MEET THE [new] NEW AVENGERS: DAY 1

**MattBrady** · 01-10-2007, 04:50 PM

On February 7th, Brian Bendis and new series artist Leinil Francis Yu will reveal not only the post-Civil War status quo of the New Avengers with issue #27, they’ll also reveal a new team line-up, made of some returning members, some brand new ones, and at least one surprise readers won’t see coming.

But for you readers who can’t wait that long, Bendis and Marvel have agreed to reveal the team roster to Newsarama readers over the next week. Each weekday starting today and through next Friday, we’ll reveal one new team member a day – eight in all – along with Bendis’ thoughts on why he selected that character and what role he or she will be playing for the team. And then we’ll wrap things up with a talk about the foreseeable future of the whole [Avengers] assembled team.

We kick things off today with a look at the first member…

WHO: Echo (a.k.a. Maya Lopez, a.k.a. “Ronin”)

WHAT BRIAN BENDIS SAYS:

“Echo is the character who’s been in the New Avengers who has the most unanswered questions surrounding her. She had a one arc storyline and in this arc Captain America picked her to stay in Japan and deal with the growing threat of the disorganized Japanese underworld, which she took a heavy interest in being part of. We still don’t know a lot about how she got from Kingpin assassin to New Avengers ally, and why she wears the Ronin suit – why she dresses up like a man. I know a lot of people want to know this. So all of this will be answered in issue #27, which not only answers all these questions, but also debuts this new team of New Avengers.

“The Civil War was an American war pretty much, but it also had global implications, and a lot of things went topsy-turvy around the world during the war. So not only do the New Avengers find themselves in dire straits after Civil War, but word comes down that the war actually affected Echo, and there she is basically stuck in Japan. So the team goes to help here, and when they get there all answers are revealed as to why Echo is an Avenger, why she’s had such change a heart, why she wears a man suit, who she’s been fighting, and what the big threat is Japan has been.

“Now as a lot of people have seen from the cover, it has a lot to do with Elektra and The Hand, but I guarantee you, I promise you, it is not what it appears to be. There is a very shocking finale to that story that will carry through the New Avengers title for a little while.

“Echo to me is a fascinating new character for the Marvel Universe and I really like taking these great new characters and giving them room to breathe and find themselves in the MU. I think a lot of people like to see these new things and new characters and have them immersed in the Marvel Universe to really make them sing as a character and this will be the opportunity to .take this excellent creation by David Mack and Joe Quesada and really give her that room.

“She’s kind of like the female Taskmaster- She’s got these really cool powers, she can echo anyone’s fighting style, and she has a lot of offer.”

Look for the revelation of another new New Avengers team member Thursday…

kaiserdean · 01-10-2007, 06:41 PM

*groan*

"Because no one asked for it!"

Jrad32 · 01-10-2007, 06:45 PM

I'll be interested to see the reason she dresses up in a man suit? I can't see how that will make any sense whatsoever. Also don't really see Echo as Avengers material. How many street level/martial arts heros do we need?

dalegon · 01-10-2007, 06:45 PM

Havent read Avengers in years.

Probably still won't, but I like the character Echo, so maybe .................

tomburgos · 01-10-2007, 06:46 PM

I am happy that Echo is in.
She has great potential, and I am glad Bendis added another female to the roster (well, I should not say "another", since it's not even a certainty that Spider-Woman will stay in the team...)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaiserdean

*groan*

"Because no one asked for it!"

I asked for Echo to be in the team, so that makes the above post inaccurate.

Angelophile · 01-10-2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaiserdean

*Groan.

"Because no one asked for it!"

To be fair, Echo's introductory arc in Daredevil was excellent and David Mack's arc interesting.

The use of the character in New Avengers was painful though. Crossdressing and ninjas. Joy.

Drew Reiber · 01-10-2007, 06:47 PM

Yay, more Avengers comics that have absolutely nothing to do with The Avengers! I guess I can at least look forward to the eventual Avengers movie actually doing something other than what I could find in a Daredevil story. Too bad I'm going to be waiting another decade...

Sean Walsh · 01-10-2007, 06:48 PM

See........in debuting a line-up, wouldn't you normally start with a rather surprise character to get people stoked and talking, then the next be someone standard/already-on-the-team, then a not-so-surprise-but-still-new-to-the-team character, and so on, mixing it up until you end with a real "OMFGWTF!!!" at the end?

Banana_Oil · 01-10-2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaiserdean

*Groan.

"Because no one asked for it!"

Groan?

Ah yes of course. Because back in the day people were camped out in front of the Marvel offices DEMANDING they let She-Hulk, Beast, and Starfox in.

The cries of "Give Tigra a chance!" led to rioting in the streets...

