Defenders #2

Ewing and Rodriguez give us equal parts weirdness, mixed with confusion, and a hodgepodge of characters that seem better off as loners. In other words, they nailed the Defenders. Going with the tried and trusted Marvel method that Stan and Jack perfected, this teams captured lightning in a bottle, and is giving us that old school Marvel magic that you can only find in the back issues. Read Full Review

From the grand sense of scale from Rodriguez's art to Ewing's characterizations of the growing cast, it feels like a proper followup to the legacy of Jack Kirby. Read Full Review

When you play with Kirby concepts, you need to bring it, and this issue does so in both art and story. It's really good. Read Full Review

Rodriguez delivers some blistering visuals throughout the issue. The style is perfect for this type of story as well as the characters and I was blown away by the imagery. Read Full Review

Defenders #2 delivers on all of the spectacle its debut promised with an assortment of wonderfully designed spreads featuring cosmic action enhanced by a panorama of powerful colors. Read Full Review

the green death

Sep 08, 2021

This reminds me of Ewing’s excellent and under-appreciated work on Ultimates, the scope is simply enormous and the action breathless. What gives this even extra spice is Rodriguez’s amazing, complex yet simple artwork. Been a big fan of his since Spider-Woman with Hopeless (another under-appreciated title) and I truly hope this series breaks him out as the A-list talent that he deserves to be seen as.

Nurdboy42

Sep 09, 2021

Pure, unrestrained Ewing is the BEST Ewing.

Simon DelMonte

Oct 03, 2021

Delightful Kirbyesque romp, though I am not sure why Betty is here. Love how Ewing writes the Surfer.

Psycamorean

Oct 03, 2021

Only Merlyn would be upset about a fake cosmos of a fake universe that, in canon existed before the fake cosmos of a fake universe we read, in which they celebrate the concept of pride, because of a religion that's somehow garnered respect, despite being just as fake as this comic. Almost like he's just a bigot or something. I like this issue, and I like how Ewing is diving back into the different cosmoses of the Marvel universe after his Ultimates run.

Merlyn

Sep 08, 2021

I have mixed feelings about this. It still has all the wrong signs of a bad Ewing book but on the other hand I appreciated that he keeps reminding us of his work with Galactus that Marvel threw away needlessly. I also liked Surfer's inner thoughts and the art. But everything else? Didn't really make a lot of sense and it's just cheap mumbo jumbo. Btw, pride is supposed to be a sin, a capital sin, so I wouldn't put it on the same level as love and joy, both being overwhelmingly positive emotions. I got that it was supposed to be pride as in "Pride" (it was not subtle with all the chromatic) but if we're going to dabble in the philosophical and esoteric, let's not reinvent history and religion.

CrazyforRAMU

Jan 11, 2022

"WOW!!" Am I ever NOT a "fan" of the way AL EWING chooses to "write" Taaia's DIALOGUE!!! It's way "too much" of a GIMMICK!!! *Sarcastic parody mode off* I really liked the Silver Surfer here. I just wish I didn't come away with the feeling that every other character was replaced with a cardboard standee, awaiting their turn as the Designated Three-Dimensional Characterâ„¢ in a future issue.

KesheR

Sep 14, 2021

Folks, let's be honest. This is a convoluted mess.