The last few issues of New Avengers have been building to the big showdown between our heroes and Norman Osborn's latest hand-picked squad of impostors. The brawl unfolds in what is largely an action-oriented chapter.
There are some memorable match-ups to be had in this issue, most notably Iron Fist vs. Skaar and Luke Cage vs. Osborn. Unfortunately, a few of the Dark Avengers seem all but wasted here. Ai Aepec as the new Sinister Spider-Man is a complete disappointment, as none of the menace of the character as seen in the Osborn mini-series is apparent here. Gorgon also comes across as something less than his usual grandiose self. But by and large the issue throws enough carnage at the reader to satisfy. It certainly makes the best use of Mike Deodato's art style. I's easier to ignore the CG elements and the photo-referencing when superhero violence overtakes conversation and character interaction.
This issue also deserves credit for trying to flesh out the rift between the Avengers and the general public. The unfortunate fact with this HAMMER War crossover is that most of this focus has occurred in the middle of the crossover when the groundwork should have been laid prior to it. Still, better late than never. As The HAMMER War moves into its final chapters, hopefully the series can strike a balance between action scenes and the philosophical war against Osborn.
| Rating | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| out of 10 | Click here for ratings guide | |
IGN reviews the hottest comic book releases for the week of ...
