While reactions from within the comics industry seem largely favorable,
Jim Steranko was not impressed.
I totally agree with his take. The show really needed to be tougher and edgier, with a greater sense of danger.
Right now the tone is so cutesy and fun that it's hard to take
anything all that seriously. It just feels like too much of a lark.
I also agreed with nearly everything Steranko said. Back when I was really into comics, Steranko was "The Dude".
But what the hell is this supposed to mean,
“Did anyone feel punted into P.C.-ville by the Hooded Hero being black?"
Huh? just because a black actor played the Hooded Hero, this was a nod to political correctness? How about, Whedon, who doesn't appear to have racial hang-ups, simply thought August Wilson was the best actor available for the job? Since Wilson was the only black actor in the episode with a significant role, Steranko apparently would have preferred there be
no black actors in the episode.
I think Steranko just "punted" into Bull Connors' Birmingham, Alabama-ville.