NEW AVENGERS: ILLUMINATI #1 ADVANCE REVIEW

[W. Molstad]

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/newavillum1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/newavillum1t.jpg" hspace=10 align=left alt="New Avengers: Illuminati #1"></a>Reviewer: W. Molstad, mols0019@umn.edu
Story Title: New Avengers: Illuminati

"You just decided all by yourselves that you are Earth's protectors.." - T'Challa, The Black Panther

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Alex Maleev
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letterer: VC's Chris Eliopoulos
Assistant Editors: Molly Lazer & Aubrey Sitterson
Associate Editor: Andy Schmidt
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Published by: Marvel Comics (http://www.marvel.com)

Finally a one-shot crossover tie-in story that actually matters.

Mainstream comic books have been notorius in the past fifteen years for sticking a crossover's logo on the top of the comic when there was one scene or one minor story point that tied-in to the main plot of the event. Some people would say that it is part of the fun, others cry 'sales pitch', and many don't really care either way because they aren't buying it.

New Avengers: Illuminati #1 is a different story. I'd say that it is a must-have for those that like the Marvel Universe for its long history or interconnectedness. There is a lot of substance here, and far less flash than we're used to seeing in these sorts of issues. No one dies, no one gets a new costume, and no one comes back from the dead. It's just a good story with an awful lot of dialogue.

It's a far cry from stories by Brian Michael Bendis where nothing much happens. I really enjoyed just how many personal conflicts there are and how much of it is played out through little scenes dating back to the Kree-Skrull War. The way that the Hulk is used to build up tension is classic, reminding me of much older Silver and Bronze Age comics. However, Bendis does a wise thing and lets the reader fill in much of the stories dealing with the Illuminati. They're a group behind the scenes, and the strength of this story's retconning creates a lot of potential for them just as Brubaker's Captain America and X-Men: Deadly Genesis has done for the Winter Soldier and the Vulcan, respectively.

The writer's characterization and dialogue is much more in tune than it was in Avengers Disassembled. This is more like the Bendis of Daredevil. For how many "talking heads" scenes there are, it's hard to get bored. And they don't have as many one-liners or quips that sound more like Bendis talking than a superhero. I can usually appreciate those, but they'd be terribly out of place here. It was wise to avoid them.

Alex Maleev and Dave Stewart create the perfect atmosphere for this story. The single complete fight scene that the book has works just as well as all of the talking. I like how the characters sometimes sink into the background behind others, making small gestures or expressions while others argue and boast. Maleev's backgrounds move back and forth from detailed and rich to emotional and stark. Stewart's colors always set where the scenes take place and what it feels like.

Perhaps the team's greatest achievement though is making Iron Man so fun to draw again. From classic eye-slits to reflections in his helmet, the way that Iron Man is illustrated says so much in each panel that he makes the perfect antagonist without showing his face. It's important as he is a very central figure here. I also like their Namor, Dr. Strange, and Patrick Stewart influenced Professor X. The classic scenes look like they take place in the timeline of old Avengers stories.

This isn't exactly a New Avengers comic. This is more like "Civil War #0". You get a preview of Civil War #1 at the end, as well. Aside from how well this foreshadows that series, it also shows some iconic characters in an engaging, extensive tale of power and responsibility. Comics usually don't have much reason to crossover, and that's thankfully untrue here.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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‘Buy this issue online now from X-WORLD and save!’ (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=18644)

[skinnyboy2387]

wow. im so excited for this after hearing all the positive reviews!!

[Paul Shinn]

I'll be picking this up mainly for Bendis/Maleev, so if it's as good as the review makes it sound, I'll be happy! This may lead to me picking up Civil War too, at least the main book...

[W. Molstad]

I'll be picking this up mainly for Bendis/Maleev, so if it's as good as the review makes it sound, I'll be happy! This may lead to me picking up Civil War too, at least the main book...
I'd say just because this one is good doesn't mean that the other tie-ins will be good, of course. That's probably a good idea to chill on the others without an in-depth, in-store flipthrough!

[BlingstonHughes]

I don't know...I wouldn't really consider this a "tie-in" in the conventional sense. That's kinda like saying that Episodes 1-3 were Star Wars tie-ins. This is more pf a prelude. It fills in the blanks of the main event, rather than simply running alongside it. Or so I've been led to believe.

