I sooo dreaded this issue. After the last two issues with their declining quality, I thought for sure that Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes II #8 was just going to be a big old sack of suck. Writer Joe Casey proved me wrong and delivered big time. What a comeback!
EMHII #8 avoids much of what possibly ruined much of this miniseries for me – the retelling and deliberate retconning of the Hank Pym/Janet Van Dyne wedding. When Hank and Jan do appear in this issue it is as almost normal, acting as themselves, with little alarm or deviation. Instead we are treated to what I had assumed were Casey’s goals in this series – the backstory of this odd line-up, their baptism by fire, as well as the Vision’s, and of course there’s also the long-awaited battle with the Super-Adaptoid.
The conflict between the Vision and the Super-Adaptoid is both good old-fashioned super-slugfest and a philosophical debate. As the two verbally spar over the android’s place among humankind, Casey reminds us he knows exactly how powerful the Vision is. As mentioned in a previous review the writer has a better grip on the android avenger than many other scripters recently. We get an excellent example here why the Vision was one of the Avengers’ big guns for almost two decades.
The Super-Adaptoid finally gets some decent panel time this time around. It’s been far too long since we’ve seen him in action. Props to Joe Casey for pulling off an excellent villain revival, and a fitting foe for the Vision. Perhaps the original S-A will show up to teach the new Yelena Belova version a thing or three.
When Hawkeye and the Black Panther join the fray they show just how formidable this line-up of the Avengers is. There is even the trademark Roy Thomas/Steve Englehart final Vison density attack to finish the foe. Everything was all good this time, even the Vision’s swipe of the best line from Tomorrow Never Dies – “…We’re doing our job.”
Chronologically in the next issue of Avengers, Hawkeye, the Vision and the Black Panther are a compact fighting unit who work together seamlessly. Joined by Dr. Strange and the Black Knight, they are able to fight off the combined threats of Ymir and Surtur, Thor-class menaces. EMHII #8 begins to show us how this team began that evolution toward a formidable Avengers team. And I loved it.
Another loose end (and character) that I had hoped to see more of was the Black Widow. The resolution of her and Hawkeye’s relationship only takes up two pages here but leaves me wanting more. I don’t know whether it’s a Black Widow thing, a Black Canary or Zatanna thing, or even a Rocky Horror thing… but there’s something about a woman in fishnets…
Speaking of the Black Widow, Wil Rosado’s art, like Casey’s wordwork, is much more exciting this time around. Perhaps he’s not a good artist for standing around and is much better at action scenes. Keep him away from Bendis then.
Also best ignored, like the Pyms’ nuptials, is the epilogue of the Black Panther/Luke Charles/Death Tiger subplot. After EMHII #7’s dues ex machina close, the less said about this the better.
And what’s this on the last page? Is that a panel of Captain America and Iron Man as friends, acting civilly and respectfully to each other? Cap is even smiling. God bless you, Joe Casey.
If only this miniseries could have been six issues rather than eight, eliminating the two offensive parts that covered the wedding and the Death Tiger, this would have been perfect, much like the first EMH series. Of course then combined covers would have spelled A-V-E-N-G-S, and that just wouldn’t have been right. I still hope to see and purchase this in a collected form, and also hope we see Joe Casey’s projected third volume circa Avengers #163. Bring it on, Joe!
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 Glenn Walker |
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| Glenn has been a fan of Marvel Comics' Avengers since the early 1970s, when their current adventures were chronicled by Steve Englehart and their early exploits by Stan Lee in classic reprints featured in Marvel Triple Action. He has persevered through many incarnations of the team and he still loves the Avengers to this day. |
