Avengers #34 Advanced Review

Writer:  Brian Michael Bendis
Artists:  Brandon Peterson, Mike Mayhew, Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson
Jam Artists:  Mike Deodato; Walter Simonson & Scott Hanna; Leinil Yu; Jim Cheung & Mark Morales; Olivier Coipel & Mark Morales

Brian Michael Bendis uses his final issue of Avengers to tie up some loose ends that have been around since he took control of the franchise.  When we last left our heroes, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and Giant-Man were in the Microverse attempting to save Wasp from the evil Lord Gouzar.  Another Avenger from the past makes an appearance, looking to atone for some questionable choices.

The Avengers make it back home, celebrate, and start pondering some expansion.  There is also a portion of the book dedicated to many of the previous artists of Avengers over the years.  It was fun playing the game of “Name that penciler” on each page.

What I Liked

It is a joy to watch The Avengers in battle together.  They really work well as a team, no matter the collection of members assembled.  As much as they are a team, Bendis’ Avengers also feels like a family.  The relationships run deep from years and years of continuity.

The “Welcome Home” party was sweet to see.  It also raises the question “How do superheroes celebrate one of their own returning from the grave?”  As many characters are resurrected you would think this would come up more often.

What I Didn’t Like

Things are wrapped up rather nicely.  Which is to be expected, since Avengers is being relaunched with a brand new number one in the Marvel NOW!  However, it is almost like Bendis put everyone back to their original status quo from before he took over.  Has anything really changed?

Brian Bendis writes a goodbye letter to all the readers at the end.  He details just how he came to write Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and thanks many of the men and women who had a hand in the creative process.  Now Bendis takes his talents over to the X-Men side of the Marvel universe.  Except for next spring/summer when he writes the Marvel event “Age of Ultron”, which was originally supposed to come out in 2011.

This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network.  They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/

Timdogg

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE