I am really starting to hate Maria Hill. It’s a funny thing really because over in ‘Indestructible Hulk’, I like her just fine, but then I read an issue of ‘Secret Avengers’ and then it all changes.
When we last left the Marvel Universe’s newest black ops team, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Daisy Johnson had dispatched the team to assassinate the AIM Scientist Supreme on the sovereign island nation of Barbuda, which is AIM’s new stronghold. Taskmaster was already on the inside, but now Nick Fury, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Mockingbird, Iron Patriot, and the Hulk are all on the island looking to complete their mission, despite being slightly outgunned.
In this latest issue, while the Avengers are tied up in battle, Agent Hill is on a mission of her own from S.H.I.E.L.D. higher ups to overthrow Director Johnson. But by doing that, she’s pretty much sending the Secret Avengers up a creek without a paddle.
Hill has done some pretty despicable things in the past, but this issue might be the worst thing. Yes, it was probably wrong of Daisy to send in the team on an unsanctioned mission to assassinate a world leader (that happens to also be the head of known terrorist group), but when Maria took over again, she could’ve handled things much better.
While I do not condone Agent Hill’s actions, I do like seeing more of a team dynamic in this book as opposed to just Agents Fury, Barton, and Romanoff being sent on missions and being aided by Agent Coulson, who was missed in this issue. There’s a great split splash page featuring Hulk and Rhodey working together with the Iron Patriot drones. Those two really did some great damage to Graviton and the AIM minions, and it looked great thanks to Butch Guice, Steve Epting, and Brian Theis.
I’m also a fan of Maria and Daisy going head to head. They’re both stubborn women with their own way of doing things, so seeing them butt heads is pretty entertaining. The difference between them though is that ex-Director Johnson wouldn’t have let the ending of this book happen. She’s more of an all for one sort of team player whereas Hill just does what needs to be done no matter who’s affected by her decision. Both have merits to their methods, but just something about Hill’s smug demeanor makes me dislike her.
I’m not too huge on war and politics in my every day life, but those issues in the Marvel Universe are starting to interest me. Like I said in my last review of ‘Secret Avengers’, I haven’t really latched onto this series yet, but I think I’m starting to come around to it. Just not all the way yet.
Final Score:
SECRET AVENGERS #7
Written by Nick Spencer
Art by Butch Guice, Steve Epting, Brian Theis, Rick Magyar, & Matthew Wilson
Cover by Tomm Coker & Daniel Freedman
