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The New Avengers: Illuminati #1-5
The New Avengers: Illuminati
The ultra-secret group of superhumans known as the Illuminati, composed of the leaders of Earth's most powerful superhuman factions, bands together to influence events in order to protect the world from the Skrull Empire.
120 pages, Hardcover
First published February 13, 2008
About the author
Brian Michael Bendis
4,349 books2,470 followersA comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
August 17, 2019
A really cool concept. Some of the heavyweights of the Marvel U are secretly meeting to take on the planetwide threats. Begins with the reason why the Skulls are coming to Earth. Then a couple of really good issues with the Infinity Gauntlet and the Beyonder. The Marvel Boy issue was kind of dumb, but ended on a great note leading into Secret Invasion. These guys that are secretly trying to protect the Earth seem to do more harm than good. The stories are really well written and gives you a look back at some of the biggest events to ever take place in Marvel history.
November 23, 2016
Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Professor X, Mister Fantastic, Namor the Sub-Mariner and Iron Man are the Illuminati, a secret group that shapes the superhero world, in theory for the better, behind the scenes. But as the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions…
Brian Bendis and Jim Cheung’s New Avengers: Illuminati is an ok comic. It’s a collection of five short stories some of which are better than others.
The book opens and closes with Skrull episodes that are Secret Invasion lead-ins. The first issue gives some background on the Skrulls’ decision to invade and seeing the Illuminati escape the Skrulls’ torture camp was really entertaining. However, having recently read Secret Invasion, I had a hard time giving a fig about the closing issue considering how bad that event turned out to be. Not a whole lot happens in it either: the team battles a Super-Skrull - meh.
I would’ve liked to have seen some background on the group’s formation because we don’t get any of that here. Why create this clandestine group and why them - if the qualification is intelligence like it seems to be with Richards and Stark, why not Hank Pym or Beast, why limit it to just six? The moral question is never really addressed either: what gives them the right to make these decisions and who pays when these decisions - that affect BILLIONS of lives - backfires?
Bendis addresses man’s fallibility in the Infinity Gauntlet issue when it looks like Reed Richards is about to go full Gollum with the Gauntlet, as well as the nature of absolute power in the Beyonder issue, but his treatment feels shallow and rushed. A more cerebral writer like Grant Morrison would’ve excelled at this type of story which the more populist-minded popcorn entertainment Bendis can’t quite pull it off.
Jim Cheung’s art is good throughout and at least half the stories were entertaining enough: escaping the Skrulls, the Infinity Gems quest and meeting the Beyonder, and even having the characters just sit around and talk about their other halves is exactly the kind of thing Bendis does so well (and can overindulge in). But the Noh-Varr issue did nothing for me nor did the Secret Invasion prologue (which you don’t really need to read as the dead Elektra Skrull appears again in the full event anyway).
Props to Bendis for creating this team/concept which, though underdeveloped here, is solid. But I recommend Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers, particularly the first volume, for a much better Illuminati comic that also really does them justice. Hickman raises the stakes enormously and shows readers just how powerful this small group really is and the scale that they operate on, as well as the impact of their decisions. Bendis’ New Avengers: Illuminati though is by no means a bad comic and serves as a decent jumping on point for this group.
Brian Bendis and Jim Cheung’s New Avengers: Illuminati is an ok comic. It’s a collection of five short stories some of which are better than others.
The book opens and closes with Skrull episodes that are Secret Invasion lead-ins. The first issue gives some background on the Skrulls’ decision to invade and seeing the Illuminati escape the Skrulls’ torture camp was really entertaining. However, having recently read Secret Invasion, I had a hard time giving a fig about the closing issue considering how bad that event turned out to be. Not a whole lot happens in it either: the team battles a Super-Skrull - meh.
I would’ve liked to have seen some background on the group’s formation because we don’t get any of that here. Why create this clandestine group and why them - if the qualification is intelligence like it seems to be with Richards and Stark, why not Hank Pym or Beast, why limit it to just six? The moral question is never really addressed either: what gives them the right to make these decisions and who pays when these decisions - that affect BILLIONS of lives - backfires?
Bendis addresses man’s fallibility in the Infinity Gauntlet issue when it looks like Reed Richards is about to go full Gollum with the Gauntlet, as well as the nature of absolute power in the Beyonder issue, but his treatment feels shallow and rushed. A more cerebral writer like Grant Morrison would’ve excelled at this type of story which the more populist-minded popcorn entertainment Bendis can’t quite pull it off.
