Avengers Initiative #4 By Hervé St-Louis Sep 2, 2007 - 12:10:37 PM Marvel Comics Writer(s): Dan Slott Penciller(s): Stefano Castelli Inker(s): Stefano Castelli Cover Artist(s): Stefano Castelli

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Hardball has done something bad that may stop Iron Man from defeating the Hulk, in this World War Hulk tie in story. The kids are sent to do crowd control and help with the evacuation of New York City, while the real heroes fight the Hulk and his crew. But as the battle approaches the evacuation centre, the kids decide to go fight the bad guys too. But this is one job that’s definitely way over their head.

As this was my first issue of Avengers Initiative, I found it easy to read and comprehend, even if there was some back story to figure out first. I don’t know many of the characters, but those I do know are like I remember them. It was a good touch of Slott to remind readers that Rage had been an Avenger longer than Triathlon. It seems that continuity does matter at Marvel Comics after all. I’m betting the Skrulls are the ones who bought the special bullet that could have killed Hulk. How this issue serves as a sub chapter of the main World War Hulk storyline is well done. It actually makes sense in the big picture, even for guys like me who hate having to read stories in multiple crossovers.

Castelli’s work is not standard Marvel Comics, but I really enjoyed it. His characters have strong facial expressions. The storytelling is good, although some of the characters should be facing from left to right instead of right to left to pull the reader forward in the story. This is a minor detail. The inking, which I presume is also Castelli is excellent. Real comic book inking has become so rare that when one sees it, one understands exactly why it’s missed.

8/10

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