The New Avengers, Vol. 12: Powerloss

The New Avengers (2004)

by Brian Michael Bendis, Stuart Immonen (Illustrator)

Ultimate Spider-Man artist Stuart Immonen rejoins series regular Brian Bendis for this all-new blockbuster Avengers story. One of the Hood's gang has found a way to power drain the New Avengers and it turns the tides of the Dark Reign in ways no one would have expected it. Plus, the new Sorcerer Supreme has a lot to learn, and they're going to learn it from...Spider-Man?

Collecting: The New Avengers 55-60

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

120 pages, Hardcover

First published February 17, 2010

About the author

A comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.

Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.

Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.

Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.

Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.

Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.

He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bargain find at the local thrift shop right between that Sidney Sheldon book I’ve been dying to read and a Romance with a cover depicting a Fabio and a cleavage-bearing heroine in a clinch, on a balcony. It’s somewhere tropical…

…and on the fifth day, darkness reigned down upon the Marvel world and Norman Osborn approved, smiling: “H.A.M.M.E.R.” it is time for some bashing.”



After a few consecutive missteps by our heroes in Marvel continuity, Osborn was put in charge, and to keep up public confidence he came up with his own psychos-in-heroes clothing faux Avengers.



The plot mechanism that ties this volume together is a machine that can de-power people with super-abilities. Used by the New Avengers against the Hood’s army of goons and seemingly destroyed; it was re-configured by this guy…



…who got his start via this old-time comic book advertisement…



…which is all the proof your mamma needed that comic books will rot your mind and turn you into a drooling, evil perv.

So the New Avengers get de-powered leaving Mockingbird all alone against the Wrecking Crew.



Go, Bobbi, Go!!!



During the fracas, a de-powered Luke Cage gets punched in the heart and he’s in big trouble.

Who’s going to step up and help out? Why Luke Cage’s friends?



Dawww and…




Elsewhere, the hot-babe version of Loki, proves that the Hood might not have a pair of balls but, now, he certainly has a nice collection of stones – the Stones of Norn, that is.



Bottom line: Dark Reign wasn’t everybody’s cuppa when it came to Marvel crossover events, but this one is penned by Bendis, so it’s worth a look. If you like a good Luke Cage/Jessica Jones and Baby Danielle story, I’d highly recommend this.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about unity, family, love, teamwork, and one man who everyone shows up for...Luke Cage. What Osborn's avengers will never be, is a family. This team is finally getting there, ragtag group and all...aww warm fuzzies.

Guest stars? Dr. strange and brother voodoo, hellcat, thing, daredevil, iron fist, misty knight, Valkyrie, and Hank Pym!


Wow.

It really is a wonderful life George Bailey!

(Also, the Pym does micro surgery is apparently old as time, Now at least 3 times over I see it...DD and Hulk were the others?

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great volume and wow thrill throughout!

It starts with Osborn making a deal with the remaining syndicate after the hood is gone and the Wrecking Crew and Dr Harrow are the front runners of it and we see their face off against the New Avengers and its amazing to see the drama and tension there and the team camaraderie on big display. And with Luke's life on the line the team may have to do something which they normally might not do, its Avengers vs Dark Avengers and Syndicate.

It was such a feel good story by the end showing the greatness of Luke and the extent the team goes to save him and great moments for the hood and then Spider-man and you can see him being more himself than ever in this environment. Plus the art by Immonen is so good and it reads so much better with it.

I also like how Bendis is giving a finale almost to most of these events and thats awesome. Plus whatever Osborne is up to next is gonna be interesting. Its a fun and worthy read.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the story, loved the art, and Spider-Man kept me giggling through the whole thing!

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is pretty good in this one. The Avengers are still on the run (it was a tough couple of years for some of them) and after getting depowered during a fight, Luke Cage goes into cardiac arrest and needs treatment from Osborn. Some guest stars, the usual Bendis wise cracks from Spidey and a few others and some really gorgeous art from Stuart Immonen. Like really, this book looks how a superhero team book should look

[˙⋆✮ Anny ✮⋆˙ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly enjoyed this volume. It had good action, some typical wtf moments (but by now I've learned to suspend my disbelief when it comes to comics) and I enjoy the ships and team dynamics.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerless (55-60). The latter part of Bendis' first New Avengers run concentrated on a romantic triangle: The New Avengers, Osborn's Dark Avengers, and The Hood's villain mob. This volume squares the triangle, bringing all of the groups together in a rollicking riot. There's a plot, about a power dampener and the effect it has on Luke, but that's mainly the excuse to bring Bendis' long-running storylines together, ready for the big finale. (Mind you, it's nonetheless a good, exciting and desperate story!) [4/5].

