New Avengers #11

November 2005

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: David Finch
Inker: Danny Miki
Colorist: Frank D'Amata
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Albert Dechesne
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada

Ronin Part 1

Synopsis: The story was told simultaneously between yesterday and today.

(Yesterday) Captain America met with Matt Murdock in Central Park. Cap told Murdock that Kenuichio Harada (The Silver Samurai) escaped The Raft and flew straight to Japan, presumably to take over as head of the Yashida Clan. Cap told him that he needed someone with experience with The Hand, Hydra and Harada to take out Harada before the power vacuum was filled and the criminal East became a major player once again. Murdock suggested Wolverine, but Cap wanted Daredevil.

(Today) Ronin infiltrated the Yashida base. (Yesterday) Murdock told Cap that there was no way he was getting Daredevil, the heat on his back was too much. (Today) Ronin saw The Silver Samurai regain his armor. (Yesterday) Murdock told Cap there was someone his equal he could use. (Today) Madame Hydra entered the Yashida scene and kissed Harada. (Yesterday) Meeting with a long, black haired person, Cap told him/her what needed to be done. (Today) Ronin was jumped by dozens of ninjas, who pursued him/her over the Japanese rooftops. Ronin made it back to the Japanese Stark Tower in time to tell the New Avengers what he/she saw. Suddenly, Ronin was taken down with throwing stars and arrows, leaving the New Avengers to face the ninjas.

Highlight: The developing relationship between Captain America and Matt Murdock.

Comments: This was great stuff! Fight scenes galore, which Bendis was incredibly good at crafting and Finch was incredibly good at drawing, two conversations that developed characters, developed the overarching New Avengers plot and were full of emotion and intrigue and some stunning pencils throughout.

The conversation between Cap and Murdock can not be called dull or a waste of space. It might take up 80% of the issues dialogue but contained so many vital pieces of information that were split into film-like scenes, that it became a pleasure to read. This last thing was almost the icing on the cake, as Bendis continued to use the “split-team” technique to move the story along, much like he did in issues #7 and #8. Bendis and conversation go hand in hand and, with the slight tension between Cap and Murdock seen in #3 continued. And with them both opening up their emotional defenses a touch more, this really was classic stuff. The little hints about S.H.I.E.L.D. and the continuity regarding the events of Daredevil and Wolverine all helped things rolling along the interesting path.

Finch might not excel at faces, necks and shoulders, but here he came up trumps! There was not a bad panel in this book, bringing the immense sense of detail and scope to the book that McNiven’s work sometimes lacked in previous issues, and knocking fight scenes, tremendously fast and fluid movements and expressive views all out of the park. The silent Ronin scenes were perfectly dark and the page in which the ninjas attacked Ronin as he/she flee'd was structured to produce a stunning, fast effect.

The cover was the best thing about this book. The pose, the use of the special inking/blurring effects and the stunning detail made this one of the best pin-up covers I have seen in ages. The best on this title by far.

The question of who Ronin was, is not that important to me. I found it simply not worth great discussion because this issue contained so much more than a few clues about an identity.