Ultimately, character development is a tricky thing, particularly in comics. After all, readers really WANT to see the same characters, no one wants to see Batman turn in his tights and go settle in the suburbs of Gotham or Thor turn in his Hammer to become a successful door to door vacuum-cleaner salesman (though come to think of it those MIGHT make for some pretty entertaining stories). No, just because a character remains relatively the same, that doesnt mean the writers cant challenge us. The trick is to show us MORE of the characters we already know and love, not to change them entirely (a lesson that damn J. Michael Straczynski might take to heart now that hes good and screwed up Spider-Man). Take Ed Brubakers recent run on Captain America, or even Peter Davids latest rendition of the Hulk. These are iconic, classic characters, and yet both Brubaker and David have been able to bring some substance to them beyond the icon status they already possess (Cap as a tortured and poss Read Full Review

Finally, I dont think Bendis is really writing this as a team book. Its just a collection of individuals hanging around. Maybe theyre not supposed to gel yet, but the original Defenders were more of a team than these guys. Read Full Review

Thank goodness the Sentry story is finally about to start, because theres far less damage this slipshod writer of continuity can do to someone who was only made up a few years ago rather than a few decades. Right? Wonder wholl be sacrificed to justify the next plot? Though I have a guess. Read Full Review