One of the most anticipated books of the Marvel NOW! line. Fearless Defenders has arrived, but does it live up to the hype. Well that is what we are here to find out.

Here is the summary from Marvel:

NEW TEAM! NEW VILLAINS! NEW CREATORS! Valkyrie and Misty Knight are the Fearless Defenders and not since Power Man and Iron Fist has an unlikely duo kicked this much—well, you know. Writer Cullen Bunn (Venom, Sixth Gun, The Fearless) and new-to-Marvel artist Will Sliney (MacGyver, Star Wars) bring you the book everyone is going to be talking about on Thursday morning.

The souls of dead Viking warriors have risen, and they are PISSED (aren’t they always?). Valkyrie, the blonde, ass kicking, Asgardian shepard of souls and Misty Knight, the afro toting, gun wielding, bionic arm sporting hero for hire have joined forces to stop this new and weird threat. The “DoomMaidens” are coming, but will they be able to stop them?

Venom scribe, Cullen Bunn lends his pen to this Charlies Angels-esque of might and magic; and for the most part does a pretty good job of setting up a pretty decent 1st issue. Both Misty and Brunnhilde get a good share of panel time (more Misty than Valkyrie though), and the threat they are facing seems legitimate enough to warrant a team up. Misty’s snarky “do it for the money attitude” and Valkyire’s no nonsense ass kickery compliment each other rather well which leads to some pretty good exchanges of dialogue.

Newest Marvel artist Will Silney does a pretty decnt job on the artwork portion of the story. There are a few hiccups here and there but nothing too distracting. The action scenes are well drawn as he perfectly illustrates both Misty’s introductory scene (in which she beats up some thugs on a boat) and the scenes where her and Valkyrie 1st team up are drawn really well. The fights have a nice flow to them, with Misty’s stealthy sleak martial arts and Valkyries brutal all out offense.

Fearless Defenders #1 shows that the book certainly has promise and shows that Bunn is willing to take chances, but doesn’t overexert himself. The characters introduced and are likeable; the story is drenched is mystery, and the fight scenes are exciting. Fearless Defenders is definitely a book to watch out for, and adds to the list of other good Marvel titles with female leads (The others being Captain Marvel and the current Journey Into Mystery).

3.5/5