Avengers Undercover #2

I’m not overly enthralled by the plot of Avengers Undercover, the slow burn idea of which one (or all of them) will break bad and snap is trite. What I love about Undercover is its characters and the world they find themselves in, Bagalia, a nation of criminals and super villains.

Structurally I love the conceit of The Hole, the night club in which issue 2 primarily takes place.

Arriving on a half cocked plan to rescue Bloodstone, the team discovers Bagalia isn’t all that it seemed. They aren’t treated as heroes meant to be instantly attacked but as celebrities. In the night club each member is slowly peeled away where they are allowed to let their hair down a bit, relax, and perhaps be a bit more honest about their identities than normal. “I’m a cold blooded weapons expert who hates people and periodically transforms into ten ton indestructible man-eating soul beast. I was always going to be a villain” Bloodstone informs Nico. In Bagalia, Bloodstone is around people like him who do not begrudge him his sadistic side. By appearances it’s a place of acceptance for the D-grade weirdos of the Marvel U.

Rebecca Ryker, Death Locket, is often treated more like a scientific curiosity than actual human being. The same happens in the club as a creepy scientist wants to take her back to the lab and tinker with her. It’s a dehumanizing interaction that she has grown far to accustomed to. That moment is quickly followed up by a guy she appeared to obliterate earlier, Elevator, buying her a taco and treating her like any other girl. The 5 frames in which Anachronism and Hazmat dance are full of a care free exuberance of people finally letting go just a little bit.

The actual plot of Avengers Undercover continues to not be the thing that makes me want to read more. It is the interactions between these broken characters as they try to deal with the truma of Murder World.

Some of the art by Timothy Green II doesn’t hit as well as others. Compare the previously mentioned 5 frames with the close up of Bloodstone as he finishes his little self realization speech. The part time man eating monster’s face is partially smug with satisfaction but isn’t all the way and that undercuts the moment. That said the coloring and overall light and earnest aesthetic of the book perfectly in keeping with the tone of this story so far.