This week, Avengers Arena finished after eighteen issues and thirty danger filled days of Murderworld. There were new characters, fights, deaths, triumphs of the human spirit, and a whole lot of angry fans. Were their fears justified? Let’s take a look at the series as whole. NOTE: Given the nature of series, it is impossible to talk about it without going over the deaths. However, I will confine the spoilers to a single, well marked paragraph.
I will say this for the book, after a few issues it became the first comic I would read each Wednesday. Having previously been invested in these characters, I had to know if they lived or died. Similar to The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones. With death not only in the air, but literally the name of the game, it’s easy to get caught up worrying about your favorite characters. For me, these were X-23, Chase and Nico. I’m a big X-Men (especially X-Force) fan, and the first volume of Runaways is as close to comic perfection as we’ll get. There were times I loved it, and times I hated it. But I stuck it out and was ultimately glad I did. It ended up being a great read.
When I heard that Arena was the follow up to Avengers Academy, I was a bit mortified. I had just spent forty issues with these characters, and now the plan was to systematically kill them off? It sounded like a cheap cash in on Hunger Game mania. But after reading the series, and writer Hopeless’ very sincere letters and response to the mailbag, it’s evident there was a plan for the series. A plan many may not like, but a plan nonetheless.
Man, people were angry though. Your usual vitriolic fanboy hate taken to the next level. We’ve really got to reign this in, folks. We really do. But there were also people loving it just as much. I have to figure that a series that elicits this much of a vocal reaction on both sides of the fence probably did something right. Maybe not everything, but something.
One complaint I frequently saw on forums about the series is that the characters were poorly written. I didn’t get that vibe, though. First off, it’s a different writer than these characters had before. Different writers writer characters differently. Compound on that with trying to image what the strain of the environment would do to these characters. A special shoutout to Hopeless for Nico’s ‘Try not to die’ line in the final issue. Evidence that he did do his research.
Also praiseworthy is the art. Throughout the series, Kev Walker and the other artists have done an incredible job. Rather than make it dark and dreary (as one would think), the island was bright and vibrant with the colors of violence and despair. Even from the very first issue, the flash forward fight between X-23 and Hazmat (seen below) was colorful, with the oranges and greens creating a sharp contrast. This artistic momentum carried on until the end. Avengers Arena is a fantastic looking book.
Here’s where we come the the spoiler part. Highlight to read: Throughout the series, we had six deaths, seven including Nico, who was resurrected two issues (and two months) later. Mettle’s death in the first issue set the tone. Red Raven was killed in the second issue to add to the kill count? As a new character, no one knew anything about her. Subsequent deaths included Juston, Nara, Kid Briton, and Apex (in the final issue). Six out of the initial sixteen. Not what I would call a slaughter or boardwipe, but enough to maintain the feeling that anyone could die at any time. End spoilers.
That’s probably what the book did best: it maintained the feeling that anyone could die. Doesn’t matter fan favorite or new character. This is Murderworld, and people die in Murderworld. Not only do they die, but they also break. Friendships strain and alliances get forged and broken. It’s a harsh reality.
My recommendation? If after reading this review you’re intrigued (and you should be), pick up the series in trades. The first two are out now, with the final coming in January. By reading it in trade format, you won’t have to deal with the month long cliffhangers and pauses. Also, after finishing the series pick up All New X-Men 19 for one of the characters’ stories to continue, and look for Avengers Undercover next year for more of the survivors. I’ve got to say, as someone who’s been reading it monthly for the entire duration, it’s been something, quite a ride. Feels like I can finally exhale. And to the Graduating Murderworld Class of 2013, may the odds be ever in your favor.
