Just on the surface, New Avengers #38 marks a couple pleasantries. First we have a story by writer Brian Michael Bendis with a title – “The Breakup,” titles being an unusual thing for him. Second, this special story focusing on Jessica Jones and Luke Cage also features the return of Alias artist Michael Gaydos, Jessica being his specialty in that series. Honestly seeing Gaydos’ Jessica again makes this issue extra special for me, it’s like old home week. He does a superb job here.

Good starting stuff aside, I have to say that I was unimpressed with the cover by Marko Djurdjevic. While it did convey the angst of the story within, the reds made it look more like a crime scene out of Se7en rather than the relationship-in-crisis story it really was. I saw blood flow and spatter instead of just an interesting background color. Not a good representation in my opinion. I think I would have rather had a cliché pin-up cover this time out instead.

I have one nit on the first page, the ‘Previously’ page that usually contains at least one thing that irks me anyway in almost every issue. I really wonder who it is that writes these synopses – is it Bendis or one of the editors? They are always almost never completely accurate or they simply give away plot points not yet revealed. In this issue, the claim is made that the (New) Avengers stopped The Hood and his gang on two occasions. That’s not quite the truth. In the first instance they do, mostly with the help of Doctor Strange’s illusions as a distraction, but in the second case, The Hood and his minions win, in fact they even kill some of the New Avengers. It is only by Strange’s hand that the bad guys are dispatched, and then only barely. Credit where credit is due, folks.

I liked this issue a lot, despite first glances. Jessica Jones and Luke Cage are Bendis’ finest creation and re-creation outside of the Daredevil and Avengers universes. And it’s true I have always wanted to see Power Man as a member of the Avengers. Of course what Bendis gave me isn’t quite what I wanted as far as that character in that team dynamic – but still, Luke Cage in the New Avengers is truly one of the best written surprises of Bendis’ run so far. As for Jessica, I loved Alias, it rocked.

The two of them together now, much more than Doctor Strange and Night Nurse, the possibility of Clint and Echo and recent interpretations of Hank and Janet, they are currently my favorite Avengers couple. Seeing them evolve over the past year or so has been a pleasure to read. They feel more real than other superhero couples we have seen of late and that’s a good thing.

The realness still comes through when they are confronted by dangers of a superhero universe type, like the Secret Invasion. They argued one too many times over the Skrulliness of each other and the rest of the team, but in this issue at least, it’s more personal, and more real. They may as well be arguing over the husband having to move across the country for his job and the wife staying with the child back home – as much as it’s about the lost Civil War and oncoming Skrull invasion.

Based on this, I think I would have liked to have seen what Bendis’ solution to Joe Quesada’s problem with Spider-Man’s marriage might have been. He seems to get what marriage is about at least. Dare I say it, I wouldn’t mind seeing Bendis take on Wally and Linda or Clark and Lois over at the Distinguished Competition in this manner based on this issue. BMB gets it. Serious props to Bendis for the resolution to this issue and being honest and consistent to the relationship he himself created.

Making a more than welcome return to these pages is Jarvis, who in just six simple panels, Bendis was able to capture perfectly. Rock on, Brian, and rock on, Jarv. Now I just hope he’s not a Skrull…

What we see of the Mighty Avengers is what on the surface seems to be the classic team we all remember and love, but there are cracks appearing. Ms. Marvel, supposedly team leader, gets little respect or obedience from her team. I really wonder how long she’ll be able to hold them together without Tony Stark backing her up. And the talk of Skrulls puts the spotlight firmly on Wonder Man, Black Widow and Ares as suspects in my mind. Of course Wondy could be a Skrull simply because he went back to the safari jacket. And Ares is downright creepy going from cootchie-cooing Little Baby Alias to making lascivious remarks to Carol.

Speaking of Skrulls, there is a mention made of Marvel Boy by Carol. My mind wanders. Could the upcoming Secret Invasion be not just a story of Skrull infiltration but perhaps the beginnings of a new Kree/Skrull War? Ms. Marvel, Marvel Boy and Captain Marvel (if indeed it really is Captain Marvel – you are reading his mini, right?) are all on Earth, an Earth invaded covertly by Skrull spies. Throw in the Skrull Black Bolt and the Inhumans under his command (as well as the Space Gem) and this could be something very big.

There is actually New Avengers content in this issue by the way. Danny Rand presents them with a new headquarters, dubbed “Avengers Apartment” by Clint, I guess this is as good as it gets when you’re on the run from the law. The bit about the Leader didn’t ring true for me. Come on, both Spider-Man and Hawkeye know who he is. I did however like the “You mess a dish, you clean a dish.” line.

Speaking of cracks in the Mighty Avengers, the new Avengers seem to be falling apart member by member of late. We are now down to five, correct? In my eyes, they will either merge with Mighty after the big Secret Invasion, or there’s a recruitment drive coming. That ought to be quite interesting and markedly different from such events of the past. This time not only do you get to be an Avenger, you get to be a fugitive from justice as well. Hmmm, yes, Hercules, and any number of Champions or X-Men, I’m looking your way. Or maybe, just maybe…some of the old Thunderbolts? Or is that just hoping for too much?

Notably Spider-Man is back in his red and blues. Are we to assume that we are now seeing the post-“One More Day” Spider-Man here in New Avengers? That’s very curious. As of the current NA continuity, Doctor Strange has gone into hiding and is no longer Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme. Could this be why the Doctor was unable to help Peter’s Aunt May? Or more accurately, could this be why Strange was equally unable to detect Mephisto’s reshuffling of reality? One would think he might notice something like that. Just thinking outside the box for a moment, doesn’t Clint Barton have a score to settle with Mephisto as well? The mind boggles…

But then again, one might also think Spidey might ask his teammates for help or at least advice with his dilemma. He makes mention of the House of M reality on page 22, and how much he regrets wanting out of that restructured existence. That sounds like a perfect opening to me. “By the way, guys…” But it never comes.

The cover, ‘Previously’ and Spider-Man’s lack of trust in his teammates aside, this was a really good done-in-one story. Not just in creators and content, this was almost like a new issue of Alias, and well done within the context of New Avengers. Loved all of the Luke and Jessica bits, I give this issue four stars out of a possible five. Excellent, excellent story.

	Glenn Walker
	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.