New Avengers Annual #3

While I can sing praises to Bendis' writing I have to give more credit to Mike Mayhew's art. I do not know if it is Andy Troy's colors but this issue looks fantastic! It has a life like painted feel and while in most cases that translates into static and stiff images they absolutely break the rule here. The best testament of Mayhew's art is the character faces. Each has a totally unique look to where you can tell the difference between Ms Marvel and Mockingbird just from the neck up. Both have blonde hair and blue eyes but the shapes of their faces, noses and lips are totally different. I am absolutely smitten with this art and could only pray for a monthly book from him. I do not know if Mayhew is monthly artist but I would gladly fork over $3.99 for even a nineteen page book from him. Seriously, who else can draw Norman Osborn's curly waves and make them look realistic? Read Full Review

Hey, maybe they'll have room for that Lady Liberators comic now! Read Full Review

Ultimately the story in New Avenger's Annual #3 felt a bit sparse for its $4.99 cover price. While it did offer 10 extra pages of story they felt mostly unnecessary and seemed to be added merely to justify the issue's "Annual" moniker. Also by January I expect I'll be able to recite the first six pages of Siege as a dramatic monologue. Read Full Review

At the end of the day, "New Avengers Annual" #3 is just all right. It's no great shakes one way or the other. But did it need to be an Annual (which meant an extra buck and a few additional pages, many of which are a preview of "Siege")? I don't think so. Doubly so when there's a good chance that "New Avengers" as a monthly book will outsell its Annual. Better luck next time with your Annuals, Marvel. Read Full Review

My New Year's Resolution for this book ismore costumed Jessica madness in the near future. Read Full Review

Finally, the last page of this story - like several pages of the most recent issue of Invincible Iron Man - spoils, in part, the ending of Marvel's best-selling title at the moment. Reborn is running late, yes, and the ending is, given the title of the Captain America limited series, a foregone conclusion. Still, it muddies the waters in the shared-continuity context (just as is the case over at DC Comics, which has several stories on the go featuring the Barry Allen Flash despite the fact that the story returning him to action and prominence, Flash: Rebirth, has yet to be completed). The different creators involved really aren't to blame; instead, editorial management of larger publishing plans clearly has fallen short. Read Full Review

Ryan

Dec 17, 2018

Finally an annual that serves a purpose