[DntWryBoutMyNme]

...just when I thought I couldn't get any more excited about Civil War. Looking forward to reading this next week.

[James Groves]

I was going to ignore this as event-driven books are driving me insane at the moment... but seeing as it's Bendis AND Maleev together again... and the concept is pretty decent in and of itself... I'll prob. pick this up. Just too much talent to pass up, I think.

[MrGreen]

I am very excited to read this comic and can't wait until it comes out. And I'm glad that W. Molstad likes it so much because I often find his reviews fairly sound.
My only question is how did W. Molstad obtain this issue before it comes out on Wednesday?

[Ovid]

I am very excited to read this comic and can't wait until it comes out. And I'm glad that W. Molstad likes it so much because I often find his reviews fairly sound.
My only question is how did W. Molstad obtain this issue before it comes out on Wednesday?
He's one of the Illuminati. :shhh: ;)

[Zachary J. Morrison]

You can count me in on picking this up. I will also get the chance to meet Alex Maleev for the first time in one week at Emerald City ComiCon held at Qwest Fields in Seattle, WA.

[Jos1988]

Looks like marvel is starting well, im going to wait and see how the main meal goes down before considering picking up this starter tho

[BlingstonHughes]

Black Bolt kinda looks like he's staring at Namor's speedo. I bet it's tough to tell the Sub-Mariner to put some pants on when you risk killing him to do it.

[Cory Williams]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Blackbolt? I'm there.

I actually am excited about this, Blackbolt or no Blackbolt. He's just icing on the cake [of comic goodness].

[DCUnited]

I wasn't planning on picking this up. And I'm still not. I'm sorry, but Maleev was more or less the reason that I never read Daredevil. I'm not a fan of his art style, and the story in and of itself doesn't sound interesting enough to make me want to pick it up any way.

[evilomar]

I read this issue last week too, advance copy and I thought it was lame. Of course the idea of having Namor and Reed Richards behind the scenes of the Marvel U is ridiculous and out of character. I gave up on continuity, because Marvel seems to be doing away with it, but there is a huge difference in continuity and out of character. The art was pretty good though.

[Ken Boehm]

OK, I just read this, and this is my only complaint about the whole thing (the story was actually well written, and I wish Bendis was doing the series instead of Millar):

After reading this, you cannot tell me the registration side is the bad side. The line from SHIELD about how Congress is looking for things to pin on them makes this whole thing feel wrong. Even Tony and Reed make it seem like they're going along just because it will diffuse the situation later on, not because they believe in it.

Anyways, that's where I think the series will fail on. Bendis is a much better writer than Millar, and even he can't keep it from looking as though there is a good side and a bad side.

Finally, what did Black Bolt sign at the end? Was he trying to say he will punch Reed and Tony?

[Ann Nichols]

I have to agree with you that it's not boring, W. M. I'm too annoyed by the characters acting as if they're idiots to be bored. I haven't finished my unofficial summary yet because I keep taking time out to explain what's stupid about the arguments (in some cases supplying links to issue information to back me up).

So far, the longest sneering explanation is about the scene between Commander Hill and Iron Man, but it won't be the last.

Here's a sign language alphabet diagram -- If Black Bolt is spelling out letters, I don't know which ones they're meant to be. Why the heck didn't he just send a message asking for a device on which he could type or a pencil and a pad of paper?

[gnosis]

Ok, so going by the preview at the end of the book I think Marvel just blew up my home town (or maybe just part of it, Stamford is fairly big). Guess I have to get the mini-series now to find out.

For what this was (lots of talking heads), this was ok. I like how Bendis characterized Namor in this, but I do agree that his treatment of Tony and Reed is really off. He seems to be trying to fit them (particularly Tony) into a certain role for this series that I really can't believe either of them would accept. Also, when Namor is the conscience of your group, something is wrong with that group.

And I think Black Bolt was pointing at Tony to signify he is with him in this.

[gambitX]

I dont think he was spelling letters Ann...
I think he was saying:

- First Sign: Thumb pointing at himself.. meaning... "I"
- Second Sign: index pointing at Ironman... meaning... "You"

I took it to mean "IM WITH YOU"
who knows though!

