Scan barcode
sincrusade's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
colindalaska's review against another edition
3.0
It's just like The Hunger Games, but not as good, and without a central character to root for.
The characters are either dull or annoying.
It's not very bad, just very bland.
The characters are either dull or annoying.
It's not very bad, just very bland.
nicholeb84's review against another edition
3.0
Avengers Arena is one of the new titles in the Marvel NOW! relaunch of Marvel books. The story is a semi-sequel to Avengers Academy and a bit of a ripoff on Hunger Games, which was itself a bit of a ripoff of Battle Royale, which was itself. . .well, you get the idea. The plot is fairly basic: sixteen teenage superheroes are kidnapped from several places and brought to Murderworld by Arcade. It's his very own reality show. Only one can get out alive.
Wikipedia tells me that you may know some of the characters:
X23, Hazmat, Mettle, Reptil, and Juston Seyfert are from the Avengers Academy. (And X23 has been in several titles over the last few years.
Darkhawk had his own title in the early 90s and has been a member of several different teams.
Nico and Chase are from the fabulous Runaways book.
Red Raven III has been here and there, but I don't think she's ever been a regular in a book before.
Cammi was in the Drax the Destroyer series.
And than there are the new kids on the block. The ones who were made just for Avengers Arena. They were all part of the Braddock Academy: Anachronism, Apex, Nara, Kid Briton, and Cullen Bloodstone. Oh, and there is also Death Locket. . .who wasn't even at a school or a superhero, in training or otherwise.
This trade covers the first six issues of the series. It sees groups forming: the kids from the Avengers Academy, Nico and Chase, the kids from the Braddock Academy and Death Locket, and the the rest acting solo. In six issues, you see these children quickly turning on another another - all suspicious and assumptions. It's a bit exhausting and annoying at times, actually. Just because you're meant to murder one another, that doesn't mean everyone is out to murder you. Don't jump in until you know the facts *coughHazmatcough*.
But the real question is: is the story any good? Is it worth 12-17 dollars? Well. . .yes and no. I do like that the book seems to know it is a rip off of a dozen different things;Arcade even mentions getting his idea from some novels he read in prison. But, a lot of the deaths are quick - too quick. I barely get to know and like a character, and they did. There were two deaths in the first two issues! Overall, there have been five deaths in six issues. Five!
And, the writers seem to have decided that they really want to focus on the kids from the Braddock Academy and Death Locket. . .these characters are rather unlikable. How Apex and Nara got into a superhero run Academy is a mystery. Really if I stop and truly think about it, out of the remaining characters, I probably only like five of them; and find three others tolerable. (Though I suppose 8 likable or somewhat likable characters out of 11 isn't terrible...)
I feel like I might start rambling, so I'll just say this: there are a lot of great ideas in this series. But, they seem to be rushing things a bit. A lot of these teens aren't people I want to root for. The art isn't bad, the usual stuff from Marvel. It's not a brilliant series, but it isn't the worst of the Marvel NOW! titles.
2.6 out of 5, rounded up to a 3 for the site. If you read Avengers Academy or Runaways, you may like this.
Wikipedia tells me that you may know some of the characters:
X23, Hazmat, Mettle, Reptil, and Juston Seyfert are from the Avengers Academy. (And X23 has been in several titles over the last few years.
Darkhawk had his own title in the early 90s and has been a member of several different teams.
Nico and Chase are from the fabulous Runaways book.
Red Raven III has been here and there, but I don't think she's ever been a regular in a book before.
Cammi was in the Drax the Destroyer series.
And than there are the new kids on the block. The ones who were made just for Avengers Arena. They were all part of the Braddock Academy: Anachronism, Apex, Nara, Kid Briton, and Cullen Bloodstone. Oh, and there is also Death Locket. . .who wasn't even at a school or a superhero, in training or otherwise.
