Credits

• Writer: Allen Heinberg
• Art: Jim Cheung

Side Kicks, part 2

Picking up right where last issue left off. Kate Bishop, the bridesmaid who was held hostage at her sister's wedding is confronted by her father. Mr. Bishop is a millionaire and is very mad at the Young Avengers for making the situation worse. Even though Kate keeps telling him they actually helped. Kate leaves the hospital and is confronted by Cassie Lang, the daughter of Ant-man who wants to join the Young Avengers.

Meanwhile, Jessica Jones, Captain America and Iron Man learn the partial origin of Iron Lad. He really is Kang, the Conqueror, or the teen-age boy who will one day became him. His story begins far into the 30th century. Where a classmate is bullying him, Kang strikes back at the bully, but before the bully can retaliate. Everything stops and Kang's future self appears. Giving him neural-kinetic armor, Kang shows his younger self his future and then reveals he wants his younger self to kill the bully before he dooms his life and his family. Angry, Kang attacks the conqueror, but is then sent through time. Trying to arrive in the past to have the Avengers help him before his future self can cause more damage. He arrives shortly after they team disassembled. His attempts to contact former members like Tony Stark, turn to be futile. With no other choice, Kang seeks out the destroyed Vision who is stored in Tony Stark's warehouse.

We then shift back to the present where Hulkling and Asgardian, being buddy buddy try to find Patriot. They soon find him on the hood of a car trying to take down some MGH drug dealers. After both taking some bullets and cuts, they defeat the drug dealers. Hulkling and Asgardian convince Patriot that now isn't the time to go solo. And if Kang, the Conqueror does show up, they won't be ready. They all need to be in this together.

A short time later, Cassie and Kate try to get into Avengers' Mansion to get Scott Lang's spare costume. Cassie intends to be the new Ant-girl. After getting inside, they come to the spot where Cassie's father was killed. Sadden; Kate tries to comfort her, before Patriot, Hulkling and Asgardian show up. Cassie explains who she is, but Patriot thinks she needs to go home. In a burst of anger, Cassie arm throws Patriot before getting more angry and growing 12 feet, shocking everyone, including herself. Guess we can call her Giant-girl now.

I think it's official; Allan Heinberg has hit this one out of the ballpark. The characterization with the main characters and reintroduction of Cassie Lang is so well done. They are refreshing and come off as real people, even Kate Bishop is given more back ground and her want to be on the Young Avengers.

With time travel stories and even alternate versions of the established characters. The first part of Iron Lad's origin doesn't come off confusing or forced at all given the history of Kang, the Conqueror. In fact you get more into why Kang even became who he was is really nice. There's more of a motivation surrounding the younger version not wanting to be his older self and the older one making sure he not only comes to pass but even better then before.

Jim Cheung continues his great work, making the characters look their age and the time spots are really nicely displayed. I also like to thank him for not making Cassie's growth scene to extreme. The partial ripping and stuff works well, I mean she's 15, granted there are male readers out there her age that probably wanted more. But old fan boys like myself in their late 20's who have little sisters that age don't want to see that. This way you get to see what has happened to Cassie with out it being the classic: "So, why did her clothes grow with her or shrink with her" cliche.

This book is really hitting it out early and there is plenty to go before this first story arc is over. I'm for one looking forward to it; hope you are enjoying it too.

--Ryan Read