Big stack to go through...

Heroes For Hire #6 - i wasn't expecting to like this (hence it being first in the pile) due to the lengthy and lackluster first arc, and because i thought this issue was going to turn into a big misunderstanding fight (due to the fact that the cover, in what i assume is a tribute to ASM #129, is misleading), but it turned out that this was great. Abnett & Lanning write a funny Spider-Man, we actually got some decent character development for Paladin, and we did get something of the Mission Statement i was demanding last time.

Avengers #12 - A satisfying conclusion to the Hood/Infinity Gem arc, i think. I was at first a little uncomfortable with Steve Rogers agreeing to join and continue with the Illuminati, but now that he's the new Nick Fury it kinda of makes sense. And again, i felt like some good things are being done with the Red Hulk; better than in his own book. Good writing and nice art overall.

Avengers #12.1 - I like the Intelligencia concept, so i'm glad to see them again. I have a vague recollection of there being a new MODOK but i'm not 100% sure on that. If not we have a problem since the original is locked up over in the Red Hulk's book. I thought this book was well written, funny, and had good clean art. And unlike every other "point" book, this felt like a nice jumping on point - it introduced the characters and set up a (pretty major!) new arc. From a continuity geek point of view, using SWORD and the Intelligencia and plot elements from the space books plus bringing back a classic Avengers villain... you can't do much better than that for me.

Annihilators #3 - Speaking of the space books, this series just hasn't felt as good as the others to me. And i'm saying that as a guy who just loves Dire Wraiths. It's not quite bad... but something's not quite catching with me. We can chalk it up to no talkink dogs. The Groot and Raccoon stuff, sadly... so sadly... i'm definitely not loving, and i don't think we really needed a revision of the original Mantlo setup, silly as it was. Also, it got a lot of space this issue. Oh well; one more issue to go. We'll see.

Avengers Academy Giant Size #1 - Arcade is the type of villain that just doesn't work anywhere outside of the Adam West Batman show, but because his first few appearances were actually done quite well by some excellent creators, he's managed to not be quietly retired. But this was tedious. Especially in the middle where each of his deathtraps were explained at great length. Overall, i felt like there wasn't much character depth here and there were no twists in the plot - i kept waiting for it to turn out that Arcade was actually working with the Academy as a trainer, or that he had some twist up his sleeve that made it seem reasonable that he'd target a bunch of teenage neophytes without having been hired to do so, or something, but... no. Very straightforward, and not a favorite character of mine so i didn't enjoy this. Luckily this wasn't by the regular writer (in fact... how did i wind up with this?).

Avengers Academy #12 - A pretty straightforward conclusion to the Korvac arc and there was enough action and development here that it improved from last issue (and the overall arc will probably read better all together).

Avengers Academy #13 - A great downtime issue with lots of character moments. Loved it.

Captain America #617 - The art - by about 15 different people - wasn't so good. Of course Deodato winds up drawing the scenes with the hot spy chicks in skintight outfits - play to your strengths! Story-wise, i'm enjoying the prison plot well enough.

Hulk #32 - I don't know how this got so close to the bottom of the pile; i haven't been enjoying it lately and this issue is no improvement. We're going to great lengths to set up this Zero/One character and her minions, but it's not making her any more interesting, in my opinion. And the "nanite bombs in the Red Hulk's head" plot is dragging, too. He's working for the government, has access to Bruce Banner and Steve Rogers and is now buddies with the rest of the Avengers; it's just not believable that he's got no one to turn to on this.

Secret Avengers #12 - This book has stopped being Secret Avengers and become the John Steele Show, but Brubaker's a good writer and i'm enjoying it.

Thunderbolts #156 - Now how can the guy writing this be the same guy who's writing Red Hulk? I thought this was fantastic. The Beetle's conversation with the Shocker was perfectly characterized. Satana's introduction to the rest of the Thunderbolts was well written and funny - Moonstone's discomfort over getting fondled was well done. The only minor complaint is the way the subplots were broken up. Songbird's conversation Zabo/Hyde was oddly interrupted by the Thunderbolts' fight scenes and it just didn't feel right dramatically. But i'm definitely liking this book way more than Red Hulk, even though both are by Parker. Is it just the characters?