Sometimes I feel as though I shouldn't get involved in any comic title, because it always seems as though when I really get into one, like I did with Fearless Defenders, it gets cancelled.

The stories themselves were just as great in this, if not better than in the first volume. There was some very interesting stuff between Annabelle and Valkrie, although I am sad that it wasn't so much romantic relationship, but just their non-romance relationship was super interesting during these issues.

As usual LeFay was there too, taking on the ever growing team and we meet a new Defender, Ren, and she was quite a different character and interesting.

Then there's the little Men's get together. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be funny or annoying, but I was happy that they managed to end those scenes pretty well.

Overall it was a really good TPB, and I really hope that we get to see Ren, Valkyrie, Annabelle and all the ladies in the rest of the Marvel Universe. ( )

I thought the first volume of the Fearless Defenders had potential, but that the execution was weak. This second volume hasn’t improved the situation and that is mainly the fault of the villain. Caroline le Fay is the daughter of Dr. Doom and Morgan le Fay. Sadly, she is not equal to either of those great characters (just like Sin was just a poor substitute/female clone of Red Skull).

When the resurrected insane Valkyries were defeated, Caroline assembled a team of female villains to be her new Doom Maidens. We've got an Enchantress clone, a female Sandman, and other wannabes. *yawn* Plus the story has a soap opera tone that just doesn’t work. Several male heroes, Iron Fist, Dr. Strange, Venom, etc. gather to try and convince the Fearless Defenders to disband, or at least allow the guys to help them. These guys proceed to complain about their relationship troubles with many of the Defenders while they await the ladies’ arrival. Perhaps the writers intended this to be humorous; instead it comes off as highly condescending – to the Defenders and to readers. And it was so out of character for Dr. Strange I half expected it to be a dream or something! But perhaps the worst part of this volume for me is the body-sharing of Annabelle and Valkyrie. I HATE that crap. I didn’t like it with Donald Blake and Thor, and I like it even less here as a story retread.

This volume hasn’t fulfilled any of the potential of the characters or the team, and I think that comes down to poor writing. I really want to like this team, so I’ll give this one more volume to give these heroines something worth fighting for. And the appearance of a real villain at the end of the volume is just enough to give me hope. ( )