Terry Dodson » Complete Marvel Reading Order News and Reviews

by Nick Walden, CMRO Contributing Writer

Avengers

Issue #33

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Terry Dodson

Published: January 2013

re we still in the microverse? It feels like we have been here forever. So this story is turning into a classic Avengers romp with lots of action, a few Bendis quips, and generally a feeling of ‘no worries, we got this’. Obviously with the Wasp back and NOW about to launch nobody is getting whacked. In one sense that takes some of the drama out of the issue. But if you sit back and relax it is still a fun ride.

We have action, action, and more action. The Avengers adjust to the microverse, Janet gives the standard reply to why she isn’t dead, and Tony Stark blows stuff up. This is a very upbeat and happy story. While the major villain is a bit comical (at least if you saw the original Tron), he still provides to be bad enough to challenge the team. You can just feel it in the dialogue that Brian Bendis is having fun here as his finishes out his run. While New Avengers is going to be his big finale and is a bit dark, this shows his lighter side.

The art is interesting from Terry and Rachel Dodson. It was good work across the board, but not my personal favorite. I just didn’t really like the flow and coloring as much. But that is my personal feeling; otherwise the overall level of work was just fine and matched the tone of the story well.

Let’s go out with a solid 9 out of 10 here. No real glaring issues, it is fun and feels kinda right. If you don’t remember that Bendis is leaving it makes it a little easier and less sad. It will be a shame when he does something else as he is a creative talent who isn’t afraid to get dark and dirty if a story needs it and I think the Avengers could use more of that.

by Dylan Duarte, CMRO Contributing Writer

Avenging Spider-Man

Issue #10

Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Art by Terry Dodson

Published: October 2012

Avenging Spider-Man isn’t a perfect book, but I’ll be damned if Kelly Sue DeConnick doesn’t know how to write Spider-Man. Spider-Man is one of my favorite superheroes, but with such a popular hero being written by so many writers, not every incarnation of him is the Spidey that I love. That’s why I’m so excited that DeConnick has nailed the character so perfectly. There were multiple times in Avenging Spider-Man issue #10 where I found myself laughing out loud, which should be standard when reading a Spider-Man comic.

DeConnick doesn’t shy away from tackling real-world topics, as not only does this issue deal in part with the Occupy Wall Street movement, there’s even a slight jab at Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. All of this helps to ground the story and make everything feel relevant, which in turn helps intensify the story’s impact.

This issue centers all around Robyn Hood and we learn quite a few things about her. I’m not going to spoil them here, but there’s a good amount of surprises. There’s also a fair deal of emotion running through this issue, and when paired with the humor, it really creates something special.

Spider-Man has always been a relatable superhero. DeConnick has somehow transferred that quality to the title as a whole. I’m not saying I can relate to superpowers and cops in robot suits and giant women, but the base emotions – happiness, sadness, fear – are all there and on display in spectacular fashion. I felt more involved in this story than I have with any comics in recent memory.

I’m not the biggest fan of Captain Marvel and I’m excited to see Spider-Man get back to his lonely existence. Maybe then Avenging Spider-Man will be a perfect book.

by Dylan Duarte, CMRO Contributing Writer

Avenging Spider-Man

Issue #9

Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Art by Terry Dodson

Published: September 2012

I fully understand why when a comic book character gets extraordinarily popular, the publisher starts putting out multiple titles. Money needs to be made and more titles means more jobs. That said, I’m not always super crazy about it, especially when the titles feel interchangeable. That’s why I’m loving Avenging Spider-Man. Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick has created this title that feels unlike any other Spider-Man title out there, but without changing Spider-Man himself. She’s done an excellent job of portraying Peter Parker, he feels just like classic Spider-Man, but she’s putting him in new situations and scenarios that make it easy to justify reading more than one Spider-Man book.

A big part of Spider-Man’s personality is his sense of humor and I laughed out loud a few times at this issue. That doesn’t happen a whole hell of a lot. And can we have more women comic writers, please? At least when it comes to tackling female characters. Carol Danvers, now known as Captain Marvel, is beautifully written and feels very authentic, to the point where I think I’m developing something of a crush on her. She’s a smart, powerful woman and is every bit as heroic as Spider-Man.

One of the best moments of the issue comes when Danvers gets in the face of a Blackbird Security goon who’s helping out the NYPD. Not only is it a great character moment for Danvers, but DeConnick does a good job of portraying the forever-rocky relationship between superheroes and law enforcement. Relationships like Batman and Commissioner Gordon are one in a million in the comic book world. There’s a lot of butting heads and DeConnick successfully conveys the frustration our super-powered crime fighters endure – especially when it comes to insecure law enforcement officials trying to keep up with the competition.

With exciting plots and whip-smart character interactions, Avenging Spider-Man is quickly earning its place in the Spider-Man mythos.

by Andrew Hurst, CMRO Contributing Writer

The Defenders

Issue #1

Written by Matt Fraction, Art by Terry Dodson

Published: February 2012

I always get such a great tingly feeling when a superstar creative team launches a new superhero team book. I got it with Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch, Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly, and Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. And when I heard Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson were launching a new Defenders title, I felt that tingle once again. Sadly, the feeling fizzled out a lot sooner than I expected it to.

It’s been a while since we had a serious Defends title on the shelves, and who better than Marvel’s golden boy, Fraction, to give Marvel’s non-Avengers a serious tone, but seriousness seemed to be a pretty big afterthought going into this relaunch. Our first Defender is Doctor Strange who just slept with a grad student researching a thesis on the occult. That scene alone sets up the entire vibe surrounding the modern Defenders. What follows is a threat so dangerous it forces the Hulk to swallow his pride and ask his former fellow team mates for help sandwiched in between two other weird and radical conflicts. But the Defenders defending against evil is not the goal of this first issue; it’s to introduce this would-be rag tag dynamic amongst the heroes to the readers.

The “new” Defenders consist of characters familiar to both Marvel readers and the Defenders brand alike. Namor and Silver Surfer rejoin the gang, with Red She-Hulk filing in for Hulk (due to this mysterious threat forcing him away from the situation entirely) and Iron First showing and giving us a second one-night-stand scene in only one book. If the Defenders do nothing at all, they certainly ‘get around’.

I kind of felt like I was reading about Marvel’s attempt at creating their own A-Team, given all the silly quirks each character has. I can appreciate a bit of lightheartedness with this title, because it’s sure to just be another star filled action romp title, but it all feels so forced like each hero is a sophomoric caricature of the hero we’re used to. And if a lesser creative team were behind it, I likely wouldn’t have bothered with this title. I had a few problems with the story like not really understanding what evil the Defenders will be trying to overcome in the next issue, and seeing Silver Surfer in a shirt and slack was very off putting, but overall Defenders #1 wasn’t the worst introduction issue I’ve ever read. It will be issue #2 that will really decide if I continue with this book.