The #Avengers are Going to the Academy ...

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Troy Robbins

Many years ago Charles Xavier created a school to teach mutants in the use of their powers and abilities.  His plan was to show non-mutants that those possessing the x-gene were not to be feared.  He hoped to prove that mutant abilities could be controlled through special training.

I’ve always wondered about the other super powered humans in the world?  What about Spider-Man, Darkhawk, Nova, Speedball and the Hulk?  Why are they expected to just know about their powers?  Where can they go to train and learn?

How about Camp Hammond and the Avengers Initiative?  The Initiative was designed to train super humans, mutants, aliens, and others, to become professional super heroes.  They would receive payment and insurance for services rendered like a police officer, paramedic, or a fire fighter would receive.

Without warning Norman Osborn, aka Green Goblin, aka Iron Patriot, took over.  He turned the Initiative into a training ground for super powered criminals willing to do his bidding.

Norman’s reign, as dark as it was, is coming to an end with a siege.  These events will give birth to a heroic age.

During this new age the Initiative will be shut down.  How will that effect super humans that need to be trained?

Despite budget cuts the Avengers have come up with a lesson plan for young super heroes.  Instead of gaining real world experience through trial and error like others have done, these new heroes will be taught at the Avengers Academy.

This June Hank Pym, aka Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket and Wasp, will take the position as educator for a new generation of super heroes.

Even though the books release is still a few months away, I thought I’d comment on what little information there is about the new series.

Pym is an unusual choice, in my opinion, to be a leader, let alone educator, to young super heroes.  The other Hank Pym, who was secretly a Skrull imposter, had this role at Camp Hammond, but that’s because he was an alien shape shifter plotting the takeover of Earth.  That doesn’t mean that this Hank Pym should take this position or would be right for the job.

Reptil’s been around for a while and is even a part of the Cartoon Network hit, Super Hero Squad.  His power comes from a crystalline medallion that he wears around his neck, (learn more about him at wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptil).

I’ve never been a big fan of Reptil.  But since he’s going to become a major player in this book he may grow on me.  Hey, who doesn’t like dinosaurs, am I right?

I’m trying to keep an open mind about the new characters, but the images, costumes, and codenames don’t look very promising.  But I won’t judge them too harshly.

Striker’s costume suggests that he can generate electricity.  Can he fly?  Does his electrical powers give him enhanced abilities of any kind?

Wearing a solid black costume with a white lightning bolt on it doesn’t appear too creative.  And is that a Harry Potter lightning bolt scar on his forehead?  I understand that he’s new and isn’t the hero that the Avengers are, but surely he can come up with a better looking costume than that.  Where’s the creativity?

The name.  Striker.  Why not something like Kilowatt or Living Lightning, Junior (lol)?

Striker’s appearance makes him a perfect candidate for the DC Universe, in fact, there was a guy named Striker Z in DC.  This Striker doesn’t look as cool as MVP, Komodo, Scarlet Spider and some of the other recruits from the Initiative program.  I have no hope for this character.  Marvel has lost its sense of reality with its characters and Striker looks like he fits the bill.  Seriously disappointing.

Veil.  WTF?  Her body unravels herself into, what, whips?  Can she stretch the ropes and swing around like Spider-Man?  Can she grab objects and throw them around the room like Dr. Octopus does with his tentacles?

WTF?  Her body unravels.  Does she eat?  Breathe?  Etc?

I’ve seen characters like this before comics and they never last.  I would really like to know what makes Marvel creators think she’ll be the one that succeeds.

With a name like Finesse, I guess she does things with a certain level of finesse that others don’t do.  That’s dumb.

Why not make her the new Mockingbird?  Knightress sounds dumb when said out loud, but when written in a comic book it looks awesome.

There’s nothing really special about her appearance, but that’s what makes her kind of interesting.  There are rumors that some of the Academy students have connections to other Avengers.  I’m curious to see if she’s secretly Mockingbird and Hawkeye’s daughter.  LOL.  Actually that’d be kind of cool.

Fortress looks like the Red Skull made out of metal.  Wait a minute; Image Comics is having a crossover called Image United.  Didn’t they recently introduce a character called Fortress?

First off, dumb name.  Second, WTF?

Is he some kind of Colossus, a metal morph with super strength and invulnerability?  Is he some kind of android like DC Comics Robotman?  Based on the way he looks I’d say that it’s safe to assume that he’s the strong guy of the group.

Again, he looks like a DC Comics character and not someone that would fit into the Marvel Universe.  I’m okay that characters are unusual with unusual backgrounds and identities, but what’s the point of creating a character that just doesn’t fit in the Marvel universe?  Fortress is just too DC for my book.

Hazmat is a girl who more than likely has uncontrollable powers and has to wear a special suit to control them.  I’m guessing of course.

Not a bad concept, if it’s true, but why such a dumb looking costume.  Why couldn’t it have been designed to look like something Night Thrasher or Iron Man would wear?

I may not be an artist, but even I could come up with a better design for these characters and it drives me insane that this is the best Marvel’s artists can achieve.

Anyway.

Marvel is creating a habit of hoping that fans will read a book just because it has the word Avengers on it because of the upcoming movie.  Who knows, maybe that’s true, but that doesn’t excuse the lack of creativity in the characters, their names, powers and costumes.

Like I said, I’m not judging the book too harshly.  These are just my initial thoughts based on what little has been revealed.  I’ll definitely be picking up the first issue.  I can’t wait to see what Marvel is going to do with these characters to keep me interested.