This month's instalment of New Avengers was an interesting departure from the normal format. The book was set up as two separate stories which rotated back and forth between one another. One of the stories involved the present and featured the current New Avengers team. The other story took place in 1959 and involved Nick Fury rounding up a group of very interesting characters for a covert mission against the Red Skull. Although it is unclear right now, the two stories are bound to merge at some point soon.
Before ever opening the book I fell in love with the cover. Mike Deodato crafts a great image made up of Sabertooth, Namorita, Kraven, Dum Dum Duggan, Dominic Fortune and Ulysses Bloodstone. All of them are posed around a classic convertible, and looking like they are just begging for trouble! This was a great way to start the book!
The contemporary story featured a new villainess who went by the name Superia. I'm not really sure who she is, but I do know she handed Ms. Marvel her a$$ on a platter! This story never progressed much further than the above mentioned fight. Mockingbird is critically wounded, but hey, it's Marvel, nobody dies, for long. Deodato handles the art in this section, and does his usual work. I'm not sure if it is always the same inker or just Deodato's style, but I find his shadowing a little heavy handed and dark.
The best part about this book was the 1959 storyline, which more closely resembled a Secret Warriors spy storyline than your usual super hero issue. One by one Fury collects some very interesting characters. I am very interested to see this team in action! Strangely enough, I was even able to see past Howard Chaykin's brutal artwork, which is unusual considering I think he is the worst artist in the industry.
In the end, it is fair to say that the book has its upsides. We'll see if the creative team can close the deal.