There has been a lot of buzz around this title. Frankly, I don't understand why! Amazing youth-oriented titles like Young Avengers and New X-Men are relegated to minis or have even been cancelled, yet people rave about this new line-up. Don't get me wrong, the title is good. I'm just not sure it is as good as people are saying.
I'm not sure I want every new issue to fill me in on the back story of one of the team members. Why not have the story progress and fill the readers in later. Build some suspense! This mirrors the current Marvel model though. Tell all and leave nothing for the viewer’s imagination. Damn, now the internet model has even ruined comics! All joking aside, I think there is something to be said for allowing the reader to fill in part of the story. This is what made comics so exciting for me in the 80's.
This month's issue spotlights Mettle, the powerhouse character who looks like the Red Skull dipped in steel. I enjoyed his origin story. It came across as very relatable. But while the Mettle story was quaint, the secondary story was horrible. The student's role in the Raft's blackout, Luke Cages inability to do anything about it and Hank Pym’s inability to deduct what really happened all bordered on absurd. As if nobody would figure out the Academy students caused the blackout!
I have a feeling I might start considering dropping this title unless it becomes a lot more relevant, quickly.