[GerM]

This was an excellent book. I wasn't planning on picking up any thing civil war, but after reading Illuminati I will be giving it a shot.

[§tormy]

For a book that was dialogue heavy, I found it very enjoyable, more so than what I thought it would be.

For now, I can't really buy the side which Reed is standing on. Iron Man, yes...sort of. I don't know, it still seems off. I'll reserve further judgement until the series progresses a little further.

[GerM]

For now, I can't really buy the side which Reed is standing on. Iron Man, yes...sort of. I don't know, it still seems off. I'll reserve further judgement until the series progresses a little further.

I'm a little confused about this. In Amazing Spider-man isn't Tony against the bill?

[Veritas]

I'm actually very excied about this...I don't particularly see the continuity of events that Marvel is speaking of since Avengers Disassembled...it actually looks like Marvel just wants to take credit for some master plan that simply isn't there...

But again, I am very excited to see the outcomes of this cross-over...forget Maximum Security...as far as I'm concerned...THIS is the type of cross-over that makes me completely melt.

[W. Molstad]

I have to agree with you that it's not boring, W. M. I'm too annoyed by the characters acting as if they're idiots to be bored. I haven't finished my unofficial summary yet because I keep taking time out to explain what's stupid about the arguments (in some cases supplying links to issue information to back me up).

So far, the longest sneering explanation is about the scene between Commander Hill and Iron Man, but it won't be the last.

Here's a sign language alphabet diagram -- If Black Bolt is spelling out letters, I don't know which ones they're meant to be. Why the heck didn't he just send a message asking for a device on which he could type or a pencil and a pad of paper?
Ann,
You think that the characters were acting like idiots? I hate to break it to you, but most comic book characters don't act exactly like real people. Also, continuity in both of the mainstream companies is so out of whack right now that I welcome a reasonably written story that goes back and explains why certain things happened (it's why Avengers Forever and the Brubaker Captain America are so good). I'm sorry that you disagreed about the characterization. I thought that it was right on the mark. I appreciate your footnotes and other things that you do.

[Karla]

This was an excellent book. I wasn't planning on picking up any thing civil war, but after reading Illuminati I will be giving it a shot.

I feel exactly the same way. I wasn't even planning to pick this up, but I did since I had some extra money, and I am so happy I did! :mwahaha: I am definitely looking forward to Civil War.

I am glad other people had a hard time understanding Blackbolt. The art just wasn't there on that one :rolleyes:

[Eric Travis]

Ann,
You think that the characters were acting like idiots? I hate to break it to you, but most comic book characters don't act exactly like real people.

An accurate observation which applies to any other form of entertainment. Movies, books, television, etc. Fictional characters in fictional (or even quasi-real) environments are not supposed to act exactly like you or me. I mean, I know how I react to most mundane things. It'd make a very boring comic book, I must say.

But Ann, I believe, didn't complain that the characters weren't acting like real people, but that they weren't acting like themselves. Like the characters that have been established over an impressively long period of time. At least, that's how I read her 'idiots' comment. (Without reading the issue yet myself...) It's one thing for characters to act and react differently from real flesh and blood people, but it's another thing entirely for them to act out of character within the context of their 'reality'.

Fans of 'Married, With Children' would be up in arms if the Bundy clan turned into the Huxtables from the 'Cosby Show'. Neither sit-com is realistic, but they are both internally consistent (and diametrically opposed).

[Kurse]

What did Blackbolt mean with those hand gestures at the end?

[UMichWolverine]

See, I took those gestures to mean that he pointed to Tony and Reed and then himself as if to say: "I'm with you"

I really enjoyed this story. The interaction between them all felt spot on. From Black Panther telling them "End This" and not wanting any part of it to Tony's speech at the end all rang true.

I know a lot of people didn't like Tony's willingness to go along with the registration act, but his speech made sense. As we see in the Civil War preview what Tony predicted will happen. I think Tony's new found power via Extremis has made him extremely pompous. He thinks he's untouchable and will be able to work around this.

I am really looking forward to the Civil War event. I think its gonna be a fun read.