Jim Cheung’s art is good throughout and at least half the stories were entertaining enough: escaping the Skrulls, the Infinity Gems quest and meeting the Beyonder, and even having the characters just sit around and talk about their other halves is exactly the kind of thing Bendis does so well (and can overindulge in). But the Noh-Varr issue did nothing for me nor did the Secret Invasion prologue (which you don’t really need to read as the dead Elektra Skrull appears again in the full event anyway).
Props to Bendis for creating this team/concept which, though underdeveloped here, is solid. But I recommend Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers, particularly the first volume, for a much better Illuminati comic that also really does them justice. Hickman raises the stakes enormously and shows readers just how powerful this small group really is and the scale that they operate on, as well as the impact of their decisions. Bendis’ New Avengers: Illuminati though is by no means a bad comic and serves as a decent jumping on point for this group.
May 31, 2016
The New Avengers Illuminati describes Earth's best and brightest forming a group many years ago to handle the big decisions. Iron Man, Professor X, Mr. Fantastic, Namor, Dr. Strange, Black Bolt, and The Black Panther meet together at Iron Man's request after The Kree Skull War on Earth. Iron Man wants to form all the Earth's superheroes into an army, but the others don't agree. Black Panther refuses to take any part in this group and the others decide to form The Illuminati.
It is interesting to see Professor X and Dr. Strange take part in these secret meetings to decide Earth's path. Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, and Namor are all egomaniacs who need to control things so it's not hard seeing them do this. I can't really figure out if it's in Black Bolt's character since he rarely speaks and when he does I'm generally too busy looking at what blew up to register his words.
This was a fairly serious comic overall, but they still managed to insert some humor.
The Illuminati themselves aren't a bad idea, but I'd be more comfortable with it if Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic were just advisors and if Namor had no part of it.
It is interesting to see Professor X and Dr. Strange take part in these secret meetings to decide Earth's path. Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, and Namor are all egomaniacs who need to control things so it's not hard seeing them do this. I can't really figure out if it's in Black Bolt's character since he rarely speaks and when he does I'm generally too busy looking at what blew up to register his words.
This was a fairly serious comic overall, but they still managed to insert some humor.
The Illuminati themselves aren't a bad idea, but I'd be more comfortable with it if Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic were just advisors and if Namor had no part of it.
August 8, 2010
I couldn't quite bring myself to give this one 4 stars. To me, it was lacking that special something that great stories have. The concept was cool enough, but the way the story was pieced together just didn't give it a cohesive feel for me. The 'secret society within a secret society' theme, reminded me of the storyline in Identity Crisis. As a (mostly) Marvel-girl, I hate to say this, but DC did it much better this time around.
However, it is definitely worth the read because of the inside information on the whys and hows of the Secret Invasion storyline. There is also a highly enjoyable scene between the guys about the women in their lives that I found to be quite funny.
However, it is definitely worth the read because of the inside information on the whys and hows of the Secret Invasion storyline. There is also a highly enjoyable scene between the guys about the women in their lives that I found to be quite funny.
May 5, 2021
I really liked this concept. The "Illuminati" is a secret brain trust composed of six of the most influential heroes on Earth. They are Professor X of the X-Men; Namor, King of the Oceans; Tony Stark, Iron Man; Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme; and Black Bolt, King of the Inhumans and Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four.
This concept of a secret cabal of influential heroes coming together behind the scenes to deal with different threats, is actually very interesting. The choices show a great deal of influence in the various heroes subcommunities. Everything from mutants to Inhumans and even the realms beneath the sea are represented.
What do they do? Each chapter seemed to be a story revolving around a "group meeting". From trying to deal with the Infinity Gauntlet to the Beyonder coming back, such are the weighty and often massive issues facing this group. The last chapter, taking place during the Marvel Civil War, shows their eventual dissolution (maybe?) due to the Skrull threat.
Mostly well illustrated and well written by Bendis, including his trademark humor, this was a very enjoyable volume. So why not 5 stars? The pacing of the story, due to the amount of time that passes between meetings, is off. Some of these chapters are very far apart and the world and the team have gone through changes that the script offers no clue about. I get it, but it is still annoying.
But this is still a very good volume with some good stories in it. The concept is also well done and interesting. The writing is good and parts such as the conversation between them about wives was actually very funny. The art is pretty good throughout as well. If you like any of the heroes I mentioned or the idea of a cabal of super influential heroes working behind the scenes-then you will like this volume. I did.
This concept of a secret cabal of influential heroes coming together behind the scenes to deal with different threats, is actually very interesting. The choices show a great deal of influence in the various heroes subcommunities. Everything from mutants to Inhumans and even the realms beneath the sea are represented.
What do they do? Each chapter seemed to be a story revolving around a "group meeting". From trying to deal with the Infinity Gauntlet to the Beyonder coming back, such are the weighty and often massive issues facing this group. The last chapter, taking place during the Marvel Civil War, shows their eventual dissolution (maybe?) due to the Skrull threat.
Mostly well illustrated and well written by Bendis, including his trademark humor, this was a very enjoyable volume. So why not 5 stars? The pacing of the story, due to the amount of time that passes between meetings, is off. Some of these chapters are very far apart and the world and the team have gone through changes that the script offers no clue about. I get it, but it is still annoying.
But this is still a very good volume with some good stories in it. The concept is also well done and interesting. The writing is good and parts such as the conversation between them about wives was actually very funny. The art is pretty good throughout as well. If you like any of the heroes I mentioned or the idea of a cabal of super influential heroes working behind the scenes-then you will like this volume. I did.
September 21, 2021
This was so cool wow!
It stats during the Kree skrull war and we see the gathering of the Illuminati, a secret group of individuals who work together behind the back to stop threats and their first warning to Skrulls and them being captured and escaping and what that sets up.
Also other times when they tried to reform the Infinity Gauntlet but then they stopped and what they did with it after or the time when they stopped Beyonder and the ramifications of that and big revelations about him and I like how Bendis is able to retcon it in a natural way and the writing there is impeccable keeping to the characterizations.
Plus the story with Noh-varr and ex and present GFs was funny and provides much humor to this otherwise dark book and makes them more human. Plus the big story leading to Secret Invasion here is so well done and you see them splitting and the question being "Who can you trust?" is evident here and well done also. I love how Bendis leads to his next big event and it feels natural and its so awesome! A must read for sure for all fans of Marvel!
It stats during the Kree skrull war and we see the gathering of the Illuminati, a secret group of individuals who work together behind the back to stop threats and their first warning to Skrulls and them being captured and escaping and what that sets up.
Also other times when they tried to reform the Infinity Gauntlet but then they stopped and what they did with it after or the time when they stopped Beyonder and the ramifications of that and big revelations about him and I like how Bendis is able to retcon it in a natural way and the writing there is impeccable keeping to the characterizations.
Plus the story with Noh-varr and ex and present GFs was funny and provides much humor to this otherwise dark book and makes them more human. Plus the big story leading to Secret Invasion here is so well done and you see them splitting and the question being "Who can you trust?" is evident here and well done also. I love how Bendis leads to his next big event and it feels natural and its so awesome! A must read for sure for all fans of Marvel!
July 5, 2022
Easily some of Bendis' very best work in the realm of superhero comics that he reigned over for the better part of a decade.
He and Cheung tell a story that is in equal parts an epic portrayal of the kings and kingmakers working behind the scenes of the Marvel Universe and a well-realized insight into the interpersonal struggles and flaws that have made these characters work for so long.
He and Cheung tell a story that is in equal parts an epic portrayal of the kings and kingmakers working behind the scenes of the Marvel Universe and a well-realized insight into the interpersonal struggles and flaws that have made these characters work for so long.
July 16, 2021
Vaya lectura!!!
The New Avengers Iluminatti es una historia escrita por Bryan Michael Bendis en la que propone una nueva dinámica de reunir a varios de los héroes más influyentes del planeta: Iron man como lider de los vengadores, Charles Xavier el lider mutante, Namor el rey de atlantis, Black Bolt el rey de los inhumanos, Dr Strange El hechicero supremo y Reed Richards fundador de los 4 fantásticos para conspirar y tomar decisiones que permitan prevenir amenazas o para eliminar problemas que se han vuelto demasiado recurrentes en el universo Marvel.
Si bien la primicia en si misma no suena tan atrapante creanme que Bendis hace un excelente trabajo con el guion y logra genuinamente dejar intrigado al lector pues aunque no hay tanta acción como en una típica historia de los avengers más convencionales es muy interesante ver como es que estos personajes ya estaban enterados de problemas que se supone fueron una sorpresa para todo el mundo o como llegaron a utilizar ciertos métodos de dudosa moralidad y manipulación para resolver situaciones que atentaban contra la seguridad de la tierra.
El arte tambien es un gran punto a favor pues al igual que la propia historia las ilustraciones logran ser atrapantes y muy cinematográficas, la verdad me gustó bastante.
Los iluminattis es una saga que me encantó y que recomendaría a cualquier fan de Marvel PERO que este muy familiarizado con el mundo de los cómics pues hay muchas referencias a sagas completas como World War Hulk, Civil War, Secret Invasion entre otras además de que la mitad de los iluminattis (al día de hoy 15 de julio de 2021) aun no salen en el MCU asi que aunque los personajes si han sido adaptados de una manera u otra en algun otro medio igual y para un lector que apenas inicia en esto quiza no llegue a disfrutar tanto el cómic como alguien que ya entiende todas las referencias para que lo tomen en cuenta antes de leer la historia...
The New Avengers Iluminatti es una historia escrita por Bryan Michael Bendis en la que propone una nueva dinámica de reunir a varios de los héroes más influyentes del planeta: Iron man como lider de los vengadores, Charles Xavier el lider mutante, Namor el rey de atlantis, Black Bolt el rey de los inhumanos, Dr Strange El hechicero supremo y Reed Richards fundador de los 4 fantásticos para conspirar y tomar decisiones que permitan prevenir amenazas o para eliminar problemas que se han vuelto demasiado recurrentes en el universo Marvel.
Si bien la primicia en si misma no suena tan atrapante creanme que Bendis hace un excelente trabajo con el guion y logra genuinamente dejar intrigado al lector pues aunque no hay tanta acción como en una típica historia de los avengers más convencionales es muy interesante ver como es que estos personajes ya estaban enterados de problemas que se supone fueron una sorpresa para todo el mundo o como llegaron a utilizar ciertos métodos de dudosa moralidad y manipulación para resolver situaciones que atentaban contra la seguridad de la tierra.
El arte tambien es un gran punto a favor pues al igual que la propia historia las ilustraciones logran ser atrapantes y muy cinematográficas, la verdad me gustó bastante.
Los iluminattis es una saga que me encantó y que recomendaría a cualquier fan de Marvel PERO que este muy familiarizado con el mundo de los cómics pues hay muchas referencias a sagas completas como World War Hulk, Civil War, Secret Invasion entre otras además de que la mitad de los iluminattis (al día de hoy 15 de julio de 2021) aun no salen en el MCU asi que aunque los personajes si han sido adaptados de una manera u otra en algun otro medio igual y para un lector que apenas inicia en esto quiza no llegue a disfrutar tanto el cómic como alguien que ya entiende todas las referencias para que lo tomen en cuenta antes de leer la historia...
May 29, 2011
Got this graphic novel compilation for the fact that my favorite Marvel character, Dr. Strange figures prominently in it. And to have other Marvel heavy hitters like Iron Man, Professor Charles Xavier and Reed Richards in it was just too tempting to pass up.
Verdict?
I wouldn’t say that it was a must read but given that it prefigures into the reason behind the Secret Invasion, I say that that alone was price of admission.
This edition collects Illuminati 1-5 and shows the collective force of Dr. Strange, Mr. Fantastic, Iron man, Namor, Professor X and Black Bolt of the Inhumans and how they operate along the sidelines, if not, behind the scenes at some of the cataclysmic Marvel events and how they were able to do some damage control thereby proving to be a worthy force to be reckoned with. And reckon with and deal with extraterrestrial events this secret group sure did; from handling the Infinity Gems of the Gauntlet (love that the Gauntlet resurfaces albeit briefly), the encounter with the Beyonder during the Secret Wars saga of the 80’s, to the “reforming” of Captain Mar-vell and more recently, the discovery of the Skrull presence on Earth.
But as such with power come both the responsibility in wielding it and the line that one has to draw to prevent such wanton misuse and thereby blurring that same line and changes the hero from champion into a walking power hungry ego with legs and superhuman ability.
The Civil War penned Bendis storyline has shown that our heroes aren’t perfect and are subject to the same flaws and judgement-error phases that ordinary people go through and this compilation is no different. Is that credit to Bendis’ writing? Perhaps. Or is it the natural progression of heroes nowdays in Comics to embody their real life reader counterparts and be given angst, pride, distrust and all other emotional facets that make us tick.
