Mark Bagley

This is the book that made the Ultimate universe worth reading. I'm not always a big fan of Brian Michael Bendis' work, but no one can doubt how skilled a writer he can be when he puts his mind to it. Many people have said the origin takes too long, but I disagree. Bendis takes his time and lets us get to know these characters, which make the tragic events surrounding Uncle Ben even more emotional. Honestly, the superhero elements are almost an afterthought, because these characters are show more interesting enough to carry a book on their own without it. Mark Bagley's art is always good. It's a wonderful package. show less

Though this collection doesn't specifically state "Marvel Now" on the cover, it contains the first 8 issues of the newly launched Avengers Assemble series (and volume 2 does have that designation). This series is designed to appeal to fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by modeling the characters more on their film counterparts rather than only how they have been in the comics. Since I came to Marvel comics specifically because of the film The Avengers, this series is likely aimed at show more newbies like me and it is exactly what I would have hoped for. And though it is strongly reminiscent of the MCU, the story still fits within the Marvel (comic) Universe.

In addition to the main cast from the films, who take the lead in the story, the book also includes the expanded Avengers roster. I was pleased with this since I love Spider-woman and was happy to see her again, and still dating Hawkeye as happened in the Fear Itself event (pre-Marvel Now). But, readers needn't have read anything before starting with this book. The plot has the mysterious Zodiac organization stealing powerful relics at the behest of a more powerful villain, Thanos. His part in the story makes it possible to introduce another super-team, The Guardians of the Galaxy. Which just so happens to be another forthcoming film in the MCU; Marvel certainly knows how to market their products! This is a nice introduction to the team if you've never heard of them and the interaction between the two groups is a lot of fun. The book is heavy on the action and humor, just like the films, and kept me fully engaged.

If there is one flaw to the collection, it's that the story lacked any real tension. The situation is dire - né world-ending! - but I never felt like the heroes wouldn't save the day. Or, that they would even suffer any real consequences. However, after reading such morally ambiguous and heavy storylines like Civil War, Siege and Avengers vs. X-Men,(all of which I highly recommend) this light-heartedness was more welcome than weakness. Overall, I loved this. show less

Okay, it's probably not really the death of Spider-Man, although the final pages certainly don't close the door on that possibility. And the storyline is actually fairly simple. As Spider-Man is receiving his first mandated training from Captain America, Cap gets word that the Green Goblin and his super-powered cronies have escaped from SHIELD, at the same time that Nick Fury's black ops team has gone rogue. Spidey follows Cap, saving his life but taking a rifle shot in the gut. When he show more learns that the Green Goblin is alive and free, he binds his near-mortal wound and swings home to Queens to save his loved ones from the Goblin's revenge. The fight that follows is epic, flawlessly laid out, and more emotionally powerful than the train scene from the second Spidey movie. I did not finish this book dry-eyed. My main quibble is to wonder why Spider-Man outed himself by showing up in his own neighborhood to take on the Goblin, without his mask. He is now outed (although my son Ben naively believes that his neighbors will keep his secret), and it will be interesting to see the aftermath of this epic battle that reinforces my contention that Peter Parker, in or out of uniform, is the best and the bravest of Marvel's characters, and with a killer sense of humor to boot. show less

Probably the worst comic book I have ever read. You see the three "Trinity" on the cover, maybe the reason you purchased this book? They do not even appear in the nearly 300 pages that follow, complete false advertising if ever I saw it. The story runs around in circles and rehashes the same plot points so repetitively that it's as if the writers were trying to be as slow and dreary as possible. A cavalcade of characters other than the Big Three run around spouting the most horrific show more mumbo-jumbo about alternate realities and destinies in a mind-numbing blather that tries to add substance to this horribly overwrought and excessively long story. Including book 1 and this edition, I have no faith that a third collection would wrap the story up satisfactorily, let alone paying almost $100 for the entire miserable experience. show less