In The End: Between the writing, the art and the idea, this book is well worth your time and money. It is a fantastic story that raises questions and issues for the reader to think about and ponder. I really wasnt expecting too much from this special, but Bendis really surprised me. Alex Maleevs art complimented the relatively quiet nature of the story, and his layouts added to the tension and drama of the piece. This is a great prologue and does a fantastic job of developing interest in the upcoming event. By the end of this story the question is raised: whose side are you on? No matter your answer, things in the Marvel Universe are about to get a lot more interesting. Read Full Review

New Avengers Illuminati was an entertaining read. Bendis gives us a fast paced and exciting action filled story. I don't find the retconning that Bendis is engaging in to be too terribly invasive so I'm pretty much okay with it. This mini-series is doing a nice job retro-actively establishing the Illuminati in the Marvel Universe's history. I'd say that this is definitely a mini-series worth checking out. Read Full Review

Another problem with the book is that, for an issue which is trying to establish the history of a secret society which has been operating in the Marvel Universe for years, we actually get to see very little of their work between the formation of the group and their reaction to present-day Marvel events (with Iron Man again referring to these recent storylines by their published titles, jarring the reader out of the story slightly). Whilst Bendis has probably concentrated on the most important parts of the Illumintatis history, theres definitely a sense that we only see what is absolutely necessary to allow us to understand how the group is involved in Civil War and Planet Hulk, and that the rest of their tale is being left to other writers to deal with at a later date. Its also the case that this book isnt going to mean very much on its own, and that its only really going to be a worthwhile purchase for those who are keen on following Civil War over the next few months. There Read Full Review

This is an odd comic because the premise is immediately intriguing and promises great things, but that promise is never delivered on. Somewhere in here, theres a dramatic and exciting superhero comic with some interesting ideas to explore, but sadly, its being suffocated by a writer who simply isnt capable of telling the stories he wants to tell. Read Full Review

By the way, if this is a story about the Avengers and the most trustworthy members of the major hero groups, who could object to Captain America being in this group? If you cant trust your national superhero in superhero-type business, who can you trust? Save your money for an Extra Value Meal; itll be more filling than this comic. Read Full Review

If Marvel wanted to cause a stir with Illuminati (a name which is never used in the actual story, nor does it have anything to do with the New Avengers), then theyve more than succeeded by talking down to the intelligence of their readers. The use of the Marvel Universe is illogical, the characters are given forced positions with no rational motivations and the controversy is anything but. Which side am I on? Sorry, Illuminati, Im on the side of quality stories, not forced and contrived events. Read Full Review

S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Hill comes off as neither a bitch nor an idiot for once. And now at least I know whose side Im on in Civil War. Poor Peter Parker. He picked the wrong team already. Read Full Review