THE SEARING SERIES FINALE!
• Arcade's mad plan comes to pass! Who lives? Who dies?
• Shock follows shock as the game reaches its last desperate seconds!
• AVENGERS ARENA ends here...but it's also the launch pad for what comes next!
This issue, and the series in general, has been an exciting rollercoaster of emotions. Almost every moment of the series has been full of suspense, or action, or intrigue, or teen angst and this finale is no different. This book was probably most satisfying to me because it filled a need I didn't know I had, a need to see teenaged superheroes fight to the death as a psychotic man-child watches it on a flat-screen TV. I'm left with that feeling we've all felt at one point or another when you finish something great. I feel satisfied with the ending and with the series as a whole but I also feel kind of empty knowing it's over"for now. Read Full Review
Avengers Arena is one of the most underrated of the Marvel NOW! titles. It doesn't get the credit it deserves and surely is entitled to it, you should give it a read and you surely won't regret it. Read Full Review
As a single issue the lack of definite conclusion leaves a bit of a nasty taste in the mouth, but as the final chapter of a multi part saga, it leaves you with much to think about . Lawless states in his epilogue that Avengers Arena was not the series that he wanted to write at all: his actual treatment was a continuation of Runaways. Hopefully in light of the quality of this series he will get the opportunity to continue both the story of those teenage vagabonds and this tale of dystopian teen slaughter. Maybe we'll even get some answers. The ending seems to hint at something bigger to follow. Let us hope then, that it isn't just another New Warriors re-launch. Read Full Review
Avengers Arena surprisingly became one of my favourite reads, and I'm sad to see it end. I would recommend it to anyone who likes this sort of thing, but those easily angered and emotionally attached to fictional characters might wish to tread lightly. Read Full Review
"Avengers Arena" #18 is less of a solid conclusion to the story and more of a finishing of a chapter. Hopeless and company don't end the series with a "The End" or even a "For Now..." choosing instead to simply leave the story continuing from the final panel with the Avengers logo "A." With more adventures on tap for several of these characters and Arcade still scheming, there's no doubt that the Avengers will have a hand in the further development of the remnants from this series. Read Full Review
Overall, 'Avengers Arena' was a fun series to follow. I didn't think that we'd get as much drama out of it as we did, even with all the teen heroes involved, and a few of the twists and the turns in the story certainly surprised me. It's no wonder why Dennis Hopeless was nominated for various breakout awards for this book. And though the finale didn't hit me like I anticipated, it still managed to evoke some emotions from me resulting in the mindset that there will be a void in my pull list from now until March with this no longer being a thing. Read Full Review
Unfortunately, my two favorite characters of the series: Reptil and Mettle, did not make it out alive. Fortunately, I like X-23 even more now and I found myself rooting for the Runaway kids a lot. Very excited for Avengers Undercover and hey, since Arcade escaped, maybe we get Avengers Arena season two?