8.0

Comics Bulletin - Jason Cornwell Apr 14, 2005

While I wish Marvel had held off the initial release date for a few more months so that Gabriele Dell'Otto wouldn't be running into the deadline difficulties, it's a little late to put the toothpaste back in the tube, so I'll simply have to take some solace in the fact that there's only one more issue to go, and I'm prepared to wait however long it takes Gabriele Dell'Otto. His work is more than worth the wait. This has to be one of the strongest action sequences I've ever seen from a painted artist, as the various attacks leap off the page, and the final sequence where the bomb goes off has a wonderful sense of urgency about it. The art also does some lovely work on its big impact moments, as the Fantastic Four get themselves a lovely arrival shot, and the panel where the villain makes her arrival is a wonderfully creepy image. In the end, this was an amazing looking effort, and while the wait for the next issue is going to be rather difficult, Gabriele Dell'Otto is one of the bes Read Full Review
4.0

Comics Bulletin - David Wallace Apr 8, 2005

As more and more books from other titles get released which tip the hand of this storyline (the crossover in The Pulse takes place chronologically after this issue, and foreshadows the result of the fight considerably; and the New Avengers team are already asking questions about Nick Furys apparent disappearance from S.H.I.E.L.D. before it happens in this title), it is becoming obvious that this book is stalling. Regardless of the shipping delays, with only one issue to go in this miniseries, the plot still isnt clear and the characters motivations are still muddy and unexplained. Maybe if Bendis had chosen to tell this fractured story in a more linear way, the readers would have understood and enjoyed it a lot more. As Alfred Hitchcock reportedly advised: never confuse an audience; a confused audience is not emoting. Those who conceived the latest of Marvels Secret Wars might do well to heed this advice in future. Read Full Review
2.0

Comics Bulletin - Shawn Hill Apr 7, 2005

At least Bendis has patterns. They should really pipe him over to DC, and let him revive Dr. Cyber in epic battle with Wonder Woman. A woman who hates beauty because shes been made ugly is right up his ally. Bendis is the David E. Kelly of comic books. This is the worst comic I've read this year. Read Full Review