Origin II #2 Review

Writer: Keiron Gillen

Artist: Adam Kubert

What will happen when Wolverine and Sabretooth meet for the first time? Read on to find out.

The official description from Marvel:

Without his family, Logan struggles to continue on. Meanwhile, word of a clawed wild man in the woods has reached civilization and the hunt to capture him first begins! And enter…CREED!

I had my doubts about this series prior to it's launch, but after reading the first issue them doubts faded away, turning into tons of optimism. The symbolic nature simply amazed me, and despite it not having quite the same feel as the original Origin series, it was still very interesting in it's own unique way.

Keiron Gillen did however not quite follow up on that with this issue, as despite producing some decent plot developments, it felt more like a filler issue, meant purely to set up future events. On the other hand Gillen did do a terrific job of introducing both Sabretooth and Mr. Sinister to the series, as although it had already been announced that they'd feature in this series, it was nice to see them début. Overall however I didn't feel that Wolverine was featured enough in this issue and despite having tremendous set-up, there wasn't really much story wise that made it feel special.

Adam Kubert did however once again produce some fantastic artwork, with his art easily being the best thing about this issue. Much like the first issue Kubert's layouts were simply outstanding, giving a lot of depth as well as a lively tone to the issue. I also loved how Kubert handled the facial expressions, and especially on the likes of Mr. Sinister and Sabretooth, as it gave a eerie atmosphere to the issue. Added to this the dynamic action sequence and the spectacular colours from Frank Martin and it's hard to consider the art anything short of phenomenal.

Origin II has some brilliant development points in this issue, and it's future does look very promising, but as for this issue itself it was slightly lacking in certain parts, and if it wasn't for the intensity added by Sabretooth and Mr. Sinister I doubt it's be as good as it is. I still however recommend giving it a read, especially if you read the first issue.

Rating: 7/10

Origin II #1 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen

Artist: Adam Kubert

Can Origin II live up to the awesomeness of Origin? Read on to find out.

The official description from Marvel:

Part 1 of 5! A few years after the events of ORIGIN finds James Howlett running with the wolves…until something unexpected brings him back into the world of Follow the first "X-Man" as he finds his way back to civilization and falls afoul of someone Sinister, who's just discovering mutantkind and the horrors he can visit on them. Plus, discover the secret behind James' greatest enemy! At some point, the mutant who will become The Wolverine must choose: is he man or is he beast? An all-new chapter in the secret origin of one of Marvel's most mysterious characters is revealed starting this November, by superstars Kieron Gillen (YOUNG AVENGERS, IRON MAN) and Adam Kubert (AVENGERS, UNCANNY X-MEN, WOLVERINE)!

It is very hard to follow on from something that has had such great love over the years, and that is why I don’t envy Kieron Gillen being the person to continue  with Wolverine’s origin story.

I was however very surprised by the work that Gillen produced in this issue, as despite it being very different from Paul Jenkin’s style of storytelling, it still managed to intrigue me. What I especially liked about Gillen’s writing in this issue was the symbolism that he added, as while the lack of dialogue made the issue much quicker to lead, the tone of this style added a lot more depth to Wolverine as a character. I also loved the teasers that Gillen would add to the issue, as due to the lack of dialogue this would add the much needed suspense and drama.

The best part about the issue however had to be Adam Kubert’s artwork, with Kubert following in the footsteps of his brother Andy brilliantly. Now anyone who’s seen both Adam and Andy’s artwork in the past will know that they both have very different styles, and that is evident in this issue. The thing I loved most about Kubert’s art had to be the layout, as due to the lack of dialogue it need to be much more impactful than a regular comic book layout. Kubert would also add a lot of emotion, as well as gore to the issue, with his style matching the story’s tone perfectly.

The opening issue of Origin II may not be quite as good as the opening of Origin, but it is still a terrific issue, and if Gillen and Kubert continue to produce this level of work they could easily surpass the quality of the first series.

Rating: 8/10

Iron Man #17 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Carlo Pagulayan

This series has a whole has been rather disappointing, with this story being much the same. It has however had some great moments along the way, but the bad ones have overshadowed them and all that I can hope is that this conclusion is amazing.

Plot

Tony Stark's true origin is revealed!

Review

This was a brilliant issue and easily the best issue in the series so far. Kieron Gillen showed in this issue that he can be a brilliant writer, as although this issue makes the story up until now feel slightly irrelevant, it doesn't take away from the brilliant dramatic tone of this issue. Gillen would also do a great job of tying up some of the loose ends from previous issues, and answering some of the questions, like why Tony couldn't work the Godkiller. The pacing of this issue was also fantastic, with the build-up to the big reveal being very suspenseful. On top of all that I loved the narration of this issue, and how a recording from Howard Stark would set the tone and mood of this issue.

The artwork on this issue would once again be amazing with Carlo Pagulayan doing a fantastic job. The detail of Pagulayan's artwork is simply outstanding, with it being consistently perfect throughout. The best part of Pagulayan's artwork in this issue however had to be the way he showed the characters emotions, as with no action whatsoever the drama, intensity and suspense that he added would help to give a lot of depth and tone to the issue, setting a brilliant atmosphere throughout. Besides this the layout of Pagulayan's artwork was also amazing, as although it wasn't as unique or spectacular as some artist, it did it's job adding a lot of depth and tone to the issue, also making the emotions even more intense.

Everything that you thought you knew about this story would be turned on it's head in this issue, and most of this would result from a sequence showing Howard and Martha Stark deciding whether to trust 451 or not. Now I won't go into any details about what happened as to avoid spoilers, but I will say that I enjoyed seeing Martha and Howard again, as well as the fact that they didn't fully trust 451. I also enjoyed seeing what Howard got up to after this sequence, and it would set-up the revelation of their secret brilliantly, also being very emotion throughout.

The secret itself however was easily the most exciting thing about this issue, as you'd expect. Once again I won't go into much detail as to avoid spoiling this. What I enjoyed most about this revelation was how it changed everything that we thought we learned from the story so far, creating something completely different. It would however make the story up till now slightly irrelevant, though that wasn't a bad thing, as it was a brilliant surprise, being much more realistic. I also enjoyed that it wouldn't just be one surprise, but rather two, and it will be interesting to see just how big an effect it will have on the world of Iron Man going forward. 

Tony's reaction to the revelation would also be extremely interesting, as well as very emotional, adding a lot of drama and intensity to the issue. Now once again I won't go into any details, but there would be an interaction between Tony and a certain character that would be extremely interesting, showing the ramifications of this revelation in a very interesting and emotional way. What I liked most about this interaction was Tony's attitude, as it would show how much this has affected him, and although he says that he "doesn't feel any different," towards his parents, it is clear that this isn't a good thing for Tony.

Final Verdict

Although the Secret Origin of Tony Stark hasn't been one of the better Iron Man stories, this conclusion was amazing, being very emotional, showing just how good a writer Kieron Gillen can be. It also flowed smoothly, and although there wasn't a single bit of action, the depth and intensity of the story made it very exciting and entertaining. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this issue, as although it is probably more enjoyable to people who have read the rest of the story, it is still enjoyable on it's own, being much better than the rest of the story.

Rating: 8/10

Iron Man #16 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Carlo Pagulayan

This has been a very inconsistent series since it started, and although this story was heading in the same direction it has since started to show that there is hope in this series, and with only a couple of issues in this story remaining, I hope it doesn't disappoint.

Plot

As 451 tries to erase himself from existence, taking Iron Man (Tony Stark) with him, Iron Man must find a way of escaping the Godkiller.

Review

This was a good issue, but I was still disappointed in it, as after the amazing transformation the series has made, going from mediocre to very good has been nice, and it's sad to see it take a step back in that direction. Kieron Gillen did however do a brilliant job of finishing up Tony's time on the Godkiller, and setting up the finale part of this story. It was however this set-up that made the issue feel very slow, with the overall pace being all over the place. Gillen did however show some brilliant writing skills in the first half of this issue, as it was very suspenseful and dramatic, but it was the lack of any enemy along with the uneven pace that let it down.

The artwork was however once again amazing, and Carlo Pagulayan showed the same brilliant talent that he did on the last issue. The detail in Pagulayan's art was simply outstanding, as everything looked simply perfect. I also really enjoyed the emotion that Pagulayan showed on Tony's face throughout this issue, as he showed the threat that possibly dying had on Tony perfectly. The layouts were also once again spectacular, adding a lot of depth to the issue, as well as being very dynamic. I also really liked some of the backgrounds that Pagulayan drew in this issue, as although some were plain, there were also some really detailed and interesting ones as well, and I so wish he could have done the next issue as well.

This issue started with a monologue from 451, showing how he realised his mistakes, and how he planned to fix them by erasing himself from existence. This may have only been a very short part of this issue, but it was probably the most interesting, as it showed that 451 actually cares. I say this as over the story 451 has been a bit of an enigma, seeming both good and bad at certain times, whereas this shows that his intentions were good, even if his actions weren't. I also felt that this did a great job of setting up the tension for the rest of the issue.

This sequence would be quickly followed by a mad attempt by Tony to escape the Godkiller with 451, thus preventing either from being erased from time. I really enjoyed this sequence, and the interaction between Tony and P.E.P.P.E.R. throughout was very entertaining. I also enjoyed seeing the dread in Tony, and how his emotions showed a man who was in a frantic state. I did however feel that the sequence could have been a bit more exciting, and would have preferred that it lasted slightly longer to do so. It was however still very exciting and bar the start of the issue the best part. 

WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILER AHEAD!

Now I don't like giving away spoilers, and although this isn't a proper spoiler, the things I talk about will spoil the outcome of prior sequences. Now it was rather obvious that Tony would survive (the solicitations of future issues for starters), but after doing so Tony would return to Earth where he'd be greeted by his long time friend Pepper Pots. Now I won't go into any more details, but this was an interesting change to the style that the series has gone in as of late. At the same time it also felt rather unnecessary, as some of it could have waited till after the current story.

Final Verdict

This was a good continuation of the Secret Origin of Tony Stark story, but it was slightly slow, focusing too much on setting up the finale. It did however have some very intense and suspenseful moments, but unfortunately they were slightly overshadowed by the uneven pace of the issue. I would however recommend this to anyone who's been following the story so far, but otherwise it may be best to wait for the trade to come out.

Rating: 6/10

Iron Man #15 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Carlo Pagulayan

Overall this series has been fairly poor, as although it's had a few good moments, with the last issue being a considerable improvement, it all seems too little too late. There however is still hope in for the series, and if Kieron Gillen can do the same kind of stories he was prior to Marvel NOW!, now he can turn this series around easily.

Plot

Iron Man (Tony Stark) is finally rid of 451's control, but now he has to try and stop the Godkiller from destroying the Earth.

Review

This was a brilliant issue, and quite possibly the best issue that the series has seen, let alone the story. This issue showed exactly what kind of comics Kieron Gillen can produce when he wants to, and following the fantastic last issue there may be hope for this series after all. I really enjoyed the energy that Gillen added to this issue, as most of this story has been extremely dull, having a very slow pace. I also loved the excitement in this issue, and how Gillen managed to get extremely creative, showing Tony in his glory with all the tech around him. This issue would also have some emotion to it, as well as plenty of suspense, and drama, and if Gillen keeps this up throughout the remainder of this story I may keep getting it.

The art in this issue was also the best of the series, as although both Greg Land, and Dale Eaglesham have done amazing work, Carlo Pagulayan's art on this issue was out of this world. The detail in Pagulayan's art is simply wonderful, and the fact that he has a slightly similar style to Land helps keep a bit of continuity to the series. I also felt that Pagulayan's layouts were very dynamic, adding a lot of depth to the issue. I also loved how Pagulayan handled Tony's emotions in this issue as it really helped make the story feel more alive, and realistic. The best part of Pagulayan's art however had to be the action, and the suits of armour, which looked phenomenal, adding a lot of excitement.

This issue would see Tony going to what appears to be a mini flight capsule that is his armoury. Now I didn't read this series when he first headed into space, so I don't know if it was shown before, but I felt this was a good addition, though if it wasn't added earlier it's a weird coincidence that he all of a sudden has one. I loved how it interacted the same way as all his tech does, and seeing him change from one suit of armour to another was amazing. I also loved how we got to see his other sets of armour in use throughout the issue as well, and overall the armoury added a lot of excitement to this issue.

This issue would give us what we've been waiting for since the start of the story, Iron Man squaring off against 451. Now it may have taken an awful long time to happen, but it was excellent, and almost worth the wait, with the only problem being just how long it took to happen. The interaction between Tony, and 451 during the fight was also extremely interesting, showing that Gillen is a good writer when he puts his mind to it, as it managed to be exciting, as well as fun without being too much in your face.

The main goal for Tony in this issue would be to save the Earth. Now I'm not going to reveal whether he does this in this issue or not, as although it's rather obvious that he will, whether this issue or a later, I still want to avoid spoilers. Last issue saw Tony very frantic, running around the Godkiller, looking for a way off. It was however much more interesting to see him a bit cooler, and taking everything one step at a time, whilst him still reminding everyone that there is a deadline.

Final Verdict

This was an outstanding issue, and easily the best the series has produced so far. It had everything from light humour, to amazing action, being exciting, and dramatic the whole way through. It also had a lot of suspense as well, as well as some interesting dialogue. Individually I'd easily recommend this issue, but as it's part of a story that is already on it's seventh part, with most of the previous parts being poor I'd only really recommend it to anyone that's already been reading it, as otherwise it's better to wait till this story's finished, and hope that the next one starts as this one is now.

