Young Avengers & Larger Than Life Storytelling

[redbrunja]

The post that I wrote up regarding Young Avengers (Sidekicks & Family Matters) was lost in the tragic computer demise of Christmas 2012, so I don’t think that I ever talked more specifically about that title.

One of the things that Young Avengers, as comics, illustrates for me, is the kinds of stories that I connect with. Surprising no one the smaller the stories are, the more I connect with them. (One of the many reasons why I love Hawkeye is that the story is so personal and low to the ground.)

So the strongest stuff in Young Avengers were things like the characters struggling with what/if to tell their parents, Cassie dealing with her mother and step-father's disapproval, etc. Like, I feel reasonably familiar with Eli, Kate*, and Cassie, and find their narratives very logical, but still have trouble telling Teddy, Billy, and Tommy apart. It’s a blur of fifteen different fake!parents and three different species and honestly, I kinda tuned out.

I still have not finished Children’s Crusade because it’s all this blah blah Scarlet Witch Magneto blah blah every Marvel character ever blah**. Plus, I don’t care about …Billy, so…

*I cannot stress how much I love everything about who Kate is and her character arc and emotional struggles. I love that she’s basically the Batman of the Young Avengers, that she’s the person without powers who throws herself into the fight, that she funds the team, that she’s a survivor of sexual assault and went to therapy and martial arts classes to process that – basically, Kate’s pretty great.





I'm randomly posting that panel here because I cannot get over how much I love Kate in this moment. 



**I say this as someone who loves Logan in the movies but goddamn, is he fucking everywhere with not emotional connection to the narrative. I was imagining story assignments at Marvel, it was like,

"Writer A, greenlight on your vanity project. Writer B, continue doing that long running series on relatively popular character. Writer C, you've got Wolverine."
Writer C: *anguished scream*

Because seriously, what is there to say about Wolverine that hasn't been said already and/or explicitly contradicted by some other title?

So, on to Young Avengers #1, which I really enjoyed. I like the art FAR better than the other Young Avengers comics that I’ve read. It did a great job of giving each character an establishing moment and set-up or at the very least, making us curious to learn more. (This is how I feel about Miss America, who I am totally reading as Hispanic, which is just an awesome choice.)



Kate, kudos on your choice of one-night-stands, those are some *lickable* abs.

I liked kid!Loki’s line about never paying what he owes (SO DAMN TRUE). Billy’s decision to snatch up an alternate dimension mother for his boyfriend is a brilliant storytelling choice – such good intentions, it’s already going to hell. I have a sense that once I get to know Billy I am actually going to really dislike him (which I suspected from the promo image) but I am okay with that, especially since his bad choices are going to lead to plot. (Also, Billy, take the poster of Captain America’s crotch off your wall. CAPTAIN AMERICA COULD LITERALLY SHOW UP IN YOUR BEDROOM, JESUS, THINK HOW AWKWARD THAT COULD BE.)

Comments

[wolfgenes.livejournal.com]

i'm assuming you haven't checked it, but there was an issue that basically gave a bit of a prologue to the new titles -- admittedly, i only paid attention to the part about young avengers and ff -- and there was more of chavez and loki. just mentioning because you seemed interested in their banter :3 and and and and and and and please tell me you've read runaways or that you intend to read it at some point pls pls plsssss

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

but there was an issue that basically gave a bit of a prologue to the new titles -- admittedly, i only paid attention to the part about young avengers and ff

I read that and then ERASED it off of my computer and now cannot remember what title/number is was, so I cannot re-read Loki and Chavez interacting. Chavez telling the waitress she's good for the damages was wonderful. Seriously, give Loki a few years and they are going to be having ALL THE ANGRY SEX.

and and and and and and and please tell me you've read runaways or that you intend to read it at some point pls pls plsssss

I've read the first part. I stopped reading around the time Gert was killed off.

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

Yeah I have nothing but good things to say about this new issue and new series. Kate is so sex-positive and not portrayed as a slut in the least and totally unfazed by seventies girl bands and being in space, I think that Billy and Teddy had some good mature relationship moments where they discussed their problems; I like the introduction of Miss America (and yes, I agree, I think she's Hispanic) and can't wait to see more of her, and I think that the storyline with Teddy's alt-mom has a good deal of potential.

But frankly I am happy with anything that is characters and Young Avengers and a lot of Kate Bishop because I love Kate Bishop so much.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Kate Bishop is the best. I love all the things you mentioned and I just want to stress what a TIGHT NARRATIVE this issue has. The authors are not given a lot of pages and they managed to touch base with everyone.

[kerrykhat.livejournal.com]

America Chavez is hands down my new favorite. I just love her so much. I need a whole issue of her and Loki snarking. Kate was also pretty fabulous.

I want to know why Eli was off limits though.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I need a whole issue of her and Loki snarking.

I am really hoping we get that.

[mistaria.livejournal.com]

I just read Young Avengers #1 today! Very nice #1 issue. I don't think I'll be picking it up monthly but I'll definitely buy the trade editions. :] Kate's bits in the beginning were definitely my fav. And yum alien men!