Young Avengers #10 Review

Young Avengers is at its best when it's nature as an ensemble book is thoroughly exploited. The team's outlandish assemblage of personalities, especially in series writer Kieron Gillen's hands, is where the magic really happens. Issue #10 isn't the strongest we've seen from Gillen et al, and that can likely be attributed to the book's slowed down pace and microscopic focus on single characters as opposed to a wider look at the team as a whole.

Previously, Billy and Teddy's relationship was on the rocks, due to Teddy's uncertainty about the veracity of his feelings for his estranged boyfriend. Young love is a minefield, and those mines become exponentially larger when super powers are thrown into the mix, and Gillen does a solid job of making the core love story feel relatable in spite of the rather fantastical complications. Teddy continues to struggle with his feelings for Billy, but Gillen seems to be setting him on the path to a reunion with the team -- if not with Wiccan.

In addition, we get to see more of what might be Loki's plan. The skeptical phrasing is necessary as Gillen has portrayed Loki as the slipperiest of slippery eels. We never quite know if we can trust the carefully considered words that tumble from Loki's mouth, as it should be considering he's a trickster god. Loki's segments are delivered with a whole lot of mostly one-sided talking as he lays (what might be) his plan at a captive Mother's feet.

As always, Jamie McKelvie and Mike Norton's art is vibrant and youthful, though they don't have the same opportunities for high-flying shenanigans as they've had in recent issues. Most successful are the scenes of Mother's otherworldly prison which are a clever play on the visual language of comics, while Matthew Wilson's vivid colors stand out in an impressive contrast to the unforgiving white of her cage.

While important events do occur in Young Avengers #10, the issue feels a bit like a bridge between #9 and whatever the team has in store for us in #11. The book is an elaborate setting of the stage, which doesn't make it the most exciting addition to the series, even if it does feel like a necessary one.

Melissa Grey is a lover of all things cats, comics, and outer space. She can be found on MyIGN at MelissaGrey or lurking on Twitter @meligrey.

Source : ign[dot]com