[Brian Poole · Rating 3 out of 5]

During The Hood’s extended absence, his gang made a deal with Osborn. The New Avengers debated Hawkeye’s desire to kill Osborn, with Spider-Man especially opposed to the idea. The villains lured the Avengers into action with a brazen attack in Times Square, during which they incapacitated them with a power dampener. Only Mockingbird was unaffected and managed to hold the villains off. Meanwhile, Loki guided The Hood and Madame Masque to the Asgardian Norn Stones as a new source of power. Mockingbird rescued her incapacitated teammates, but there was a problem for Luke, who went into cardiac arrest.

With his invulnerable skin preventing necessary treatment, Luke surrendered to Osborn, allowing his teammates to escape. Osborn had a medical team save Luke, then a varied band of heroes, all Luke’s friends, joined the Avengers to rescue him, though the explosive Osborn implanted in Luke’s heart was a big problem. In the aftermath, Osborn ordered the Avengers to be hunted down and killed.

This was another solid arc, with the team dealing with the consequences of past choices. The clash with the Dark Avengers worked as well here as it did anywhere, though at times “The Canonization of Luke Cage” got to be just a tad overblown. But Luke was probably as likeable here as he’d been in ages and having most of the heroes on the same side again was a relief after the Civil War/Initiative era. The debate over Hawkeye’s plan to kill Osborn was one of the more interesting “talky” sequences, though not bringing up how Hawkeye’s judgment of Mockingbird allowing her rapist to fall to his death years earlier had ended their marriage was a puzzling missed opportunity. Stuart Immonen came aboard for this stretch and did some nice work, splitting the difference between the cleaner, more classical style of Billy Tan and the moodier, shadow-drenched work of Leinil Yu. Overall, it was a decent way for New Avengers to end the decade, but will be most of interest to fans who’d already read the earlier collections.

A version of this review originally appeared on www.thunderalleybcp.com

[Jedhua · Rating 3 out of 5]

ABSOLUTE RATING: {3+/5 stars}

STANDARDIZED RATING: <3/5 stars>

For most of his run up until now, Bendis has been able to write four-star material. Now, and since the last arc, he loses a star. Sure there's lots of action and some fun, but at this point, I just can't wait for this to end. He's been including a lot of tedious action scenes involving the New Avengers, Hood's gang, and the Dark Avengers, but I can't help but feel that nothing important is really happening. There are now too many characters involved, meaning that Bendis cannot possibly focus on characterization with all this craziness in the background. The differences between characters is now so slight that any serious dramatic element the series initially had has been greatly reduced. And the dialogue is just driving me insane. I hope Siege will end things on a more positive note.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

The story is decently written and the artwork clean and easy to follow. This is pretty much an in-between volume - I wouldn't say a whole lot happens and I finished it in 30 minutes.

But you have to like a twist where the man with unbreakable skin develops a heart condition. How do doctors give him open heart surgery if they can't get to the heart? That is the plot of this particular volume and the New Avengers use old friends and a host of different powers to save their friend Luke Cage.

[Emmett Spain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upping this to 5-stars from 4 on second reading. It was just so bad-ass, with great twists and turns, fun fight scenes, and terrific art.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Marvel series. dark without being misanthropic or overly violent.

[Tym · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bendis’ writing is mediocre and his story decisions make little sense so I know it’s not a popular opinion but his Avengers run was meh

[Jan-Ives Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad news for the New Avengers- the bad guys have a power drainer. Doctor Harrow and Doctor Carr (who? who cares?) find a piece of damaged Stark tech, but if they can get it going again it means bad news for the good guys.

