Review: Secret Avengers Vol. 1- Reverie

Quick Summary

Pros: The main storyline is a fun and exciting spy adventure. A few jokes here and there help make this adventure even more fun. The concept behind the series is interesting and the development done here helps build excitement for the next volume.

Cons: The connection to the Avengers is weak and a bit confusing.

Overall: The first volume in Secret Avengers shows immediate promise and is a solid start for the series as a whole. The story here is fun and interesting, especially for readers with a penchant for spy theatrics. Add a little humor and some tension into the mix, and the adventure is even more satisfying. Plus, the volume concludes with plenty of potential, giving hope for future volumes. Readers looking for a fun spy book set in the Marvel universe should consider checking this book out.

Story

Secret Avengers Vol. 1: Reverie, by Nick Spencer, is a fun and exciting book, as long as you know what you are getting into. Despite the fact that the series has the word “Avengers” in the title, this comic is really about S.H.I.E.L.D. It only features a couple of actual Avengers and most of them end up in supporting roles, rather than serving as the book’s main characters.

That being said, readers who recognize that this isn’t going to be a standard Avengers book are in for a good time. Reverie is host to several cool spy missions, complete with unique gadgets and the ever-present fear that the heroes are about to be captured. These serious missions are balanced out by some lighthearted humor, that works as a nice contrast. Then, the entire book closes with tons of potential still in play, ensuring that there are more fun stories to be told in the future of this series.

(spoilers start here)

The main focus in Reverie is on several adventures that would feel at home in any James Bond movie. The first is a standard infiltration mission that manages to be exciting while also introducing readers to this book’s concepts. It explains S.H.I.E.L.D.’s memory technology and casts a bit of doubt on the benevolence of the entire Secret Avengers system. Then, the adventures shift and the heroes are sent in on missions directly opposing A.I.M., who’s role in the world’s government gives the series a political twist. Along the way, there are flying cars and shoes that shoot fire, further entrenching this series in the spy genre.

It also helps that Nick Spencer writes this series with just a dash of humor to balance out the drama of espionage. The characters make jokes about the ridiculousness of their situations and a few of them even extend into some slight metacommentary about the Marvel universe. In a book where scientists commit suicide to protect their experiments and a government organization shoots its own employees, a bit of humor now and then helps break the tension.

In addition, Reverie closes with an exciting range of possibilities still on the table. A new S.H.I.E.L.D. director has just been appointed, A.I.M. has increased their power in the world, and the main characters are beginning to doubt their commitment to the mission. Meanwhile, Taskmaster has yet to do anything in his role as a double agent and the mysteries from the future have yet to be explored. All of this ensures readers that there is more to come from the Secret Avengers series and is why I’m excited to read the next volume.

(spoilers end here)

Art

The artwork in Reverie looks nice and works well with the story. Luke Ross presents a well-structured book where the action flows well from one panel to the next. Ross’ heavier inks also present a grim and gritty take on the characters, making a darker tone that feels perfect for a book about spies. This tone is further enhanced by a relatively dark color palette from Matthew Wilson. The only downsides are a few places where facial expressions come across as a little distorted. However, for the most part, the visuals in this book look nice and are a nice choice for this particular comic.

Continuity

Secret Avengers Vol. 1: Reverie is the first volume in the Secret Avengers Vol. 2 series.

The story here continues in Secret Avengers Vol. 2: Iliad.

This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:

• Hawkeye mentions Nick Fury’s role in the “Leviathan thing.” This is a reference to Battle Scars #1-6, collected in Battle Scars. 
  • During this series, Nick Fury and Taskmaster also met for the first time.
• The breakup of H.A.M.M.E.R., during the Siege event, is mentioned.
• Marvin Flumm’s attempt to take over S.H.I.E.L.D. is mentioned. This happened in Strange Tales #141, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Vol. 1.
• A conversation with Tony Stark in Secret Avengers #4 has the character nonchalantly reference many changes in his life. These include:
  • His decision to start “working long distance” which references his decision to explore space at the end of Iron Man #5, collected in Iron Man Vol. 1: Believe (Review).
  • His work with the “living embodiment of the universe” which references his work with Captain Universe in the Avengers series, which begins with Avengers Vol. 1: Avengers World (Review).
  • His secret association with a “few friends” which appears to be a reference to his work with the Illuminati, beginning in New Avengers Vol. 1: Everything Dies (Review).
• Hulk rejoined the Avengers in Avengers Assemble (Review).
• Rumors about Hulk’s involvement with S.H.I.E.L.D. are likely a reference to the Indestructible Hulk series, beginning with Indestructible Hulk Vol. 1- Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Review).
• Black Widow mentions the events of Secret War at one point.