Rating: 8/10

Iron Man #14 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Greg Land

This has been a very poor series, as although it was poor prior to first dropping the series following issue 5, it hasn't been much better since, and this storyline has been a bit disappointing. This second half does however look to have more promise, but it may be to little, to late.

Plot

Iron Man (Tony Stark) has temporarily escaped from 451, but 451 uses Death's Head to track Tony down.

Review

This was a terrific issue, and probably the best in the series so far, definitely being the best in this storyline so far. Kieron Gillen did a great job on this issue, reminding me why I used to consider him as a good writer, as this has probably been the best work he's done since the start of Marvel NOW! It was very suspenseful, and dramatic, having tons of drama, and atmosphere, having become the kind of series I'd hoped it would've been by now. It didn't however have any proper action in it, though the tone of the issue, as well as the suspense made up for that. The dialogue was also great, adding depth to the story, as well as more drama, and tone.

I've had mixed feelings about Greg Land's art over the course of this series, as although there have been quite a few poor moments, he has shown that he can produce marvellous art. He once again showed this during this issue, as it would appear that with the lack off female characters there isn't much he can disappoint me with (as I dislike how every female character he draws looks like a glamour model). I loved the way Land handled the character emotions, with them feeling very natural, and realistic, with even 451, and Death's Head showing some emotion. I also enjoyed the dynamic feel of Land's art, but he did slightly disappoint by going back to the awkward smiles that he usually draws on people.

For most of this story Tony has been anchored by 451, being unable to get away. He however managed to escape last issue, and during this issue he found a way of making sure that 451 can no longer control him. I won't go into any details, as although it happened near the start of the issue, it's still a nicer if it's a surprise. I will however say that I found it to be very clever, even though slightly obvious, and I'm glad that Tony is finally able to do something about 451, as I feel his lack of movement hasn't helped this story.

Death's Head once again made an appearance in this issue, as due to the actions of Tony, 451 must rely on Death's Head to track him down. The chase between Tony, and Death's Head during this issue was very exciting, and entertaining, being also very suspenseful. I also enjoyed the dialogue throughout, and loved how Death's Head commented on how he disliked being controlled. There was also some very shocking things during this sequence, giving more depth, and drama.

Throughout this story it has been questionable whether 451 is a villain, or a hero, but this issue would show him to be more of a villain, as some of his actions during it were very questionable. I found this very interesting, and I've loved how so far 451 has been very emotionless, making it hard to tell whether he's truly good, or evil. This issue however he showed plenty of emotion, having a manacle look about him, and I hope that we finally see him square off against Tony, as that would be amazing to see.

Final Verdict

This was an amazing issue, and finally the series is starting to be a bit more entertaining, instead of being poor, and slow. It also had a lot of suspense, and drama, with some shocking moments throughout. Cause of all this I'd recommend this issue, especially to people who have been reading this series, and aren't sure whether to continue or not. I would however probably recommend against it otherwise, as although it was amazing, you really need the rest of the story to understand what's going on, which isn't really worth it unless you get it in trade at a later date.

Rating: 8/10

Iron Man #13 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Greg Land

I dropped this series following the opening story arc, which was pretty poor, but have since decided to give it another shot as I didn't want to miss this Secret Origin. It has however been a bit disappointing so far, even with last issue being good, and I seriously hope the story starts to get better soon.

Plot

As 451 continues to tell Iron Man (Tony Stark) about the Godkiller outfit, Death's Head sets his sight on them, hoping to bag a huge bounty.

Review

This was another mediocre issue, and with last issue being good I hoped that the story/series would continue that way. It wasn't all bad though, and Kieron Gillen did a decent job, as there were still some very interesting points to this story. The thing that does bother me though is the fact that most of this story has been very slowly paced, and after one issue with a faster pace it slows right back down again, which was really disappointing. There was however some interesting set-ups, but I won't judge them till they pay off, as there have been some brilliant set-ups in previous issues, with only a few paying off. Gillen did however add some excitement, just not a lot, and next to no action, which was disappointing.

Greg Land returned as artist for this issue, and although I've been preferring Dale Eaglesham's art I have to say that Land did a very good job on this issue, and it's some of the best art I've seen from him in a long time. With there not being many reasons for smiling, as well as no female character's it eliminates the reasons I usually dislike Land's art, as there's no glamorous women, and no awkward smiles. Besides this Land did a great job at showing the character's expressions, and especially with Death's Head, who isn't easy to show emotion on. The detail was also brilliantly handled, with terrific backgrounds, and a dynamic layout, with Land overall really showing improvement.

Last issue saw 451 reveal the Godkiller outfit, and how Tony is destined to pilot it. Now the developments in this issue were very interesting, as although it slowed the issue down it gave brilliant set-up, which I hope pays off in the next issue or two. I am however not entirely sure whether or not I like the design of the outfit, as although I like the connection to the Celestials, it doesn't feel like an Iron Man suit, though I may change my mind in the next few issues.

Besides the Godkiller suit we also saw yet again the continued relationship between 451, and Tony, and how they disagree. It is however 451's actions that still puzzle me, as he's a real conundrum, seeming to be good, whilst having a bad vibe about him, at times seeming very selfish. The interaction between 451, and Tony also continued to show the dislike that Tony has for 451, and if this doesn't eventually end with the two fighting I'll probably be very disappointed.

This issue would also see the return of Death's Head, which was nice, adding yet more variables to the future of this story. Now although most of Death's Head's appearance in this issue was set-up, he did have some action, eventually finding 451, and Tony, showing bad intentions. It also had some explosive points, and if this is a sign of things to come, this story may be very interesting in the next few issues, but we'll wait and see. I also look forward to seeing exactly what role Death's Head will play in the rest of this story, and whether this is a short return or not.

Final Verdict

This issue was slightly disappointing, with the story returning to a slow pace. It did however have some interesting plot set-ups, as well as some interesting developments. I also had a bit of excitement, but little action, as well as some decent dialogue. I would only recommend this to anyone who's got the story/series so far, as you might as well to see where the story goes, but otherwise I'd recommend leaving this, and if the story gets better getting it in trade.

Rating: 3/5

Iron Man #12 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Dale Eaglesham

After initially dropping this series following the first story arc I am back for at least this story, as I couldn't miss an origin story. So far it's been interesting, but nothing startling, and I seriously hope that it improves soon.

Plot

As Tony Stark is being born his father Howard Stark has to go off with 451 and take care of the grey aliens, who know Tony's secret.

Review

This was probably the best issue I've read in this series, and certainly the best in this storyline so far. Kieron Gillen did a good job on this issue, giving us a very entertaining, and exciting comic, and although I wouldn't necessarily class it as a great Iron Man issue, especially considering Iron Man barley appears, it was still exciting, with interesting developments. I personally love how Gillen has been handling Howard, and how he's managed to cope through all of this, doing what's best for his family. There was also some good action, and interesting dialogue, and Gillen keeps making me more and more intrigued with this 451 character, who I originally disliked, as although I still don't like him, he is becoming a very interesting character, and I love how it's questionable whether he's a hero, or a villain.