A meeting of the Avengers is interrupted by Chemistro attacking Times Square. The B-List baddie takes out the heroes easily because of his new Power Drainer. You might assume a Power Drainer has to be aimed but it doesn’t; it appears to affect the area. You might also think that the power drainer takes away powers but in a specific manner i.e. mutants or magic, but nope it takes away ALL powers. There is an effect that weakens the heroes in a “knock you unconscious” kind of way. All the heroes are own, leaving Mockingbird as their last chance. Why isn’t Mockingbird affected? Well, she doesn’t have powers. Wait. I thought you said that Ronin and Bucky Barnes as Captain America were there? They don’t have powers. Shouldn’t they be unaffected?

Also, Luke Cage is having a heart attack. We know because he keeps exclaiming, “My heart!” I expected him to follow with, “Elizabeth, I’m comin’!” #oldjokes

The battle rages between Mockingbird and Chemistro until the Wrecking Crew shows up. Note: Neither they nor Chemistro are affected, nor are the other dozen or so villains when they show up later. Then Sentry shows up to save the day, but he too is rendered powerless. Then the bad-Avengers show up and they too are knocked out. But just when all seems lost, one of the aforementioned doctors (I don’t care which one) makes a deal with Osborn to surrender. Bigger things are at work, but it doesn’t explain how the power drainer is so selective and works on people without powers and then does not. Maybe they can set it to specific signals like an internet router, but that isn't explained leaving the reader frustrated.

Then Mockingbird shows up with a Quinjet. The fights lasted long enough that she was able to run somewhere there was a Quinjet (I think their base) and fly it back. Have you been to New York City? That’s a half-hour at least if you take a cab or the subway. Running?

I mentioned in the previous Janotation that people say, “What the hell?” or a variable of that many times. It continues here. Brian Michael Bendis writes a lot of Marvel stories so he probably doesn’t have a lot of time to finetune his dialogue, but I think an editor would notice the repetition among different characters and put a note in his inbox. You might say, “Who cares about that, Jan? It’s just a comic book!” Well, it speaks to readability and a concern for your characters to give them individual methods of speaking. “What the hell?!” might sound like something people say, but it really isn’t. If it were on a show or a movie you would hear it and it would offend your ears.

Why am I still reading this series? I like Luke Cage and Iron Fist from way back and I like reading them as Avengers. The Civil War thing was interesting but it’s run out of steam. I like when a writer or artist stays on a run, the plot elements tend not to be forgotten as they do when someone new takes over with their own plot agenda, but this plot has gone on too long without a resolution.

But, since I’m trying to read 365 graphic novels this year, I’ll keep going til I run out of stuff to read.

by Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Stuart Immonen (artist)

[Fizzgig76 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reprints New Avengers (1) #55-60 (September 2009-February 2010). The Hood is having an issue with his powers, and without his leadership, his gang is going rogue. As the Hood takes a desperate measure with Loki to restore himself, Norman Osborn finds dealing with the Hood’s lackeys could have its advantages if he plays it right. The Hood’s gang gets control of a device capable of depowering superhumans, and the New Avengers could be in trouble…especially Luke Cage.

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, New Avengers Volume 12: Powerloss is a Marvel Comics superhero team book. Following New Avengers Volume 11: The Search for the Sorcerer Supreme, the collection features art by Stuart Immonen and was also collected as part of New Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: The Complete Collection—Volume 5.

I had fallen off of New Avengers by this point in its original run. I stuck with the series a long time, but Bendis seemed to be taking the story nowhere. Reading this volume of the series, I still have that argument…this collection is a lot of standing around and little action.

The story (and the cover) implies that it is primarily about the Hood and his quest to regain power. This is barely a side story. Though it has bigger implications, it isn’t much of a plotline. Instead, you have the supervillains playing hardball with Osborn (who they learn they are already working for) and it of course results in another generic battle with the New Avengers (like every storyline).

The other thrust of the story is Luke Cage suffering a heart injury. While this poses interesting problems with his diamond hard skin and the fact that the Avengers are on the run, it isn’t that different than the storyline that Bendis already wrote in the dull and plodding Secret War. There Cage was injured and special doctors had to come in to try to operate on him due to internal injuries…and it turned out about the same. It feels like really lazy writing. Even if Bendis had made it implicit that it was a result of the previous surgery, it still feels like it has been done before.

