Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #9, May 2012, written by Allan Heinberg, penciled by Jim Cheung
Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #8, January 2012, written by Allan Heinberg, penciled by Jim Cheung
Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #7, November 2011, written by Allan Heinberg, penciled by Jim Cheung
Avengers: The Childrens Crusade #6, August 2011, written by Allan Heinberg, penciled by Jim Cheung
I know that as a mini-series starring the Avengers that comes out every other month, X-Men fans may not be reading this. But. You kinda have to. Especially this issue.
This is some big, important stuff.
I have no idea when these ramifications will be felt (and the continuity between this and the rest of the MU is something I’m…trying to not get into a conniption fit about), or if they will be reversed in the next 6 months that it takes to release the final 3 issues…but…man.
Wow.
Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #4, March 2011, written by Allan Heinberg, penciled by Jim Cheung
This is a good series. The characters are relatable and multi-dimensional. The art is top-notch, both detailed and stylized. I love the texture that Cheung’s artwork has, almost Art Adams-ish. The story is big, relevant and important. It’s resolving a lot of loose threads that have been dangling for half a decade now. And if it brings Scarlet Witch back into the fold, then great. She’s a pretty major player in the Marvel Universe and I’m amazed that she’s been kept out of circulation for as long as she has WITHOUT being dead. There were times at the height of her popularity where I bet she appeared in more comics in a three month span than she has in the last five years of all Marvel Comics. So, yeah, I’m really enjoying this, more and more each month.
But.
I’m bummed that the cast of Young Avengers don’t have an ongoing. Is Heinberg too busy? Do they insist on having Jim Cheung draw it? What’s the deal? They’ve existed solely in mini-series since the end of their ongoing years ago. I think they have a fanbase loyal enough to support another ongoing, and this mini is an epic 9 issues long, why not just make this an ongoing? My other complaint is that the YA’s feel like guest stars in this. Heinberg is doing equally strong work with Quicksilver and Magneto, two characters that already have monthly books. Stature, Hawkeye and Patriot are getting very little attention. And yeah this isn’t a Young Avengers book, judging by the title, but considering how little we get to see of them AND that the creative team of this book created them, I’d like to see more.
My Score: 8.6
1488. Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #3, January 2011, written by Allan Heinberg, penciled by Jim Cheung
My Score: 8.5
