REVIEW: Avengers: The Initiative - 12

I was left more than a little confused after reading this comic book. The one question that hung over my head, was "ok - so - has this book just ended, or is it just about to end?"

Now - I'm well aware that this comic isn't under the chop (yet), and that this is just the closing chapter on this particular team,but @£$% me if this doesn't read like a final issue.

Dan Slott has done a fantastic, bang-up job with Avengers: The Initiative. I've been hooked enough on his writing to buy all 12 issues, and I've been impressed with how he's managed to draw me into the lives of Cloud 9 and MVP. But man alive, he's dropped the ball on this issue.

The story sadly feels more than a little bit rushed, and I do dislike saying this (being an artist myself) - but the artwork just isn't up to scratch when compared to previous issues.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Some interesting points have come out of this issue however.

1. Trauma (Terry) who appeared to be killed - now looks like he's come back to life;
2. The Crusader is really a Skrull in disguise, and;
3. Slapstick can't change back to Steve Harmon (which may explain his recent erratic behaviour).

Now - that aside, because this is the ending of a story arc, it was no surprise to see a graduation of our would-be heroes from the initiative program. What was a surprise however - and huge mistake in my eyes, was how each of them learned that they would be posted to different groups around the country - essentially splitting up the core team of this book, andforcing the reader to say 'sayonara' to the characters they have grown to care about. 

Why on earth has this happened...? I'm picking this book up to read about the existing characters within it. I'm not picking this book up thinking that I want to see the trials of a new set of faces each and every year. If I wanted that - I'd be buying a DC Showcase, or a Marvel Presents comic.

This is not - and should not be - one of those comics.

Pete's Score: 3 out of 5
(a limp ending to a great year - such a shame to see the departure of so many interesting heroes)