General Information
Title: Mighty Avengers #13
Author: Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrator(s): Alex Maleev (artist) and Matt Hollingsworth (colours)
Cover Date: July 2008
Cover Price: $2.99 US, $3.05 Can
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Premise
In the wake of his discoveries last issue, Nick Fury decides to start recruiting help. His first recruit is Daisy Johnson, whom he worked with during the Secret War. Then she helps him find other recruits from a "caterpillar" file he kept, detailing individuals that may eventually blossom into butterflies.
High Point
Daisy meets with Nick Fury. I'm really starting to like this character.
Low Point
This issue introduces a raft of new characters, which doesn't leave room for much else. In the last instance, we even have one of Bendis' favourite tricks that bugs me: this person's source of power is known to the characters involved, but withheld from the reader to generate suspense that the characters don't feel.
The Scores
This is an original take on the Howling Commandos. The actual story structure feels like any other recruitment sequence we've seen, and it doesn't help that the bulk of the team are chosen for essentially the same reasons. I give it 4 out of 6.
The artwork is much like that of issue 12. Generally good, but the photoreferencing is a bit irritating. I give it 4 out of 6.
The story is minimal here, as the bulk is spent introducing a lot of new characters. I give it 4 out of 6.
The characterization is very strong. Most of these characters are characters we've never seen before, and Bendis does a very good job of letting their personalities come through in only three or four pages. I give it 6 out of 6.
The emotional response is good. There may not be much story, but the point of this issue is to introduce these characters, and it handles that aspect very well. I give it 6 out of 6.
The flow is smooth. The consistent structure does make it very easy to read. I give it 5 out of 6.
Overall, this is an issue intended to do one specific task, and it handles that task quite well. I give it 5 out of 6.
In total, Mighty Avengers #13 receives 34 out of 42.