This trade covers the first six issues of the series. It sees groups forming: the kids from the Avengers Academy, Nico and Chase, the kids from the Braddock Academy and Death Locket, and the the rest acting solo. In six issues, you see these children quickly turning on another another - all suspicious and assumptions. It's a bit exhausting and annoying at times, actually. Just because you're meant to murder one another, that doesn't mean everyone is out to murder you. Don't jump in until you know the facts *coughHazmatcough*.
But the real question is: is the story any good? Is it worth 12-17 dollars? Well. . .yes and no. I do like that the book seems to know it is a rip off of a dozen different things;Arcade even mentions getting his idea from some novels he read in prison. But, a lot of the deaths are quick - too quick. I barely get to know and like a character, and they did. There were two deaths in the first two issues! Overall, there have been five deaths in six issues. Five!
And, the writers seem to have decided that they really want to focus on the kids from the Braddock Academy and Death Locket. . .these characters are rather unlikable. How Apex and Nara got into a superhero run Academy is a mystery. Really if I stop and truly think about it, out of the remaining characters, I probably only like five of them; and find three others tolerable. (Though I suppose 8 likable or somewhat likable characters out of 11 isn't terrible...)
I feel like I might start rambling, so I'll just say this: there are a lot of great ideas in this series. But, they seem to be rushing things a bit. A lot of these teens aren't people I want to root for. The art isn't bad, the usual stuff from Marvel. It's not a brilliant series, but it isn't the worst of the Marvel NOW! titles.
2.6 out of 5, rounded up to a 3 for the site. If you read Avengers Academy or Runaways, you may like this.
jessethereader's review against another edition
3.0
I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this! I went in feeling kind of iffy about it, but I'm happy with the turn out. This comic did a great job of character development, which is something that I haven't seen be a key role in many of the comics I've read. Most of the comics I've read are pretty plot driven. It was a nice little switch up. I did feel like at times this story didn't flow very well. It kind of seemed scattered all over the place. Either way I had a good time reading it and if I can find volume 2, I'll definitely pick it up!
modernzorker's review against another edition
4.0
Unashamedly ripping off Battle Royale, from the logo on the cover to the bad guy admitting he read the book last time he was in prison and enjoyed it, Avengers Arena drops sixteen super-teens into a walled-off arena where only one can survive. Behind the mayhem is Arcade, a perennial punching bag of Marvel comics who's best-remembered exploit was trapping the X-Men in a giant pinball machine.
In a universe filled with super-powered beings and living gods, let's face it: Arcade's the guy every super hero team is comfortable fighting. He's Lex Luthor without the genius, a guy whose only strength is being a trust-fund baby with more money than sense. Take away his ineptly-named "Murder World" and he's just a guy in a cheap suit trying to get his jollies by screwing around with beings far mightier than he could ever hope to be, rigging up annoying traps and comically-oversize hammers instead of doing anything threatening. Whenever Marvel re-arranges their entire universe, destroying worlds, killing characters, and splitting dimensions, Arcade's the schlub everybody wishes they'd get rid of for good -- not because he's an asshole, but because his grand schemes reek of desperation and absurdity. His antics earn him a spot in jail for a bit, then everyone forgets about him because no one actually got hurt playing one of his games. No one likes Arcade, no one fears Arcade, no one respects Arcade.
Well, up until now that's been the case. But Arcade's hit rock bottom: tired of being a punching bag, tired of being taken for granted, tired of being the proverbial nerd getting sand kicked in his face. Dennis Hopeless has taken the single most hopeless "villain" in all Marvel-dom and asked the question, "What if Arcade was scary? Like, really scary?"
I love when a writer can give a character such a great make-over that suddenly they become either extremely useful (in terms of heroes) or extremely terrifying (in the case of a villain). In this case, Hopeless delivers the real Arcade experience by taking chunks of Battle Royale, Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner, and every other teenage dystopian novel of the last two decades you care to name, and weaving them into a Sentinel-level nightmare. Sixteen mutants enter Murder World's domed-over arena, and Arcade gives them thirty days. At the end of the month, the one still alive gets to leave.
