the Sentry for the first time since seizing Avengers Tower. A deceptively subtle and layered dialogue follows in which, to crudely summarize, Osborn confesses his identity as the Green Goblin, that he too hears voices, and explains that if he can bury his demons enough to run H.A.M.M.E.R., then the Sentry can surely conquer his own. Norman, father-like, speaks to Sentry as a fellow human being on the same rough path to sanity, persuading him to realize his potential in the newly-sanctioned Avengers.
In the present, the Dark Avengers battle Morgana Le Fay and her demonic minions to protect Victor Von Doom, encumbered by magically frozen armor. Norman, as Iron Patriot, scoops up Doom and asks how to beat Morgana. Apparently, they can stop her by traveling in time to before her current onslaught began. Norman demands access to Doom’s armor’s servers to activate the time machine, threatening to drop the Latverian and go home otherwise. Doom reluctantly complies, and together they enter a portal to 690 A.D., where they (Doom now released from paralysis) confront the witch in her layer.
THOUGHTS:
Marvel’s writers have built up the Sentry so much that no major storyline can get away with ignoring him, yet addressing him usually amounts to removing him from the picture so as not to break the dramatically appropriate balance of power. This arc shares as much guilt as any other, but Brian Michael Bendis has stumbled onto one innovation. Instead of pathetic, the Sentry now plays as genuinely creepy, and that brings him closer to not sucking than ever.
Few but Mike Deodato can convey as much information in facial expressions. We see true madness, abject fear, and a meek childishness in a single shot of Sentry’s eyes. The insane ecstasy displayed in the “As long as I say so?” panel sells this scene as chilling, as does the presence of Sentry’s quasi-lifeless wife on the bed, granting the sequence an uncomfortable element of awry eroticism.
Bendis explores a non-obvious yet compelling connection between Norman and Sentry. In my interpretation, Norman’s blatantly manipulating Sentry for his own gain. Sentry’s no less crazy after their therapy session, but now he’s Norman’s whack job. Norms saying “there is no Void” while half-obscured by shadow in an all-black background works as a visual juxtaposition indicating Norman’s insincerity while the words, “you cry, Bob … feel those feelings” seem so laughable coming from him that we know how thickly he’s laying it. The Sentry doesn’t know Osborn’s a serial liar who despises emotional weakness, so to him he seems like the first person ever to confront him with honesty and understanding.
This is quintessential Norman. He gets into your head by positioning himself as a role model with patriarchal assertiveness. The imagery of Norman sitting on a chair looking down on Sentry sitting cross-legged on the floor like a first-grader at story time or a pre-teen learning about puberty brilliantly illustrates this dynamic. Better yet, Norman finally has a foil who, unlike Peter Parker, can completely fall for the father act.
This scene serves as a rich example of graphic storytelling, rife with characterization and subtext. Then we transition to the fight and everything gets stupid again. The Avengers spout stupid lines while fighting a stupid villain in a plot that rests on stupid, paradoxical time travel logic. Nevertheless, Deodato renders it uncannily, making it look like the last act in some epic fantasy film. God help this book if he ever leaves it.
The big problem here is how out-of-sequence it feels. This whole arc has jumped between flashbacks and the present so erratically that it’s a chronological mess even without the time travel. It seems like Bendis wrote individual scenes of varying lengths and combined them in groups equalling 22 pages regardless of how little sense the order made. How much more meaningful would Sentry’s ripping off of Morgana’s head have been had we seen his prior discussion with Norman first and were able to digest the violent shock in light of that knowledge? As it stands, Sentry isn’t even in the last half of this issue.
WEIRDEST BULLSEYE LINE:
“And I watch you burn in the eye of my sun.”
RATING:
4 gold stars out of 5. Jumbled or not, the first half of this issue reminds me that Bendis knows more than ping-pong quips and Yiddish slang. With some scissors and tape, you can reedit the trade to your liking.
REVIEWED BY: CrazyChris
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Hey very nice blog!! I looked over your blog and it looks really good. Thanks.
Norman taking advantage of a weakened rival isn’t character development; it’s an inevitability.
Im all for developing characters, but making Norman take advantage of Doom… i dont like that.
wahhhh! *cry* *dribble*
Yeah, I’m guessing the DA/Thunderbolts teams haven’t seen those issues or don’t remember them because they are over a decade old.
To add, the scar is also seen in the Osborn Journals (but its technically a flashback to morgue scene). To the best of my knowledge (and correct me if i’m wrong), Norman’s chest has only been seen these two instances (ROG and PP75) prior to Tbolts 120 and DA3, both of which displayed the scar…
CrazyChris: Yes, in the Revenge of the Goblin series (it was either issue 2 or 3 can’t recall which exactly), Norman rips off his shirt and is shown to have a “cross-like” scar. Frenz did the art there.
