Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Hank Johnson, Agent of Hydra #1

The Story:

Nick Fury scales a tower in the dark of night.  Gaining entry through an air vent, letting a screw drop.  Fury knocks two Hydra agents, killing one, leaving our hero Hank laying out saying "owwww."  Cut to Hank Johnson nursing his head with a bag of peas.  His family coming in not caring about his injury.  His wife caring even less and complaining that they don't have a nanny.

Jump to the funeral of the fallen Hydra agent.  MODOK singing Amazing Grace.  Hank's wife using this chance to ply him into getting a better position inside of Hydra.  Jumping to the child's school and and the fear of allergies also plague Hydra's school system.  Still the Johnson's do not require a nanny.

Apparently in the off time of committing crimes and punishing, SHIELD and Hydra play each other in little league.  Enter SHIELD agent Clay.  Following a mix-up over which child's birthday party the family attends.  Hank in invited to play off game of the Nets in between a session of "hail Hydra!"

Back inside Hydra Tower, Madame Hydra oozes innuendo onto a clueless Hank.  Halloween night and the Johnson family is dressing in various Avengers costumes.  Clay lets Hank know he can't attend an event with him.  Cutting to the hailing session and a brawl ensues as it's found out that Clay ditched Hank for the Net's tickets.

At an event hosted by Madame Hydra and a pinch Hank's wife finally relents and says he can move back down in his job.  As they leave the mansion, the Avengers show up to put an end to the party. Clay shows up to arrest and it assaulted in return for the ditching incident.  In the end Nick Fury breaks into Hydra Tower again and ends up killing the owner of the tickets and an hope Hank had of enjoying a game court-side.

The Review:

Very slice of life.  Perfect timing and scripting.  The art is a nice flat looking style.  Written by David Mandel and art by Michael Walsh, color by Matthew Wilson.  It's quite interesting to see that the faceless minions of an evil group are normal people.  Not only is Hank beaten and not cared for in his professional life, but his personal life as well.  Quite down on his luck and when he can get a break there's something else there to make him uncomfortable.