Secret War: Book 3 (Spoilers)

[bob_at_york]

Secret War: Book 3 of 5

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Gabriele Dell'Otto

First I want to say, I really liked this issue even though it was late and it surprised me by being on the shelf. Now on to the review:

The book begins where the last one left us, with our heroes in a foreign country fighting a bunch of henchmen with high tech weaponary. Not just any high tech weaponary but everything from Doc Ock's arms to Vulture's wings. The heroes are beating them up in their new duds (which I didn't notice until it was mentioned at the end of the book). We then see Peter Parker eating with his beautiful wife and we see that he is "dreaming" all these events. But he questions if it is a dream or is he remembering events?

The scene then shifts to Cap at the hospital where he is pissed at Fury because he got attacked by a pair of villians: Lady Octopus and I believe Hobgoblin. Cap tells Danny Rand and Jessica Jones to get to safety because their lives are in danger. Jessica calls Matt Murdock. Who is on route home where he already knows Peter is visiting. Peter tells him about his dreams and Matt pretty much tells him that he is crazy. That is when they get attacked by by Diamondback and Scorcher (from Untold Tales of Spider-man). They beat the two villians until they run away with their tails between their legs. Daredevil then decides they have to join Cap and Fury at the hospital.

Cap tells them that the reason they are getting attacked is because it is the anniversary of a "Secret War" that they fought and the villians are trying to get revenge. Speaking of revenge, the book ends with over a dozen villians attacking them (Boy could they use Wolverine at this moment).

Just like the other issues of this series there are some pages in the back with costume redesigns and a text section showing the conversation that Cap had with SHIELD when he was looking for Fury.

Overall I really enjoyed the issue. The dialogue was great and the art was beautiful. BUT it doesn't feel like much happened actually in the issue. I would have liked to see more of the fight from Peter's memories. Now at the same time we are pretty much assured of a great battle next issue so that I guess can make up for it (when the next issue is coming out who knows!).

I give it ****/*****.

[aceatkins]

Thank you for writing this review. I've been mulling over this issue since I read it last night. While I too liked this issue, I agree--nothing much happened here. Not really. The heroes are under attack (by B- or C-grade villains, by the way) because of something they supposedly did a year ago, but which most of them can't remember. This seems like a fine set-up for issue 1, but issue 3? We have two issues left and I'm still waiting for the actual point/story.

Stories that play with chronological order are dangerous from a reading perspective to begin with. As much as I like Bendis I think that technique was employed very poorly here.

From a character perspective, this book isn't stacking up. I drooled over the page of the tech-enhanced baddies ready to kick butt. But several of the supposed main characters for the series have yet to appear (both Thor and Iron Man appear in the line-up boxes, for instance), others have barely been in the book (Wolverine, anyone?) and the new character, Daisy, has been rather poorly developed. Not loving that.

My gut says this will read much better in collected form. Then why bother releasing it serially, especially with three (or four) months between issues? I have the same problem with the current Superman arc (minus the lateness) and it has a similar screwy time element. But each individual comic from both series have left me completely unsatisfied.

That said, I'm loving the appearances of all the goons in this book (I can't imagine this is Cap's Diamondback; also, isn't Lady Octopus dead? I could have sworn the real Doc Ock offed her). The painted art is just breathtaking. And I like most of the heroes here. I just wish they'd, you know, act like a team or something since they've yet to do that in anything other than a brief flashback.

This is a little contradictory, but does anyone else think this series smacks of a Bendis vanity project? Look at the characters selected: Luke Cage, Daredevil, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Fury and Black Widow. All but Cap are longtime Bendis faves (he has been giving Luke Cage the longest character blowjob in recent comic memory, although I love that he's made Luke cool and readable again) and the frequent appearances by Jessica Jones...well, enough said. When I first heard about this project I thought it was going to be this sweeping, involve-every-corner-of-the-MU deal like the original Secret Wars series. Except more grounded in reality. That's not what I'm getting so far. It may improve over the next two issues, and I'm definitely sticking around, but so far I'm kind of...just not in love with it.

My biggest beef is the dozen or so pages devoted to the SHIELD transcripts and "bonus" materials at the end of each issue. Screw that! I'm paying $3.99 per issue. You'd better give me a full issue's worth of story. The transcripts in the first two issues furthered the plot. This one did not--it was actually fairly pointless. And when I got to that two-page spread with the baddies and giddily turned the page I found I had to wait another three (or four) months before the next installment, and instead got 12 pages or so of basically DVD extras. Boo. Save it for the hardcover, boys.