New Avengers really isn’t very good at this point, and I could argue it wasn’t very good before (but at least it had a few “ok” storylines with interesting characters). The series really feels it has run out of steam and the characters always just happy they survived at the end of the story and questioning what they are going to do next is getting old…New Avengers needs more direction. New Avengers 12: Powerloss is followed by New Avengers 13: Siege.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the reason I love the New Avengers so much. All lining up to sacrifice themselves, Mighty's would never.

But Bucky's just disgusted they're such slobs! Respect the loft!
Bucky shooting Ares in the face, surprising him Cap would use a gun is one of my new favorite tropes. Shame nobody jumped out of a plane with no way to flying/landing safe or we'd have a full house

Change of artist/inker is a shame. I miss the satisfying blue, it was life! (Except the Avenger's Assemble page - that was a perfect suit - liquid blues and super black blacks)
I volunteer to go back through all old marvel issues and recolor all the wrong colored eyes

Does Buck even have powers to be removed? Apparently enough to take him out... Hold up, Clint has powers? Ok google says its a mystery so let's just roll with it. Sentry lost all his muscle mass? But not Buck, or Clint? Or Luke! That man's like 90% muscle. Oh well, suspension of disbelief!

"I should call you Spider-man?"
"Could you?"
"Even though I'm an adult and you're an adult."

"Civil War Two: Civil War Reloaded."

"Luke Cage? I'm pretty sure he has a man crush on you."
(As does everyone, for good reason)
"You're, like, his hero. You know that."
"You'd be amazed how little I know about so many things."

"Yeah, that's right... Run like a bitch"

"Feels good, though. I get to be Captain America for the day."
(Woo, go Bobbi!)

"What would Steve Rogers do?"
(I swear nobody haunts the narrative like Steve)

"Do not let the last thing I see be that hair"

"A better man wouldn't enjoy this so damn much."
(Unfair Pete.)
"That was... very therapeutic."
(Top it all off with a shield save, noice)

"I'm really worried about Cage -- I've never seen a man so -- Where's my gun?"

"You guys think... I'm worried... About Osborn... My wife... Is going... To kill me."

"...'Sup?"
(Luke Cage is The Man)

"looky loo?"

"Well i coulda done without seeing the inside a'my own body"
"Weird. You have two men inside you"

"Avengers! Follow me."
"He didn't say assemble"
"You care?"
"I think I kinda do. Huh"

"Hey, I'm not just a pretty mask"

"Luke, you already earned this. This is because of who you are"

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of supervillains develop a device which cancels out superpowers and decide to use it to broker a deal with former villain turned leader of the officially-sanctioned Avengers, Norman Osborn. However, the rogue Avengers come between the two parties whilst trying to continue to fight the good fight and soon one of their number is captured by Obsorn and suffering from a life-threatening condition. Their teammates then have to call in additional help in order to stage a dramatic rescue.

Pretty much since 'Civil War', I've loved the idea of a team of renegade Avengers who refuse to bow to governmental pressures in order to keep doing what they feel is the right thing. More than that, the type of heroes who make up this team have always interested me; mostly being the smaller-scale characters like Spider-Man and Luke Cage, who don't fight for the big national/global/galactic picture but instead try to right each wrong as they encounter them. Realistically, they're hugely outmatched by Osborn, the Dark Avengers and HAMMER but they still refuse to give up.

On the run and with one of their number captured, this book highlights just how determined this team of Avengers is, not to mention their dedication to each other, even if they don't always see eye to eye. As a result I found this book a really enjoyable read, made all the better by the triumphant moment when the metaphorical cavalry arrives to help in the rescue attempt.

* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com/ *

[Sr. Lado Brillante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bendis al igual que Eric Clapton se vuelve conformista dependiendo de quién lo acompañe, y sube su calidad si su dibujante tiene la capacidad suficiente de resolver lo que se le ocurra y después de Alex Maalev, nadie reta mas a Bendis que Stuart Immonen.
La historia lidia de nuevo con The Hood, pero Immonen le da un elemento de frescura que hace disfrutable la historia, a pesar de que sepamos que vaya a pasar al final.
Después de esto hay un otro arco que sirve de tie in para Siege, que realmente no aporta nada a la historia de los New Avengers, pero regresarían con un nuevo volumen, con John Romita Jr y, adivinaron, The Hood.

