Avengers: The Initiative #5 Review

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #5
Written by Dan Slott
Art by Stefano Caselli

Another great issue by Slott and Caselli. This book has successfully avoided being bogged down by mandatory WWH tie-ins and actually manages to use the event to further its own storylines at the same time.

Last issue had several Initiative members break rank and head off to help fight the Hulk. This issue reveals they were captured and taken to Madison Square Gardens, where the Hulk is keeping his prisoners. Gyrich does not want news of these Initiative members being put in danger without proper training nor the fact they are lead by a former New Warrior getting out to the press as it would spell the end of the Initiative program.

Therefore, they send the Shadow Initiative in to retrieve them, dead or alive. The team consists of Trauma, one of the best new characters of this book, the Scarlet Spiders, three unknown characters using Iron Spider-man costumes seen in previous issues, the Bengal, Constrictor and the mysterious Mutant Zero. This team manages to infiltrate the Gardens and free the Initiative members while the Hulk is busy battling the US Army in downtown New York, as seen in World War Hulk #3.

I really enjoyed this issue. Trauma and Cloud 9 get lots of attention this issue and we are treated to several clues about the identities of the Scarlet Spiders and Mutant Zero. The Spiders all appear to be military men. They are very disciplined and obey orders. I do not see them as former heroes or villains like other members, but it is still too early to tell. Mutant Zero apparently cannot be "activated" more than once per mission and there is no need for her to attend mission briefings for some reason. I have no idea who this mutant could be, but look forward to finding and seeing more on her.

Constrictor and Bengal reminded me of the old Thunderbolts days before Ellis took over when it was villains trying to be heroes, not villains being forced to work for the government. Constrictor is especially entertaining and I cannot wait to see more of the Shadow Initiative. Great to see everyone still terrified of Trauma as well, as the last time most of them saw him, a girl shot MVP in the head because of his powers.

Great issue all around and I, honestly, cannot find a single bad thing about this issue, a very rare thing considering it was a mandatory tie-in issue to a huge event. Those types of books are typically the worst of the lot. Probably the best Avengers book on the market today.

Verdict - Must Read

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