Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
AVX: Vs #4 of 6
Marvel Comics
Remender, Peterson & Andrews
The comic book series that focuses on just the fighting rolls out its fourth issue and, by far, its best effort in this series. The series makes it clear that there is no plot in this book and while that is true, I found both stories to actually raise questions that should be getting addressed in the main series, which makes this book actually have meaning to the larger story as well as being entertaining and creative. I enjoyed this book very much.
The first fight by Remender and Peterson between Daredevil and Psylocke is the best one yet. I was expecting this fight to bring out the strangeness that I come to expect from Remender, but he plays this one straight and it works incredibly well. The duo use their powers, use their environment and intellect as both try to see the other's point of view. I enjoyed that each stayed true to actually being a hero throughout, as it was clear neither was going for the death blow. Daredevil asking Psylocke what she really wants at the end is a brilliant piece of dialogue because it asks the question that has been nagging me about the main series and it also plays into Psylocke's long running subplot in Uncanny X-Force.
Peterson does an excellent job on the art duties. He's got detailed layouts and lively panels. I can't say the fighting it totally fluid because there are some aspects of the fight (specifically landing punches or kicks) that don't quite add up, but visually the story looks terrific.
Kaare Andrews writes and draws Emma Frost against Thor and it is fantastic. The fight is creative and timeless. Though, Emma already holds a portion of the Phoenix Force, the pair could easily be fighting over any number of things, during any number of eras. The dialogue is a little over-dramatic, but it works well with the epic scale of the fight. His artwork is terrific. He doesn't provide a lot of backgrounds, but his style has a Frank Miller quality to it, that makes the focus stay on the grittiness of the characters and it works so well.
The book isn't without its flaws. Once again, editorial drops the ball. There are no references as to when these fights take place and the choices of when a caption box appears to explain something seem to come at the wrong times. In the case of Emma's, they don't connect the dots very well either. Without some order of consistency they seem kind of pointless. From this event, though, I have come to expect a lapsed editorial decision in each issue, so this doesn't surprise me at all.
This issue gives me some hope that more issues will come out that will rise above being average. However, both fights in here are clever, well-written and with great art. This is what I was looking for in this event.
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
