As the Prelude to Infinity, the team set up was the best way to end it. Sure it was predictable as to who they were going to recruit in the end, but just the fact that they did shows progression. The one fear for this book had always been the pacing, but Hickman surely has proven that he is capable of handling this storyline which also managed to unravel itself as it was filled with mystery in the beginning. Read Full Review

"Avengers" may have been a bit of the black sheep for the Avengers family of titles, but this issue shows that it's now ready to be the series it was always meant to be. Read Full Review

This issue concludes with the words "End Prelude," and with what is established (and what is the final visual) at issue's end, it's a wild ending. I wouldn't go so far as to declare "nothing will be the same" or "world will be shattered," but this new roster has a ton of potential to go very, very right or very, very, very wrong (and I mean both in the best possible way) so I truly can't wait to see what this book has to offer next. This issue ties together several dangling plot threads while leaving enough touched upon, but unanswered, to make the upcoming weeks and months ones to very much anticipate, but as all good lead-ins do: it also stands remarkably well on its own. If you've been reading the Avengers since Marvel NOW's launch, you're already picking this up, but if you haven't, get ahold of some back issues and grab this one while you're at it because something big is coming and this is just the book to introduce you to it. Read Full Review

Another solid read that kicks off the next leg of this team book, opening the door to the larger event around the corner. Read Full Review

Essentially, "Avengers" #17 serves as the pep rally and fire-up dinner for the Avengers as "Infinity" draws nearer. After reading this comic book, I'm stoked for the continuation of the action and look forward to how this bigger Avengers team meshes. Hickman has made very deliberate choices in constructing his Avengers story to this point. The additions to the team made in this issue pay out dividends for seeds the writer spread in this series' first handful of issues. The final page of "Avengers" #17 declares "End Prelude," but the argument could be made this whole series has been a prelude to "Infinity" as Hickman, Spencer and company have prepared readers ready for the battle to come. Read Full Review

Avengers #17 is a solid end to the prelude to Infinity. Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer continue to do a fantastic job giving the Avengers a scope that spans the entire Marvel Universe. There is nothing that this team will not take on and seeing how they deal with their latest challenge by teaming up with Ex Nihlo, Abyss, Nightmask and Star Brand was fantastic. A.I.M continuing to plot their big plans in the shadows of this cosmic event has helped to add another layer to this series that we must keep our eyes on. Hopefully Hickman, Spencer and all those involved in the Infinity event are able to take this great build up and deliver a memorable Marvel event. Read Full Review

Anyway, things are about to get out of hand with the start of 'Infinity', so if these past few issues didn't do much for you, then at least we have the big event coming up. Read Full Review

This issue was pretty much just Hickman rushing to get all the final pieces in place before Infinity, and in doing so, he pretty much reveals why he created Ex Nihilo, Starbrand and the others in the first place. Read Full Review

Pieces being set up is to be expected in a prelude issue, but only if it also creates an upswing in momentum towards the big event. If I asked you what Infinity was about based solely on what you read in this series, you wouldn't have any real idea. That makes it hard to say this was a true prelude at all. Certainly not a successful one. Read Full Review

While there are some good ideas and some surprises thrown around, the lack of coherence in the art, the constant teasing and the lack of impact involving the 17 issues buildup make for a rather unsatisfying conclusion to the prelude toward the big event. Big setups and small payoffs don't adds up to a pleasant read. Read Full Review

It's been 17 issues, and Jonathan Hickman has finally expanded his roster of the Avengers... but considering how slowly this book has progressed, this feels more disappointing than fun. Read Full Review

The art is…like the rest of the series up to now. It's certainly not bad, but there's nothing really special about it. Sure, the group shots look good in the final pages and when Eden Fesi is teleporting guys away, that's cool looking. However, there's just nothing else to it. It works, but you aren't going to really remember anything standing out. Also, something else that I noticed. Look at the cover for this issue and then look at Ex Nihilo in the book itself… Read Full Review

A strangely abrupt ending, but Infinity is here.

Yawn