So did the compilation do its trick or job to clue me in? It didn’t exactly tick me off and made me conclude that it would be a useless gesture to read this because it doesn’t supplement or create more depth to the Secret Invasion. But what it did show me that this Marvel crisis was something that was painstakingly planned well. The foundations were certainly laid down well and justified the progression of the Skrull crisis.
For an added history lesson into that crisis and ties to the Skrul-Kree dynamic and how they relate to Earth, then yes read it. But if you don’t really want to know the laying-in of bricks and mortar to the whole scene and would just want to stroll into the building itself and get to the heart of the conflict, then by all means, walk along and go straight to Secret Invasion.
But then again a little more knowledge never hurt anyone. So still try it out. Who knows you may like it and appreciate Secret Invasion. I know I did. Only after reading it a second time. I may even have appreciated it the first time, had I read this first.
Verdict?
I wouldn’t say that it was a must read but given that it prefigures into the reason behind the Secret Invasion, I say that that alone was price of admission.
This edition collects Illuminati 1-5 and shows the collective force of Dr. Strange, Mr. Fantastic, Iron man, Namor, Professor X and Black Bolt of the Inhumans and how they operate along the sidelines, if not, behind the scenes at some of the cataclysmic Marvel events and how they were able to do some damage control thereby proving to be a worthy force to be reckoned with. And reckon with and deal with extraterrestrial events this secret group sure did; from handling the Infinity Gems of the Gauntlet (love that the Gauntlet resurfaces albeit briefly), the encounter with the Beyonder during the Secret Wars saga of the 80’s, to the “reforming” of Captain Mar-vell and more recently, the discovery of the Skrull presence on Earth.
But as such with power come both the responsibility in wielding it and the line that one has to draw to prevent such wanton misuse and thereby blurring that same line and changes the hero from champion into a walking power hungry ego with legs and superhuman ability.
The Civil War penned Bendis storyline has shown that our heroes aren’t perfect and are subject to the same flaws and judgement-error phases that ordinary people go through and this compilation is no different. Is that credit to Bendis’ writing? Perhaps. Or is it the natural progression of heroes nowdays in Comics to embody their real life reader counterparts and be given angst, pride, distrust and all other emotional facets that make us tick.
So did the compilation do its trick or job to clue me in? It didn’t exactly tick me off and made me conclude that it would be a useless gesture to read this because it doesn’t supplement or create more depth to the Secret Invasion. But what it did show me that this Marvel crisis was something that was painstakingly planned well. The foundations were certainly laid down well and justified the progression of the Skrull crisis.
For an added history lesson into that crisis and ties to the Skrul-Kree dynamic and how they relate to Earth, then yes read it. But if you don’t really want to know the laying-in of bricks and mortar to the whole scene and would just want to stroll into the building itself and get to the heart of the conflict, then by all means, walk along and go straight to Secret Invasion.
But then again a little more knowledge never hurt anyone. So still try it out. Who knows you may like it and appreciate Secret Invasion. I know I did. Only after reading it a second time. I may even have appreciated it the first time, had I read this first.
June 10, 2018
I’ll put it this way it is a very neat idea and I always have a good time reading Bendis.
That being said there is no real arc that carries through, for the most part it reads like an anthology detailing actions of this secret order throughout some of the Marvel universes biggest events.
But it’s also a lead in, it leads to secret invasion.
That’s why it gets 3 stars. Though if you’ve read Hickman’s run it’s pretty neat to see them all here.
That being said there is no real arc that carries through, for the most part it reads like an anthology detailing actions of this secret order throughout some of the Marvel universes biggest events.
But it’s also a lead in, it leads to secret invasion.
That’s why it gets 3 stars. Though if you’ve read Hickman’s run it’s pretty neat to see them all here.
January 11, 2024
I don’t have it in me to rewrite a more comprehensive review after good reads crashed. TLDWrite:
Civil war —> secret invasion
#0&5 best
Middle mediocre 1 shots
Did you really completely retcon my beloved Beyonder?
Are we going to talk about the all white (at least at the time the book was written) men/mutants of the Illuminati?
I read this because of the Beyonder in #3, and well…either they have been forever changed, so this is an essential- if disappointing- read, or it can and should be skipped. I’ll know when I get to their next appearances.
