The return of an ex is never a good thing. But it’s even worse for a superhero. Your Major Spoilers review of West Coast Avengers #8 awaits!

WEST COAST AVENGERS #8

Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Gang Hyuk Lim
Colorist: Carlos Lao
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Alanna Smith
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 27, 2019

Previously in West Coast Avengers:Do exes ever come back for normal reasons?! (They do not.) Something foul is afoot in the City of Angels, and surprisingly, it’s not the newly formed Masters of Evil West Coast (OR that Dutch Oven guy). No, this reeks of the Hollywood Elite with a seriously gross tinge of “cult,” and it will take all of the West Coast Avengers working together – uncomfortable love triangles and personal problems be damned – in order to save the day. Sexy undercover mission, here we come!

SECRET UNDERCOVER MISSION

The arrival of Noh-Varr (aka Marvel Boy aka The Protector which is a terrible code name aka almost Captain Marvel) has stretched into an hours-long presentation of why he thinks that the mysterious Temple of the Shifting Sun is not only associated with Madame Masque, but full of evil Skrulls. The team’s response is bored disbelief until he mentions the abductions, leading to a hastily assembled infiltration mission. Hawkeye/Clint will infiltrate as a celebrity, while Noh-Varr, Hawkeye/Kate, America and Fuse present themselves as new recruits. Meanwhile, Kid Omega and Gwenpool will sneak into Madame Masque’s sanctuary to figure out if there’s a connection from that side. It actually goes remarkably well until Kate discovers that her team was immediately made and has been taken to the secret catacombs to be eaten… by VAMPIRES!

They are not Skrulls, bee tee dubs.

THE B-TEAM IS THE MOST FUN

The Quentin/Gwen team are adorable in this issue, especially when he is knocked out and she is forced to deliver swift and blinding violence upon their would-be assailants. Lim’s art is super-cute throughout the sequence and throughout the issue, from America bonding with her new girlfriend to Gwen training her new landshark baby to the game faces on display during the fighty-fighty. This is a book that has been awkward, odd and engaging from the beginning and Thompson’s script focuses on the lovely character moments and interactions that make this team fascinating. Quire is snotty, America is bold, Kate is snarky, and Clint remains a waaaay too old presence that somehow fits in perfectly with all the twenty-somethings. Add in the mystery of Kate’s no-longer-dead mother and the big shocking final page and it’s an entertaining issue from top to bottom.

BOTTOM LINE: THE PLAN IS BAD, THE BOOK IS GOOD

In 2019, it seems like no matter how good the story or the characters are, you’ll only get about 12 issues out of any title. West Coast Avengers #8 reminds me of why that’s a shame, with clever dialogue and character moments, excellent art and an underlying mystery that I’m truly wondering about, leading to a well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars overall. The real fun in a comic book like this is in the relationships, so having an engaging story just feels like icing on the cake.

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