[Ann Nichols]

Ann,
You think that the characters were acting like idiots? I hate to break it to you, but most comic book characters don't act exactly like real people. Also, continuity in both of the mainstream companies is so out of whack right now that I welcome a reasonably written story that goes back and explains why certain things happened (it's why Avengers Forever and the Brubaker Captain America are so good). I'm sorry that you disagreed about the characterization. I thought that it was right on the mark. I appreciate your footnotes and other things that you do.

These are supposed to be intelligent and experienced people. Heck, some of them have worked with She-Hulk and she works for a firm that specializes in super-human law. Class-action lawsuit!

My unofficial spoiled summary has no fewer than 11 :rolleyes: smilies and one each of these smilies: :hellno: , :wt:, and :jaw:.

As you know, we aren't allowed to make the same post in different threads, so please check out the :rolleyes: smilies for my commentary on what I found stupid about this issue. If nothing else, please check out my complaint about why this proposed registration bill -- as Tony explained it -- is slavery in all but name and slavery is illegal in this country.

(Although I blush to realize that my wondering if the "Civil War" #1 preview at the end was supposed to be the incident that Tony expected to happen, I didn't realize -- until I read mattymaddrox & Shortpack's posts over in the "Civil War" thread in the "Marvel Heroes" forum -- that Marvel went for irony in having Namor dismiss the whole thing as a surface world problem when it's his cousin's daughter who is going to make that well-intentioned mistake. :bag:

[esophagus]

I think there is an inconsistent drawing when the 6 Illuminati raised their hands when they first voted. Some of te characters switched the raised hand on the next page. :LOL:

[Kurse]

I don't think that there is a single Marvel fan that would be on Tony and Reed's side.

And while I'm at it, Namor is my second favorite character now, just because of that issue.

[Ann Nichols]

I think there is an inconsistent drawing when the 6 Illuminati raised their hands when they first voted. Some of te characters switched the raised hand on the next page. :LOL:

Yes. Do you suppose that first vote is supposed to be a hint?

Right = conservative and left = liberal

Namor, Reed, and Stephen have their left hands up.
Charles, Black Bolt, and Tony have their right hands up.

When we see them at the table, we don't see Tony's hand,
but Black Bolt, Stephen, Namor, and Reed have their right hands up and Charles has his left hand up.

Eh, probably just a mistake.

[Jason Grasso]

Someone mentioned Tony's stance in Amazing Spider-Man which i'm surprised nobody else is debating. It was the most shocking part of this issue to me because he's been fighting the bill in ASM for two issues. And isn't Peter (who's fighting alongside him) on Tony's side in all the Civil War solicits? That part confused me. I couldn't figure out if Tony was pretending to be on the registered side to see who would be against him or if his decision to side with registration comes only after being defeated in his attempts to convince Congress otherwise.

I took Captain America obviously for the side of registration so that makes this even more confusing.

[BadMotives]

Well... Tony did make Peter 'sign a blood oath' to support him no matter what. And by just looking at the situation, I began to feel unsure about what side Iron Man would be taking. Remember Spider-Man is shown to be split between the two sides on covers. Can't take covers to literally but these covers gave us a big clue.

And about this issue... I liked the because it is Bendis at his best. Sure logic was thrown out the window.

[Ann Nichols]

Someone mentioned Tony's stance in Amazing Spider-Man which i'm surprised nobody else is debating.

I'm not debating it because I haven't read it. However, I have looked up the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution. If the bill that has passed is as Tony explained it in this issue, it forces the super-heroes into involuntary servitude to AVOID commiting a federal crime, and that is unconstitutional.

"1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am13

And about this issue... I liked the because it is Bendis at his best. Sure logic was thrown out the window.

That's why I hated it. It depends upon the "Idiot Plot", which, IIRC, states, "If the characters don't act like idiots, there is no plot."

[BadMotives]

I'm not debating it because I haven't read it. However, I have looked up the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution. If the bill that has passed is as Tony explained it in this issue, it forces the super-heroes into involuntary servitude to AVOID commiting a federal crime, and that is unconstitutional.

"1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am13



That's why I hated it. It depends upon the "Idiot Plot", which, IIRC, states, "If the characters don't act like idiots, there is no plot."

Ann, you are right. But you know that this is a comic book right? Heck... even in other mediums, I have seen authors convient 'alter' laws, customs, and again logic to fit into the story they want to tell.

