Customer Reviews

New Avengers Vol. 5: Civil War

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As Marvel's massive Civil War event takes the forefront, many titles are having their own Civil War themed sagas as well. With Captain America and Iron Man at odds, the New Avengers are torn apart and choosing sides, spelling the disbandment of the team (for now). The issues collected in this TPB are pretty much one-shots, with each following a different member of the team and their encounters with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s capekillers. Brian Michael Bendis' writing is scattershot here to say the least, and it's not helped any by the roster of artists which help make the feel of this volume all the more inconsistent. Out of all the artists, Leinil Francis Yu and Olivier Coipel provide the only work worth seeing (what has happened to Howard Chaykin?) which is a shame to say the least. Out of all the side stories to Civil War, the New Avengers saga is the most disappointing, and if you miss out on it, don't feel bad, there isn't much here that you're missing.

Obviously NA took a back seat while the Civil War was raging because this ragtag bunch of stories are mostly irrelevant, especially to each other.

With a different artist on almost every issue, all continuity is lost. Most of the art [with the exception of Leinil Francis Yu's] is average at best. I spent Howard Chaykin's issue wishing for the pain [and messy, ugly art] to end.

The stories don't really add all that much to the war, every issue involves a member of the Avengers being attacked by Shield's capekillers and escaping.

Get this if you're a completist and have money to burn, otherwise, you're not missing out on much if you skip it.

I agree with the other reviewers. This was a major fall-off from the previous books. I read this a few days ago and I don't think I remember a single story.
Paging back through...did any of these stories have a point? Let's see:

A story about Cap and the Falcon trying to talk Hank Pym into joining the rebels? Useless!! (I do think Chaykin's art was a neat change of pace, however.)

A story about Luke Cage and how his neighborhood loves him and will stand up to SHEILD? Enlivened only by the artwork by Mr. Yu.

A ridiculous story about Jessica Drew being set up by the new SHIELD b***h and Iron Man, only to be rescued by a splinter HYDRA crew who offers her the position of Madame HYDRA? Total filler.

A story about the Sentry whining and crying AGAIN for another 28 pages?? I don't know who faces greater agony, the Sentry, or the readers subjected to more of his incredible wimpiness. Why throw the Inhumans in there at all? Anyone else sick of yet another character's reaction to meeting the ever-silent Black Bolt?

The last story, featuring Maria Hill, director of SHEILD was the most plausible, had the most drama and best artwork. But I question the premise here--was it to flesh out the character of the new SHEILD b***h? Because in the Civil War mini series she appears as a total robocop undeserving of any sympathy...in other words, a great villain! By softening her up, it robs her of some of her emotional resonance as the woman you love to hate...but anyway, it was the only decent issue in this collection.

By and large, I've found Marvel's "Civil War" epic to be underwhelming and overblown... And since each continuity-altering mega-story seems to be instantly followed by another ("Secret War" > "Civil War" > "World War Hulk" > "Secret Invasion"> etc.) I'm getting kinda tired of all the gimmicky crossover "events".

That being said, I actually thought this volume was one of the better "Civil War" books, with some good character sketches, particularly the Luke Cage episode, where he decides to join the anti-registration resistance. The Captain America story, which starts the book, isn't the best-written thing ever, but Cap's interior monologue in the first few pages is pretty cool. I also like the final episode, where Iron Man gets (temporarily) taken down by a disaffected Stark Industries R&D scientist... There are details in here that help flesh out the otherwise irritating Civil War plotline... Definitely worth checking out. (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain book reviews)

They fight, they talk, they fight each other, and then talk some more--it's those wacky New Avengers circa Marvel's 2006 Civil War! As many other readers have noted, these solo takes on the infighting New Avengers are mostly filler, save for the pulse-pounding issue #25 featuring Iron Man helpless against a disgruntled employee. Since Captain America appeared in Civil War and his own book, however, did we really need to see him in solo action in New Avengers? Issue #25, as well as an appearance by the Inhumans (you'll never guess who the Sentry tries to hit it with!), make this an enjoyable if a bit unecessary read.

This graphic novel is broken into disctinct, loosely connected stories focusing on Cap and Falcon, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, the Sentry, and then Iron man and Commander Hill.

While all stories were written by Brian Bendis, his usual style seems at a lower quality. Parts seem hastily put together. Of particular note is when Spider-woman is captured by hydra, and after a lengthy (nonconsequential) talk with the bad guy, says a silly quote about how she has a habit of blowing up hydra bases, and then (with only a "where's the generator" line), shows her fleeing a blowing up hydra base. (Apparently we are back in the world of GIJoe, where guys are no resistance and bases blow up with ease).

That's not to say there aren't a few jewels. The Sentry's story is extremely well done. And there are good moments of art too. Chung is his usual best, and Ferry and Coipel do nice too. Chaykn and Yu, though, are laking. Chaykin in particular seems a bit rough. His tendency for large jaw bones make Falcon look like he's put on a little weight (imagine Randy Jackson, American Idol judge, with a beard).

The bottom line is that this is an okay TPB... it just probably won't be up to your standards if you've seen previous New Avengers TPBs. It doesn't even feature the team, "New Avengers", just individual characters. The disjoint story line, odd plot holes, and "new artist every issue" will make it seem like mostly filler. Probably because it mostly is. There are a few major plot advances (I won't say what they are), but this is mostly just Bendis filling a deadline. Of course, I'm not critic, so if you like New Avengers, see for yourself. That's just the impression that I got.

This fifth volume of New Avengers collects issues #21-25 of the series, and deals with the ramifications that the Civil War has on the team. Each issue is drawn by a different artist, and highlights what each team members is going through during the time of this current crisis. Inside, you'll find a Captain America issue penciled by Howard Chaykin, a Luke Cage issue by Leinil Francis Yu, a Spider-woman issue by Olivier Coipel and an Iron Man issue by Jimmy Cheung that hints at shell-head becoming the new head of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Exciting and interesting storytelling that requires a knowledge of Civil War, outside of this volume. More than anything else, this collection just fills in some of the more personal pieces in the overall story. I am not a huge fan of Chaykin's art, so the first story for me was hampered by it. Also the story about Spider-Woman and Hydra was a bit brief and almost ridiculous. Power Man's story though was maybe the most excellent of the whole bunch.

Most of the stories are hit and miss. The art changes with every issue, but i found it annoying and inconsistent. This book is really just a unnecessary tie in

This fifth New Avengers trade paperback collects issues #21-#25 of the Marvel series written by Brian Michael Bendis. The first four issues feature the respective reactions of team members Captain America, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman and The Sentry to the impending Superhero Registration Act. Issue 25 is the most interesting: it features an infiltration of Avengers Tower and a S.H.I.E.L.D. surprise at the end. Unfortunately these five issues feature five different art teams, little of which is notable. This non-essential book will probably only interest fans of the aforementioned heroes: Cap fans should instead read Cap's own Civil War TPB.