Jonny: I was just playing devil’s advocate to my own observation. I think if it was in ROG2 and PP75 it should be in Dark Avengers…
Of course I notice you; I read every comment, and I want this to be a place for discussion. The review is meant to be the start of the conversation, not the final word.
Doom does have magic, and we saw him use it last issue. He dueled with Morgana with spells, but it seems like we was caught by surprise and unprepared to deal with someone of her level so he lost. I’m guessing Doom is probably the better sorcerer, but Morgana still has chops because she’s survived in legend for 1300 years. In their rematch, I’m sure Doom will have something to teach her.
Deodato is both the penciler and the inker, so that’s him making the most out of himself.
also going from the picture shown above, i would say the inking is what is making the most out of these pencils. (not sure who you mean by Deodato)
anyway.. keep up the reviews.
lol, i like your answer chris . lol 😛
just my taste is all. lol… nice answer….. someone notices ME… lol.. i could cry.
lol
as far as Doom though……i still dont think so. he has magic too….and still…Just not how I want em.
But i do like the idea of someone turning his armour against him.
Gamer7, I get that Doom isn’t one to be taken advantage of, but this was a situation where he had no choice. It was either give Osborn access to his systems or die. They made a point of how reluctant he was, so this isn’t mischaracterization. As for how good the action is … eh, I don’t know. It’s okay, honestly, but it has Deodato going for it so even if it isn’t the most original or well-choreographed sequence it is gorgeous beyond belief. The ending, with Osborn carrying Doom and racing to the time portal while being chased by Morgana with a sword riding a dragon was awesome and exciting, too. As for 20 pages of facial expressions, there are actually 9 pages of that in that issue, and I did like them because they were coupled with revealing dialogue and visual metaphors. I also like the story to unfold amid the action, but I also think subtler character interactions can be just as intense, especially when you’ve got someone like Deodato making sure every ounce of feeling comes across in the pictures.
Dr_Folsome and Jonny, has Norman been shown with a scar since PP:SM 75? If not, I can forgive Bendis and Deodato for forgetting it because that was, what, 14, 15 years ago?
If the rapid healing factor was going to heal the scar it wouldn’t of been there in PP:SM 75.
The scar is missing from his chest in Thunderbolts #120 as well. His chest is shown clearly when he states, “So says President Goblin!” (a great line btw…), but the scar is noticeably absent. That, as you know, was Deodato as well. There’s also a panel on that page where he is unbuttoning his shirt and it looks ambiguous as to whether there is a scar, but to me, its not there either. One could argue that the “rapid healing factor” could heal the scar, and i know its kind of a minor detail to the art but i think its an important symoblic character trait… That being said, i love Deodato’s art…i’d just like to see him throw that scar in there…
eeek..story.
i like it when the sotry is driven AMIDST the action.
Doom would never let someone take advantage of him, regardless of retribution. – but i can take a story.
Was the action good? or was it a bunch of crap montages? also…do u like how they make 20 pages of facial expressions? i dont.
Osborn didn’t get the better of Doom exactly. Doom was frozen by Morgana’s magic and had no choice but to give Osborn access to his servers to stop her. An upcoming cover shows Doom and Iron Patriot fighting, so I’m sure Doom is going to let Osborn know exactly what he thinks of his insults when the right moment comes.
Gamer7, I get that you like action. Actually, about half of this issue is a big fight scene, but I didn’t emphasize it in my review because I didn’t think it was as interesting as the character-driven first half. All I can really say about the big battle is that it’s flashy and Deodato makes it look epic.
Folsome, the chest thing didn’t occur to me. The last time I remember seeing Norman without a shirt was during his crazy naked monologue in Eliss’ Thunderbolts. Did he have a scar there? I’ll have to check.
for me its either a BUY or a NO BUY.
this is a NO BUY
cool review though dude. peeps like you make i easier for me to keep an eye on what comics are around.
yeah not a fan of the drama-comic..as opposed to the actionS comic. this is why bendis reminds me of bad tv.
Osborne getting the better of Doom??? – iiiii dont thiiiink soooo
I really enjoy that we are getting to see just how Norman is manipulating his teammates, I hope to see more of that as the title continues. Also, I noticed in the scenes where Norman was the Iron Patriot and he is portrayed without clothing, it appears to me that he is missing his chest scar from his impalement. Not sure if that’s intentionally left out or whether it was a goof up, but I thought we should see it there. I agree with the “chronological mess” also, Bendis wrote many issues of the New Avengers in a similar style.