MEET THE [new] NEW AVENGERS: DAY 5

**MattBrady** · 01-16-2007, 04:14 PM

Today's New Avengers roster reveal with writer Brian Bendis features another returning member of the cast…

WHO: Spider-Woman (.a.k.a. Jessica Drew)

WHAT BRIAN BENDIS SAYS: “The spy without a home. Ex-Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., ex-Agent of Hydra… this is the only place she can go, and she is one of those who feels someone was pulling her strings through out this entire year. She also has an unrevealed relationship with Nick Fury, who is still underground. And what his connection to all this is will be revealed this year.

“She also has a monthly series coming that Alex [Maleev] and I will be doing in the future. Everything that’s going to happen to her in New Avengers will set that up. It’s a new direction for the character that needs set-up. She’s going to find her true calling, let’s say.

"People's interest in her over the last year has been amazing. I had interest in her but that doesn't mean it would translate, but it did in a big way. And every artist that has drawn her has really gone all out. The [Marc] Silvestri pages in the Civil War: The Initiative special with her in it are so cool."

[click on the image to open a larger version]

Q: Is Civil War what happened to the ongoing series? At one time did you, Alex, and Marvel expect the series to launch sooner than it ultimately will?

“At one time that idea was to launch before Civil War and then during Civil War. New Avengers #23 was at one time kind of the pilot episode for her book.

“But a series like this needs a very unique place in the marketplace. It has to serve a purpose that no other book at Marvel is serving, and we found it ... we definitely have it. And then we were going to launch right after Civil War, but then we thought you know what, it’s not a post-Civil War story and I don’t want it to be misconstrued as that. Because there are other books that are, but this is not what this is. So we’ve come up with a really excellent agenda for the character, but it needs a few months to set-up. Were going to do that in New Avengers, and then we’ll be ready to go with the ongoing.

"But it is on … it is happening ...it’s a lock. She's a character with unlimited storytelling possibilities."

Another NEW member joins the New Avengers in Day 6 of our 8-part roster reveals Wednesday...

Meet the [new] New Avengers: Day 4 – Wolverine

Meet the [new] New Avengers: Day 3 – Doctor Strange

Meet the [new] New Avengers: Day 2 – Ronin

Meet the [new] New Avengers: Day 1 – Echo

syxxpakk · 01-16-2007, 05:40 PM

So far no real Avengers.

Gear · 01-16-2007, 05:40 PM

Who is Jessica punching? Black Panther?

Jeff

Mercury · 01-16-2007, 05:40 PM

Why wasn't The Secret Defenders more of a hit again?

Tayman227 · 01-16-2007, 05:40 PM

I like this team so far, good choice Bendis.

KSChris · 01-16-2007, 05:41 PM

So..

Wolverine, Doctor Strange, Ronin, Echo, Spider Woman...I'm assuming Cap will be apart of this team as well.. at least he better be. Although it'd be pretty awesome of Clint turned out to be the leader, and Cap was left off..

Batwing · 01-16-2007, 05:41 PM

I don't have a problem with Jessica staying on NA, but this team as a whole is yawn inducing so far. Let's hope the stories more than make up for it.

KSChris · 01-16-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gear

Who is Jessica punching? Black Panther?

Jeff

Looks like Gargoyle.

Equinox · 01-16-2007, 05:41 PM

So far I've been okay with the choices made; Spider-Woman feels, uh, "uninspired" as a choice. Meh.

But hey, Spider-Woman in NA, Arachne in Omega Flight...it's like the year of the Spider-Women.

gvbaseball · 01-16-2007, 05:42 PM

I knew it was going to be her! Tomorrow is Luke Cage and then Iron Fist

BryanS7 · 01-16-2007, 05:42 PM

Not too surprising, but glad to get the status of Jessica's solo series. Thought it was dead for awhile.

So as for the new character, I'm going to say... Iron Fist. Someone mentioned him before, and it seemed like a good fit to me.

Punchy · 01-16-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syxxpakk

So far no real Avengers.

Both Wolverine and Spider-Woman have been Avengers for about 20 or so issues.

aeast317 · 01-16-2007, 05:43 PM

big suprise.

Eoghann · 01-16-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syxxpakk

So far no real Avengers.

Because only characters introduced within the first 30 years of any title's run can possibly be "real" team members.

Is there any chance we can have an Avengers thread where people don't make this inane comment?

Edited to add the more interesting comment that Spider-Woman's outfit isn't so much skin tight but painted on in that picture. Not that I'm complaining mind you. I may have been imprinted by reading some Spider-Woman stories during my "formative" years.

Rogersboy · 01-16-2007, 05:43 PM

Meh, next.

Biyu · 01-16-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syxxpakk

So far no classic Avengers.

Fixed it for you.

Lord Retail · 01-16-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gear

Who is Jessica punching? Black Panther?

Jeff

Its the Grey Gargoyle. Note the gloves, facial hair, and the bits of rock she's knocked off. Looks like Silvestri still has some of the ol' pepper too!

Dermie · 01-16-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gear

Who is Jessica punching? Black Panther?

Grey Gargoyle.

Dr Stranger · 01-16-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSChris

Looks like Gargoyle.

I take it you mean Grey Gargoyle, as it looks nothing like the former Defender named Gargoyle.

---- Edit ----

heh, three of us at once.

Layters · 01-16-2007, 05:45 PM

I like Spider Woman. In fact shes the only character I would by Marvel Knights uhm i mean New Avengers for.

But seriously quit with the double page splashes already, why would you need one for Jessica hitting Grey Gargoyle. Bendis' work is nuts its all pages full of heads and then double page splashes. Someone should tell him thats not the way that comics are generally written and for a reason too.

If Bendis can turn in the standard of work that he did on the New Avengers Annual then ill stick around. if we get the usual decompressed rubish that the latter part of his New Avengers run has been so far Im through with both Avengers books. Im pretty sure itll be hard to read one without the other.

bluebird · 01-16-2007, 05:45 PM

They shoulda started with the returning characters, and saved Echo, Ronin and Dr. Strange till the end. I assume they're the biggest surprise characters.

Ronin is Captain America. I'd bet a billion dollars. If I had two billion.

mymeridon · 01-16-2007, 05:45 PM

Methinks Spiderwoman is punching Grey Gargoyle....stony skin would bruise your knuckles you would think...

OK, where's Cap in this line-up? Or if Cap is out...who will lead this New Crew?

Howard the Duck?

ElijahSnowFan · 01-16-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syxxpakk

So far no real Avengers.

ha! no kidding!

it's an interesting lineup so far. i'm not a big fan of Spider-Woman's, but hell, that train left the station a long time ago, since Bendis is.

depending on who is in the Ronin suit, that could be a cool story. and by the Vishanti, i demand that Doctor Strange kick some ass in this book.

i was pulling the book before; really, there's no reason, i think, to stop now.

marvel dude · 01-16-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gear

Who is Jessica punching? Black Panther?

Jeff

Na, it looks to be the grey gargoyle.

KSChris · 01-16-2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryanS7

Not too surprising, but glad to get the status of Jessica's solo series. Thought it was dead for awhile.

So as for the new character, I'm going to say... Iron Fist. Someone mentioned him before, and it seemed like a good fit to me.

I doubt it. Iron Fist looks like he'll be off on his own in his own book. He needs to be more established as far as getting his book off the ground before they should think about him.