Avengers Disassembled [Library Binding]

Brian Michael Bendis (Author), David Finch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2008

The powerhouse team of Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch take on Earth's Mightiest Heroes! It begins with the return of a team member thought dead - and by the time it's over, everything you know about the Avengers will have changed! The event that will rock the entirety of the Marvel Universe starts here! Collects Avengers #500-503; Avengers Finale.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 192 pages
• Publisher: Paw Prints 2008-03-01 (March 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1435230345
• ISBN-13: 978-1435230347
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Brian Michael Bendis is an award winning comics creator and one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For the last eleven years, Brian's books have consistently sat on the top of the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel's popular AVENGERS franchise by writing every issue of the NEW AVENGERS plus debuting the hit books MIGHTY AVENGERS and DARK AVENGERS along with the wildly successful 'event' projects HOUSE OF M, SECRET WAR, SECRET INVASION, and SIEGE.
This summer will see the blockbuster new line-ups for AVENGERS and NEW AVENGERS.
Other recent projects include the groundbreaking SPIDER-WOMAN MOTION COMIC, that debuted number one on iTunes TV sales chart and the New York Times best selling HALO graphic novel.
Brian is one of the premiere architects of Marvel comic's Ultimate line of comics. A line of comics specifically created for the new generation of comics reader. He has written every issue of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN since it's best selling launch in 1999, and has also written ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR, X-MEN, MARVEL TEAM UP, ORIGIN, SIX and the ENEMY trilogy.
He is creator of the JINX line of crime comics published by image comics. This line has spawned the graphic novels GOLDFISH, FIRE, JINX, TORSO (w/ Marc Andreyko) and TOTAL SELL OUT.
Brian's other projects include the Eisner award winning "POWERS" (w/Mike Oeming) from Marvel's creator owned imprint ICON, and the Hollywood tell all "FORTUNE AND GLORY'. Entertainment Weekly gave both projects an "A." SONY and FX networks are currently developing POWERS for series with Brian as exec producer.
Brian is currently adapting his spy graphic novel FIRE for Universal Pictures as a starring vehicle for Zac Efron.
Brian is a member of Marvel studios creative committee, which consults on their numerous ongoing film projects. He has consulted on IRON-MAN and IRON MAN 2 and is currently consulting on THE FIRST AVENGERS: CAPTAIN AMERICA, THOR and THE AVENGERS
Brian has won five prestigious EISNER awards, including 'Best Writer of the year' two years in a row. He has also won over two dozen Wizard comic awards. Brian is the recipient of the Cleveland Press 'Excellence in Journalism' Award and was named "Best Writer of the Year." by Wizard Magazine and Comic Buyer's Guide for three consecutive years.
He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Alisa, his gorgeous daughters Olivia and Sabrina and his dogs Lucky, Max and Buster.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Uneven; Some Parts Are Good While Other Parts Are Senseless, March 15, 2006

By 

Andrew "Radaar" (Chicago, IL, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Avengers Disassembled (Paperback)

First of all, I would like to note that, due to Amazon's lack of half-star ratings, I give this book more of a 3.5 as opposed to a 4. Anyway, Avengers Disassembled serves mainly as a setup for the new Marvel series New Avengers and Young Avengers, as well the setup for the event House of M.
A few issues before the Disassembled arc, Avenger Jack of Hearts died saving Cassie Lang, daughter of the current Ant-Man, Scott Lang. So it serves as a huge surprise to the team when a zombified Jack shows up at Avengers Mansion and combusts, taking Lang with him. This is just the first event in a series of incredible attacks on the Avengers, both current and inactive. The Vision crashes a Quinjet and spawns a group of Ultron robots, Tony Stark/Iron Man drunkenly attacks the Latverian ambassador, She-Hulk goes insane, and a Kree armada shows up to attack the team. And when the Avengers find out who is responsible for the attacks, they can hardly believe it. In the Avengers Finale issue, Tony Stark says that he is no longer able to fund the Avengers and the team officially disbands.
While some of the events in the series are very interesting and emotional, many other things are just done for the sake of the writers saying, "look what we can do!". The entire first issue just seems like senseless violence. Another reviewer said that they should have made the arc a few issues longer, and I am inclined to agree. The way they are, they are very unbalanced. One issue is all action while another is all drama. Brian Michael Bendis, who is usually a great writer, kind of dropped the ball here. This is not a bad story, and in fact, it is essential for the future of the Marvel-verse, but it could have been handled better.
Still, it is definitely worth reading, if only to fully understand where the characters are coming from in the upcoming books and events. Also, there are some great features to the book, both due to the issues themself and the fact that it is in trade paperback form. In the finale, the different Avengers discuss their fondest memories of being Avengers, and use actual panels from issues dating back to the 60's. Also, in the back of the trade, there are pages with all 500 covers of The Avengers.
I have mixed feelings about recommending this title. It isn't bad, but it could use some work, and as I've said, it is kind of crucial to what's going on now in the Marvel universe. However, it can be easily explained to you by a friend who has read it (or just go to Wikipedia). I guess I leave the choice to you to do what you want. Each option, buying or not, has its merits.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A sad ending to a classic, July 5, 2006

By 

Ralph Angelo "Ralph L. Angelo Jr." (Centereach, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Avengers Disassembled (Paperback)

I am not a fan of the "New Avengers" series at Marvel. But I had missed the last few issues of the "Avengers" so I purchased this book to see what Mr. Bendis had done to the team prior to the "New" being inserted into the title. I was not thrilled with the way he callously killed several key characters and transformed one into a maniacal monster. This book to me is a perfect example of what is so wrong with Marvel Comics today. Shock factor and "Dissassembling" as opposed to good storytelling. I thought the best part of the book was the last segment called "Finale" wherein the remaining core Avengers gather to reflect on their past many years together.This was very well done and poignant. Beyond that, I had no great love for this book. The callous way other authors tenure on the title were thrown away with little comments like "There is no such thing as Chaos magic" is offensive to me, and shows the out with the old and in with the new mentality which Marvel reeks with these days. I really don't recommend this book. unless like myself, you just wanted to see the last few issues of the classic series.

David Finch's artwork is another matter. It is brooding and beautiful at times, but other times his renditions of certain characters is so far off, as to be unrecognizable as to who they are. Again "Finale", which featured several artists from the Avengers past was my favorite segment as the great George Perez wrapped up the book with his spectacular artwork.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Quite Disappointing ..., September 14, 2005

By 

ddarkknight (Gotham City, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Avengers Disassembled (Paperback)

First off, I love Bendis' Powers, Daredevil, Ultimate Spider-man, & recently ended Alias .. he's simply one of my top three today's writers!! His great dialogue, storytelling and characterization make his comics just wonderful read every month.

That said, Marvel & he created this story arc just to make excuses for the "New Avengers" re-launch title. "Disassembled" was created to end the current era of the Avengers, paving a way for a revamped, new Avengers team with all new and more high profile members.

This "Disassembled", sorry Bendis ..., it simply just ruined the marvelous run by Kurt Busiek (which happen to be one of the other two of my fav writer, lol). Lots of previous Avengers characters were dismissed, exiled, or even killed by plots that did not make very sense to my taste. I think the story should probably have been longer by two or three more issues. The current 5-part story (500-503 & Avengers Finale) feels extremely rushed and leaving even more question marks and plot holes, not a great finale this Avengers team sorely deserves...

The New Avengers itself, though still early in the series, is so far showing great signs & I think it promises good things to come. I would recommend "Disassembled" only as a prequel to the "New Avengers" (which starts with vol. 1: Breakout). If not, I'm afraid "Disassembled" is not a good story by itself...