West Coast Avengers #2 Is The Definition Of Insanity

I wrote of the last issue that West Coast Avengers’ problems were mainly in one area and therefore it would hopefully be an easy fix. Unfortunately, this issue is more of the same. To quote Josh Lyman: “They forgot to bring the funny.” I have no issue with a scatter-shot approach to humor. Deadpool uses it all the time, hell, I use it all the time. You throw enough at a wall some of it will stick. But this is a book which is relentlessly trying and failing to be funny. At some point they need to go to plan B and either hire someone to make this series funny or focus significantly less on humor because currently, it’s not working.

The previous issue’s problems with action and drama also remain. America Chavez is still the only character who makes a literal impact. For me, she’s the strongest part of the book. I didn’t laugh reading this but I smiled three times, two of those were because of America, one was a nice line from Kate. This issue does a good job portraying the impotent rage of a powerful character.

On the few pages when the issue isn’t focused on dialogue, Stefano Caselli’s art is good. It’s nicely chaotic in the opening Tigra sequence. The character details are great from Kate’s indignant defensiveness to Gwenpool’s complete emotional transparency. Again though, America staring daggers into Kate is my personal favorite.

Triona Farrell’s coloring in the Tigra sequences is stunning and there are a few interesting paneling choices. The seemingly haphazard distribution of the panels is very appropriate to this story of a dysfunctional team.