The art from Dale Eaglesham continues to amaze me, and I have been loving his work on this story. The detail is fabulous, with next to no imperfections, and although his art isn't necessarily the best in the world, it is very smooth, and consistent, and overall is better than previous artist Greg Land's art. Land did however once again produce a great cover for this issue, which had brilliant colours from Guru Efx. Eaglesham's layouts were also brilliant, adding more depth, and drama to the issue, helping the story flow smoother. Eaglesham also handled the facial expressions perfectly, showing the character's emotions perfectly. The action was also handled perfectly, adding more excitement, and suspense to the issue, though I did question where Howard found the shotgun that he gave 451, as it appeared from nowhere.

As I said earlier the development of 451 has been one of the most interesting things about this story, and although the action was still probably the best thing about the issue, it was 451's development that interested me the most. In the sequences with Howard 451 seems like the most friendliest robot ever, with Howard thanking him, and kind of classing him as a friend. On the other hand with Tony he seems like a right dictator, and villain, using Tony for his own means, which shows a different light, and questions what type of character 451 really is, and I look forward to find out.

There was plenty of action in this issue, with Howard's team returning. I really enjoyed seeing the likes of Dum Dum Dugan, and Thunderbolt Ross in issue 10, but this time they were also used better, as although they didn't speak much, they were doing the tasks that they should be doing. I also loved seeing Nessa the Kitten, and The Bear in action, with the Bear being very entertaining, and exciting. The art from Eagleshham was probably what really helped with this though, as the character expressions really added more drama, and the action was very dynamic.

Whilst all this is going on the grey aliens are taking in the significance of what they've learned, whilst ultimately being off guard when Howard, and his gang arrive. Now the grey aliens aren't really that interesting, and their novelty wore off after the first issue they appeared in. It was however still interesting to see how they reacted to the news, as well as how they reacted to Howard, and his gang arriving to take them out. To be honest if it wasn't for the fact they were grey, and alien like they are very similar to most casino workers/owners, being very greedy, and power hungry, which was interesting as well.

Final Verdict

This was the best issue of the story so far, and probably the best in the series, and if not certainly one of them. It was however still not that good of an Iron Man issue, but it had plenty of action, and questions to make up for that, and the question over 451's character was probably the most interesting thing in the issue. I'd probably recommend this issue, especially to people who have been following the series, but to people looking for a great Iron Man story I'd advice caution.

Rating: 4/5

Young Avengers #5 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Jamie McKelvie & Mike Norton 

Although this series had a very poor start, last issue was very enjoyable, and shows that the series can become a decent series, and I seriously hope that this promise continues in the next few issues, and hopefully even beyond that.

Plot

With Loki betraying them, the Young Avengers are left to face their parents alone. Meanwhile Loki has a fight with his conscience over whether to return and help the Young Avengers.

Review

Following a very enjoyable last issue, the first story arc in the new Young Avengers series ended on a relative high note, and although the series is still a little of the level of quality that I'd hoped for, this along with the last issue has shown promise for the series. Kieron Gillen has certainly improved the quality of his work on this series, and although his Iron Man series is still slightly poor, he's starting to show that he's still the great writer that brought us the fabulous Journey into Mystery. Gillen did a brilliant job of showing that this series could be fun, and entertaining throughout this issue, and although it's still far from being perfect, it is a vast improvement, on the slow, and dull pacing the first few issues had. Gillen also did a fantastic job with the action in this issue, as it was very exciting, and entertaining, adding more drama, and suspense to the story, which was brilliant. I also liked how Gillen didn't add as much humour to this issue, and the humour that was added was very funny, and appropriate, whereas in the past it has felt slightly forced, and unnecessary. I also loved how despite all the fun, and excitement that went on in this issue, that Gillen still made room to continue developing the character's emotions, and it really added more depth to the issue, whilst also yet again adding more drama.

The art from Jamie McKelvie, and Mike Norton was once again brilliant, and their art on this issue has probably been their best in the series so far. To be honest the art has been what's impressed me the most about this series, as it's so unique, and different that it really grabs my attention, and even when the story's poor, the art always pleases, and just seems to get better, and better. One of the things that I love the most about McKelvie, and Norton's artwork is they layouts, which are spectacular, and really add another level of awesomeness to the series, whilst also making it much more dynamic. Besides that the character's are also drawn perfectly, and the style really suits the series, being very fun, and vibrant. The detail in the artwork was also brilliant, and the character's facial expressions were handled perfectly, with their emotions being easy to understand. The art on the action sequences was also nothing short of phenomenal, as it really made the sequences feel that much more dramatic, adding a lot more impact to them, as well as more excitement.

Now the rest of my review may not be as long as usual, as due to there being less happening in this issue, along with the fact that I don't want to give away any major spoilers makes it hard to write a review at the length I usually write. Anyway lets start with how the Young Avengers dealt with Loki's betrayal, and how Wiccan blamed himself for this. The betrayal by Loki in last issue was a shock, but not a surprsise, as although I knew Loki was up to something I didn't think he'd blatantly betray them, although it is Loki after all. I did enjoy the way the Young Avengers reacted to this, seeing themselves as sitting ducks, but it was the depressing reaction Wiccan had that I enjoyed the most, as it was full of emotion, and made you feel for him, as although you could say that he shouldn't be so emotional, it's understandable considering the circumstances.

As Loki was away he was meditating, and getting bugged by his conscience, which resembled the younger Loki. For people who didn't read Journey into Mystery, the younger Loki swallowed Ikol (which possessed the spirit of the evil Loki) to save Asgard, allowing evil Loki to once again walk among us. I loved how the young Loki still resides in his body featuring as a conscience, as although this feels awful similar to what happened with Peter Parker in Superior Spider-Man, it was nice to see that the younger Loki wasn't forgotten, and that he will still play a role in Loki's life, by making him feel guilty about his actions. I did however also love how unlike with Superior Spider-Man both the conscience of young Loki, and the evil version that's in control of the body got to interact, which made it much more fun, and interesting. This did however beg the question whether this would cause Loki to have a change of heart, and return and help the Young Avengers, but I won't answer that to avoid spoilers.

The issue would however see the Young Avengers have it all out against the group of parents, and although I won't reveal as to the outcome of the fight, or any details, I will say what I though of it, and whether it was a worthy fight to end the first story arc. Now the fight was epic, and very exciting. I really enjoyed how each member managed to bring their all, and along with the amazing art, it was truly amazing. I did however find the ending to be a bit abrupt, as although I won't say any details as to avoid spoilers, it was a bit unexpected, and kind of ruined the rest of the fight, which was a shame.

