New Avengers #23
I just got down with New Avengers #23 and based on the pencils by Olivier Coipel, I’m going to have to subscribe to some more of this cats work. Coipel’s storytelling style is right on time due to his clever panel usage which gives a solid blockbuster feel to it. Warning: possible spoilers may be included in this review on Coipel’s Comics genius.
The splash pages are relevant, not overcooked, and the action sequences are reminiscent of BIG BLAM! action with a Leinil Yu vibe when he lays pencil to page. If you’re going to score this pull, check out the following pages for evidence of how strong and correct Olivier Coipel steps up:
Page(s)5-6: Jessica Drew comes with the thunder in this two page sequence. I’m not big on of Spider Woman by any Bahlactus stretch of the imagination, but this sequence crafted by Coipel made me reconsider my vote.
Page13: Say WHAT? Hydra onboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier (the point being they were handlin’ their business). I’ve always thought that Hydra were rank amateur villains with the “Hail HYDRA!” team motto, but, in the last panel of this page when the lead HYDRA operative lays it down, I almost say Amen.
Page(s)18-19: When you have two pages worth of straight dialog you have to be a champion artist to not lose the audience attention span. What I like about Coipel the most is the way he plays the page with character emotion and expression. Without reading a word you get a sense that Jessica Drews mental wheels are turning and near the end of the second page it’s clear she has made her resolve.
Page20: This page took me from 0 to 60 in a heartbeat. Even though it’s clear something was about to go down, you don’t expect this ultraviolent scenario to play out like it does. That is all Olivier Coipel right there! It isn’t over the top and you feel for the man who catches a case from Spider Woman.
New Avengers #23 was a pretty good artistic follow-up to the previous issue on Luke Cage drawn by Leinil Yu. I’d love to see both of these cats on the regular for this title (Leinil Yu in fact takes over New Avengers when issue #27 blazes the scene in Marvels post “Civil War” era. If you get down with this latest Coipel issue, be sure to pick up his run on House of M at your local shop. It’s a hot story and Olivier Coipels art is fire.
Bahlactus has spoken.
September 5th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
Hey, Clarence!
OK, man, I like your review; its not too “street”. Its got enough current slang/speak throughout that it seems hip and fresh and would make the reading of it enjoyable. But, really, what do I know about fresh and “street”? Take my opinion for what its worth. Heh.
Its a pretty cool breakdown of the issue and I think you’re spot-on with your assessment of Coipel’s work in the book. I am on record in the shop as not being the greatest supporter of his work in the past but I can see that he’s growing as an artist/storyteller and I gots to give him his props for that.
I really liked page 3 that opens with Nick Fury through the key-hole. Its distorted so its as if you’re looking through the peephole and there’s Jessica Drew in the opposite top corner, awaiting the possibility of a trap. This heightens a sense of tension and is really just very inventive panel layout. Well done.
I also really like the two-page spread you mentioned on pages 5 and 6. This is very evocative of Neal Adams’ design work and Coipel did an admirable job here.
The whole issue is very cinematic in its approach and worked well here. I feel that Marvel does this rather well but tends to overdo it, especially on Bendis-written books. He claims to write for his artist, but I ain’t totally sold on what he’s peddling.
All in all, I think this is a solid issue. I ain’t loving it but the Civil War issues - with their guest artists - are a lot better and I’m enjoying them more. Coipel has come a ways since his beginnings at DC and Legion Of Super-Heroes. If he continues along this line, I look forward to his future work.
Be well.
September 7th, 2006 at 12:48 am
Bahlactus,
Haven’t I been trying for ages to push you on Coipel’s Avengers work (pre Disassembled)? Red Zone is an excellent trade, where the Avengers get stuck trying to race against a chemical death cloud over Mt. Rushmore. Not a whole lot of punching, but there’s plenty of political intrigue, second guesses and twists, and on top of that Falcon and Black Panther end up taking center stage half the time! I can’t even tell you the best parts (spoilers!) so you’ll have to read it for yourself. Consider it in your box tomorrow.
September 11th, 2006 at 10:21 pm
I love oliver’s art. Towards the end of House of M, he was the one bringing me back to finish off the series.
September 12th, 2006 at 9:15 am
Max, Oliviers style is definitely one to take notice of. I’m interested to see other books he’ll get down with in the future. I’m reading his run in Avengers “Earths Mightiest Heroes - Red Zone” which is a solid display of his work. Get down with that if you haven’t already.