Anybody else somewhat frustrated by this?

[bob_at_york]

yeah that pisses me off too. Especially in this issue when the stuff that Cap says in the text is almost word for word what he said to Fury. I actually didn't expect Iron Man or Thor in the series, so no disappointment on that front. But I want some more action. I have absolutely LOVED the dialogue in this series especially the words that came out of Peter's mouth. But that doesn't make up for all the problems in the series.

I think the first issues of Identity Crisis and Secret War came out around the same time but while IC has built up momentuam, Secret War has been very sparatic. I have trouble getting excited about the book. I am excited now but two months from now (when the next issue MIGHT come out) I am going to have practically forgotten what happened before.

Also I find it funny that the core heroes in this series are also the core heroes from the New Avengers. I see this as almost a prequel to that series EXCEPT this series won't be finished when New Avengers #1 comes out. They should have made the book monthly and they should have shown more of the action from the "Secret War" from one year ago.

[Terram]

For a 48 page comic, a good half of it was spent on the "extras", which I found quite a bit disappointing, mostly because the actual story part I enjoyed very, very much. The art is improving even from the beginning of the series, having less darkness to the point of murkiness. The new costumes and even the "touching up" of old villains is jaw-dropping.

And it has the greatest plug for another book I've ever seen: "I wish they made, like, a handbook so we could keep up with all these dumkophs".

Originally posted by bob_at_york
yeah that pisses me off too. Especially in this issue when the stuff that Cap says in the text is almost word for word what he said to Fury. My theory is that Bendis probably wanted all that in the original conversation with Fury, but due to the delays with the artwork they just decided to ship it now since it's already overdue.

[CountD]

this issue, while beautifully painted, was somewhat of a let down for me.

Parker had a few spoken lines that seemed uncharacteristic, as did Cap.

Daredevil giving Pete 'the look' while they were talking inside his apartment was a pretty nice touch, though.

I agree, the Shield file at the end of this one was nothing but 'filler'. That's what we call it in the publishing biz. ;)

A rather average issue....I give it a: C

[skywatcher]

Originally posted by aceatkins
Anybody else somewhat frustrated by this?
Not only by that, but also by the "shameless plug" for Pulse # 6. This was promised to be an "event" series, but once again there is very little plot driven narrative. I was also annoyed by the odd colouring job-especially when the two-page splash in question was reprinted later in the same issue in natural colours!!!!
Anyone rushing to buy Pulse # 6? It actually put me off! :(

[fedres]

I have been enjoying this miniseries and I liked this issue. I don't really compute $ per page, so I don't really expect more from this comic than I do from any other, just entertain me. And this did. I liked the Jessica Jones scenes as they rang true to her character as established in Alias-not afraid to plow ahead and see where things lead despite any feathers that may get ruffled. She wasn't taking this crap from Fury and CapA that we will take your lover, the father of your unborn child, somewhere "safe" where you cannot see him, and trust us, although we started this we will take it from here and we know what is best for you and for Luke Cage, Hero for Hire. Even if that is the best course of action, she isn't going to let Shield step all over her rights and not let her have some say in the matter, so she knows right away to call her lawyer. It just seemed well done. I did think some of the other scenes, such as DD not believing his senses that is was really Peter Parker in his house and Spidey's dream being at just the right time for him to get involved, were a bit forced. But they were fun enough and gorgeous enough that I can let it slide and enjoy the comic overall.

Now it is time to go read Ex Machina #5.:D

[Leviathan]

loved this book

[The Shadow]

I liked it... but found it slow... little happened, and when it FINALLY did get good... we have to wait for ANOTHER 3-4 months.

LOVED the art though!

[Blind Assassin]

Originally posted by skywatcher

Anyone rushing to buy Pulse # 6? It actually put me off! :(

Can't wait for Pulse #6, myself. If ID Crisis, DC's big event can have 'tie in books' (like the flash, firestorm, jsa,) I don't see why Marvel can't have it for their event.

And it may help to expand a bit on the story.

I loved Secret War #3. Well worth the wait. While not much has happened, that is fine with me, because I am really enjoying the build up of mystery.

It isn't necessarily 'what is happening' for me in a book, but 'am I enjoying what I am reading', and for me, this book is just great.

Beautiful art, great writing, and a gripping plot. Yeah, the wait sucks, but we knew about it going in before hand, so I can't complain on that score.

