New Avengers #7 is highly charged for a what could be considered a "breather" issue full of talk, and Deodato's art is just fantastic. His Doom is perfect and T'Challa's barely contained anger towards Namor is palpable, as is the dark mood that pervades everything. This is the best Avengers book going right now – it's weighty and bleak, but really damn good. Read Full Review

Speaking of Dr. Doom, it's absolutely wonderful to see him under Hickman's pen again. Much like how Rick Remender bringing characters from Uncanny X-Force into Uncanny Avengers has proven to be a boon, Hickman's New Avengers gets a great deal more exciting with such an unpredictable player now on the board. Having to deal with Doom while two of the Illuminati's members try to sort out a war is just adding more fuel to the fire, and it's precisely why this issue is so much fun to read. Read Full Review

Something that I really took notice of this issue was the phenomenal make up of this team and the characters Hickman has drawn together here. The major Marvel monarchies (what up, Stan Lee!) are all at play here, Namor and Atlantis, Black Bolt and the Inhumans, Doom and Latveria, and Black Panther and Wakanda. Not only that but we have Avengers mainstay Iron Man, Fantastic Four leader Reed Richards, original X-Man Beast, giving each of the big teams a member in the group. Top it off with master of the occult, the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange, and you have yourself a unique bunch of heavy-hitters that get better with each issue. The escalating tension between Doom and the Illuminati, and Atlantis and Latveria, promise a ton of action to come. Buckle your seatbelts, kids. This one is going to be one helluva ride. Read Full Review

At least the scene with Doctor Doom was beyond amazing. Seriously, adding Doom to this series was a stroke of genius, and I can't wait for his subplot to play out. Read Full Review

With a focus on the characters and with a plot that deals with many of the fallouts from the previous storyline and others, Hickman gives us a great issue of New Avengers. Mike Deodato, meanwhile, does his part magnificently as he is helped by both Martin and Beredo in the color department. Read Full Review

Overall it was very intense given the situation that they find themselves in. As the Illuminati what they do stays between them as do anything that manages to go under the radar. Dangerous yes when they now have the attention of Doctor Doom, but time will tell if he will act upon his suspicions. As per usual the art is vibrant and something to admire. Not just the detail put into the characters but the environments around them as well. All in all, big things are to come and anticipate. Read Full Review

Overall, “New Avengers” #7 works well in setting up the future events of the series while still rocketing up the stakes. Hickman uses some breathing room, which doesn't slow down Epting, and is thus able to clear things up for the audience while still delivering a very exciting title. There's still a few kinks here and there (If Reed is able to come back to Earth, why hasn't he turned around and seen all the chaos happening in “FF”?) but overall the focus for where “New Avengers” may go in the forthcoming issues is as exciting as all of Hickman's ideas. Read Full Review

This widening of the storytelling scope presents an interesting look at the ramifications of the Illuminati, their plans and their egos affecting the world around them. It takes the story out of the very tight, almost claustrophobic vacuum of the previous issues and creates a larger picture for this team to deal with in the coming months. While I miss Eptings cinematic style, Deodato is a good fit, and keeps things moving along with engaging page layouts and panel compositions. Overall this is a solid new chapter in a solid book. Read Full Review

If there is one Marvel book that I look forward to each month it is New Avengers. This is some of Jonathan Hickman's best work. His flare with dialogue and complex storylines is really shining through with this title. Highly recommended. Read Full Review

New Avengers #7 catches the series up with the current Marvel Now timeline and in the process created a few more sub-plots for us to follow. This issue won't be for everyone because a big chunk of this issue deals with catching us up to recent events. That said, the methodical pacing that Jonathan Hickman takes provided us with a lot of great character interactions as we spend just enough time in each scene to eagerly anticipate what happens next. It is this character work that continues to separate this series from all the other Marvel books because each character in this new Illuminati group is doing something outside the group that affects everyone else. Hopefully some of these sub-plots pick up because there will come a point where all of the exposition will get in the way of a strong story. But as I've said in the past: In Hickman I Trust. Read Full Review

"New Avengers" #7 might not be as severe towards the outcome of the series as a whole or to its larger place in the grand tapestry of the Marvel Universe as "Infinity" nears, but these smaller, personal moments help readers reconnect with the characters. While Black Panther has proven ineffective in holding a title of his own recently, Hickman's work with the character here as well as in "Fantastic Four" and "FF" has rekindled hope in that regard. If nothing else, we're at least guaranteed more of Hickman writing some significant developments in the life of the King of the Dead. Read Full Review

This was a good stage-setting issue. I'm ready for Infinity.