9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
...the battle for the magical hoohah..., September 13, 2009
This review is from: New Avengers Vol. 11: Search for the Sorcerer Supreme (Hardcover)
Excepting NEW AVENGERS Vol. 2: THE SENTRY (which showcased that immense bore, the Sentry), this may be the least interesting trade collecting the NEW AVENGERS run. Brian Michael Bendis continues his uncool shoving of Parker Robbins a.k.a. the Hood down the readers' throats. Bendis, it seems, regards the Hood as the next relevant ubervillain, except, sorry, I'm not sipping the Kool-Aid, and I kind of resent Bendis's persistently plonking the guy into these pages.
In the "Ain't Much To Recommend In This TPB" department, NEW AVENGERS Vol. 11: SEARCH FOR THE SORCERER SUPREME collects issues #51-54, and that's it. Four measly issues. It also features plenty of the New Avengers standing around and twiddling their thumbs, reduced to being onlookers in their very own book while several magic users fight the good fight and save the day.
To backtrack a bit, not too long ago Dr. Stephen Strange helped out the New Avengers in a big way. But, in doing so, Strange corrupted his sorcerous powers and threw the universe's mystical balance all kinds of out of whack, and this cost the good doctor the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. I've previously thought "Sorcerer Supreme" to be this fancy add-on nickname, sort of like the "Invincible" in the Invincible Iron Man, but apparently this title carries serious weight and is in fact a legitimate mystical office. Anyway, the demoted Dr. Strange had been gallivanting cross country seeking his successor (and hoping like heck that it's not Dr. Doom) so that he could mentor him and to also hand over the magical artifacts which went with the "Sorcerer Supreme" gig. However, one of these artifacts, the Eye of Agamotto, vanishes magically, which just adds to Strange's consternation. Also ruining Strange's day is the Hood deciding to show up, with Dormammu's influence on Parker Robbins really starting to tell.
The New Avengers get involved when Dr. Strange suddenly pops up in their hideout, desperately asking for help. The Hood had just doled out a hoary host of a magical beating on Dr.Strange, and Captain America's townhouse is the only place he could think of for refuge. Since friends don't let friends take on incredibly frightening demons by themselves, the Avengers decide to lend a hand. Plus, there's that issue of our heroes raring to get back at Norman Osborn, and there's that connection between Osborn and the Hood.
We eventually learn the identity of the new Sorcerer Supreme, and let's try hard not to yawn when that big reveal happens. But, before that, there's a slew of mystical guest stars (and by "slew," I mean three), not counting Strange and Dormammu. There's also a demonstration of Bendis's sheer inability to come up with credible-sounding incantations for Dr. Strange. I mean, "Flasta Ruyamama!" Really?
But, like always, Bendis shines when he's writing dialogue and snappy banter for our resident rebels. I'm actually perfectly down with Bendis having these New Avengers do nothing but jive and talk all issue long. We do get some nice moments, starting off with a brief heart to heart of sorts between Clint and Carol Danvers over Clint's televised condemnation of Norman Osborn and his Dark Avengers. Later on, an official New Avengers meeting convenes, of which first order of business is establishing a team leader (Luke Cage's bossy stint being more or less an unofficial one). And then, to prove once again that the ONE MORE DAY debacle had wiped out certain key events in Spidey's life, the second order of business is a request for Spidey to unmask. This then leads to an awesome and hilarious moment with Jessica Jones.
So, by the end of this arc, we get a new Sorcerer Supreme and what I thought was the Hood finally, finally getting his (until Bendis's man crush resurfaces). But the closing beat which really turned my head is Norman Osborn's response to Ronin's allegations. Osborn may be one demented puppy but his televised rebuttal manages to effectively counter Clint's media blitzes.
Oh, and I also dig Ms. Marvel stealing a Quinjet from the "official" Avengers. Take that, sanctimonious establishment!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not bad, but not the strongest New Avengers arc either, September 11, 2009
This review is from: New Avengers Vol. 11: Search for the Sorcerer Supreme (Hardcover)
Things in the Marvel Universe are changing in the wake of Secret Invasion as Dark Reign begins to fully take shape. Search for the Sorcerer Supreme, the eleventh collected volume in Brian Michael Bendis' New Avengers, finds former New Avenger Doctor Strange stripped of his title as being Sorcerer Supreme, as a search begins for the one who will now be the holder of that title. Naturally, things don't tend to go too well as this storyarc unfolds. In between all that though, there really isn't all that much here to hold your interest. Compared to a majority of the previous arcs of New Avengers, what comes up here is just kind of boring to be honest. Maybe this is just a reprieve as Bendis' Dark Reign saga comes to fruition, but in the end, Search for the Sorcerer Supreme just winds up not amounting to a whole lot. Billy Tan provides some great artwork though, and even Chris Bachalo, who I've never been a fan of in the least, manages to provide some decent work as well. All in all, Search for the Sorcerer Supreme isn't bad, but considering what Bendis has done in the past with New Avengers, there isn't really anything too enticing here either.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
No Real Direction - Is this the Defenders?, November 27, 2009
In the wake of the Dark Reign and Dark Avengers, the "New" Avengers have truly become a ragtag team with no identity - a loose assortment of heroes who do not do a lot together. Volume 11: Search for the Sorcerer Supreme plunges the group into Dr Strange land. In fact, this run of issues could be mistaken for Dr Strange's own title since the Avengers do very little "avenging."
Lacking in interesting characterisation, the book needs a stronger direction and fast...the lustre of Bendis has plummetted on this particular title. Clint Barton, Bucky as Captain America, Wolverine, Spider Man, etc - have become reduced to flat, side characters. None of them feel like they have a reason to be in the storyline which meanders around Dr Strange's search for the Eye of Agamotto.
Everyone - I mean EVERYONE is playing tag-along. Bad news.
I'm guessing that Bendis misses the Defenders and maybe even the Champions - both "non-teams" of heroes from the past. Why else resurrect the Son of Satan?? Bendis also feels like he's writing the Dr Strange stories he never got a chance to write. With Luke Cage in the mix and mystical concerns, the Avengers' survival takes a back seat to everything else. There is no real resonance with the Norman Osborn saga.
As a book, Vol. 11 is readable. As an Avengers book, it feels murky. When you see Brother Voodoo at the end of this, you'll go "huh?" and wonder where the Avengers are going to next. Right now, they don't feel justified having their own book. Someone put them out of their misery.
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