Friday, August 03, 2012

A Comic A Day # 3 - Avengers # 29 (Volume 3)

Avengers # 29 (Volume Three)

The Avengers are woken by a battle nearby.  They soon discover that the volcano goddess Peliali is being attacked by strange priests.  The Avengers intercede and become involved in a fight with Hawk-Riders, loyal to Kulan Gath.   As they wrap up their own battle, Pelali and the priests vanish.  Meanwhile, the military begins to move in!

The Avengers split off.   Wasp and Iron Man meet up with the military and agree to follow them back to the capital to figure the situation out.  The other Avengers (protected by Wanda's magic) enter the transformed city, followed by both a child (who turns out to by Kulan Gath) and a mysterious man.

The Avengers find themselves in a tavern after encountering parts of the real world entering the village.  Eventually, a bar fight breaks out.  Kulan Gath transforms the patrons into monster that manage to bring the Avengers down.   Kulan Gath also (in classic Busiek style) relates his brief history to a captured Pelali, and declares to change the world's reality into his own.

***

Out of all of Busiek's story arcs, this one might be the most lackluster.  While I certainly don't mind Silverclaw, her story here just doesn't work for me.  I have no feelings towards Kulan Gath, and my only memories are from the time he attacked the X-Men and Spider-Man defeated him or something.  Wasn't he in Conan the Barbarian?

After suffering world-bending realities in the very beginning of Busiek's run, revisiting it here just doesn't seem to click.

On the other hand, we get some good moments.  I did like Silverclaw's anger towards Pelali for making her father seem like a crackpot and herself like a freak.   Carol has a great moment in the tavern, having to resist booze -- and she really shines when she goes off on Triathilon for being a loud-mouthed punk.  I also really enjoyed Wasp's leadership ability and her dynamic with the rest of the team.

She-Hulk is just so much fun, from her flirtations with Triathilon to her leaping up and starting the bar fight.

Unfortunately, nothing else in this story arc really grabs me.

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