Review — ‘Avengers Inc.’ #2 Does A Little Espionage & Murder
by Tony Thornley
Avengers Inc. started last month with a mission statement — a non-team that’s handling super-powered threats and problems that aren’t big enough for the Avengers. In the series’ second issue, we get to see exactly how that will work.
Al Ewing, Leonard Kirk, Alex Sinclair and Cory Petit haunt Avengers Mansion with its second big mystery.
The Wasp, Victor Shade and the Vision need to unravel the mystery of who Shade is, and why he’s possessing Whirlwind’s body. However, they happen to visit the former Avengers Mansion’s cafe exactly on the morning of the appearance of the ghost of Avengers Mansion. Can the trio solve the mystery before the ghost kills again?! And what does it have to do with the secrets of the original Spymaster?
I really wasn’t totally sure if this title could live up to the Avengers name. It’s been marketed primarily with a cast that’s a duo, neither of whom are huge draws, and solving smaller problems. Ewing put that to rest with this issue. This story is centered in Avengers history on multiple levels (the threat, the antagonists, the character developments). That roots the plot as an Avengers story, even if the stakes aren’t world shattering, and it’s all grounded by Ewing’s deeply personal character-forward scripting.
Kirk’s pencils compliment the story well, as he’s able to draw the action beats and the quiet moments with equal weight. The ghost is a looming, terrifying presence that fills up every panel it appears in. His layouts show Jan in action in a way that her size doesn’t make a difference, she’s still as vital to the action as Victor or Vision. Sinclair compliments that with a sepia tinged-pallete that draws on the series’ noir influence, but he also makes sure the color isn’t washed out.
I’m not sure where the series is going quite yet. I’m interested in the journey though, especially with Ewing piloting the ship. It’s a long term story, and he’s proven he’s able to make those more and more interesting, while acting in lockstep with his artistic collaborators.
Avengers Inc. #2 is available now from Marvel Comics.
Overview
Standing on its own, this issue is a blast. The plot and script live up to the title, the art is a great fit for exactly the story being told. Janet Van Dyne’s journey is just starting, and we already have a glimpse into what it potentially could be in a way that will keep me on board.
