Fear Itself #2 Review

Fear Itself is big enough to cross over the entire Marvel universe so we decided it was big enough to cross over our two biggest Marvel reviewers; each will be giving their own review, combining their grades for an overall score.

Fear Itself #2

Geoff Arbuckle Writer, reviewer, Geek Life & editor

Whoa boy…  All hell’s breakin’ loose on Earth!  Hammers fall from deep space in seven different places across the globe.  Those who the hammers recognize as the “Worthy” are called to them.  So far, we see the Juggernaut, the Hulk, Titania, and Attuma get called into action.  As they tear through the cities (literally acting as the Serpent’s hammers of force), the Asgardians, now back in their original home in the sky, prepare to go to war.  Unfortunately, the war will be fought on Earth with every living being on the planet likely to be collateral damage.  Meanwhile, Steve Rogers watches everything from his S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ.  He scrambles teams of Avengers across the globe.  As he tries to assemble them to take on the Serpent’s main forces attacking Washington, D.C., he receives no response…

Now, THIS is what an event should feel like.  No real mystifying intrigue that is vague and incomplete.  No over wrought plot that is fizzling.  This is simply all out war.  The bad guy taking his anger out on the world, while the only force that is likely able to stop him preparing to heed the call to battle.  However, for the Asgardians to get into battle, the people of Earth will have no place to run and hide and will surely be exterminated.  It’s a very sticky situation and it makes for a very tense book.

Again, Fraction’s pacing is really paying off.  He’s good at knowing when to put his foot on the pedal and when to build exposition.  I could see this story playing out in a grand summer blockbuster, movie feel, but a good one (not those Michael Bay silly kind).  It flows and has a tempo and cadence that you can almost hear and feel as you read from panel to panel.  A lot of credit for that should also go to Stuart Immonen.  He’s giving us some solid and very “event-worthy” art.  His Blitzkrieg USA double page spread is gorgeous and literally made me gasp.  I am racking my brain trying to figure out how the heroes will gather together and save the day – especially with the Asgardians on their way!  Bring on #3!

Victor Kutsenok Writer, reviewer & Fantasy Battle Tournament

So let’s talk about the book. The seven hammers of the Worthy fall to Earth. One by one they are claimed. Newly risen avatars of fear now begin to cause havoc and destruction upon the Earth. Included among their number are the Juggernaut, Hulk, Titania, and what appears to be an Atlantean. (Probably Attuma) The Absorbing man is most likely one as well but his hammer needs to be found first. Two other hammers fall in Paris and New York. The FF investigate the NY one. Meanwhile, Odin prepares Asgard for war and chains his son to prevent him from interfering. As this is occurring, Sin/Skadi unleashes her human forces to decimate the United States as the Avengers prepare to respond to the crises. And that’s the book.

So let’s talk opinions. Now this is more like it. Now we get the event going in full swing. Every corner in the Marvel Universe is touched in this issue. (Except for the mutants, though) I like how with each revelation of a Worthy, the strength and power of the Serpent keeps getting more and more insurmountable in my eyes. Let’s face it, Hulk alone wiped out everyone in World War Hulk. (No Thor, though during that event.) I like how Fraction uses his incredible multitask storytelling to split your focus on all of the various characters involved, but keeps the underlying theme intact. He also makes sure that you are hooked on each different aspect of the tale. I, personally would like to see a full issue devoted to each individual Worthy and how the will be stopped. That, to me at least, is one of the main criteria of an “event”. Having lots of characters and subplots within the main tale. This definitely occurs here, as opposed to last issue, which mainly focused on Thor. If Fraction keeps this up, we should be in for a great ride. The art was lot better for me this issue as well. I git some nice, big splash images that I can already feel being burned into my mind. The splashes of the Worthy are awesome. The colors are bright and eye-opening. The scenes are laid out nicely with lots of details and backgrounds scattered within the panels. Every character is drawn well. The energy blasts and explosions and carnage look fantastic. I can’t wait to see Immonen’s fight scenes in future issues between the Avengers and the Worthy. They should be great. Overall, this issue was a vast improvement over the last one and it truly kicks this “event” into high gear. Now we need the identities of the other two Worthy and the stage will be set. My money is on the Thing and possibly Colossus for the last two. I knew Hulk would be one. It’s always more fun to have the Hulk as an enemy. It sets up bigger and better fights. Great stuff. Can’t wait to see what’s next. That’s my opinion folks. Take it or leave it.

Overall Score:

100%

All Fear Itself reviews:

Fear Itself: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 |

Fear Itself: The Home Front: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 |

Fear Itself: Spider-Man: #1 | #2 | #3 |

Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt: #1 | #2 | #3 |

Journey Into Mystery: #622 | #623 | #624 | #625 |

Invincible Iron Man: #503 | #504 | #505 | #506 |

Avengers: #13 | #14 | #15 |

New Avengers: #14 |

Secret Avengers: #13 | #14 | #15

Avengers Academy: #15 | #16 |

Thunderbolts: #159 | #160 |

Uncanny X-Men: #540 | #541 |

Hulk: #37 |

Iron Man 2.0: #7 | 

Fear Itself: Black Widow: #1 |

Fear Itself: Deadpool: #1 | #2 |

Fear Itself: Wolverine: #1 |

For more visit our Fear Itself tag @ acomicbookblog.com/tag/fear-itself

Tags: Avengers Comics Books Fear Itself Marvel Matt Fraction Stuart Immonen Thor