Bam Smack Pow
Fansided

Avengers #38 Review – Sunspot In The Spotlight

By Nick Tylwalk

facebooktwitterreddit

I remember back when the current volume of Avengers was announced how excited I was about Cannonball and Sunspot getting added to the roster. Though longtime fans always grumble about new heroes getting added to the team, here were two perfectly interesting characters who no one else was using at the time. If the X-Men writers had no plans on having them step up to the big time, why not let Jonathan Hickman do it?

More from Comics

Both Sam and Roberto have been lost in the shuffle a bit, which is only to be expected given the huge cast in this book since its last relaunch. But the “Time Runs Out” arc has given them both important roles, and in Avengers #38, we see just how much vision Sunspot really has. Not only has he worked with the “zebras” in the Savage Land and purchased A.I.M. (still one of my favorite super hero comic developments of recent months), but he’s seemingly the only one in the wake of the Incursion mess that has a clear view of the bigger picture.

Given Roberto’s carefree exterior and some of his past issues, that’s really impressive. If you have a problem with super heroes not experiencing enough growth as characters, here’s one who’s coming into his own in a major way.

Since so many other comics are doing time jumps right now, I was a little concerned that “Time Runs Out” was just a stunt to get around AXIS, but this issue really gives one the impression that it’s building to a cool climax. As with Hickman’s previous work (especially his run on Fantastic Four), his long range planning skills are very evident, as there are plenty of references here to things that have occurred throughout this volume. There are no random plot threads, or at least none that are showing.

A couple of scenes are difficult to understand, especially the ones narrated by Pod. Artist Stefano Caselli does a really nice job with the origin site scenes. I can’t even remember who drew them first, but Caselli’s art looks exactly like I remember them looking way back however many issues ago. He’s good on facial expressions too, which is helpful since this is a story full of conversations. They’re good ones, mind you, especially the ones that illustrate various characters’ shifting allegiances and hint that this isn’t simply going to degenerate into Civil War, Part Deux. But if you absolutely must have some slugfests in your super hero comics, this one isn’t for you.

Hard to talk about anything more without going to the next phase, so here’s your obligatory warning …

SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT!

Sunspot has called a meeting in the Savage Land of the Avengers loyal to him, the zebra kids and some A.I.M. scientists. He explains the current situation with the S.H.I.E.L.D. Avengers, the Illuminati and the Incursions, as much to us readers as to the people assembled. When Smasher asks a very logical question about how he knows so much about the Illuminati’s plans, Roberto reveals that he’s had an inside informant for a month.

It’s the Beast, who Sunspot met with in Nation X (but not before talking to Cyclops, who’s considering a Phoenix-related solution to the Incursions). Hank has had a change of heart, so he spills the beans on the Illuminati’s plans to Roberto. They’re not all bad, as Sunspot says the rogue group wants to take out the Cabal and settle up with S.H.I.E.L.D. The problem is that Steve Rogers has decided he can only fight the smarter side with overwhelming force, so he’s got wheels in motion of his own. It truly appears Sunspot’s group is going to have to act fast to head off a catastrophic showdown.

Fortunately, they have extra help from the other side too. Black Widow and Spider-Woman are on-board, willing to sell out Rogers’ team as long as Roberto actually has something up his sleeve. And he does, explaining that four of the origin sites from Ex Nihilo’s actions in the first arc of this volume are under their control. Oh, and one of them looks like it has replicated Shang-Chi many times over. An army of clones of one of the greatest fighters alive? That can’t hurt.

Favorite moment: This quote from Manifold: “Can I just say … I honestly have no idea who I’m supposed to be supporting here. We all left the Avengers because we refused to hunt “other Avengers”  — But then we also completely washed our hands of the Illuminati because of what they were doing … So I’m lost, man.” No worries, Eden. We all feel that way reading a Hickman comic at times. Just keep reading. It’ll be alright.

Final thought: “Time Runs Out” needs a flowchart or something to keep track of all the double and triple-crosses. Marvel, you missed out on a merchandising opportunity here!

Final, final thought: If you are one of those fans who dislikes when creators bring new characters onto a team and then give them the spotlight, this will be your least favorite arc of this series, guaranteed.

More from Bam Smack Pow

Home/Comics