Perhaps the next issue will bring this story by Brian Bendis into focus - but for now, it's all very fuzzy. Read Full Review

Despite my other complaints, the biggest problem here is that it flies by way too fast and ends up a bit insubstantial. A shame, since what we do get is pretty good. Read Full Review

The larger picture of this "New Avengers" arc isn't entirely apparent by the end of the issue, but there are enough interesting moments and some great art to carry the day. The teases of what this arc could be about are interesting, especially the cover for issue 10. As far as a set-up issue goes, it's effective and, hopefully, should read better as part of the whole. Read Full Review

There are some nice parts of this issue, mostly character bits, including a sequence where Luke fails to hotwire the truck he's trying to steal and instead picks it up and walks away, but mostly I'm left cold. Nick's actions during wartime notwithstanding, the flashback portions of the issue bother me as an attempt to bring "realism" to a comic book hero's story, and there's never a clear explanation of what is going on with Superia or why our heroes engage in unprovoked vandalism, theft, battery and mayhem. Moreover, as I mentioned at the very start, I'm bugged by the retconned insertion of this "Avengers Initiative," not just for the knot of continuity snarls I know it will start, but because it smacks of centralized world-building in a Marvel Universe that has long been known for versimilitude and sprawling narrative. If this is the story of how Nick created the Age of Marvels, it has the potential to shrink that narrative down to a common originating point, something that seems inh Read Full Review