My only complaint about book one is that it's a very slow build. These first several issues are all character back-story, making sure we're acquainted with everyone who's about to hit the chopping block, and that's important if you're going to throw more than a dozen super-teens at us. It also gets to the heart of Arcade's back-story, showcasing his transformation from weenie to living god of Murder World and ability to shrug off anything the kids can hit him with. This sets the stage nicely for what's to come in the next trade, but Volume 1 suffers a bit for it as well. Back-stories for all those involved are appreciated, but they do delay the action somewhat, so if you're looking for the carnage, be prepared to wait after the first couple mutants go 'splat'.
Otherwise, this is a ferocious, no-holds-barred book that isn't afraid to drop some hideous R-rated violence in full color when called for. Heads will, literally, roll before volume 1 is done, and that...is awesome.
In a universe filled with super-powered beings and living gods, let's face it: Arcade's the guy every super hero team is comfortable fighting. He's Lex Luthor without the genius, a guy whose only strength is being a trust-fund baby with more money than sense. Take away his ineptly-named "Murder World" and he's just a guy in a cheap suit trying to get his jollies by screwing around with beings far mightier than he could ever hope to be, rigging up annoying traps and comically-oversize hammers instead of doing anything threatening. Whenever Marvel re-arranges their entire universe, destroying worlds, killing characters, and splitting dimensions, Arcade's the schlub everybody wishes they'd get rid of for good -- not because he's an asshole, but because his grand schemes reek of desperation and absurdity. His antics earn him a spot in jail for a bit, then everyone forgets about him because no one actually got hurt playing one of his games. No one likes Arcade, no one fears Arcade, no one respects Arcade.
Well, up until now that's been the case. But Arcade's hit rock bottom: tired of being a punching bag, tired of being taken for granted, tired of being the proverbial nerd getting sand kicked in his face. Dennis Hopeless has taken the single most hopeless "villain" in all Marvel-dom and asked the question, "What if Arcade was scary? Like, really scary?"
I love when a writer can give a character such a great make-over that suddenly they become either extremely useful (in terms of heroes) or extremely terrifying (in the case of a villain). In this case, Hopeless delivers the real Arcade experience by taking chunks of Battle Royale, Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner, and every other teenage dystopian novel of the last two decades you care to name, and weaving them into a Sentinel-level nightmare. Sixteen mutants enter Murder World's domed-over arena, and Arcade gives them thirty days. At the end of the month, the one still alive gets to leave.
My only complaint about book one is that it's a very slow build. These first several issues are all character back-story, making sure we're acquainted with everyone who's about to hit the chopping block, and that's important if you're going to throw more than a dozen super-teens at us. It also gets to the heart of Arcade's back-story, showcasing his transformation from weenie to living god of Murder World and ability to shrug off anything the kids can hit him with. This sets the stage nicely for what's to come in the next trade, but Volume 1 suffers a bit for it as well. Back-stories for all those involved are appreciated, but they do delay the action somewhat, so if you're looking for the carnage, be prepared to wait after the first couple mutants go 'splat'.
Otherwise, this is a ferocious, no-holds-barred book that isn't afraid to drop some hideous R-rated violence in full color when called for. Heads will, literally, roll before volume 1 is done, and that...is awesome.
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
A lot less awful than I expected. I expect there to be a big ol gimmick by the end, of course.
christajls's review against another edition
Before reading this comic I had no idea who the majority of these characters were. Only X-23 and Kid Briton had popped up on my radar before. So I was worried I wouldn't feel any sort of connection to them - which would make this book rather dull. But every issue taught me more about these characters, and it wasn't long until I grew attached to them and started cheering for them to survive. This also means however that this is turning into one of the most emotionally devastating comic runs I've read in awhile.
Once you start reading you won't want to stop. You'll need to find out who dies, who betrays who, what tricks Arcade has cooked up for them and most importantly who will survive.
Once you start reading you won't want to stop. You'll need to find out who dies, who betrays who, what tricks Arcade has cooked up for them and most importantly who will survive.
huhwait's review
3.0
3.5
I the only character i knew of was x23 and they kept on killing people off which was interesting ??
I the only character i knew of was x23 and they kept on killing people off which was interesting ??