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Young Avengers thoughts
Nov. 6th, 2013 05:50 pmBecause I finally read Young Avengers Vol 1, so I can finally compare Vol 1 with the ongoing Vol 2.
...Man, I kinda wish I hadn't read Vol 1, because I enjoy Vol 2 much less now.
First off, I've always thought Kate Bishop & Noh-Varr (but particularly Noh-Varr) are pretty boring in Vol 2. I like Kate a lot better in Vol 1, but then, I feel that the overall characterization in Vol 1 is a lot stronger. Each Young Avenger has their own unique struggle, which helped enrich the overall arcs. In Vol 2, well...you have Wiccan and Hulkling undergoing most of the angst, along with Loki clearly plotting things and America Chavez being mysterious in the background. But mostly Wiccan and Hulkling angst. And, don't get me wrong, I love Wiccan and Hulkling and think they're adorable together. But Vol 1 managed to spread about the character focus much more evenly.
Also, I'm bummed that Speed isn't around in Vol 2. I think his character is criminally underexploited and he has a very interesting background. Not to mention I'm dying for more family/sibling interactions in general. The writer mentioned something about how it would be problematic to include yet another white dude in the group, but I'm thinking he could have easily replaced Noh-Varr (they practically look identical for crying out loud, and Speed even has kind of a history with Kate Bishop. Yeah, I know, Noh-Varr is an alien; no, it doesn't add diversity when your alien species somehow looks exactly like white humans).
I love America Chavez, I really do, but I'm starting to feel that her personality is wearing a bit thin. I don't mind mystery, but after 11 issues, I really want the writer to at least throw us a bone. I love angry badass heroines, but it's starting to feel that America's personality is a bit one-note.
I don't know, maybe the Young Avengers will grow and change once the opening arc ends, but right now it has the feeling of a group of kids who were thrown together by circumstance and aren't that close to each other (other than Wiccan & Hulkling, of course). There was a certain charm in Vol 1 when they genuinely wanted to use their powers and abilities for good, and ended up having to face heavy questions about what it meant to be a hero along the way. Vol 2 just feels kind of...superficial by comparison.
...Man, I kinda wish I hadn't read Vol 1, because I enjoy Vol 2 much less now.
First off, I've always thought Kate Bishop & Noh-Varr (but particularly Noh-Varr) are pretty boring in Vol 2. I like Kate a lot better in Vol 1, but then, I feel that the overall characterization in Vol 1 is a lot stronger. Each Young Avenger has their own unique struggle, which helped enrich the overall arcs. In Vol 2, well...you have Wiccan and Hulkling undergoing most of the angst, along with Loki clearly plotting things and America Chavez being mysterious in the background. But mostly Wiccan and Hulkling angst. And, don't get me wrong, I love Wiccan and Hulkling and think they're adorable together. But Vol 1 managed to spread about the character focus much more evenly.
Also, I'm bummed that Speed isn't around in Vol 2. I think his character is criminally underexploited and he has a very interesting background. Not to mention I'm dying for more family/sibling interactions in general. The writer mentioned something about how it would be problematic to include yet another white dude in the group, but I'm thinking he could have easily replaced Noh-Varr (they practically look identical for crying out loud, and Speed even has kind of a history with Kate Bishop. Yeah, I know, Noh-Varr is an alien; no, it doesn't add diversity when your alien species somehow looks exactly like white humans).
I love America Chavez, I really do, but I'm starting to feel that her personality is wearing a bit thin. I don't mind mystery, but after 11 issues, I really want the writer to at least throw us a bone. I love angry badass heroines, but it's starting to feel that America's personality is a bit one-note.
I don't know, maybe the Young Avengers will grow and change once the opening arc ends, but right now it has the feeling of a group of kids who were thrown together by circumstance and aren't that close to each other (other than Wiccan & Hulkling, of course). There was a certain charm in Vol 1 when they genuinely wanted to use their powers and abilities for good, and ended up having to face heavy questions about what it meant to be a hero along the way. Vol 2 just feels kind of...superficial by comparison.