Final Verdict

This series is still far from being at the level I hoped it'd be, but it deviantly's showing improvement, and this was a very exciting, and entertaining issue. It was also very emotional at times, and had brilliant action, and although there were a couple of disappointing factors involved in this issue, in general it was very good, and I hope this is a sign of things to come. I would highly recommend this issue as although not perfect it was still very good, but if you've not been following the series it may be better to wait until the next issue, as this was the end of a story, and may be confusing without the other issues.

Rating: 4/5

Iron Man #11 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Dale Eaglesham

This series has been far from brilliant, with a opening story that was that bad that it forced me to drop the series. I couldn't however miss this story though, even if it's poor, as being an Iron Man fan, I have to see what this secret origin is, and although the secret origin hasn't been brilliant so far, it does show promise.

Plot

Still not wanting to believe 451, Iron Man (Tony Stark) has to help save the spaceship that they're on. Also 451 helps Howard, and Maria Stark save the unborn Tony.

Review

This was yet another mediocre issue, and although the story so far isn't terrible, it's still to do anything to amaze me, and is very average. After reading the prelude issue I had faith that this may be a good story, and as although it was far from brilliant itself, the prelude did show some promise, and grabbed my interest. I do however have to give Kieron Gillen props for doing something different, and risky, it's just that I so hoped that the story would be much better by this stage, and although it's only two issues in, it feels like it's going to continue to progress at a snails pace. Gillen did however do a better job of some of the dialogue in this issue, making it much more natural, and when necessary funny, whereas there have been times in the last couple of issues were it's felt slightly generic, and predictable. Like what's been the case with most Iron Man issues I've reviewed, when I have one positive thing to say about an issue, there's at least one negative thing to counteract that. This is no different, as despite the slow pace, there wasn't a great deal happening in this issue, and although Gillen tackled the key development stage of the story, he didn't spend a lot of time developing anything else, which was a bit disappointing, and made the issue less exciting, and dynamic.

The art in this issue was once again great, with Dale Eaglesham doing an excellent job. To be honest Eaglesham being the artist on this storyline has probably been the best thing, as although Greg Land's art wasn't terrible, it had quite a few flaws, whereas Eaglesham's is much more natural looking, and all overall much better.The detail in Eaglesham's art was once again brilliant, and everything from the character's to the background looked perfect. The thing about Eaglesham's art that I probably love the most is his layouts. I've been enjoying them over the last few issues, but I think that it's the familiarity that makes it look better in this issue, as it really suits the tone of the story, giving a great retro feel, whilst also being modern. I've also loved how he's drawn the character's, and especially Tony, and Howard, as although you can clearly tell that they're different character's, you can also tell that they're related, which is essential, and Eaglesham shows this perfectly. Now the only piece of artwork in this issue that I wasn't sure on was when Land's cover was repeated half way through the issue. Now I'm not saying it was a bad cover, it's just that I don't really like it when the exact same image is repeated later in the issue, especially when it's a different artist than the one that's doing the interiors. In saying that it did suit the sequence, and was different, but I'll talk more on that a bit later.

Like the last issue in this storyline, this issue started with Tony talking with 451, and yet again not wanting to believe what he's saying. In fact this time round Tony has to help 451, by helping save the spaceship from an attack. Now as I said earlier, the dialogue was much better this time round, and although Gillen's gradually been showing the friction between Tony, and 451, you really got to see these two interact in a brilliant way, with some surprisingly amazing dialogue. What I probably liked most about this sequence was that you got to see that 451 was a deeper character than he's appeared so far, and although I'm still not won over to liking this character, he is becoming more interesting. There was also a brilliant reference in this when Tony says that 451 has a Commodore 64 for a brain, which was amusing.

We also got to see Tony interact with his A.I., P.E.P.P.E.R. Now P.E.P.P.E.R. was one of the few things that I loved about the series when I originally read it, and I was so hoping for the funny interactions it had with Tony. It does however look like the A.I. has grown up since I stopped reading, and the conversation was a bit dull, and predictable. I did however like that it was similar to what a conversation would be between Tony, and the real Pepper if she did something that would upset him as much as the A.I. has.

451 had a much bigger role in this issue than the last, as in the past he helps Howard save his unborn son. Now this was something that everyone probably saw coming, so it was no surprise, and I'm sure that this will have upset a lot of Iron Man fans. I'm more open to new things, and this small change in Tony's origin isn't enough for me to hate the story yet, but what I did find more interesting was the change in 451's attitude. Now in the last issue I said that his characteristics in the past were slightly different from how he's been acting in the present. Well this appears to change, and in this issue he seems much more like his current self, being much more pushy, and demanding, even if he does seem to want to help. Overall I actually liked this, and although it wasn't enough for me to rate this issue higher, I am looking forward to seeing this progressed throughout the story.

As I said earlier there was a double page spread of Land's cover showing the development of Tony now that 451's helping his development. Now as I said I wasn't sure if I was happy about the art being added, but I did love seeing the progression with the alien language next to it. Now I do know that this will probably upset fans, and it may still turn out to upset me, but this actually had me intrigued in the idea that Gillen is developing in this story, and although it's still miles of from being brilliant, it is something unique, and I look forward to seeing how Gillen develops this.

Final Verdict

Like the previous issues in this storyline, this issue was far from great, and was actually rather slow. The events that happened in the issue were interesting, and different, but the pacing problems really hurt the overall quality of the issue, and if the story continues to develop at this slow pace it won't be good. Like last issue I would recommend this to anyone already getting the series, or people who like origin stories, but otherwise I'd recommend waiting to see if the story picks up, as so far it's been very average.

Rating: 3/5

Iron Man #10 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Dale Eaglesham

I originally had high hopes for this series, but the first story, Believe was very poor, and I dropped the series. I have however decided to give this Secret Origins story a chance, and although the prelude wasn't brilliant, the story does have has potential.

Plot

After being immobilised by a mechanism called 451, Iron Man (Tony Stark) is forced to hear the story of how his father, Howard Stark, along with a group of friends went on a mission to save the unborn Tony.

Review

This wasn't a bad issue, and in fact is one of the better issues I've read in this series, but like all of Kieron Gillen's work on this series, it has it's flaws, and is far from brilliant. This issue was all over the place, and although there were good bit's, the start was a bit too rushed, which took away from it's tone, and pace. Gillen did however show some promise for the future of this storyline, as although it could still be a disaster, there are a lot of ways he can go which would make this a brilliant story. One of the main things I liked about Gillen's writing in this issue was that he stepped back on the humour, as although this hasn't been a humour based comic, there have been some references, and jokes that have just felt forced, so it was nice that this issue didn't have any of that. It also allowed for Gillen to add more emotion to the issue which was nice, as with the story centring around a father trying to save his unborn child, it was bound to have a lot of emotion in it, and although GIllen could have handled it better, he did do a decent job of it. Gillen also did a half decent job of making this issue dramatic at times, as although the pace at the start was all over the place, the rest of the issue was at times very dramatic, and exciting, and hopefully Gillen will manage to turn this into a good story.