I give it an b+

[PretentiousMoi]

After reading what just about everyone else has written, I'm glad that I passed this one up. This book hasn't made any sense from the get-go, and it doesn't sound like this issue makes any head way.

Anyone who is wondering what Bendis's New Avengers will be like need look no further.

[IllShogun]

Ok, so what happened in this issue? Anything? We found out that Luke's in the hospital and people are worried about him. Oh wait, we knew that already. He's been in that hospital since the first issue.

It's hard for me to get excited over anything in this series because, well, there's nothing to get excited over. The appearance of all those villains at the end was very cool, but we're now heading into issue four of a five issue series and the only clue as to what's going on is Cap's "our secret war" comment. Oooooooh...how uncharacteristically vague of you, Cap.

The Pulse preview looked cool until I saw Wolverine in it. I'm a die hard X-men fan and even I'm sick to death of him at this point.

[Woody]

why is nobody commenting on the fact that Cap and Fury obviuously mind-wiped those involved so they wouldnt remember going to latveria???

[adamcasey]

Originally posted by Woody
why is nobody commenting on the fact that Cap and Fury obviuously mind-wiped those involved so they wouldnt remember going to latveria???

Probably because of Identity Crisis making mind wipes old hat even though this was probably written well before.

Mind wipes are the new shoulder pads and big gun.

[bigstumpy]

I've enjoyed this story but not a ton. I tend to think that Bendis and books that are more team oriented don't work as well. I love all his other stuff, he's my favorite writer of the past few years.

Here though, its good but never seems to take that next step.

[twistandshout]

I'll have to agree, Bendis doesn't seem to match the......Bendis....that we know with team books. His Avengers right now has been at best "par", and "Secret War" is coming off a little skewed, BUT I'm still pretty intrigued by this series, and I just can't help but feel that the Del'otto art is worth the 4 dollars alone.

Or maybe not 4 dollars. Maybe 3.50.

Whatever the price though, the padding in this series is a bit too much. As you guys have already stated before me, there's only 2 issues left in this series......when the hell is the story going to really kick in? It's the burning question, but I have a feeling that we should see that burning question answered in two months or so. Hopefully. My fingers are crossed.

There were some scenes that seemed a little disjointed, or trademark Bendis-ized, with characters taking on that sarcastic feel that, at least as I was reading it, felt a little......like they wouldn't be talking like that under another writer. However, I don't mind the Bendis-speak, so long as different characters at least have some kinds of different mannerisms. I loved the Fury and Cap tussle, and Jessica Jones is, while being Bendis' baby (along with Luke Cage....the 'blow job' point made above was perfect), but he does well with these characters, and where else are we going to see them? At least we have that, AND they're not being poorly written, so let Bendis have a hey-day with them.

I really can't add much that hasn't already been said (kinda makes me wonder why I've gone on this long), but overall, I think I liked this issue alot more than what most people on here are saying. Sure, nothing horribly moving was....moved....in this issue, but we're not just treading water. Things are happening towards a big reveal, and hopefully that big reveal will live up to its namesake.

[COREMARK]

First of all, I did like this issue. The art is great, and the story has been ok. My biggest problem with this book is the lame-ass undercover costumes they have the heroes fighting in. Nobody is going to recognize them because they switched some of the colors around on their costumes? That plan is genius! I can hear the latverians now, "man I wonder who that guy is that looks exactly like Captain America, and has a shield exactly like Captain America's, who is this masked man?"

Book Grade: C

(would have been higher except for those stupid costumes)

[CountD]

Originally posted by Woody
why is nobody commenting on the fact that Cap and Fury obviuously mind-wiped those involved so they wouldnt remember going to latveria???

not to mention hero's being attacked at home.

:rolleyes:

[arvydas]

Finally, the story is picking up. After the awful characterization of issue 2, the "mystery" aspect of this secret war has gotten a lot thicker.

I just thought that Bendis overdid Spidey's nervous dialogue. I found it too corny.

[tralfaz]

artist change already?

[Chesscub]

I really didn't like the artwork in this issue. It was way too day and made it really difficult to figure out what's going on in some cases. I've enjoyed the story aspect of it, but the art is killing me. I'm not sure I'll get the last two issues if it looks like this.

Jeff

[Moonbeam]

I don't care what the story was ...

Dell'Otto's Daredevil rocked

I scanned the images of Daredevil in ... got him spinning around a lightpole on my desktop right now. Great stuff.