U.S.Avengers #10 NM Secret Empire Red Hulk Squirrel Girl Al Ewing 1st print

Description

U.S. Avengers (2016 Marvel) #10
Secret Empire part Aftermath 7
Published Nov 2017 by Marvel
Written by Al Ewing
Art by Paco Diaz
Cover by Paco Medina

SECRET EMPIRE AFTERMATH!

In the aftermath of SECRET EMPIRE, A.I.M. elects a brand-new Supreme Leader – but Roberto Da Costa has one last mission for the U.S.Avengers. No one ever found Cannonball’s body – and we all know what that means… ‘The Search for Sam’ begins here!

28 pages, full color. Cover price $3.99.

After a corrupted Captain America led Hydra in a violent takeover of the United States, the U.S. Avengers teamed up with a group of European super=heroes to overthrow Hydra abroad and at home, and Toni Ho was able to restore Roberto’s Sunspot powers. But their victory wasn’t without consequences — General Maverick’s Red Hulk powers were hacked by Hydra spies and Cannonball was lost in space during the initial attack. Roberto believes Cannonball is dead, but the former New Mutant was actually scooped up by space slavers and shipped off to Glenbrook, U.S.A., an all-American small town…

…on another planet.

Roberto da Costa has been called into the office of the new Advisor for Superhuman Relations. Hearing that Cannonball is lost in action and presumed dead, he sniffs that it’s “a start”, which surprises Roberto. only to have Senator Krask explain that it’s time to reload the team with heavy hitters and heroes who are more sympathetic to the current administration’s cause. General Maverick, the previous Advisor, has been trapped in his Red Hulk form for weeks, and has begun the agonizing process of decompressing from Hulk size (which looks terrifying) and Kevin isn’t onboard with Squirrel Girl’s antics or the fact that Enigma is an immigrant. Before he can continue, though, Roberto begins texting on his watch, explaining that the government’s contract is with HIM, personally, and not with A.I.M. or the U.S. Avengers, and he has just quite A.I.M. As the advisor goggles in amazement, Roberto explains that he has transferred his fortune to A.I.M., that his powers are inactive and only A.I.M. can reactivate them, so the sole asset that is part of his contract is him, powerless, broke and unwilling to help. It’s a lovely Batman gambit from the former Sunspot, followed by the arrival of Avengers Smasher from space, with news: Cannonball is alive!

Ewing’s take on the Avengers has been the freshest and most entertaining of Marvel’s books for several years now, but U.S. Avengers and this issue take it all to a new level. From Roberto calling the government’s bluff to the changes in Toni Ho and Robert Maverick’s status quo (reminding me of the old days of Marvel when Stan would shake things up every few issues) to the preparation for Smasher and Sunspot to go find their husband and friend, it’s all solid as a rock, with wonderful dialogue and tight plotting. Paco Medina’s take on the team balances the cute and energetic with incredible facial expressions and lovely blocking, making Roberto’s conversation with as visually exciting as a fist fight. Add in Senator Krask’s immediate smacking down, and you’ve got an extremely satisfying comic book reading experience.

As the issue began, I was worried that we were going to see the U.S. Avengers fall prey to the “corrupt government jerk” storyline, but was pleasantly surprised to see the whole thing zig-zagged with some clever thinking on the part of the former Sunspot. (I’m really sick of that, especially post Secret Empire, and am happy to see some upbeat and more positive stories in the spy/secret agency vein.) U.S. Avengers #10 keeps up this book’s level of quality, makes me hope that we’re going to see the team expand a bit, and prepares for what could be a big old-school “superheroes in space” arc.

7-5960608625201011

Bagged and boarded, near mint condition. 1st printing. More pictures may be in description.