Credits

• Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
• Pencils: David Finch
• Inks: Danny Miki and Mark Morales
• Colors: Frank D'Armata
• Letters: Comicraft
• Editor: Axel Alonso

Quick Summary

In a flashback to “yesterday,” Steve Rogers and Matt Murdock, both in plainclothes, meet in New York City’s Central Park. During their conversation, Matt is impatient, as he believes that Steve is either stalling, or attempting to otherwise manipulate Matt into joining the New Avengers. Murdock shares the news that he is deeply in trouble with the U. S. government. But Steve is more concerned with finding the right person to infiltrate a branch of the Japanese underworld. Since he refuses to assume the task himself, Matt recommends another party, whom he says he trusts. Steve meets with the party Matt has recommended, who is only seen from behind.

In the present, a mysterious hooded figure in a black leather costume surprises and attacks several underworld groups in Tokyo. The figure, who is apparently ‘Ronin,’ sneaks into a temple and witnesses a group of men opening a small casket which contains the Silver Samurai armor. Madame Hydra joins them. ‘Ronin’ is ambushed from behind by dozens of ninjas, who overwhelm him.

Back in New York City, ‘Ronin’ climbs the Stark Tower until he reaches the new Avengers headquarters, which he enters by climbing over a balcony. Some members of the gathered team are surprised, and do not know who he is. Captain America asks him if he is hurt, while ‘Ronin’ repeats that the mission has been a failure. Suddenly ninjas attack with a variety of weapons, as ‘Ronin,’ who sustains additional injuries, collapses.

Commentary

Well, there’s not a lot that can be said about New Avengers # 11. This is Bendis’ weakest Avengers-related issue to date, not because it’s badly written, but because what is presented could have been condensed into 3-4 pages or less.

The issue features the kind of discrepancies that are becoming one of the hallmark of Bendis’ Avengers work. For example, Captain America tells Daredevil that forty-two criminals recently escaped from the Raft, and yet Captain America’s main concern, strangely enough, is infiltrating the Japanese criminal underworld—in Tokyo no less—to prevent the Silver Samurai from seizing control of it.

Oddly enough, Daredevil doesn’t seem to know anything abut the events which recently took place in Spider Man: Breakout, which certainly would have covered in the New York City and national media. That Daredevil was present at the Raft, as Matt Murdock, at the time of the crisis makes his lack of knowledge or diligent interest even more unbelievable, especially since one longtime Daredevil foe, Mr. Fear, was among those who recently raised havoc in Manhattan.

Another point bound to annoy longtime Avengers readers: on the last several pages, ‘Ronin’ appears to literally climbs up the Stark Tower and onto the headquarters’ balcony, where, just inside, our heroes are assembled. What kind of security does this represent? After the events of ‘Chaos’ and the earlier ‘Siege,’ has the team learned absolutely nothing?

However he arrived at the balcony, ‘Ronin’ might as well be Jack of Hearts fluttering down from the heavens to detonate, or the wayward Vision arriving in an AWOL quinjet. And ‘Ronin’ is followed by a small horde of ninjas, who were apparently climbing up the side of the building after him, or have likewise materialized out of thin air.

In fact, the issue doesn’t make clear how “Ronin” gets from Tokyo to Manhattan, especially after apparently being defeated in Japan. Is “Ronin” a teleporter, like the Silver Samurai?

However, ‘Ronin’ makes a good visual: ‘his’ physical appearance will probably remind longtime Avengers readers of the Black Knight, the Black Panther, and even the Black Widow. Of course, the identity and even the gender of the character remains a mystery for now, despite ‘Ronin’s’ apparently masculine physique. But, assuming the person Steve Rogers was talking to in an office is the same party as ‘Ronin,’ then the character appears to be, but may not be, a woman, since the hair is not just long and black, but appears to have a distinctly feminine cast to it.

Finch’s art is good throughout; but there are simply too many dialogue-free panels (62 or more) and simply not enough plot to justify an entire issue; in fact, issue 11 may be the ultimate Marvel 2-minute read.