The Good

Fresh off what can only be called a huge win, Jonathan Hickman goes right back to what made New Avengers so appealing in the first place: heady, bizarre high-concept sci-fi. When we last left Marvel’s brain trust, they’d gotten a cryptic warning, or perhaps statement of fact, that everything dies. Unwilling to take accept this, the Illuminati work on a way that they might be able to observe Incursion Earths, but we’ve already had a glimpse of one and the absolute cataclysmic forces at work on it in the form of a new group of villains called simply the Black Priests. Hickman has perfectly integrated the end of Infinity with this issue, scarcely losing a single step in the process as he picks up the storyline from before the event. Black Swan is as baffling as ever, Beast is the optimist, Reed the dreamer, Tony the pragmatist and T’Challa the driving force with Black Bolt as tactician. But what of Doctor Strange? His turn is actually the one I’m most fascinated by as Hickman seems poised to return the good doctor’s teeth to him. But, of course, this being magic it won’t be without horrible, horrible sacrifice. The concepts introduced here are some of the absolute best and most fascinating I’ve seen since...well, when Hickman began the series.

Simone Bianchi steps up on the linework and his muddy, fractured style compliments the series perfectly. Contrary to Deodato’s clean, brisk characters, Bianchi makes everything into a surreal mass, but one that can still be discerned. What little action there is flows well enough, but, as is often the case with this title, the scenes of dialog are the highlights and Bianchi makes them all have a bizarre, interesting quality. A huge part of that is also the colors by Adriano Dell’Alpi and they bring all the strange, wonderful imagery to particulated, twisted life.

The Bad

This, as often is the case, is not the easiest comic to follow. The frequent jumps from one dimension to the next coupled with creating new villains whole cloth, so there’s no reference point and, of course, there’s the sci-fi jargon that can be difficult to comprehend. The first several pages especially, as the Mirror that will allow them to look across dimensions is constructed, is a bit of a head-scratcher.

The Verdict

The above can be easily solved with repeated reading, and I absolutely love all the potential that gets introduced here. I’m especially enamored of Doctor Strange as I think, lately, he’s been underutilized due to his tendency to become too ridiculously overpowered. I think with a steady hand, he could be reined in and have some very, very interesting stories around him. The seamless transition from one storyline to the next means this can be picked up by new readers, but will most definitely be enjoyed by stalwarts as well.

The Illuminati will be judged for what they've done. And that will be another Marvel event.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the art but I really enjoyed the story. The Black Priests look more threatening than the Builders alreay

If you'v been reading Hickmans books for a while you get used to his craziness and start to pick up a few of his tells when he's leading up to something

very excited for this!

Love Hickman's avengers/new avengers stuff

Oh god Bianchi so fits this book.

I got this and Manhattan Projects in the same week. Hickman overload.

Looks beastly.

Loved it. From the art to the black priests to the dialogue. Brilliant!

I've been excited, since the series started, to see an Illuminati from another Earth. It's funny how the book with the least amount of action has been one of the most exciting reads.

I wonder what's up with the Black Priest's eye on their masks? Is there a connection to Doctor Strange?

i just dont question Hickman anymore.

he shit is perfect

By and by New Avengers has been one of, if not, my favorite books this year.

The art change really through me off at first, but I do really like it, this series continues to be fantastic !

yes. yes it is.

I liked this issue. I think having this secret organization inside of the Marvel universe and more so inside of the Avengers is really cool. Also that the threat they face is new and unknown and by the sounds of things from Black Swan, SUPER DANGEROUS!

I'll read whatever Hickman does at Marvel. Infinity is something i will read and reread and rereread. Count it.

the art was problematic, the fact that the parallel universe had Iron Man in the silly black and yellow made it confusing to tell if this was happening in the current universe or not from time to time.

Inhumanity tie-in was a bit of a lie

I also feel that the black priests were robbed of their scary doctor who esque presence when the masks where removed and they spoke. but as we know there is still plenty of things out there in multiverse.

Definitely not as exciting as last issue, still very good.

@saucygiraffe: I don't think there is a connection, as they mention they are beyond magic and science as a base of their powers, although it is possible that Strange could be examining some otherworldy power base they derive their powers from in the page where he is going way deep.

black swan is a total babe

@libbiter1991: WOW, REALLY!?

word!

Nice.

Great issue. I wasnt' as much of a fan of Infinity, so I was glad we're past that here. This whole convergence storyline is interesting, but it's been drawn out a bit, and Infinity just made that worse. So it's good to be back to the actual story and moving it along finally. I like the Black Priests, and am looking forward to what happens with Strange as well. I really liked the art a lot.

Is Bianchi the new artist for teh foreseeable future or is he just a fill in? I gotta say I liked Deadotto's art wayyyyyy more than Bianchi.

I wonder when the artist will notice he's drawing beast wrong haha.

@jonny_anonymous: Can I skip Infinity and jump right in with this issue? Just read the first 6 issues.

he's the artist for the next two issues then Rag Morales takes over

You should check out the infinity tie ins, they were excellent and the plot for the book moved along with it. You might get lost if they reference certain things that happened if you skip it

@grenadeflow: Oh thanks, not sure if I am going to read Infinity or not until it's released in hardcover.

You don't need to read Infinity but it would be a good idea, they way Hickman writes he ties everything to the big picture so things that happen all the way through his run will mean something in the long term.

Your review is spot on, with the alternate earths and new villains starting to make more appearances, they need to make the distinctions much clearer. Also, the Illuminate seem to be starting a collection of extra-dimensional refugees. What's going to happen with them?

Furthermore, will the implications of not bothering to save anyone from other earths come into question?

4 artists in 16 issues. This is getting ridiculous, man.

Valerio Schiti takes over after Rag Morales lol

Jesus Christ