Savage Avengers… is something that I’m not sure if it fits the category I’m giving it. I got this from David Pepose and I regularly do stuff for this guy because I’m a fan of his. I mean it’s great that Marvel is recognizing his talents! He’ll be sure to get more mainstream recognition… I hope. Sure having Conan the Barbarian and Daredevil tends to get comic fans interested but I’m more interested in the C-Listers of this “team”.
Savage Avengers Is NOT Just About Conan
Okay, time for a little backstory. Conan came (back) into the Marvel Universe after Avengers: No Road Home. Stuck in the “Heroic Age”, the last Savage Avengers was mainly about Conan running around and interacting with Marvel heroes; not to mention an old enemy of his Kulan Gath. So how does Pepose go about making the change for this “All-New, All-Different” series?
Simple by including characters who aren’t just around for the ride. Everyone from Cloak & Dagger, Weapon H, and Black Knight are dealing with some issues. Oh right, there’s also Agent Anti-Venom and the Daredevil Elektra hanging around. Everybody’s had to fight their demons in some form or another; the first three still are. So yeah, Conan’s the least interesting thing so far and him getting hunted by a multiversal Deathlok is what sets everything up.
What About Conan?
Conan’s just up to his old shenanigans, wandering around, picking fights with cults. But apparently, doing this puts the timeline at risk, hence why a Deathlok comes on him. Not even Conan going back to the Hyborean Age fixes things. But maybe that has to do with his guests.
Who Are the Savage Avengers This Time?
This time around, the Savage Avengers looks to have a concrete group of characters, each with their own arcs and struggles. If you know me, I’m always interested in B-C list characters with great storytelling potential.
Of course some like Elektra are already at their peak in development. Her purpose is mainly star power from her breakthroughs in Daredevil and to serve as a leader. I don’t just mean in battle but also in aspirations. Out of all of these misfits, Elektra has the most experience in dealing with personal struggles amid her work. Becoming Daredevil is just one way Elektra turns her life around.
Those C-Listers I mentioned, Elektra has the potential to influence them all positively. Her finally stable relationship with the other Daredevil is an ideal for Cloak & Dagger. This pair could really use some counseling with their on-and-off partnership. Then there’s Black Knight who while still adventuring with his daughter, now has to worry about all the trauma she’ll go through. Because the source of their great power is the darkness in their hearts. For people who want to be heroes this can cause a lot of damaged psyches. So having Elektra around who went through similar experiences, interactions with Dane Whitman has potential for the next stage of this character’s journey.
Forgetting Somebody?
Then again, the same applies to Agent Anti-Venom. Flash Thompson has a long history of turning his life around. This former bully became a soldier before bonding with the Venom symbiote. Through Venom, Flash reflects on his demons and found a relationship to help straighten himself out. Even after parting with Venom and getting a new symbiote, Flash keeps his experiences to heart. So yeah, he has great potential interacting with Cloak, Dagger, and Black Knight.
Can’t forget about Weapon H either. This mashup of Hulk and Wolverine only recently got his life back on track. But he’s still dealing with all of the struggles to readjusting after a life on the run. Not to mention his family lives away from him. So having Flash around could allow fellow soldiers to share experiences in dealing with PTSD.
Check It Out Dynamic Calls To Adventure
With just the first issue there isn’t much to say about Savage Avengers. I mean it has an entertaining call to adventure with a great thematic premise; a bunch of heroes who are dealing with or dealt with issues coming together and thrown into something beyond them. But right now, it’s mostly potential driving this series more than its content. I’m not just saying that because Carlos Magno has Elektra strike a pose out of nowhere. The first issue doesn’t really have any direction other than Deathlok the Destroyer is a threat.
So for now this series’ first issue gets 8/10. Great character potential, a dynamic first impression, colorful costumes amid the action, but a slow pace in character motivation.
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