Comic Info
Comic Name: Siege
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Olivier Coipel
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2010
Siege #1 Variant
Reprints Siege: The Cabal #1, Siege #1-4, and Avengers: Free Comic Book Day 2009 (May 2009-July 2010). At Loki’s behest, Norman Osborn decides something must be done about Asgard’s appearance on Earth in Oklahoma. His solution: an all out attack on the Asgardians! Osborn’s attack divides the heroes and leaves them in an all out battle. With the Sentry becoming more and more unhinged, can Asgard be saved or will the Sentry destroy the world?
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Siege is a Marvel Comics event series and the conclusion to the Dark Reign storyline which followed Secret Invasion. The series featured art by Olivier Coipel.
Siege was the attempt to “right” the Marvel Universe that had been divided for years due to the Civil War. It was a big seller, but in my opinion (like many of Brian Michael Bendis’ Avengers storylines) was a big mess.
I’m glad that the story take steps to rectify the divided Marvel Universe because it isn’t fun. The arguing heroes and “I’ll let them go…this time” mentally set up by New Avengers and Mighty Avengers was getting really old. Bendis does a fantastic job with Powers and the original Alias but his regular Avengers title is lacking. There doesn’t seem to be much cohesion in the stories.
Siege #2
The biggest mistake “fixed” by Siege was the problem of the Sentry. The original Sentry limited series was great. It was interesting, and a nice self-contained story. When it was revealed that he was entering the Avengers it made for interesting ideas, but it was handled poorly. The character is just too powerful and the whole Void/Sentry thing became even more confusing (especially when Jenkins’ second Sentry limited series is figured in). The character just couldn’t be written, and Bendis shouldn’t have try.
The art is Siege is better than the art of the previous Secret Invasion and that also is a plus. The characters look more “real” but still maintain a cartoony feel. Unfortunately there is a lot of maps, interview, etc. that doesn’t lend itself to artists (and adds to the dull individual issue presentation).
Siege is a bit better than Civil War and Secret Invasion, but it is also shorter. None of the series are great, but it does put Marvel Comics on a better path to the future. I wish however they would quit letting Brian Michael Bendis lead the direction of the series when many of his ideas have been questionable. It is time for another writer/artist team to take the reigns of the Avengers series.
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