On the Rack: Secret Avengers #1

Secret Avengers is kicking off with a brand new number one and a brand new team. Director Maria Hill has recruited Nick Fury, Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow, Jessica Drew aka Spider-Woman and S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson to act as a black ops squad. The first story arch called Save the Empire takes place just before the team is scheduled to meet for the first time. While Fury and Coulson are sent on what is supposed to be a simple and routine mission, the ladies are enjoying a much needed spa day, but nothing is simple in the life of an Avenger and in no time everyone’s days are thrown into chaos. Fury and Coulson meet with an unexpected threat, and Hawkeye crashes the calm of the spa leading the A.I.M. agents who were chasing him right to the Black Widow and Spider-Woman. To top it all off, Maria Hill has problems of her own on the helicarrier.

This book was unbelievably fun to read. Not only are the Secret Avengers drawn from some of the most entertaining personalities in the Marvel U, but as a huge fan of Phil Coulson I was thrilled to see him seamlessly transition from the realm of screen to comics. The story is written Ales Kot and manages to strike the perfect balance between humor and action. The characters all feel genuine; they have history with one another, they quip, they argue, they have a great dynamic. Pair that with Michael Walsh’s stylized art that has a kinetic quality to convey the action along with remarkably expressive faces, and Secret Avengers carves out its place in the Marvel Now! lineup. I can’t wait for issue two.