Avengers Academy is consistently one of the best of the Avengers books, but it's a little out of its element as it slogs through this event. I look forward to a return to "normalcy" (whatever that is). Read Full Review

In a few pages, Gage has redefined the character and changed her place in the world. It's hard to do, harder to do well. Tom Raney's artwork is perfectly solid, even perfectly capturing Veil's shift from relief, to shock, to rage. It's a magnificent book, and you should be reading it. Read Full Review

Woooo, Christos Gage is easily one of the best writers in comics today! Seriously, if you see his name on a comic, pick it up, because it WON'T disappoint! The work he's doing in this series during the Fear Itself issues is truly remarkable. Yes, we're getting appearances by the Worthy, which is something I feel all Fear Itself tie-ins SHOULD have, but he's also taking the opportunity of the war itself to further develop the Academy kids... I hate to beat a dead horse, but that's the difference between this comic and Generation Hope, which features lead characters of around the same age... Comparing this series to Gen Hope is like comparing Shakespeare to a coloring book... Anyway, I know I'll be looking forward to the next issue of what is, in my humble opinion, the best Fear Itself tie-in besides Invincible Iron Man that Marvel is producing. Read Full Review

The issue picks up considerably when it shifts focus to Veil. Gage puts her through a physical and emotional gauntlet that takes full advantage of the Fear Itself setting. Her story results in both triumph and tragedy and satisfies all the way. Tom Raney also really delivers on all fronts in these pages. With Pym's fight out of the way for now, hopefully upcoming issues will continue to spotlight the Academy recruits and the battles they face. That's where the meat of this tie-in lies. Read Full Review

Ultimately, while the intrusion of "Fear Itself" into the book's ongoing narrative might not be doing "Avengers Academy" any particular favours, at least Gage is capable of making the most of the crossover in ways that let him advance his regular plotlines. If you didn't know better, it'd seem almost as if it were planned. If only all crossovers could be as bearable. Read Full Review

It's sort of fun to see Hank Pym and Absorbing Man act like giant monsters, but it would be genuinely fun if the Absorbing Man weren't possessed by a magic hammer. Fortunately, letterer Joe Caramagna distinguishes the dialogue you can skip. Don't read the black dialogue balloons unless you really love Fear Itself. It's just not worth it. Read Full Review