[Judah Radd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best collection of Bendis’s New Avengers, hands down. It’s outstanding.

The Dark Avengers/New Avengers conflict has reaches critical mass. Norman Osborne is tightening his grip... but this New Avengers team is not gonna take his shit!

Some awesome showdowns, some sweat inducing tension, epic battles and some Oceans 11 style operating; It all makes for a great story. I’ve already read Siege, but now I cannot wait to read it again. The setup is perfect.

The art is on point. On a technical level, it’s really good... but the composition and sense of irony is really what makes it soar.

I can’t think of a single bad thing to say about this collection. It rocks.

[Terry Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bending very rarely disappoints.

What makes him so accomplished is that he handles multi-character series so.damn well. Everyone has a moment to shine, and each character feels like it has its own voice.

And his true strength is perfectly captured in this volume: take a moment in time, like a fight in Times Square, and stretch it out.

He finds beats in his stories that most merely gloss over. Except he stretches them out, examines them, and finds tidy little moments in each that make you smile to yourself.

No complaints here, folks. This is outstanding stuff.

[Kris Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regular readers of my blog know of my general disdain for all things written by Brian Michael Bendis, but I've got to tell you, this arc... this arc was not bad. I found myself actually enjoying it. These issues are crammed with far more dialogue than past issues, and while I don't particularly enjoy all of his 'witty' wise-ass banter, some if it works here. Some of it also simply his stylistic cue, so like certain things that, say, Chris Claremont does that drives me nuts and I overlook, I am also trying to do with Bendis. Again, I am not 'down' with the B, but this didn't suck, either.

[Kyle Berk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically Norman Osborn manages to catch the New Avengers in a power draining trap with the help of the hoods bad guys but Luke Cage has a bad reaction to it and the rest of it is trying to fix him. And a set up for Seige.

It’s alright, very fun to read. The art is inconsistent I’d say. Because it is.

All depends on whether or not you enjoy Bendis I’ll say again.

3 stars and 1 more volume.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collects New Avengers (2004) issues #55-60

In this collection one of the Hood's villains figures out a way to drain superpowers, and this leaves the New Avengers incapacitated. Osborn and his Dark Avengers get involved, and there are tons of cameos as other heroes join the fight.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot happening here, I read it mixed in with other Dark Reign comics so it's hard to remember what's what, but I like this dynamic of the "Avengers on the run" it's definitely a different feel and it has you rooting for them the whole time as they seem to be continuously losing ground.

[Judith Groen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this volume a lot! The art is fantastic, and really well written. I could really feel the tension between the two teams. Also loved the doctor Strange & Hank Pym shrinking down to save Luke! And that last page, it is really on now. Cant wait to read siege

[ila · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was only a matter of time before the group betrayed the Hood as soon as a better occasion came up, which in this case happens thanks to this Harrow guy and his power dampener. i really am curious to see the implications of the new deal between osborn and the criminals, now that they're going to be working for him

the power dampener plot in the first few issues wasn't handled very well: for example, why does it affect Luke so much worse than the others, to the point of sending him into cardiac arrest, instead of simply taking his powers away and slightly weakening him? and why does it even influence Clint in the first place if he doesn't have any super power? he should have been completely fine, just like Bobbi (who, by the way, was simply a m a z i n g here). too many plot conveniences for my liking, sorry

the story did have its good moments tho, especially in issue #58: the Dark Avengers chasing our heroes through the sewers was very nice and the satisfaction i felt when carol punched osborn in the face and told him she was better than him was SO satisfying; also, that page where Carol follows Jess and tries to calm her down and reassure her that they have a plan to rescue luke was incredibly touching
and i have to mention just how amazing it was to watch everyone come together in the final issues to help rescuing Luke

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm tired of this Dark Reign/HAMMER plotline now. I just want things to go back to normal and the New Avengers to be stopping crimes now doing them! It's been Event after Event after Event and I'd just like everything to have a breather.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't like this series and I know that's because of Bendis' writing but this volume wasn't the worst. Plus, the art is stellar.

[Gomezmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comic were totally unique.

[Derek Moreland · Rating 4 out of 5]

That Stuart Immonen art makes up for a lot of sins, man.