Loki: Agent of Asgard (2014) #1

Loki Agent of Asgard 1

I guess it’s been a while since I’ve read a new Marvel comic. I didn’t realize they’ve done everything possible to make the Avengers as much like the movie Avengers… down to this young hot Loki.

Writer Al Ewing makes references back to old Marvel comics and events and so on, but he’s really going for a crossover audience. He doesn’t do a bad job with it either. Loki: Agent of Asgard is fun and fast; it’s mischievous in how its amusing. Ewing knows all the right jokes to make.

But there’s only so much one can do with the story of an Asgardian secret agent who fights with the Avengers. He can fight with the Avengers and go to Asgard. There’s some witty comments about magic in here too, but there’s not a lot. It’s a fast food comic.

Lee Garbett’s art is okay. He’s not great at superheroes.

Loki: Agent of Asgard 1 (April 2014)

295085 20140205113031 large I guess it’s been a while since I’ve read a new Marvel comic. I didn’t realize they’ve done everything possible to make the Avengers as much like the movie Avengers… down to this young hot Loki.

Lee Garbett’s art is okay. He’s not great at superheroes.

B-

CREDITS

Trust Me; writer, Al Ewing; artist, Lee Garbett; colorist, Nolan Woodard; letterer, Clayton Cowles; editors, Jon Moisan, Lauren Sankovitch and Wil Moss; publisher, Marvel Comics.

Harbinger 8 (January 2013)

265253 20130310151739 large What a downer. Dysart opens with Harada mentally torturing a Harbinger he’s already exiled to a desert. Harada might be the comic’s biggest problem–he’s such an evil bastard, he’s not interesting. One could make the greater good argument, but there’s not enough material for it. Just sound-bytes.

Then, when Dysart gets to the renegades–Kris gets the biggest scene, her and Flamingo the stripper–they’re activating some poor kid with a physical disability. Dysart doesn’t spend a lot of time establishing the kid, just his daydreams. It means he gets to do a reveal, but it also means the issue is less effective.

The finale, with everyone in some kind of danger, comes after a big fight scene. It’s rather depressing, since the cast fights and fights yet still loses.

Realism’s unsatisfying.

Nice enough art from Lee Garbett. He’s occasionally loose but always competent.

It’s another good issue.

CREDITS

Writer, Joshua Dysart; artist, Lee Garbett; colorist, Mouse Baumann; letterer, Rob Steen; editors, Jody LeHeup and Warren Simons; publisher, Valiant Entertainment.

Harbinger 7 (December 2012)

888877 Barry Kitson on pencils makes for a better looking Harbinger overall, though inkers Lee Garbett and Khari Evans could’ve picked up the slack more when Kitson gets bored. He’s always got a rushed, unfinished feel to his faces in particular.

This issue features the renegades trying to recruit more Harbingers. Dysart splits the story between Harada at the open and then this new character–Flamingo–for the rest of the issue. Flamingo’s a stripper and has had a bad life up until Peter, Faith and Kris find her.

Oh, before I forget, it’s interesting how Dysart is positioning Kris against Harada–the two masterminds.

Back to the stripper. Dysart does a good job telling her history, though the ending seems off. Faith shows up and Faith’s so naive, it’s hard to determine if people are taking advantage of her. Good or bad.

So, besides the last couple pages… great issue.

CREDITS

Writer, Joshua Dysart; penciller, Barry Kitson; inkers, Lee Garbett and Khari Evans; colorists, Ian Hannin and Dan Brown; letterer, Rob Steen; editors, Jody LeHeup and Warren Simons; publisher, Valiant Entertainment.