The art from Dale Eaglesham was once again brilliant, and I'm very happy that he's doing the art on this story. As I've said in my previous reviews, the previous artist Greg Land's art wasn't terrible, and there were things I liked about it, but there are things that I hate about his art (way he draws women, and smiles mainly). Eaglesham's art, although not quite as nice looking is however much more consistent, which makes it much more appealing than Land's. The detail in Eaglesham's art is also something that put's his above Land's, as although Land's has some decent detail, it's not detailed to the level of Eaglesham's, which isn't far of perfect. The thing about Eaglesham's art that I loved the most however had to be the way he drew both the past, and the present, as although there wasn't a great deal of difference between the two, they had very different tone's, showing the time periods that they were in, which was perfect. I also loved the Eaglesham's layouts, and especially in the past sequences, as they were very unique, and made the story that much more dynamic. Eaglesham also drew both the character's, and the facial expressions perfectly as well, as you could really see what they were feeling by their expressions.

Following the video that 451 showed Tony at the end of the last issue, Tony is very shocked by what he's seen, not wanting to believe that 451 knew his father. I loved the emotion in this sequence, but it's not necessarily a great jumping on point for new readers, as there are a lot of people that may have missed the prelude that are opening this issue up, automatically getting confused, which is never a good thing about a comic. I did however enjoy the interaction between Tony, and 451, and although I'm still not fond of this new character, he is unique, and by the looks of things very powerful, which could be interesting in the future of the story.

When the story jumps to the past we see Howard, and Maria Stark having trouble trying to have a child, with their doctor saying that it's probably for the best. As I said earlier in my review, the way this started was a all over the place, which didn't give me as a reader the chance to have any feelings over these panels, and although you could see the emotion, and determination in Howard, it would have been so much better if it was either the amount of activities was shortened, or the sequence was slightly expanded. I also liked how Howard was willing to travel all over the place to find the answer to saving his son, and although I slightly questioned how he knew about places like the Eternal City, or of people like the High Evolutionary, I just settled for the assumption that he has connections.

During his quest to find the answers that will save his unborn child's life, Howard is pointed in the direction of a person in Nevada, who turns out to be a grey alien named Rollo, who looks like your stereotypical alien, that uses a image inducer to make him look human. The only thing I really questioned about this addition was whether Howard already knew that Rollo was an alien, as his change into alien form was very sudden, and Howard didn't seem too be all that shocked (although the first panel you only see the back of Howard so he may be shocked then). Besides all that I found Rollo very humorous, and in a good way, as although I said there wasn't much humour in this issue, this is the exception, and the humour was very appropriate for the sequence. The best thing about Rollo, and his involvement was however the fact that he worked as a casino named Area 52, which was a nice touch that I appreciated.

Although it was already established at the end of the last issue that 451 possibly knew Howard, this issue would continue this by showing them interact. I won't go into to much details on what happened as although it wasn't much, it would spoil the issue, I will say some of my thoughts. As I said I'm still not a fan of 451 as a character, so I didn't feel much of the character in this sequence. I did however notice that he seemed slightly different than before which was interesting, and I look forward to seeing if this is the case. I also question what involvement 451 will have in the birth of Tony, and if 451 has a bigger connection that he originally appeared to have. I look forward to seeing how this is developed, and hope Gillen produces something good.

The thing that interested me the most about this issue was when Howard had to bring a group together to help him complete heist. This just reminded me of Ocean's Eleven, which is probably what it was meant to do. Now I wasn't entirely sure if I loved the reference, as although I liked it, there was a small part of me that felt it was slightly cheesy. I did however love the team that Howard put together, especially considering some of the names that he enlisted. As it's been announced already in previous articles, I don't think it would be spoiling to mention the people involved, who are, Jimmy Woo, The Bear, Nessa the Kitten, Dum Dum Dugan, Thunderbolt Ross, and obviously Rollo. Now the big names that stuck out were Dum Dum, and Thunderbolt, but it was also nice to see the likes of Jimmy Woo added into the mix, which was nice. I also liked seeing the younger versions of Dum Dum, and Thunderbolt, and am looking forward to seeing them work with Howard in the future issues of this story.

Final Verdict

Although this wasn't a brilliant issue, it wasn't terrible, and was a half decent start to the series. The issue started at a weird pace, but following that it became very interesting, setting-up some interesting pieces which I personally look forward to seeing developed. I would recommend this to anyone who's getting the series, or like origin stories, but would air on the side of caution, as although it shows promise, it's not great yet, and could land up being a terrible story. Basically, if you're in no rush to get this I'd probably recommend waiting to see if the story gets any better.

Rating: 3/5

Iron Man #9 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Dale Eaglesham

Before this series started I had high hopes as Kieron Gillen did a brilliant job on Journey into Mystery, and a decent job on Uncanny X-Men, but since Marvel NOW! has seen him on new series, his work has became very poor, and I actually dropped this series after issue 5, and have only given it another shot sue to the story line (couldn't miss an Iron Man origin story, even if it turns out to be bad).

Plot

Iron Man (Tony Stark) hires an alien bounty hunter named Death's Head to track down a mechanism called 451, who he holds responsible for many deaths.

Review

This wasn't a bad issue, but it wasn't great either, and no better than the series was when I dropped it. The main reason I think this issue didn't appeal to me too much was that although being the start of a new story, it appears to continue from the previous story, which confused me at the start. I did however get into the issue, and kind of understood what I needed, so that doesn't really spoil the issue too much, but what did was the pacing. The entire first half of the issue was slow, and dull, and when I was wanting to open the issue, and get thrown right into a story that was either interesting, or exciting, or better both, I got none, and was thinking if this was a wise decision to get this issue. The second half was however exciting, and interesting, and the perfect prologue, to what I still hope is an amazing story. I also found the issue humorous at times, but some of the humour was just plain painful, and made me question why it was added, but I'll talk more on that later. Gillen did however somehow manage to add a bit of drama, as although the better part of this issue was dull, and slow, when it picked up, it was surprisingly very suspenseful, and dramatic, with a brilliant ending, which gives me hope for the story in the long run.

