New Avengers #17

With Fear Itself over (at least the tie-ins are done) and the brand new team featured on the cover of the latest issue it seemed like a good opportunity to start picking this title up again. Too bad it's false advertising.

Although both Daredevil and the Thing appear on the cover neither is part of this issue as the same old New Avengers team (including those not showcased on the cover such as Mockingbird) attempt to stop the destruction caused by Ultimo controlled by the newly reconstituted H.A.M.M.E.R, led by the recently escaped Norman Osborn.

The issue isn't a bad one, but I've got admit it's pretty damned unimpressive. Even the trademark dialogue writer Brian Michael Bendis is known for seems strained. If the issue is simply meant to (underwhelmingly) jump off a new story arc this one does the job (but little else). However, if the point of the issue was to draw in new readers with a brand new team it fails miserably and it gives me no reason to pick up the next issue. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $3.99]