This issue just barely squeaks in a "Buy It" verdict thanks to the strength of the NohVarr/Tony Stark sequences and the epic feeling of the story. There are definitely some places where the script could be tightened up and I'd like to see more rationale behind the team following Kang's warning, but overall I have to say that I enjoyed this more than I have most Avengers books in the last few years. Read Full Review

The Protector's dull nature extends to his generic costume; he looks like a starting template for character construction in an online super-hero role-playing game. Fortunately, John Romita Jr.'s work overall is quite strong. He and the other artists working on the issue foster a dreary, foreboding atmosphere, not so much emphasizing the growing danger that the Hood represents but the surreptitious and deceitful nature of the Illuminati's affairs. There are pages that look a little too rushed, such as the double-page spread that serves as this issue's cliffhanger (the linework is far too loose and rough), but key scenes look much more polished. And to be honest, even a rough image from Romita Jr. and his collaborators packs a visual punch. Read Full Review

If you've been a fan of Bendis' Avengers work up until now, this book won't disappoint. The story is picking up steam and is poised to kick up the action next month. If you haven't been following, I still recommend giving this new book a shot. Without the baggage of a company-wide event hanging overhead, it's the perfect time to try something new. Read Full Review

The bad news? The time steam is broken. The good news? The Avengers, with the help of Noh-Varr, are ready to hop into the future and set things straight (unless Wonder Man can stop them). And any title that has a cameo from both the 2099 Universe and the original Guardians of the Galaxy gets a pass from me. Worth a look. Read Full Review

I think Romita is tired. His work is becoming sloppy in these pages. All the good thing about his storytelling and the way he draws characters as massive statues becomes a caricature of himself in this story. There is no elegance in the posing of his character. It feels as if hes delivering pages after pages mindlessly without taking proper care to compose good layout and something visually interesting. Romita is a great artist and I really like his style, but too much Romita without any control only shows his excesses which like everything consumed too much is bad for you. Read Full Review

The story concept that Bendis is playing with here is an interesting one, although not necessarily an entirely original one, but definitely has potential to be a great Avengers storyline. But the downside of this issue is that the characterization of the actual Avengers is just not all that good. What good is a great idea and concept if the characters aren't interesting to read, and don't even sound like themselves? I expected better than this, but there's still time for this storyline to really turn things around, if the characterization improves. Read Full Review

While not overly impressive, it's an improvement and, more importantly, it's an improvement that looks to continue. Read Full Review

Which, in a way, is good, because so far the writing on "Avengers" has been imperfect, though not massively flawed -" although the less said about the painfully self-indulgent "Oral history of the Avengers" supplemental the better. What bugs me is that for a second issue of such a high-profile launch it's hard not to feel as though it should be eliciting a more dramatic response than "it's alright, I suppose." Of all the Avengers launches so far, it's actually the flagship title -" this title "- which is leaving me coldest. If that turns out to be the case for everyone who reads this book then I'm not sure it's a good thing in the long run. Read Full Review

Their experiment is interrupted by Wonder Man, who attacks out of nowhere with unexplained fury and vehemence, then explodes into nothingness. Read Full Review

One of the worst JRJR issues I've ever read, the deadline must've hurt him or something