Bendis is proving why he is always mentioned in a top ten writers list. What he setup way back in Secret War, is coming to fruition and the handling of Norman Osborn as the main villain is brilliant. After distracting us with the standard crossover event in Secret Invasion (shock, awe, death, back from dead, etc…), Bendis has allowed the villains of the Marvel U to win. Basically, this was what DC tried to do with Final Crisis, but failed (if anyone wants to start that topic…). Norman has reorganized S.H.I.E.L.D. and recruited agents of Hydra into his new global protection unit, H.A.M.M.E.R. In addition, he has full control of all of Tony Stark’s assets, including Avengers Tower and any armor left behind. Osborn reintroduces the Avengers to the world with personalities he can control. SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! He enlists Captain Marvel (formerly the Kree, Marvel Boy), Ares, The Sentry, Ms. Marvel (formerly Moonstone), Wolverine (formerly Wolverine’s son, Daken (see current issues of Wolverine: Origins), Hawkeye (formerly Bullseye), Spider-Man (formerly the Mac Gargan version of Venom, now with the symbiote under control and looking like the black costume Spider-Man) and Iron Patriot (Osborn in a version of Iron Man armor, painted like Cap). That was only the first issue. The second has the Dark Avengers going to help Osborn co-conspirator Dr. Doom and shows why you just can’t throw people together and expect them to operate as a team. I’m sure this will be an ongoing theme in the book.
It seems that once again, someone has taken something cool and made it outstanding. Much like Jim Lee taking Marc Silvestri’s layout style back in the 90′s and making it better, Bendis has taken Kurt Busiek’s original concept of the Thunderbolts and made it even more jaw dropping. These aren’t second string villains adopting brand new hero identities – these are nasty villains posing as established heroes. The “real” Avengers, currently shown in New Avengers, have only been able to stew as they still aren’t registered and are operating outside the law. Spider-Man could only stammer and feel sick, while Hawkeye seemed more pissed that some aped his old ID more than the fact that Osborn is pulling the strings.
Bendis, much like Chris Claremont of Uncanny X-Men fame, is writing exciting stories with great dialogue all the while leaving a few loose ends to tie up and laying the groundwork for stories a year or two down the line.
Between Secret Warriors, Dark Avengers and Thunderbolts, the Bendis and the other writers of Dark Reign are exposing the underbelly of the Marvel U directly in our faces.
