New Avengers: Illuminati | Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Reed

New Avengers: Illuminati | Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Reed | for the most part

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New Avengers: Illu...

	New Avengers: Illuminati Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Reed Marvel Comics, 2008 - 128 pages average customer review:based on 11 reviews view larger image
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The Illuminati is a secret organization comprised of several of the world's most powerful heroes: Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme; Black Bolt, king of the Inhumans, Charles Xavier, founder of the X-Men and mutant-rights activist; Reed Richards, founding member of the Fantastic Four; Namor the Sub-Mariner, king of Atlantis; and Iron Man Tony Stark, founding member of the Avengers. These six men have worked together to mold and shape the status of the superhuman world and the world around it. How and what they have done together has remained a mystery...until now! Writers Brian Michael Bendis (Avengers, Ultimate Spider-Man) and Brian Reed (Ms. Marvel) have joined together with Jim Cheung (Young Avengers) to reveal this untold story of the Marvel Universe and how the Illuminati's actions affect today! Collects New Avengers: Illuminati #1-5.

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Best of 2008

This does what all great comics should do; makes you think, makes you laugh and the art and action are excellent. It is the best I've read this year; absolutely fantastic.

for the most part

This collection provides a "secret" look at some behind-the-scenes work done by Iron Man, Professor Xavier, Black Bolt, Namor, Reed Richards, and Dr. Strange. Most of the issues provide a set-up for the upcoming "Secret Invasion" event, especially the first and last issues. Following the classic "Kree-Skrull War" story back from the '70s, this group invades the Skrull Throneworld, declaring itself to be the protectors of Earth. This sets in motion events that lead up to a Skrull invasion of the Earth (which is in-publication as of this writing). For the most part, the stories enhance the existing stories, showing that Bendis and Reed have done their homework. Unfortunately, it seems they didn't pay any attention to Secret War 2 or 3 (which was a single issue of Fantastic Four), as they completely retell the Beyonder's origin and ignore his (or her, as it chose a female form) original beginning as a sentient Cosmic Cube. A mutant Inhuman? Come on, Bendis, how far can you stretch? But the art is top-notch by Jim Cheung (known notably for his work on Young Avengers) and the storytelling, for the most part, is excellent. Definitely worth picking up for the long-time fan and the newbie.

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History Shmistory

Bendis has some fun here filling in some cracks in the marvel past. It's a great idea and very well executed. It's composed of several mini stories all kind of tied together by the Secret Invasion official hood of conspiracy. If your interested in the larger event it's a must read. It also is great as a stand alone book.

Review of New Avengers: Illuminati

New Avengers Illuminati is written by Brian Bendis with art by Jimmy Cheung. It is a five issue mini-series that elaborates on who the Illuminati are and what their role was regarding the Skrull Empire and a few other notable Marvel characters (and items).

This is necessary reading for those who are currently reading the Secret Invasion storyline since it elaborates on "the deal" an imprisoned Marvel Boy struck with the Illuminati who now seems to be a big player in Secret Invasion. The reader also learns how the Illuminati may have started the current human-skrull conflict and that there is a traitor in the Illuminati's ranks that is revealed at the end.

This isn't the best Bendis story but it satisfies for those, like me, who wanted a bigger glimpse inside the adventures of the Illuminati. I don't like retcons but in this mini-series it seems to work. Cheung's artwork is excellent.

For those who want to read Bendis at his best, I recommend his entire Daredevil tenure as well as Ultimate Spider-Man which Bendis continues to write for.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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