Possibly the best single issue of New Avengers this year. Read Full Review

I'm looking forward to his next project! Read Full Review

New Avengers gives us another entertaining, character-centric tie-in issue by dipping into the Illuminati well. Seriously, every event should get a tie-in issue of the Illuminati meeting and talking about it. I swear, this just doesn't get old for me. It's the kind of issue that plays directly to Bendis' strengths of dialogue and character interactions. This isn't terribly important to the event at large but well worth reading for those following Avengers Vs. X-Men. Read Full Review

Bendis put a lot of thought into depicting the staring on Captain America and Namor's relationship, and it was good of him to address the fact that Namor is both a mutant and a member of the Avengers. There was never a moment where I felt Namor would have said "OK, I'll fight for the Avengers," but I still thought it was interesting to see the way he reacts to Captain America. It was also good to see that there is a mutual level of respect the two characters have for one another -- a sort of brotherly love -- and that even that is stronger than their opposing perspectives; or at least strong enough to keep them from killing one another for a minute. Read Full Review

The ideological discussions that make up the meat of the issue are well thought-out. I imagine the minds behind Avengers vs. X-Men had a nearly identical conversation during last year's Marvel retreat. Even though the issue centers around Cap's trust in Namor, it's Xavier's confession that earns the true standout moment. Although, given the absence of this sort of content in the actual event, and considering that it's almost over, all of this debate seems to have come too little too late. Even if this issue ultimately proves the Illuminati don't work, it reveals their one redeeming quality: an Illuminati issue is the place to go if you want to hear Marvel's characters have valid discussions about the current big event. Read Full Review

While a good story, it simply isn't worth $3.99, nor does it affect the event drastically enough to be warranted as required reading. Read Full Review

It's confusing as to when in the AvX timeline this is set but it can only be logically assumed to have happened before AvX #8. Read Full Review

Sadly, lost in this timing mess and lack of action is some really great art by Mike Deodato. Deodato is one of the best Marvel has working for them, hands down, and the pages where he focuses on Xavier are brilliant. He pencils haggard characters so well and his Cap is stoic, yet broken all at once. I wish for his sake he could have broken up the dialogue panels with some great action sequences, but given the storyline of this issue, he made the issue as visually impressive as it could be. Read Full Review

Nothing happens here, nothing is solved, the plot isn’t pushed forward, it’s just a filler issue. Mike Deodato’s helps save the issue with his pencils. The opening two page spread is fantastic, a complete knock out. Deodato loves shading, and the inks weigh heavily in the faces of each character. With such little action, the pencils and inks help convey the emotion of the situation and the depth of desperation the Avengers are feeling. While the story is lackluster, Deodato’s art does a great job of lifting the whole issue above mediocrity. Read Full Review

Bendis has had his strengths and weakness since he started writing the Avengers in 2004. Writing about the Illuminati is definitely a strength

Very intriguing story and Bendis writes the Illuminati really well. A really solid story that explores both sides of the AVX debate.

I've always appreciated this issue and how Cap tried to talk to Namor