Customer Reviews

Avengers Disassembled

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

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.

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.

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...

Bendis is Marvel's workhorse, and one of their best writers and Avengers Disassembled is a perfect example of why. Even at the lower ranges of his skill, he can still write an entertaining comic.
Unfortunately, entertaining doesn't always mean buyable. There just isn't enough substance in this comic for me to justify telling you to read it. If you've never read the Avengers, pick up New Avengers or some of Mark Waid's Avengers. If you can't tell from the title, this group of Avengers basically ends here.
It's strange because the book doesn't do anything wrong, I mean, Bendis's dialogue is good, his pacing and characterization is all there, the book even sets up the House of M, and Finch's art is always enjoyable. However, the book doesn't do anything purchase-worthy, at least not in my mind. If you don't mind buying a book that you will read and probably flip through once every blue moon, then you may as well pick this one up. It goes right into House of M, and when the trade for House comes out you can put the two next to each other and they can keep each other company, because House, while important, and interesting, actually does the same thing this one does-- nothing wrong, but not much, if anything right (although House of M has two issues left and there is the small chance that the conclusion could be mind blowing)

If you want some Bendis, you need to get New Avengers. If you want some Avengers, get some Mark Waid Avengers. You can get this as long as you don't mind it sitting on your shelf.

This book for me is just not that great. It is full of gimmicks that are supposed to shock and stupify. While it does succeed in making your jaw drop, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. This serves as the prologue to House of M. So if you are collecing House of M you may want to add this to the collection. However, as a stand alone this is mediocre at best. This is certainly not anywhere as good as older Avengers stories such as Operation Gallactic Storm.

The "Avengers Disassembled" storyline is the literary equivalent of a punch in the gut. I'm still in shock.

SPOLIER WARNINGS AHEAD: My favorite archer, Hawkeye, is slain in the line of duty. At least Hawkeye didn't go down without a fight. I would expect no less of Clint Barton.

"Avengers Disassembled" achieved in one trade paperback what many works of fiction, much less comic books, fail to do: make me drop my jaw. And that happened no less than eight times - not even halfway through the book.

MORE SPOLIER WARNINGS AHEAD: Eight pages into the story and Avengers Mansion has been blown to smithereens. Ant Man is no longer with us. The Vision crash lands in one of the Avengers' jets to warn his teammates of impending doom and...well, you get the picture.

Be warned: things are ugly in "Avengers Disassembled." Accusations fly about what or who is causing this series of events. The culprit came out of nowhere.

Epic battle comes on the coat tails of another epic battle in "Disassembled." Some of those battles are personal (and interpersonal) ones, while others are more of the battleground variety. Despite the sudden, and sometimes morbid, deaths of three Avengers, I have to admit it is a classic, no-holds barred Avengers story.

"Avengers Disassembled" is a whopper to read. Even though it's paced almost too fast at the beginning, anybody with the slightest knowledge of the World's Mightiest Heroes will have their hearts broken after reading it.

Writer Brian Michael Bendis includes storyline nods to readers like me who haven't followed the Avengers regularly for years, by including references to the group's historical roots.

The pessimist in me says Marvel Comics only "disassembled" the original Avengers in order to pump up sales by recreating the group for a new series.

Either way, it won't be the same without Hawkeye. May he rest in peace.

This was my first look at high-profile writer Bendis. He's the genuine article. Respect for the characters, for the continuity and for long-time/first-time readers is readily apparent. The story begins with a shock, then builds gracefully to an emotionally charged ending. The art is also superior, though I concentrate on the writing because that is usually the weaker component in comics stories. Not this time.

i'll have to agree with some of the earlier reviews. the story is a bizarre mix of idiocy and random deaths. the "She Hulk segment" is the core of the book. the pain the avengers feel is pretty strong throughout the book and the artwork is powerful.

the first 15 pages are strong, but the rest of the book is a chore to read and the ending...ugh. buy it if only for the art and beginning fight sequence.

I liked this comic a lot besides the fact that the killed Hawkeye and others. The story was well written and drawn but the fact that they did so much damage just to launch some new comics disappoints me

I would love to know which mansion has gotten annihilated the most: The Avengers Mansion or The X-Men Mansion? Anyway, I am not a fan of the Avengers. Never read an Avengers book before this title. I'm sure some die-hard fan is gonna read my review and think I'm a total airhead. Oh well, that's the comic book world. When you decide to off regular characters such as Ant-Man or Hawkeye prepare to get shot at by the continuity police.

Anyway, I enjoyed the book. I felt the team's confusion, hopelessness and rage of being attacked by various enemy forces out of the blue. One minute it's Skrulls, the next minute it's a zombie Jack of Hearts. It's just all kinds of madness that would make anybody "hulk" out. Even though I already knew who the culprit was before reading the book I wanted to see the actual event for myself. It was worth reading especially since I'm currently reading the "House of M" storyline which is continuation of the events that take place in "Disassembled". I was grateful for the part that had different members recall their favorite moments in Avenger history. It helped a non-fan like me understand the characters more. I don't have enough room to discuss the pros and cons of event books and the like. I've been reading the X-Men books since 1990-I know the drill: Let's put them in an alternate dimension and give them new costumes! It's just commonplace for mainstream books to revamp their titles every once in awhile to keep old readers interested and hopefully attract new readers and all that jazz. Overall, my opinion is that this book was a good read. Great art, great story, and great characters. This book also includes a nice interview with writer (or wrecker depending on your perspective) Brian Michael Bendis.