Marvel Now's Avengers series

[J.D. Lombardi]

I've been an off and on Avengers fan since like the late 80's, picking it up for runs here and there. I've been more or less disenfranchised with Marvel for years now, so my picking this up was a chance at getting me back into good graces, to some effect.

(I've seen Marvel Now as a chance for me to reset my bad attitude toward the company)

This new series opens with the team of writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Jeroma Opena, who have created a new grouping of near grade-a-level "world creating/destroying" baddies. They're interesting, but c'mon...does it get anymore formulaic than introducing brand new villains to wipe the floor with our heroes, only for the good guys to come back and save the day later in the tale?

Nevertheless, issue one grabbed me enough to grab a second helping.

Issue two made me feel like Hickman wanted the world to know he saw Prometheus, as there are just way too many thematic similarities to the story of "the builders" or whatever they called them. I believe they're even wearing masks like the folks from Prometheus...it just left me shaking my head that the serious would open to so much hype and yet have so many striking detriments.

Will I be back for a third issue? Well, I may look at it in the store first and if it looks at all interesting, I'll buy it...but I don't feel that it is likely.

Anyone reading this volume of the series?

[Kuma]

Yep, and Im of the complete opposite of you on this. I love high-concept books to begin with (huge Morrison fan) and the fact that Hickman is going head first into this is great. Plus, cmon, Manifold and Shang-shi are on the team. Its started off great and I see it only getting better from here. Just my opinion.

[J.D. Lombardi]

Originally Posted by Kuma

Yep, and Im of the complete opposite of you on this. I love high-concept books to begin with (huge Morrison fan) and the fact that Hickman is going head first into this is great. Plus, cmon, Manifold and Shang-shi are on the team. Its started off great and I see it only getting better from here. Just my opinion.

I love Morrison, but c'mon...you never feel like you've seen a concept already in one of Grant's books and that is how I felt here. It just seemed so full of formulas and nods to other things. I'm no Hickman-hater, in fact this is the first thing I've ever read by him.

But one of the reasons I've been away from Marvel for so long is that their books just haven't agreed with me. Unfortunately, it looks like this may again be one of'em.

On the flip side, I read both Captain America and Thor #1's and I'm happily picking up more of those!

[Kuma]

Oh yeah, Morrison definitely recycles concepts but I still love the work. I have been very against Marvel in recent years but they have been sneaking back into the pull list with some decent work. If you want to give Hickman a whirl Id suggest the Nightly News and ESPECIALLY The Manhattan Projects (my personal winner of comic series of the year). Thor has been great, I didnt get to Cap #2 yet because of the holiday rush but cant wait for it.

[HockeySlasher]

Originally Posted by J.D. Lombardi

I've been an off and on Avengers fan since like the late 80's, picking it up for runs here and there. I've been more or less disenfranchised with Marvel for years now, so my picking this up was a chance at getting me back into good graces, to some effect.

(I've seen Marvel Now as a chance for me to reset my bad attitude toward the company)

This new series opens with the team of writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Jeroma Opena, who have created a new grouping of near grade-a-level "world creating/destroying" baddies. They're interesting, but c'mon...does it get anymore formulaic than introducing brand new villains to wipe the floor with our heroes, only for the good guys to come back and save the day later in the tale?

Nevertheless, issue one grabbed me enough to grab a second helping.

Issue two made me feel like Hickman wanted the world to know he saw Prometheus, as there are just way too many thematic similarities to the story of "the builders" or whatever they called them. I believe they're even wearing masks like the folks from Prometheus...it just left me shaking my head that the serious would open to so much hype and yet have so many striking detriments.

Will I be back for a third issue? Well, I may look at it in the store first and if it looks at all interesting, I'll buy it...but I don't feel that it is likely.

Anyone reading this volume of the series?

I thought the same thing about Prometheus...

I decided to give it at least one more chance, so I'll get the third book, but if it doesn't do much for me after that, it's over Johnny.