Civil war —> secret invasion
#0&5 best
Middle mediocre 1 shots
Did you really completely retcon my beloved Beyonder?
Are we going to talk about the all white (at least at the time the book was written) men/mutants of the Illuminati?
I read this because of the Beyonder in #3, and well…either they have been forever changed, so this is an essential- if disappointing- read, or it can and should be skipped. I’ll know when I get to their next appearances.
June 22, 2023
Good art and story, but the ending felt rushed. Interesting premise though.
March 2, 2022
"The Illuminati is a secret organization comprised of several of the world's most powerful heroes: Socerer Supreme Stephen Strange, Black Bolt, King of the Inhumans, Charlse Xavier, founder of the X-Men and mutant rights activist, Reed Richards, founding member of the Fantastic Four, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Ruler of Atlantis and Iron Man, founding member of the Avengers."
September 30, 2023
this shit is so AGNSTY and DRAMATIC and i’m eating that shit up fr holy fuck
November 3, 2017
No me llegó a enganchar, quizás por el batiburrillo de cosas que intentan suceder, sin llegar a pasar.
October 11, 2013
I really enjoyed this. The concept of a secret group of the brightest minds in the Marvel Universe coming together to take out threats to the Earth without the knowledge of anyone else...(Iron Man, Black Bolt, Dr. Strange, Prof. X, Mr. Fantastic, & the Sub Mariner)
They first formed after the Kree-Skrull War (via retcon, but done nicely) and we follow them as they confront major problems, right up to Secret Invasion.
I just liked the concept right out of Plato, of the Philosopher Kings who rule (Black Bolt and Namor both are Kings as well) because they are the smartest. There's also some hard decisions made, ones that would never fly in the Avengers/X-Men/FF etc.
I don't want to give much away other than to say Bendis nails this one on the head. The personalities clash the right amount, and work together the right amount as well, but it's also nice because we don't get to see some of these guys much, so to have them get a chance to shine is welcome.
Strongly recommended.
They first formed after the Kree-Skrull War (via retcon, but done nicely) and we follow them as they confront major problems, right up to Secret Invasion.
I just liked the concept right out of Plato, of the Philosopher Kings who rule (Black Bolt and Namor both are Kings as well) because they are the smartest. There's also some hard decisions made, ones that would never fly in the Avengers/X-Men/FF etc.
I don't want to give much away other than to say Bendis nails this one on the head. The personalities clash the right amount, and work together the right amount as well, but it's also nice because we don't get to see some of these guys much, so to have them get a chance to shine is welcome.
Strongly recommended.
December 16, 2016
Some of the most powerful members of the Marvel Universe join forces in the aftermath of the Kree/Skrull war to protect Earth from threats the other heroes can't handle. It's an interesting conceit, and puts a different spin on some of the mega crossover events that have happened over the decades. In some ways, Brian Michael Bendis is the Roy Thomas of his generation, deftly and seamlessly weaving new narratives into existing continuities. This book is a touch on the short side, and seems to exist mainly as a lead-in to the Secret Invasion crossover event. I think my favorite part of it was some of the banter between the lead characters, particularly the whole conversation kicked off by Dr. Strange complaining that Clea left him. How much you enjoy this probably depends on how much of a Marvel reader you are. I liked it, but I've been reading various Marvel titles since the 70's, so I was able to pick up on most of the references. Not sure how new readers will fare.
January 8, 2021
I love the Illuminati.
I like the basic concept that Bendis came up with: the secret organization of the world's most powerful super heroes. He manages to tie it into Marvel's history, even though he only created the team prior to Civil War. For me it really works. Seeing these heroes shape and change the Marvel universe, without the rest of their team-mates and family members even knowing. It's also pretty amazing to see Jim Cheung draw the different eras of Marvel. We see Skrulls, Galactus, The Beyonder and a quest for the Infinity Gems. When the story feels a little weak, it's helped by the art because it's just so gorgeous to look at.
The illuminati is one of my favourite concepts that Bendis introduced during his run on the Avengers franchise. (And I'm also glad to see Jonathan Hickman carrying on with the team and taking them further)
I like the basic concept that Bendis came up with: the secret organization of the world's most powerful super heroes. He manages to tie it into Marvel's history, even though he only created the team prior to Civil War. For me it really works. Seeing these heroes shape and change the Marvel universe, without the rest of their team-mates and family members even knowing. It's also pretty amazing to see Jim Cheung draw the different eras of Marvel. We see Skrulls, Galactus, The Beyonder and a quest for the Infinity Gems. When the story feels a little weak, it's helped by the art because it's just so gorgeous to look at.
