Reading this without a Sentry will leave you feeling null and Void! (The New Avengers Volume 2: Sentry - Brian Michael Bendis)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	The New Avengers Volume 2: Sentry - Brian Michael Bendis
Date:	25/10/09 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Impressive second story

Disadvantages: Didn't fit too well

Sadly, I have not had the experience of reading the immediate precursor to this volume of new style Avengers tales that Bryan Michael Bendis is trying to weave. Put simply, if it's anything like this second volume, then it seems to be at odds with itself as to the direction it is taking. There seems to be no real direction, almost as if it's plodding along with no purpose, no end result for each individual mini-plot, and this collection does the series no favours.

There are two stories going on here, although the episodes follow each other in sequence. It's episodes 7-13 that are featured, with the follow on story starting us off after the revelation (for those who haven't read the previous issues) that 40 supervillains have managed to break out of America's toughest prison. Heading to the desert, Iron Man and a couple of the Avengers track down someone who believes himself to be Sentry, and having been involved in no end of high profile superhero events. Curled in the back of a cave, the Avengers for explanation, for as far as they know, they have never heard of him, apart from a couple of episodes in a comic book written years ago. Other than that, no one knows he exists.

This is really the first story, and although it's quite deep in places, there is just too much dialogue for me. Once the fighting elements kick in, there are an overwhelming number of superheroes from the Marvel-verse all in one place, to defend themselves and the planet against some gargantuan monster known as the Void, yet as soon as this commences, the action all happens without us seeing it, as we are subjected to a bunch of psychobabbling frames, even pages, as we are informed of what is actually going on....sort of. It's really confusing, to be honest, and the lack of visual action is frustrating.

We get a little action interspersed as the tale flicks from the present to the past to recount events from a couple of days ago, or that morning, and this helps to make the story a little more interesting, but the action is minimal considering the amount of superheroes on offer in one issue.

The second tale features the New Avengers as they start going after the supervillains as they scatter around the world. First stop Japan, and a couple of villains emerge here. We also get a little feature from Daredevil, as an attempt to recruit him into the Avengers doesn't completely go to plan, and then a mysterious masked character emerges to help them. Then, the return of the Silver Samurai, and the villainous Hydra, as if an influx of different characters would be enough to carry the story.

But the problem isn't the story, because in itself, it's qutie entertaining. There is a lot more action, and some of the fighting artwork is brilliant. Sure, there are a couple of confusing frames, but when there are dozens of samurai, and the whole piece is dark anyway, the challenge to vreate a perfect visual demonstration is a high bar to reach indeed. No, the problem isn't the story. The problem is that it just doesn't click as an Avengers tale. It's more suited to other Marvel characters, as if it were a mission for one of the individual comic book hoggers, or a group such as the X-Men. The Avengers were assembled to combat crime as a unit where individual efforts were not working. Now, they seem to just tackle whatever is around, and it doesn't really cut it as much. Assembly used to be exciting. Now, they all hang around together all the time anyway, forming their permanent little group.

Overall, I did enjoy it. I know this all sounds rather negative, but I did enjoy it. I had no problem in whizzing through this, and actually got lost in it. I also want to read the remainder of the issues to come, as it was left on quite an interesting plot development with Spider-Woman, and it goes to show that there are other things going on as opposed to just seeing the characters going through a shallow plot. There is depth, it just hasn't managed to be portrayed in a way that fits in quite just yet.

So, in conclusion, this is a New Avengers tale that is a decent comic book read, but does nothing special. It doesn't completely work, but there is no denying the entertainment value. The issue retails for £11.99. You'll probably be able to find it for cheaper. I borrowed it from the library. It's worth the read, but don't expect greatness from this development of the Avengers. At least, not quite just yet.

Summary: Disappointing second volume of the New Avengers treatment from Bendis