If either of these stories are someone's first-ever Marvel comic, they're a pretty unforgiving read. However, if you've been invested, you won't stop now but the immediate reward's really down to what you're willing to make of it. Read Full Review

Avengers #44 brings the volume to a close with a bang and acts as quite the prologue for Secret Wars. While it isn't possible to say that Hickman's work on Avengers is really done as this series will rely on Secret Wars to provide an actual conclusion, I can definitely say this Avengers volume closes as large in scope as Hickman began it. There are parts of the issue that feel a bit drawn out for the sake of fleshing out the scope of this event, but overall it is a well crafted comic. This is a big picture book and the flagship of the Marvel Universe, and I am more excited for Secret Wars than I have ever been. Bring on the mayhem, Hickman. I'm ready. Read Full Review

The final issue of the volume is a fitting end to Hickman's series Read Full Review

At the core of the issue is Rogers vs Stark. Just as "Everything Dies", everything has been building to this confrontation. I love that during their battle, we were reminded of their initial discussion while creating the Avengers machine. Great way to reward your loyal readers. Read Full Review

Though the full story Hickman has committed to has yet to see its final act play out, this issue feels like the climax to the themes he set forth to explore in this run. Looking back on the entire story as a whole, it's gobsmackingly impressive that as much of this 2-year story has held together as well as it did. Hickman has proven himself to be a Grant Morrisson-level plotter and may surpass the him if "Secret Wars" can stick the landing. Read Full Review

Avengers #44 has an odd job for a comic in that it is serving two narrative functions. On one hand, it is the culmination of a three-year epic. On the other hand, it is the prelude to Secret Wars. Ultimately, the book is successful in both of these endeavors. However, pieces like the emphasis on the Ultimate Universe draw away attention from many of the other characters readers have come to enjoy during this series and its sister-title New Avengers. As a conclusion, it is hard to recommend this issue to those who have not been reading these titles, especially since the debut issue of Secret Wars will likely recap these events. However, if you've been following the title, it'd be a mistake not to pick this up. Read Full Review

The Avengers #44 caps off Hickman's saga in grand fashion while also setting the stage for Secret Wars. This issue is full of epic drama, but often it's the character moments that shine the most. It's a shame that two artists with such clashing styles were called upon to finish out the series, but Caselli's pages never fail to impress. Read Full Review

Avengers #44 is a comic that I am very mixed on. On one hand, as a prologue to Secret Wars, it does a pretty solid job building things up and leading into it. There are improvements to the writing in some areas, like the pacing most noticeably. But on the other hand, the issue is a very poor finale for this series as a whole and it lacks in a lot of drama. This is the end of the world as the characters know it, but there's so little passion, emotion, or feelings here that it doesn't do a good enough job of making you feel the desperation and horror everyone should be experiencing. As such, it's hard to really give this a strong recommendation (or even condemnation) in the end. All I can say is that if you made it this far, you might as well read the issue regardless. Read Full Review

A very satisfying end to a crazy Avengers run. It's technically not over yet, what with Secret Wars, but seeing Steve Rogers and Tony Stark unceremoniously die after all the animosity, betrayal and lies seems like the most fitting end to the story that started with "Everything Dies." It's tragic and always elicits an emotional response from me whenever I think about this story.

So a couple months ago I decided I was going to read all the modern Avengers comics before Avengers 4 came out. I started with Kurt Busiek’s Avengers, which was tons of fun and spectacular, especially during the Kang dynasty story. Afterwards Came Geoff Johns’ Avengers, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Chuck Austen’s Avengers run sucked which led me into Avengers Disassembled, which I liked but didn’t love. After I read House of M, and to this day it is still one of my favorite comics ever. After that I began the Brian Michael Bendis era of Avengers. It was the greatest thing ever. From the Breakout story to Civil War to Secret Invasion to Dark Reign to Siege to Secret Avengers to Fear Itself to Avengers vs X-Men. It was the most amazing thing I’d ever read. After I finished up AvX I decided to read Hickman’s run, with an extremely high bar thanks to Bendis. 79 issues between Avengers and New Avengers. One story. One. Hickman blew my mind. Avengers by Hickman took my mind places I didn’t know existed. I laughed. I cried. I wondered. Never have been so emotionally invested into a comic book. Hickman put heart into every character he touched. The twist and turns on every last page had me guessing. He had me routing for Thor and Hyperion against an army of Ivory Kings even though they had no chance. He had me shocked when he revealed the identity of Rabum Alal. The art is awesome. There is so much emotion on every page and every character. Do yourself a favor. Read Hickman’s Avengers and New Avengers. You’ll forget about Bendis more

Incredible ending. Incredible.

Because of the stakes set up in New Avengers, all of the plot resolution that takes place during this issue feels rather meaningless. I caught myself laughing at how insignificant Tony Stark defeating the Shi'ar with Sol's Hammer was. At least Iron Man and Captain America killed each other off so Mister Fantastic could be the hero of Secret Wars, which made me quite happy.