Avengers Academy #3 [2010]

AVENGERS ACADEMY #3

Norman Osborn’s Avengers Initiative program has been dismantled and replaced by the Avengers Academy. It is run by a full staff consisting of former Avengers Hank Pym, Quicksilver, Tigra as well as former New Warriors Justice and Speedball. Each one has their own personal baggage that they need to address. However their past experiences would be able to guide the future Avengers cadets.

● Hank Pym suffered with multiple mental breakdowns and kicked off the Avengers

● Quicksilver has been a member of Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and the Avengers

● Tigra got her ass kicked with the Hood

● Justice accidently killed his father however paid his due

● Speedball was responsible for the disaster at Stamford that started Civil War

Each of the cadets was originally selected by the Avengers Initiative by Norman Osborn with each one having their own baggage much like the full staff at Avengers Academy. These young recruits found out that they didn’t have the potential to become heroes but rather had the risk of becoming villains.

● Finesse – Most talented on the team however most likely to be a sociopath

● Mettle – Crimson Colossus with the head of the Red Skull

● Hazmat – Produce her deadly substances however forever stuck within her suit

● Reptil – Most likely to be killed first

● Veil – Become various forms of gas however will eventually lose cohesion

● Striker – Powers similar to Electro and most powerful on the team

Their instructor sent a Doomsday robot build by Howard Stark to distract them during breakfast. They succeeded in defeating the robot and enter the combat simulator in the afternoon. Finesse tries to manipulate her through Hank Pym however he suggested watching a documentary of Quicksilver. She discovers his secret and manipulates him into teaching her everything Magneto has taught him within the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

Guest instructors invade the Avengers Academy starting with Iron Fist teaching hand-to-hand combat, Valkrie presents some feminist advice, and Luke Cage takes the kids on a tour of the Raft. Hazmat causes an electromagnetic pulse within the Raft so she, Veil, and Mettle could visit Norman Osborn.

This is an amazing series from the writing to the artwork. Writer Christos Gage and artist Mike McKone do an excellent job making readers love new characters. The relationships and the dynamics are a treat to read. Each of the characters is getting a chance to shine within the series. The scenes with Valkrie, Ghost, and Moonstone are hilarious because it was unexpected. Great issue and series from start to finish.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – 5 OUT OF 5