Avengers #29

Writer – Jonathan Hickman
Artist – Leinel Francis Yu
Inker – Gerry Alanguilan
Colours – Sunny Gho

For those that have not been reading either Avengers or New Avengers, there are universal calamities happening in the form of incursions – one Earth from one reality encroaching upon another with either both universes surviving with only one Earth being sacrificed or should that world’s heroes fail, both Earth’s being destroyed.  To take care of this problem, the Illuminati were reformed and Captain America was  would be a member of this new group.  When Cap refused to accept that there would be losses, namely an entire other planet which would most likely be fully populated, the rest of the Illuminati decided Cap would be a liability and not be able to do what was needed.  So they erased his memory.  Today he remembers and there will be a reckoning.  Hickman writes Captain America perfectly, much like the rest of the cast, but he really nails it when Cap gets all righteous with his belief in the fact that everything is black and white.  Tony and the rest of the gang knew in the long run that Cap could never see those shades of gray that are ever-present and thus why they had a backup plan to take care of him.  The issue features a great confrontation between them, much like many of the ones they have had in the past, with it not actually being resolved as the Time Gem reforms and shunts both Cap, Tony and the other Avengers into the future.  Though the book bears the Original Sin banner, it does not really tie into it at all unless that sin was the wiping of Cap’s memory and the destroying of planets by the Illuminati.

4.5 out of 5

Avengers #30

Writer – Jonathan Hickman
Artist – Leinel Francis Yu
Inker – Gerry Alanguilan
Colours – Sunny Gho

At the end of the last issue, the Avengers have been transported into the future, 48.3 years to be exact, by the Time Gem where they meet the future Avengers.  After a little bit of a scuffle, they end up talking and future Hawkeye lets them know that this is not the end of their journey and also tells Cap a secret.  Hickman then has the old man get into it with Tony and tells him how to get home just before the regular Avengers are then shot forward 422 years from their original point.  Hickman and Yu continue the rollercoaster ride that is the Avengers title at the moment.  If there is a big picture book in the Marvel Universe, it is this title and its companion, New Avengers.  For the past thirty issues and more, the two have been weaving a tale both complex and thrilling with this, just another fantastic chapter.  Future Hawkeye is quite awesome and it is kind of nice to hear that he does get pizza dog back, for the little spoiler that it is.  It is also great to see Hyperion still on the team, though with future realities in the Marvel Universe, this is only one of many.  Being shot even further in time, next issue should be quite the interesting read.  If there is one team that can handle it, it is the Avengers.

4.5 out of 5