Review: Avengers – Defenders: Tarot #1 (of 4)
Ironically, my first review of 2020 is actually based in the past. Who knew?
As the Defenders look to circumnavigate the perils and trials of the Infernal Ichor of Ish’lzog, a hidden memory from Namor causes some minor concern, that sets the team up against the Avengers, sort of. It seems that Namor’s memory is playing tricks on him as it certainly can’t be that Captain America turned into Captain Hulk America? I mean, with all the hate the military had for Bruce Banner’s personal rage machine, there is no way the military would sanction a Hulk. Still, it is a pickle of a puzzle to be sure; a puzzle that can only be solved be the combining of both teams as the true villain of the piece stands clear.
Some time writer, and sometime artist, Alan Davis provides the story for this mini series. I have been a fan of Davis since Excalibur #1, a title he left for some time. He did come back to the book as writer/artist, which for me at least, feels like the heyday for the team. From there, he created Clan Destine for Marvel UK, before moving onto a number of projects. I have never been overly concerned with the quality of his writing; the assumption is that after cutting his teeth on the weird of Excalibur, then he is pretty much prepared to cover a totally different type of weird here. Here, he doesn’t disappoint. The almost pastiche style of dialogue is reminiscent of books from yesteryear. The idea of a hidden memory is intriguing at first, but it does call into question the whole Namor is the enemy element that is in the current Avengers book.
I will admit that when I first saw this book, 20 minutes before starting this review, I assumed that Davis was also on art duty. Imagine my surprise when I saw it was in fact Paul Renaud that supplied the art. Looking through the book, I feel there is a mix of styles in play. When it comes to Cap, the Hulk, Doctor Strange and even Cap Hulk, there seems to be some very definite Davis type line work in play. That shouldn’t be so bad, as I do love Davis pencils. The thing that struck me though, is if Marvel are using a Davis-a-like, why not just get Davis to draw it? Renaud’s work on some of the other characters, Namor and Valkyrie in particular, have an almost lifeless quality to them, which is a shame given that Namor features so prominently in the book. With all that said, the book is visually appealing especially as things heat up during it’s third act. The colors are provided by longtime Davis partner in crime, Paul Mounts who gets to enjoy a number of fighting scenarios in which to demonstrate his schemes and colors. Letters are supplied by the almost omnipresent Clayton Cowles who seems to be trying to corner the whole comic book lettering business. Cowles gets to mix up the fonts for a number of characters, given that there are two Asgardians around.
As fun as this book is, I can’t help but feel likes it is actually a bit of a throwaway series. Hidden memories and all that may have some importance down the line, but at this stage I am kind of left a little nonplussed by it. There is the issues of continuity to consider; this book features the Defenders of old, who have their own book and of course the Avengers, whose line up here should help longtime fans works out roughly where this book should land. For everyone else, I wonder if this series will become as much as a faded memory as Captain Hulk America was to Namor.
Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 3 Stars
Colors – 4 Stars
Overall – 3.5 Stars
Written by; Alan Davis
Art by; Paul Renaud
Colors by; Paul Mounts
Letters by; VC’s Clayton Cowles
Published by; Marvel Worldwide Inc.
Author Profile
- I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow
Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network
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