To me, it seemed as though Prof. X, Dr. Strange, and Mr. Fanstantic were all missed characterized. But I still enjoyed the issue because it was a nice woven fabric of fiction.

[AdamWarlock]

Dont forget the mischaracterization of the Hulk. He wasn't there but he was slandered by people who know hes not hte monster they claim. Then blamed for acts he didn't do.
And so what if its comic. People should still act consistantly. Laws like the 13th amendment shouldn't be blantly discarded. That should come back to haunt the government side.
I don't buy that the New Warriors would be as careless as they are shown either. Newer Younger heroes maybe. Like say the Runaways or the Young Avengers. But Thrasher, Speedball and Rita are a lot smarter than to do that there. Well at least Thrasher and Namorita are...
Haven't been reading Spider-man or Iron Man in a long time... but by what is shown here Tony seems definatley for the Bill. When he should be organizing a resistance to this thing.

[Chris Nutall]

Well, I enjoyed it. Question - now what IS civil war?

Chris

[Anthony Lucynski]

I agree with W. Molstad's review completely. I wasn't going to get this crossover, but between Planet Hulk and this, my interest in Marvel is piqued for the first time in years....

Anthony L

[Havok-X2]

I dont think the art deserved a perfet 5. It wasnt that good IMO, and was more of a 2.5 at best

[Magneto's Twin Brother]

I thought the story and cover were decent, but the artwork sucked. I wasn't impressed.

[Chris Day]

What did Blackbolt mean with those hand gestures at the end?


I don't think he meant "i'm with you"... he looked angry... like "I'm going to fight you two on this" and then leaving... especially with the facial expressions and clenched fist...

[Ann Nichols]

I thought the story and cover were decent, but the artwork sucked. I wasn't impressed.

I wasn't impressed, but I didn't think the artwork was that bad. I thought it was pedestrian. Loved the cover, which is why I wanted the issue in the first place.

I've seen art that's such a mess that I find myself staring at panels and wondering how to describe what's going on because I can't tell what's going on.

Chrisday: Black Bolt starting with a fist had me wondering, too. I can't see any reason for him to support a bill that would subject his subjects to involuntary servitude.

[AdamWarlock]

I wasn't impressed, but I didn't think the artwork was that bad. I thought it was pedestrian. Loved the cover, which is why I wanted the issue in the first place.

I've seen art that's such a mess that I find myself staring at panels and wondering how to describe what's going on because I can't tell what's going on.

Chrisday: Black Bolt starting with a fist had me wondering, too. I can't see any reason for him to support a bill that would subject his subjects to involuntary servitude.

Well Ann... his subjects would only be subject to these laws if they came to the U.S.. With Attilian still safely on the moon, he's outside of their jurisdiction... for the moment. Though if the Kree idea of Super Humans as a Military Resource goes through with this bill... they'll see Attilian as a figurative Gold Mine and then the Blue Area comes under attack (which would annoy the Watcher i'm sure...)
Black Bolt should offer sanctuary to any Marvels that want it.

[MrGreen]

At long last I finally got this issue in the mail! Now I can finally read what everyone was talking about and know all the secrets of the Illuminati! :mwahaha:

Interesting issue. I actually liked Bendis' writing and was happily surprised. The appearance of Black Panther in the beginning of the issue cleared up all the arguments on whether he should have been in the Illuminati or not. And Tony's exact prediction on the beginning of Civil War was also fascinating. There are only two problems I had with the writing in the New Avengers: Illuminati.

1) Why is Reed Richards going to be on the side of the Pro-Registration heroes? There was not enough of an explanation given.

2) Also Bendis really exaggerated Namor acting like a jerk. In the old comics, Namor was always an arrogant ass but he was never THAT much of an arrogant ass. He is hot-headed but definitely not hot-headed enough to attempt on drowning Iron Man.

Maybe I'm knittpicking but these were my individual problems with the writing. Now for the art, I was very surprised and imagining it would be different...very different. I'm not saying the art was bad but I wish a different artist had been chosen for this important issue.

Writing: 8
Art: 5
Overall: 7

[BlingstonHughes]

And Tony's exact prediction on the beginning of Civil War was also fascinating.

It's not all that fascinating when you realize that editorial probably laid it all out beforehand.

[Ann Nichols]

Very true.