Broken Frontier

They may be young and inexperienced, but make no mistake about it, they’re still Avengers.

After reading the second issue of Young Avengers, I’m going on record to say this title is even better than the New Avengers. The creative team of Alan Heinberg and Jimmy Cheung are both relatively new to the medium, but they handle the events in this issue like seasoned pros. I am quite surprised by this since all of the characters involved are completely new to the Marvel Universe, but it’s taken just two issues for me to begin enjoying the characters like they had been around for ages.

This issue picks right up where the first one left off, as Iron lad explains to senior Avengers Captain America and Iron Man the strange predicament that brought him here to the present time. While he begins recounting his story, the issue flips to the other Young Avengers as they grapple with the aftermath of the events that took place in the previous issue. The three young heroes are determined to stick together, despite the constant bickering and annoyance over using their individual powers. They don’t seem to be acting much like a team, but it doesn’t take long before they are pressed into service once more. The three then take out a gang of punks selling mutant expanding drugs, and after successfully rounding up the gang, they begin to see the possibility of remaining together as a team. The story is really just a building block to set-up things to come, but as I mentioned already it’s just so well-crafted in doing so.

The key aspect so far to Young Avengers is the refreshing use of dialogue by writer Alan Heinberg. His background as a staff writer on the TV show The O.C. serves him well, and it shows in the use of banter between each of the characters. I found his use of storytelling engaging, and he managed to infuse all the characters with real hopes, fears and desires, making them all that much more believable. It certainly helps to compliment that with vibrant and terrific art from artist Jimmy Cheung. His work here is topnotch and I think it’s even better than the work of David Finch on New Avengers. He really knows how to handle all the characters, giving each a distinct personality and unique look. I am expecting big things from these two creators in the future on this book or on any other comic related project.

So I know we are just two issues into this new series, but all I am going to say is buy this book! It’s that good and very refreshing too! So move over Teen Titans, because Young Avengers are here to stay.

-Kenneth Gallant