Avengers #8 Review

Firstly I am just going to start off by stating that I really can't believe that this series has reached issue 8 already. Just, wow. Companies are desperate to release number 1 issues in order to get new readers, then seems desperate to get as many issues out as possibly; which by their logic would mean less people would want to read them due to the high numbering. Oh well. The good thing about this series, regardless of being bombarded by issues, it is still a cracking series. Things really started to unfold in this issue, and some characters are starting to show their true colours.

Three quarters of this issue focused on the confrontation between the Starbrand and the Avengers. For whatever reason, mainly due to not reading solicits, I believed that this would all be pretty friendly experience. I really could not have been more wrong. A big battle soon erupted which helped to showcase some of the abilities Starbrand possesses; which look pretty awesome by the way.
We also saw some pretty awesome team work by Captain Marvel and Hulk; which also looked absolutely stunning. It was not just this scene that looked awesome, but the book as a whole looked amazing. The facial expressions were awesome, and I did find myself looking quite deeply into a lot of the panels.

The remaining quarter of this issue focused on Nightmask showing Starbrand exactly who he was and why he was here. I am going to be honest, some of this did go slightly over my head. I did understand it, but it did seem like quite a bit to take in. That is not a compliant by the way, I am just hoping that Hickman does not expect everyone to remember everything that they have read in future issues. If they keep up their impressive "previously" section then all should be just fine.
What was awesome about this scene was how it ended. Is Nightmask going to turn out to be baddie after all? It certainly looks like it at the minute. We also saw the reappearance of some of Hickman's newest bad guys on the last page too. I was starting to forget about them even though this is all linked to them in some way, so I am happy to see these guys back in the pages of the Avengers.

I know this series is not for everone; which is evident due to a lot of peoples opinions on the internet relating to it. However, I am still loving this series. I have a feeling some of the events may become lost on me in the future due to it bordering on being quite complicated, but I am enjoying the ride nevertheless. Unlike Morrisons' Action Comics run, which has thankfully come to an end, this is still fun. Not only that, it is keeping me completely engaged issue after issue. Yeah, I am a big fan of what is happening here, and I really can not recommend it enough. It is a series that is not afraid to make you think, which is something I am sure many people were not expecting from the Marvel NOW! Avengers series, but I think it is doing a great job at being itself.

Rating: 8.2 / 10

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Avengers #7 Review

As you guys who read my blog on a regular basis, you will know that I am a big fan of Hickmans' Avengers. However, I read reviews on this issue saying it may put people off due to how big a scale it is working on. I had visions of Morrisons' current run on Action Comics and I got very scared indeed. I was hoping that this would not be the issue that put me off the series, and it turns out that instead of putting me off, it has actually got me even more behind this book.

A lot of this issue was laying the foundations for what feels like an absolutely HUGE story. We were told about Superflows, which I have got my head around just about, as well as a Starbrand; who is the protector of Earth. Looking at this issue, not too much really happened, but it is the way Hickman explains everything for the readers that is really impressive. The issue never felt like he was stretching the plot out to fill one issue, which shows just how much he has nailed the pace of this series.

Hickman also has a great feel for every single character in this series, which is massively impressive considering just how many Avengers are involved in this title. Every character feels exactly how they should do, and I especially like this version of Stark. We see a lot more intelligent Stark who is less interested in his clever one liners, and more interested in working his ass off for the team.

I am still a bit unclear as to what the "White Event" is exactly, but I am enjoying the ride that this arc seems to be taking me on. The way everything is recapped at the start of each issue is also going to be of massive use for this series. Instead of doing it the standard Marvel way, this book includes full panels that have been in previous issues. It feels more like a recap at the start of a TV show than a comic book.
The next issue seems to be going into more detail about who exactly the Starbrand for Earth is. We saw who he was at the end of this particular issue, but I cant wait for Hickman to give us a more in depth look at this guy.

I imagine a lot of younger readers who picked up this series due to the film last summer will probably have dropped this by now. Hickman and Marvel have grown a pair of balls in taking the series in the direction that it is going in, and I sure hope comic book fans around the world are enjoying this as much I am.

Rating: 9 / 10


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Avengers #5 Review

This particular issue of the Avengers just focused on one of the lesser known characters named "Smasher". I had never heard of this character, as I have not been reading comics for a massive amount of time, and I ended up really enjoying this issue. That goes to show just how well Hickman is writing these origin stories. Last week we had the origin for Hyperion, which was an issue I really enjoyed too, and this week it feels like the quality of the series just keeps getting better.

Before this issue I really could not have cared less about the character named "Smasher". If you told me I would read a comic dedicated to her and enjoy it; I would definitely think that you were wrong. I loved the origin in this issue, and I also loved the supporting characters in her origin story such as her grandfather. He was only in this issue for a short amount of time but it was clear to see just how big an impact he had on her life. His personality also pretty much jumped off the page, which once again showed off Hickman's talent of getting you interested in a  character that you may have never heard of.

This issue also gave me a bit of a lesson on the structure of the Shi'aa imperial guard. This was a topic that once again I was not very familiar with, as well as also pretty uninterested in. After this issue, I felt like I had a bit more of a basic knowledge of the extended Marvel universe, as well as a genuine interest in what could happen next to them in their world.

One thing I liked about this issue, which is something I do not think we see enough of, is the way Izzy reacted when she got her new powers. She was not scared and full of questions. No, instead she just took off into space and started exploring. I know some people do not like this, and I have read some reviews that have this as a negative point, but it is this joy for life which I think made her so endearing to me in this issue.

I do not really want to spoil much with my review on this issue so I am just going to stop it right there. Hickman's run on the Avengers still looks like it is going to be epic. We have one more origin story next time around and then we are straight into the second team arc. These origin stories have been an absolute blast, and I am hoping we will see plenty more in the future after the next one.

Rating: 8.5 / 10

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Avengers #2 Review

This series is going to be epic. You can tell that already after reading the first two issues. Jonathan Hickman is building something here that should not be missed. It feels very refreshing compared to other Avenger related titles of late, and is something that I want to read more of instantly after putting an issue down.

In this issue the story goes backwards and forwards between the Avengers held captive on Mars and Captain America and Iron Man building an extended team to rescue them and defeat the new villains. This could have easily been two issues which may have been an easier way for Hickman to tell this story. However, he has gone for the harder route, but he has definitely conquered it. The way this issue flowed was terrific, and it still has that epic movie feel which I liked so much about issue one.

I really enjoyed hearing more from the new villains who are holding Earths mightiest heroes on Mars. Their plan to change earth for what they see as the better, to me anyway, is a very unique idea which I enjoyed hearing the back story for.
Also, seeing the team come together was also nice. It is something that has been done before obviously, but I really enjoyed some of the character moments on show which were quite humorous; which is in contrast to what this book is.

The art was once again outstanding, and may even be better than what was on show in the first issue. It is art which I was not too familiar with going into this series, but I keep finding myself spending some time looking at certain panels and just thinking: "Wow".

All in all this is once again another great issue which is just a small part of this epic scale world that Hickman is creating. I find myself looking forward to the next issue; which I am sure will be great due to what I believe may be a big battle between the extended team and these bad guys. I am sure the art will also flourish if the next issue is built in that way. If you are an Avengers fan then you really need to check this book out. One of the books of the week for sure.


Rating: 8.5 / 10