Despite its powerful resemblance to a Superman origin story, Al Ewing and Dale Keown manage to create an original and captivating solo adventure for Hyperion that serves as a nice breather before the 'Time Runs Out' event that begins later this month. Read Full Review

While Avengers #34.1 has nothing whatsoever to do with Hickmans current Avengers storyline (which explains the numbering of the issue, I believe), its still a very enjoyable issue thats definitely worth reading. Read Full Review

The story and art of Avengers #34.1 is fantastic. It is very deep and character driven stuff, which has been lacking from the Avengers as a whole lately. Now if only it didn't cost five bucks" Read Full Review

I was shocked to discover that this issue was illustrated by Dale Keown, who a darling of the comics industry in the early 1990s with his work on Incredible Hulk from Marvel and Pitt from Image Comics. Now, while I was never a real devotee to his work, it was clear his exaggerated and bombastic style was unique and memorable. But those distinct and over-the-top qualities aren't to be found in this new work, separated from his heyday by two decades. Instead, there's a much more conventional and slightly realistic bent to his linework here. Really, he offers up rather standard super-hero fare, and there's little diversity in his characters. If it weren't for the beard, the reader wouldn't be able to tell the faces of the hero and the villain apart. Read Full Review

Delivering a Hyperion story in a point-one issue of "Avengers" proves that one-shots are apparently dead without a brand to buoy them up. This is most definitely not an Avengers story, regardless of Hyperion's status with the team or the future impact this tale will have on Earth's Mightiest Heroes. "Avengers" #34.1 is packed with promise, it ultimately falls short of delivery. Hyperion should star in a comic and shine, but fails to work the spotlight here. It's a good, solid story, but it could have been more. Read Full Review

Considering all the cast members in Avengers, it feels like a real misstep to have another issue focusing solely on Hyperion, particularly when Smasher, Cannonball, Sunspot, Captain Universe, or any of the other numerous characters in the series barely get any screen time - and that's not even including the A-listers beyond Cap and Tony that get zero love in this book. (Sorry, but putting them in Avengers World doesn't count, especially not when they have to move over so Euroforce can get a new origin story.) The thing about Avengers #34.1 isn't just that the premise feels limp or the ending feels a little anticlimactic - it's that Hyperion seems to threadbare of a character that we're reduced to just repeating catchphrases over and over again. Read Full Review

Really interesting Superman version

Just reading this for completionist's sake, but I do like Al Ewing's writing. I can usually expect something competent from him. This is a pretty good one-shot. It has nothing to do with the Incursions, but it does give us more insight into Hyperion (who ironically, I think has gotten three of these sorts of issues at this point).

In Avengers #34 (3 Jacks) usual writer Jonathon Hickman take a break and leaves 2000 AD’s Al Ewing in charge to tell a tale about the all-new, post-Marvel NOW Superman-esq hero Hyperion (Wikipedia informs me there have been “six notable versions of the character”, but I am only familiar with this one). It’s a decent tale with some nice touches, such Hyperion scanning a carpet to find the deadskin (and therefore the DNA) of a missing child. What really sold me on this book though was Dale Keown’s artwork. Hickman has stated they he wants to develop Hyperion into a character that isn’t “a poor analogue for Superman” and in this particular issue Keown’s style, whilst not particularly flashy, deserves praise for drawing a Hyperion that looks… almost puppy-dog like. There’s something really naive and uncertain drawn in Hyperion’s facial features, a vulnerability you rarely see in Superman or other God-like heroes. Despite Hyperion’s incredible power he looks like he could do with a cuddle, and despite being a father to the children of the savage land, he feels like he needs a father figure himself. Not an outstanding story or villain in this issue, but Hyperion’s character work means a solid 6. http://jackcooperwriting.wordpress.com/ more