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The Defenders #1 and #2, by Marc Alan Fishman – Snarky Synopsis

January 22, 2012 Marc Fishman 8 Comments

Written by Matt Fraction
Art by by The Dodsons

Out of the wake of Fear Itself, rises an oldie but a goodie. The House of Ideas has resurrected the team of loners known as The Defenders, to combat the lingering evil of the Serpent. In the 2012 team roster, The Hulk (now sans Bruce Banner for reasons I forgot to look up or care about) bands together a venerable team of “Wait, really?” heroes. Doctor Strange, Red She-Hulk, Iron Fist, King Namor, and the Silver Surfer are paired up, and sent out on a quest to defeat some black Hulk from Asgaurd. I think. On paper, it’s pretty by-the-numbers. In practice, Matt Fraction’s letting his hair down, and I for one am enjoying it. Let’s crack open this little romp through the wicked, odd, and cooky… and find out just why such a simplistic tale works so well.

Fraction takes his time assembling his outfit of the outlandish in issue #1, and gives every member a chance to shine during the predictable assembling sequence. Doc Strange, who isn’t quite the sorcerer supreme he used to be, is a real treat. Think “House” of Fox’s too-long-in-the-tooth drama, meets… well… Harry Potter. Everyone else in the book seems to follow the basic bullets in their bios we know by heart. King Namor is essentially the same d-bag of the sea we’re used to seeing; Always quick to mention what an outcast he is. The Red She Hulk could basically be the Green She Hulk, but I guess the Green She Hulk isn’t tracking as well on the marketing meter this month. The Surfer is nigh-invincible, and happy to help because there’s nothing else to do at the moment. And Iron Fist? I love that they choose him not because of his wicked Kung Fu prowess… they pick him cause he’s lo-oh-oh-oaded. Aside from Strange, he’s a real high point of the book. With the Defenders reunited, their video-game plot is laid out like so many WoW quests; Go to Point A and Defeat the Boss. Collect some magic coins along the way, and be sure to answer the riddle of the Sphinx.

Issue 2 airs things out a bit, without slowing the pacing, which is good; Especially given that Fraction’s run on Invincible Iron Man read like Mrs. Butterworth some months. The Defenders get themselves to Wundergore Mountain… which apparently is a European land-locked secret lair of Dr. Moreau-esque animal/man super solders, and a time-traveling zealot with yet-another-powerful mystic trinket. That I even get to type that synopsis should tell you everything you should have to know to enjoy this book. Fraction knows on the surface, there’s not much to this epic quest. But throw in some Tiger-Men, a crazy future wizard, and a team taken down without any effort from the villains, and I’m enjoy the journey far more than the eventual climax. Somewhere in the background the angry Hulk keeps hulking. Who cares. Fraction doesn’t, and I love him for it.

The characters start a bit stilted and one note… and the use of the Jeph-Loeb-by-way-of-Brad-Meltz

er-by-way-of-any-writer-in-1996’s multiple caption box gets a bit overworked. In other words, we get treated to almost every Defender’s thoughts given to us in crime-noir over-dubbed narration throughout the book. It’s plenty tiresome in today’s comics, but given that each of the titular teammates (save perhaps Iron Fist) are in-and-of-themselves a bit douchey… Fraction gets a pass from me. The fact that we don’t spend too long in any one sequence gives the book an almost Saturday morning cartoon feel. And with a single whispered statement, Doctor Strange steals the second book single-handedly. We end the issue with poop about to hit the fan, and Fraction earns his stripes as both a writer of solid drama, and light-hearted action.No slouches to Matt’s scripts come the dynamic Dodson duo on art. Terry and Rachel Dodson’s slick work shines in Fractions kinetic action sequences. While they are normally known for their perchance for perky puppies, Terry Dodson shows he knows more than just boobology. With Rachel Dodson’s sharp inking, and solid color work by Sonia Oback, everything looks shiny, and fun. Where an art shift over on FF has caused me recent anger at Marvel’s choice in artists, I remain hopeful that this team will be on the book for at least several arcs to come.Suffice to say, I wasn’t running to the racks to pick this book up. In fact it’s only after I decided to drop Green Lantern: New Guardians, that I persuaded myself to try something new. I’m quite pleased with the purchase. Twice now, Marvel has shown me that while they may not knock it out of the park every time with solo books… no company is doing better teamwork. The Defenders is light, funny, well paced, and beautifully drawn. So long as Stephen Strange keeps quipping out the insults, and Red She Hulk fights with her tatas front and center, I see no reason not to keep on keeping on this fun ride. Matt Fraction shows he’s got a Gail Simone level of wit about him, and for it, consider this snarky reviewer put in his place. Defend on, you crazy kids. Defend on.

 

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Comments

  1. Russ Rogers
    January 23, 2012 - 3:21 pm

    Defend on!

  2. Marc Alan Fishman
    January 23, 2012 - 3:27 pm

    Forgive the formatting errors here. I swear I sent it in prettier!

  3. Reg
    January 23, 2012 - 11:20 pm

    “Wundergore Mountain……which apparently is a European land-locked secret lair of Dr. Moreau-esque animal/man super solders,…”

    Thou knowest not the mythos of Wundergore?! Infidel!

  4. Reg
    January 23, 2012 - 11:24 pm

    Ahem…despite yon epic-tith failing, I’m gonna pick this up!

  5. Reg
    January 26, 2012 - 4:22 pm

    And I did pick it up…and I’m glad. Good looking out, Sir Fishman.

    I’d love to get your take on the ‘new’ Black Panther these days. Art is definitely not up to the plot, but I think the last few issues (machinations of one Wilson Fisk, The Hand, and T’Challa) would benefit from your analysis.

  6. Marc Alan Fishman
    January 26, 2012 - 4:24 pm

    Thanks Reg! I hadn’t considered it… But I shall now!

  7. Mike Gold
    January 26, 2012 - 5:17 pm

    I, too, enjoyed the first two issues of the current Defenders series. The “team” has a few built-ins for me: my two favorite Marvel characters are Namor and Doctor Strange (well, and Nick Fury, but I expect him to be in EVERY Marvel title this spring) and I like both Red Hulks and both She-Hulks. It’s Banner that’s a bummer. The previous incarnations of The Defenders have been inconsistent; some great, some not, and I have I hopes for this one.

    Since Reg didn’t ask me, I’ve enjoyed the current Black Panther series as well and I’m sorry to see it go. The sundry Black Panther titles over the years have been as inconsistent as The Defenders, although I liked the one immediately previous to this. We’ll see him back, certainly if they make that Black Panther movie.

  8. Reg
    January 26, 2012 - 7:40 pm

    MIIIIKKKKEEE!!! That’s WHY I didn’t ask you, DUDE! I had no idea…*until JUST NOW* that the Panther was being canceled.

    No more Static, no more Mr. Terrific, and now No More Black Panther…the oldest and most iconic Afro-centric hero.

    Wow. Just wow.

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