This issue sees the first time Greg Land hasn't worked on the series, as Dale Eaglesham's taking over artwork for at least this story. Now although there were things about Land's art that were horrifically painful (way he draws women, and smiles mainly) I didn't hate his art, but putting that aside, I do much prefer Eaglesham's art, and was glad to see him on this story. The detail in Eaglesham's art was amazing, as everything looked so perfect, and neat, whether small details, or large details. The only thing about Eaglesham's art that isn't better than Land's is that it's not as beautiful, but at the same time, it's also minus the annoying awkward expressions that come with that, and overall although not necessarily as pretty looking, it was still awesome, and I'd take that with the non-awkward facial expressions any day. Eaglesham's also did a fantastic job on both the scenery, and layout, as the layout added so much drama, and dynamic to the issue, whereas the scenery made it feel like the perfect sci-fi story, reminding me of the brilliant classic sci-fi movies from the 80's. I also loved how Eaglesham handled the facial expressions, as you could really see what the character's was feeling, seeing anger on Tony at one point, and even mischief from the mechanism 451 as well, which was wonderful, making the issue feel more alive, as well as more suspenseful, and dramatic.

Star-Lord from the Guardians of the Galaxy made an appearance in this issue, and to be honest I wasn't sure if this was a good thing, or a bad thing. Now as far as I'm aware this is the first appearance from any of the Guardians in this series, and although I've been loving the Guardians of the Galaxy series, which Brian Michael Bendis has been doing an amazing job on, I don't think it was the best idea to include them the now. Don't get me wrong I'd have loved to have said that this was an epic appearance, and that it was the right thing, as it's a good idea to show that Iron Man is part of the Guardians, it's just that I felt that this Star-Lord felt a bit different from the one Bendis has been writing, and that if this is anything to show of how Gillen would handle the Guardians I wouldn't ever want him working on the series. Although I'd still like the Guardians to make a decent cameo, or prolonged appearance in this series, but only if done right, and not forced, like this was.

In this issue Iron Man hires a bounty hunter named Death's Hand to track down a mechanism named 451. Now I don't know much about Death's Hand apart from the fact that he was created for the UK series, The Transformers. Now I actually didn't mind Death's Hand, and although he didn't do a great lot in this issue, he seemed very interesting, and at times humorous. There was however a bad bit of humour that was added as when Death's Hand asks if Iron Man code for killing doesn't include robots, Tony replies saying that some of his best friends are robots, and asks if that sounds robot racist. Now after initially thinking what, and why this was added I saw that it was an interesting addition, and that it probably will get some chuckles from the right audience, but I still overall found it painful, and couldn't get over the fact it was added in the first place.

Now The character that Death's Hand was hired to find was as I said a mechanism called, 451. Now I haven't read the last few issues, but by the looks of it 451 did something really bad in one of them issues, causing the deaths of innocents, which upset Iron Man. Now to be fair I can't really judge too much on 451 as a character as I haven't seen him prior to this issue, and he doesn't appear much in this issue, but I will say what I thought from this issue. Now 451 seemed like your typical robot/A.I. villain, but at the same time he seemed very unique, and interesting, and the interaction between him and Tony in this issue was entertaining, and although nothing special, it was dramatic. I also liked how 451 hacked Tony's suit, controlling his A.I. P.E.P.P.E.R., which made him seem more like a villain, and overall I look forward to seeing more of 451, and how he plays into this story.

When the issue finally got into the Secret Origin of Tony Stark I was hooked, and then disappointed that it only lasted a few pages, with not much to show. In saying that, this was probably what was so good about this, as with it being only a prologue you don't want it giving too much away, as anyone that skips this issue, getting the story from next would be mighty disappointed if the main story had actually started. I also think that giving little information, whilst still giving something makes for the perfect cliffhanger, as it has readers (me at least) hooked, and eager to read the next issue, which is what a prologue should really do.

Final Verdict

Although this series doesn't seem to have changed much since I dropped it, the set-up for the Secret Origin of Tony Stark story was very interesting, and although I'd have liked more of it, it was probably the right thing to give less. Besides this however the issue was very slow, and dull, with some good humour, and some terrible humour, and if it wasn't for the ending I wouldn't be optimistic for this storyline. I'd only recommend this to anyone that's either already getting this series, or likes are like me, and likes to get prologues to stories, as besides that it's better just to wait till the proper start in next issue, which I'm hoping will be amazing.

Rating: 3/5

Young Avengers #4 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artists: Jamie McKelvie & Mike Norton 

Before this series started I was really looking forward to it as the teaser in the Marvel NOW! Point One issue was brilliant, but unfortunately it's been disappointing. I do however have faith that this series will become good, but if it's not consistently good, or at least interesting in the next story I may be dropping it.

Plot

Kate Bishop, and Noh-Varr return to help the rest of these Young Avengers, and after a visit from Noh-Varr's parents the question remains, can the Young Avengers trust Loki?

Review

This was surprisingly a very enjoyable issue, and if it continues like this there may be a lot of hope for the future of this series. To be fair this story has been very dull, and although this issue has been much better than the previous issues in the story I doubt I will have fond memories of it. Kieron Gillen hasn't really been doing well in Marvel NOW! so far, as both this series and Iron Man (which I dropped after the first story) have not really appealed to me, so it was nice to see him do good on this issue. Now this issue wasn't without it's flaws, and there were moments were it could have easily have been as poor as the last couple of issues, but Gillen did manage to give the fun vibe that I hope for in this type of series, as well as shock, and interest. I still think the whole foundations of this story with the weird parents isn't good, and can't wait for it too finish, but I am glad that it's at least exciting, and fun, with some humour, and amazing action. Gillen also surprising gave some brilliant emotion, as although he's shown that he can do this in previous series like Journey into Mystery he hasn't really done it that much in this series.

The art from Jamie McKelvie, and Mike Norton was once again amazing, and although I'm still not 100% sure on how the art's split between the two it doesn't stop it from being amazing. The detail in the artwork is brilliant, as everything looks perfect, whether small, or large details. The style of artwork that McKelvie, and Norton use on this series suits it brilliantly, as the cartoonish style helps to give more of a fun atmosphere to the series, which it needs. I also love the way it's laid out, and especially in the double page that shows Noh-Varr's actions in M.J's Nightclub. I also love how the characters themselves are drawn, as they look brilliant, and the facial expressions are handled brilliantly, adding more drama, and suspense to the issue. The action was also fabulously handled, being very dynamic, and entertaining, and overall McKelvie, and Norton did an amazing job. Matthew Wilson also did a brilliant job with the colouring, and they really suit the tone of the series, making McKelvie, and Norton's art look even more fun.

The main thing I was looking forward to with this issue was the return of Kate, and Noh-Varr to the series having not made an appearance since the first issue. I was a bit disappointed that they hadn't been involved as with Kate being my favourite of the Young Avengers, and also finding Noh-Varr's addition intriguing, it's been a shame that they haven't appeared, and although I've not minded seeing the focus Wiccan, Hulkling, Ms. America, and Loki, I'd have preferred if they'd been included. Anyway, they come back to the series in a big way, bringing ton's of excitement with them, and now that the whole of the Young Avengers are together this series may finally become something brilliant.

