The New Avengers: Fear Itself #15

Cover by Mike Deodato, Rain Beredo

The New Avengers: Fear Itself #15 (August 10, 2011)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Penciller: Mike Deodato

Colorist: Rain Beredo

Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Two words: Squirrel Girl.

When I was first introduced to her, I thought she was such a ridiculous concept, that she simply had to be forced to the sidelines. The super hero universe simply cannot exist with a Squirrel Girl running around. She’s half-squirrel. Also, she controls squirrels. I almost felt sorry for her.

It was like Marvel had a certain quota of stock comic book characters to fill and suddenly they realized they didn’t have an “incredibly lame character to make other terrible characters look better in comparison” one so someone scratched off Squirrel Girl really quickly. Marvel is certainly the most serious of comic book universes, but there are standards, damn it.

The New Avengers: Nannies and Nazis

Cover by Stuart Immonen

The New Avengers: Nannies and Nazis (June 8, 2011)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Penciller: Stuart Immonen, Daniel Acuna, Mike Deodato, Howard Chaykin

Inker: Wade von Grawbadger

Colorist: Laura Martin, Rain Beredo, Edgar Delgado

After my success with the Avengers Academy, I decided to return to Marvel and this time turn towards the “grown-up” Avengers. This was a bit harder than I initially thought as there are like 8,000 (give or take) Avengers comics. There’s the Avengers Academy, the New Avengers, the just plain Avengers, etc. I can barely handle the fact that there’s like four separate Batman story arcs at any given time so when I’m facing the same challenge with unfamiliar characters, I get a bit overwhelmed.

I have to be honest though and admit that what compelled me to this issue of the New Avengers (which contained issues #7-9, all written by Brian Michael Bendis) was purely the title: NANNIES AND NAZIS. How could I turn that down?