Overall this was one of Hickman’s best issues of New Avengers to date. It was emotionally heavy and philosophical. The exploration of heroic values in contrast to the values of kings was a captivating subject, explored through great dialogue. This comic isn’t for everyone but for the target audience it continues to astonish, provoke thought and amaze with every page. Read Full Review

What is a hero, really? And are the Avengers heroes, or self-entitled kings? We find out in this issue and it's an exciting read to say the least. Read Full Review

Valerio Schiti and Salvador Larroca handle the artistic aspects of this issue and while both have a style that is befitting of the story, it's easy to spot when one artist takes over for another. It's a bit distracting, but because both styles work in it of themselves it's easy to forgive. Read Full Review

This is gripping stuff. And after several pages of our heroes monologuing or arguing about why they can't go through with it, Namor picks up the trigger and explains why he can do it in merely a few sentences. Hickman is in the hearts and minds of these characters, and he's put them in as extreme a position as possible to twist them around. It's great comics. Read Full Review

New Avengers comes with some flashy punches and impressive looking fight sequences if that is what you look for in comics. What this book really brings in spades though is a real awareness of the responsibility heroes take on in their role as our great protectors. Hickman fearlessly exaggerates circumstances to bring these themes to their utmost extremes and ends the issue with a bang. New Avengers ends with developments that will likely come back to haunt the characters involved many times over in the future. New Avengers as a whole is not a book trying to appeal to as many people as it can. Its focus is tight on big themes and concise action; all of which is executed brilliantly by a Jonathan Hickman on good form. Read Full Review

The real driving force behind this series has been Hickmans open-ended questioning of ethics, morality and heroism, with Namor serving as the only member willing (and perhaps eager) to take the ultimate burden upon himself. Hickman has been largely successful so far in exploring these ideas, navigating the tensions and moral platitudes that ultimately befall all superhero comics, and this issue cashes in on that build-up in satisfying ways. Read Full Review

Basically, this entire issue was filled with some intense will they/won't they moments. As I read on, I recall being in suspense practically every step of the way. I may have escaped that feeling temporarily when I was examining the gnarly fates of the Great Society, but for the most part, I found myself hanging on each character-changing moment. Not to say that this story arc hasn't been interesting, but I feel like issue twenty-one did a really good job at reminding me the things that are so awesome about Hickman's much darker Avengers title. Read Full Review

BEST

Another amazing issue.

Possibly one of the best comics I've read in a while. Hickman is on fire right now and in this issue he is blazing. For months now we see our heroes -all paragons of morality -struggling with hard decisions that will bring them over the edge. The final pages finally have them face those fears as they actually have to decide whether to cross the line or not. I was suspecting we would get a cop out but Hickman - like life - is not letting them off that easy. The final pages are really intense and well written and I won't spoil them here.
The aftermath will leave them all with more hard choices,scars and the toughest task of all - look in their mirror.

anyone else spend the whole issue trying to figure out who was on the cover? And the wait was worth it.
I love love love this series.

Always knew Namor had what it takes

Story=8.5 Art=6