Customer Reviews
Mediocre collection of New Avengers issues #21-#25 
2008-08-03
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.
In Retrospect, Insightful and Pertinent 
2008-02-10
I had the distinct advantage of reading this collection well after I read the unified edition of Civil War, so I must admit my perspective would be different from someone unfamiliar with the outcome of Civil War and its fallout.
That said, knowing what I know about Nick Fury, Iron Man, and Captain America's current storylines, this volume of New Avengers was incredibly insightful and pertinent.
Though Brian Michael Bendis is the writer throughout, each separate issue making up the larger volume is drawn by a different artist and focuses upon a different character from the New Avengers.
While I don't believe any of these issues are "must-reads" in order to understand the larger storyline of Civil War, they certainly help illuminate character's motivations and set up plots to come in New Avengers and Mighty Avengers.
I'd also like to say that there is a component to this volume featuring Sentry drawn by Pasqual Ferry that alone makes the entire volume worth buying. I could take or leave Sentry as a character, but Ferry's rendering of Sentry interacting with the Inhumans is an absolute delight. Certainly Dean White's colors add to the beauty of Ferry's art, and I really hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. In my opinion, Ferry is the go-to guy when it comes to interplanetary adventure, as I first learned with his stunning art in Adam Strange: Planet Heist.
New Avengers: Civil War is a great volume if you're looking for different artists interpretations of some of your favorite New Avengers; it's enlightening if you desire further character motivation during Civil War; and finally, it's a nice springboard to new plots in New Avengers.
Had I read this in "real" time I don't know I would have enjoyed it as much, but with 20/20 hindsight, I thoroughly relished New Avengers: Civil War.
~Scott William Foley, author of Dr. Nekros: Phantasms and Chicanery (Volume I, Episode II)
good but not great 2007-12-30
Again Marvel dropped the ball. They still wrote a really good book, but compared to House of M, Age of Apoclypse, and other major events, they just havne't doen all with this one that they could have.
Bendis Disbands the Avengers...for the 2nd Time 2007-10-03
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.
New Avengers continues to be great 
2007-09-14
Great stuff. Not for the uninitiated, but fans of New Avengers and Civil War should love this. The best of the Civil War tie-in books. Highlights are the Leinil Yu Cage issue and the Chaykin Captain America issue.
Graphic SF Reader 2007-09-04
The Civil War is on, and no book will be more affected than New Avengers. You think Marvel would never mess with its top-selling book? Wrong! The Avengers are about to go to war over their beliefs, and the shake-up will shock you. Each stand-alone story in this volume is illustrated by a genuine comics superstar! Collects New Avengers #21-25.
If for no other reason, it has Issue #22. 2007-08-18
I sort of agree with some of what has been said about this collection. The legendary Howard Chaykin illustrated the first issue (#21) that focuses on Captain America... and his art on this issue just seems EXTREMELY rushed. It's pretty bad, which is really sad for fans of Chaykin. But the story is really good with Cap escaping from SHIELD "Capekillers", enlisting the help of The Falcon and trying to enlist the help of Hank Pym, who unfortunately is already siding with the Pro-Registration side.
#23 focuses on Jessica Drew and her internal conflicts over her allegiance to SHIELD, her loyalty to the Avengers and her obligations to HYDRA. It's a very good and very emotional issue.
#24 deals with The Sentry, which in my humble opinion, is possibly the most useless superhero that ever existed. He has "the power of a thousand exploding suns" but he's a paranoid schizophrenic and an agoraphobe. I certainly don't mind a character who's a little unusual, but he's just such a blah character. One moment, he's saving the world and ripping Carnage in half and throwing things into the Sun... the next, he's laying in his bed in a fetal position sobbing.
And in #24, he's just kinda chillin' in space very close to the Blue Area of the Moon, where the Inhumans live... and they're kinda peeved at humans right now because Quicksilver stole the Terrigen Mists in order to regain his own mutant power that he lost in the House of M... never mind. Anyway, he has some dinner with the Royal Family of Attilan, kisses Crystal for some reason and gets taken back to Earth by Tony Stark to join the pro-reg team.
In #25, Iron Man is essentially taken hostage (in his armor) and going to be killed by a VERY disgruntled former employee of Starktech who is quite perturbed that his tech is being used against other heroes in this Civil War. It turns into a race against time for SHIELD Director Maria Hill to stop the would-be killer. When the issue is said and done, Tony Stark is offered by Hill to be the new Director of SHIELD. It's a hit-and-miss issue with great art by Mr. Cheung.
But it's issue #22 that is the stand-out here with the unlikliest of protagonists: Luke Cage. At midnight, the Superhuman Registration Act goes into law and Iron Man and Ms. Marvel are at the Cage home to convince Cage and his super-powered wife, Jessica Jones that registration is the way to go. But Cage makes THE case for the anti-reg's. He just wants to live and do what he can to help the people of his world... if that happens to involve using his powers, so be it. But he also knows that failing to register will make him, his wife and newborn baby a target by the government. So he sends Jessica and his child across the border into Canada so that he can make his stand against those that would oppress him and those like him. And he makes one hell of a stand against the Capekillers that come to arrest him (albeit with the help of the 'Secret Avengers' like Cap and Daredevil). It was judged by Wizard Magazine to be the single best issue of 2006 and it's pretty well-deserving of that title. With terrific art by new series regular Leinil Yu and a hard-hitting emotionally-driven story, this collection is worth it just for this.
One of the things that is pretty consistent about this collection is the writing by Bendis. People get on him for being too talky or too preachy or too long-winded, but to be perfectly honest, I think that a comic that can make you think AND be entertaining is better than the ones that are gluttoned with splash pages and big action and zero characterization. Bendis is pretty much one of the modern masters of mixing great storytelling and characterization with great action pieces.
Nice impact storyline. Many cliches have been avoided. 2007-05-09
Although I am not a Marvel fan (I prefer DC a lot more), I must say that this story has been carried out pretty nicely, with few cliches and stupid moments, and with a lot of moments full of impacts for some of Marvel's better known heroes.
The drawing by McNiven is very nice, and way different to other of his contemporary fellow artists. He's is a style very recognizable.
I like that there are very very few places in the story where you have to make some assumptions (or know a lot about Marvel U story). That was nice.
I am not going to comment about story plots, per se, so as not to ruin you reading, but I can recommend this book if you like stories where powerful, potentially critical moments are depicted, specially for well know characters, with repercussions that MAY (.....or may not)last for a long time on them.
Enjoy!
A complete break from previous quality New Avengers tbs 2007-05-05
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.
dissapointed...what a mess. 
2007-04-23
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 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.