Grobbel · 01-10-2007, 06:48 PM

So if New Avengers #27 is going to be released on the 7th of February, while Civil War #7 isn't out until two weeks later, isn't that going to spoil at least part of the ending of CW?

ReaperFett · 01-10-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drew Reiber

Yay, more Avengers comics that have absolutely nothing to do with The Avengers!

Yeah, like Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch or Quicksilver! They're not the Avengers!

Banana_Oil · 01-10-2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReaperFett

Yeah, like Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch or Quicksilver! They're not the Avengers!

"What the? THEY'RE CRIMINALS! GET THEM OFF MY TEAM!"

Velocity_02 · 01-10-2007, 06:52 PM

well if she appears as much as she did before I think we're set for an explosive Echo year.

TheLizard207 · 01-10-2007, 06:52 PM

cool

nothing spectatular but after all the hype for ronan/echo's issues before.. well aleast they mean something. Might even warrent me rereading them.

rwe1138 · 01-10-2007, 06:53 PM

Man, David Mack's baby is all grown up. When used correctly, Maya is a great character. Here's hoping Bendis can use her to her full potential.

kaiserdean · 01-10-2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomburgos

I am happy that Echo is in.
She has great potential, and I am glad Bendis added another female to the roster (well, I should not say "another", since it's not even a certainty that Spider-Woman will stay in the team...)

I asked for Echo to be in the team, so that makes the above post inaccurate.

It's a quote to play on the old cover bubble "Because you asked for it!" or "You demanded it!"

The new series has been pretty good but the Ronin/Echo hype was a colossal disappointment for me and I'm not pleased with her/his inclusion in the new series.

Dr Stranger · 01-10-2007, 06:54 PM

The surprise character? Doctor Stange!

Way back Marvel (or maybe it was Wizard) was saying that The Doc would be part of some team post-Civil War, and he would be unexpected...

bebopeva88 · 01-10-2007, 06:55 PM

Interested to see what happens at the end of the issue. Thanks for finally addressing that damn man suit, lol. It's interesting that Marvel is letting this ship before the end of CW, but I guess it won't be too spoilery -- though one would think that if Cap is on the team, that would be a spoiler in and of itself. Lenil Yu on art -- monthly -- woot!

AbeFroman · 01-10-2007, 06:55 PM

Good lord. Will you people just stop reading Marvel so we won't have to hear your constant bitching in every Marvel-related thread? Please? Stick with DC, I beg you.

Dr Stranger · 01-10-2007, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbeFroman

Good lord. Will you people just stop reading Marvel so we won't have to hear your constant bitching in every Marvel-related thread? Please? Stick with DC, I beg you.

Still too stressful. They should stick with Archie...

Gunslinger · 01-10-2007, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grobbel

So if New Avengers #27 is going to be released on the 7th of February, while Civil War #7 isn't out until two weeks later, isn't that going to spoil at least part of the ending of CW?

I am sure they will delayed it as well!!!!

dorknerdgeek · 01-10-2007, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Walsh

See........in debuting a line-up, wouldn't you normally start with a rather surprise character to get people stoked and talking, then the next be someone standard/already-on-the-team, then a not-so-surprise-but-still-new-to-the-team character, and so on, mixing it up until you end with a real "OMFGWTF!!!" at the end?

Except that cover has been out for a while. You may as well tell us what we already know first. Expect to be underwhelmed tomorrow, too. If Monday doesn't have a pretty jaw-dropping reveal, I'll be surprised.

ThomasC22 · 01-10-2007, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drew Reiber

Yay, more Avengers comics that have absolutely nothing to do with The Avengers! I guess I can at least look forward to the eventual Avengers movie actually doing something other than what I could find in a Daredevil story. Too bad I'm going to be waiting another decade...

For the Record, I was completely on your side with this type of comment when New Avengers first started. But at this point, with Mighty Avengers being given to old school fans to fill the void, I think complaining about this is unfair.

The truth is, when I started reading Avengers the team was Captain America, Thor, Gilgamesh, and Reed & Sue Richards. It was the West Coast that really had all the Avengers Characters (Hawkeye, Wasp, Hank, Scarlet Witch, Vision and Wonderman) and that was in the 90s!

There's nothing that says the Avengers can't change and that multiple books can't be called Avengers. As long as one of the books is classic Avengers I personally am happy to indulge Marvel on the other one.

Zemo13 · 01-10-2007, 07:04 PM

I'm cool with Echo being on the team, if it's as Echo, and not in a man-suit.

kaiserdean · 01-10-2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banana_Oil

Groan?

Ah yes of course. Because back in the day people were camped out in front of the Marvel offices DEMANDING they let She-Hulk, Beast, and Starfox in.

The cries of "Give Tigra a chance!" led to rioting in the streets...

I'm not saying those were good days for the Avengers either...