Dark Avengers #1

Spinning out of the resolution of the Secret Invasion mini-series, we have yet another team book - the Dark Avengers. (Am I the only one who finds that title funny? Maybe it's just me, but it seems like a lame attempt at sounding grim and gritty. Why not the Mean Avengers? The Dirty Avengers? Make up your own title!)

There's no secret about why they're "Dark" - it's an Avengers team made up almost entirely of villains. Some are posing as heroes, others are heroes who have been coerced into being on the team.

Adding to the humor is the fact that they don't use the "Dark" part of the title - they just call themselves the Avengers. The title is on the cover to help us differentiate them from the New Avengers and the Mighty Avengers.

Of course, there's a lot of potential in a title like this. In fact, I loved this comic years ago when Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley did it. A team of villains disguised themselves as heroes as part of a scam. Back then, the comic was called Thunderbolts.

That comic was interesting because the villains were tempted to become heroes (and some did), while others stayed true to their evil origins. This comic spins off from Thunderbolts, as truly vile bad guys are made over into heroes - but there's no sense of conflict. This team is evil and plans to stay that way.

The story by Brian Bendis is interesting but creepy, loaded with his trademark funny and snarky dialogue. It's difficult to see how this story can be much more than a mini-series, but I suppose some thought that about Thunderbolts, and it continues today.

The art is excellent, as Mike Deodato provides some amazingly detailed art with strong layouts. There's not much action on display here, but he's no slouch in that department, either.

They still haven't announced what H.A.M.M.E.R. (which replaced S.H.I.E.L.D.) stands for! My guess: Horror Angst and Mayhem Made Easy. Really!

Frankly, I haven't decided if I like this comic or not. I'd probably enjoy it more if there was at least one sympathetic character in there somewhere. The art is great, but the concept leaves me cold.

So far, my reaction is basically: eh.

Grade: C+