When Kate, and Noh-Varr reach the Young Avengers at M.J.'s Nightclub, Noh-Varr makes a brilliant entrance, crashing through the window, and attacking the weird creatures that appear to be the Young Avengers parents. Now there'll be a lot of people that will find this sequence a little too cheesy, but I enjoyed it, and the way the double page was laid out with the whole event laid out on a small scale, with a number key describing what's happening, as well as five side panels that zoom into the action was brilliant, and very unique. It was also visually very dynamic, and added another level of fun to a series that needs to be as fun as it can be.

Now this doesn't really affect the story, but there was a nice page showing Captain America, and Thor sitting in Avengers Mansion whilst the Young Avengers try and escape from their false parents. This was a really fun sequence, and although I questioned how Cap, and Thor missed the action outside, it did add some light humour to the issue. It was also nice that Cap, and Thor made another appearance (having appeared with the rest of the Avengers Unity Squad in the second issue), and although it could have been better it was still fun.

Can the Young Avengers trust Loki? Wait a minute didn't I ask this question last review? I did, but the question continues into this issue, as Loki persists in trying to persuade Wiccan to give him his powers for ten minutes. Now in a way this is a bit dull, as it's repeating something from the previous issue, but I liked how it continued as it showed the mentality of Loki, as well as continuing to ask the question whether Loki is trustworthy. Obviously the answer's no, but until the Young Avengers trust him they won't find out. I won't go right out and reveal whether they trust Loki in this issue or not, but the fact that they were considering it's interesting enough, and the build-up to making the decision was very suspenseful, and dramatic. The decision itself was also very interesting, and without spoiling, or revealing I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops in next issues conclusion.

Final Verdict

This was a surprisingly brilliant issue, and probably equal to best along with the first issue. It showed that the series could still be fun, and although it's still far from perfect, with the base of this story still being terrible, it shows hope for the future of this series, and that the next story might actually be good. I would recommend this issue, but not the series as a whole so far, as with only two good issues, as well as two poor it's probably better to either get this issue for the fun it holds, or wait for the next story to start (issue 5).

Rating: 4/5

Young Avengers #3 Review

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artists: Jamie McKelvie & Mike Norton

I was really looking forward to this series before it came out, hoping for a fun series, but to be honest it hasn't been as good as I'd hoped for, and just keeps getting worse. Hopefully it turns round though, as I'd still like this to be a good series.

Plot

Wiccan and Hulkling are stopped by Laufey when taking Loki to Asgard, getting attacked by the Frost Giant, and when Ms. America comes to help she is followed by her parents.

Review

This was another disappointing issue, and both this issue, and the entire series has been a bit slow so far. Kieron Gillen hasn't done a terrible job of this series, but he hasn't half gave us a slow story, that doesn't really show much of the characters characteristics, and that's overall a bit dull. I really didn't like Gillen's Iron Man series, as it was overall poor, and I was seriously hoping that he didn't continue that quality into this series, but somehow he has, and I don't know why, as his previous work on Loki during his Journey into Mystery run was brilliant, and one of the main reasons that I decided to get this series. I do however commend him for coming up with a fairly unique storyline, it's just a shame that it's poor, but hopefully it picks up soon. Gillen did however do a decent job with the dialogue, and although the storyline itself is dull, the dialogue between characters has been fun, and shows that with the right storyline that this series could be brilliant.

Jamie McKelvie, and Mike Norton continue to produce some brilliant artwork, and it's been one of the best things about this series so far. I'm still not 100% sure how the art is split up between the two artists, as all the art looks very similar, and without seeing either artist's previous work I can't make comparisons from that. I did however get a comment on my previous review, with the theory that McKelvie does the character art, and Norton does the background art, which kind of makes sense. Either way the characters in this series are drawn brilliantly, and although the art overall isn't the best I've ever seen, the cartoon style of it suits the fun nature that this book should have, and overall makes the series more fun. The background art is also brilliant, and has ton's of detail, but the art in general is very well detailed. The colours from Matthew Wilson are also brilliant, and they really help set the tone of the series, making the art look more fun, even if the story isn't.

There was a small battle between Wiccan, and Hulkling against Laufey at the start of this issue, and this part was actually very fun, and exciting, unlike most of the issue, but it still had it's bad points. it was really the layout, and artwork that made this sequence fun, and to be honest the dialogue was a little boring. I also felt that the fight was unrealistic, as either Laufey would kill them easily, or Wiccan would use his magic to make Laufey disappear a lot sooner than he did. Id did however like that we saw a small sequence before this were Volstagg, and Heimdall talk about them fighting, as although pointless, and unnecessary it was fun.

The fight also gets a bit poor near the end when Ms. America arrives. Don't get me wrong I was happy to see the arrival of Ms. America, as this hasn't really felt like a team book so far, and needs more characters working together, but it was the fact that she was followed by her parents that let it down. I know that this is needed to develop the story, but it didn't half take the buzz, and excitement out of the issue, making the ending of the fight a bit anticlimactic. The dialogue between Ms. America, and her parents was also a bit awkward, and although I liked how we get to see the feistiness of her, it did feel a bit unnatural, and overall made the issue even slower than it already was.

Where have Kate Bishop and Noh-Varr been? They both made an appearance in the first issue, but haven't made even small appearances since. I know that they're both meant to be making more of an appearance in the next issue, but it's still annoying that they haven't featured in the series as much so far, as Kate is my favourite character from the Young Avengers, and although I've enjoyed seeing her in Hawkeye I was hoping to see more of her in this series. Although not a huge fan I've also enjoyed seeing Noh-Varr in the Marvel Universe since he appeared in Dark Avengers, and was looking forward to seeing more of him in this series also. I also feel that their absence makes for a less team like feel to the series, and although I can see that Gillen is gradually building up the team, I'd have hoped that it'd have happened by now, but hopefully the wait till next issue pays off (but I won't hold my breath).

Can the Young Avengers trust Loki? I won't go into too much detail on this as to avoid spoilers, but basically Loki offers a solution, but needs the Young Avengers (what's there is of them so far) to do something for him. This bodes the question, can the Young Avengers trust Loki?, and the natural answer is no. No matter how hard Loki tries to be good he should never be trusted, as he's nearly always scheming, and although some may think he deserves a break once in a while, I say at the characters own peril. I do however seeing the need for the young Avengers to trust Loki to a certain point eventually, even if not completely, as for him to become a valid part of the team he'll need it, but I do look forward to the day Loki betrays them (it's bound to happen sooner or later), assuming he stays with the team long enough.

There was also a nice reference to HBO series Game of Thrones in this issue, and although it does nothing to the overall rating of this issue I felt that it was worth the mention, as being a fan of the show I found the comments quite amusing.

Final Verdict

This series has been very poor, and I desperately hope that it get's better soon. I would recommend this at your own peril, as to be honest this issue, along with the series has been poor, and I wouldn't recommend it so far, but I hope the series picks up, as it has ton's of potential. Basically I'd recommend leaving this story and seeing what the feedback is on the next one.

Rating: 3/5