The illuminati is one of my favourite concepts that Bendis introduced during his run on the Avengers franchise. (And I'm also glad to see Jonathan Hickman carrying on with the team and taking them further)
April 20, 2018
I liked this book for the simple reason that it covered/skimmed just about every significant moment of recent Marvel history.
From the Infinity Stones, the troubles with the Kree, Battleworld and the Beyonder, the Civil War and Captain America to the pervasive and every ongoing threat of the Skrull empire, this book had it all... briefly.
I need to buy and read Omnibuses. Why? Because I’m all over the place.
Just like this book that touches on everything, I’m scattered in the Marvel universe.
It did help fill in gaps that I was missing, and overall it was a pretty entertaining book.
I don’t know how true fans that have read every single event will feel.
I do know that this book leads up to Secret Invasions, though.
So if you’re a new traveler into the Marvel world like I am, I can, at least, tell you that this book is a great starting off point to that new adventure.
From the Infinity Stones, the troubles with the Kree, Battleworld and the Beyonder, the Civil War and Captain America to the pervasive and every ongoing threat of the Skrull empire, this book had it all... briefly.
I need to buy and read Omnibuses. Why? Because I’m all over the place.
Just like this book that touches on everything, I’m scattered in the Marvel universe.
It did help fill in gaps that I was missing, and overall it was a pretty entertaining book.
I don’t know how true fans that have read every single event will feel.
I do know that this book leads up to Secret Invasions, though.
So if you’re a new traveler into the Marvel world like I am, I can, at least, tell you that this book is a great starting off point to that new adventure.
July 26, 2018
Illuminati. The Illuminati mini-series is a fun romp through Marvel history, retconning the Illuminati group into several historical events, from the Kree-Skrull War to the arrival of Marvel Boy. The plot is a little light, which weakens these stories on reread, but the history is fun, and it turns the Illuminati into a concrete group, much to the benefit of Hickman's future Avengers run. The last issue is something else: it's a direct response to the discovery of skrull-Electra, and it's a great setup for the Secret Invasion to come [3+/5].
April 19, 2020
This was REALLY good, especially the art.
November 20, 2013
Well, that was depressing.
Recently, I sold off my entire collection of comics, but for my bound volumes—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, etc.—and my MAD Magazines. The New Avengers: Illuminati, written by otherwise-wünderkind Brian Michael Bendis (in addition to Brian Reed) and penciled by Jim Cheung, is a "perfect" example of why most comics in general and most superhero comics in particular no longer appeal to me.
In The New Avengers: Illuminati, a cabal of six of the central figures in Marvel Comics superhero comics formed a clandestine working group to accomplish tasks that heroes could never accomplish in the open, beginning with the 1970s' The Avengers: The Kree-Skrull War. If you guessed that this comic, published in the 2000s, is an excuse to shoehorn plot devices onto past stories while pretending that We Just Didn't See What Really Went On, you'd have guessed correctly. The New Avengers: Illuminati is primarily an engine to drive the perennial state of company-wide Comics Events that Marvel—and DC Comics, for that matter—never seems to get out of; even its Ultimate line, so well established by Bendis in the 1990s, fell into this trap with Ultimatum a couple years ago, about which the less said, the better. Such events are plot-driven, but to make extra money rather than to serve any actually compelling storyline; veteran writer Peter David used to complain regularly about such things when he first wrote for Marvel's X-Factor title. In this circumstance, The New Avengers: Illuminati drives the plot of the entire succession of Bendis-conceived Marvel Events, from Avengers: Disassembled through Secret Invasion and beyond. In fact, the only reason this volume works in the least is because Bendis, who co-wrote this one, also spearheaded so many contemporary Marvel Events.
And therein lies some of my frustration. Bendis is usually known for his crackling dialogue and eye towards characterization. None of that is evident here; that Bendis is playing less in his own sandbox than usual—see my reviews of Torso and Ultimate Spider-Man, Vol. 2: Learning Curve for more detail—only exacerbates the situation. Perhaps the greatest illustration of this problem is in the fourth chapter of the book: Amidst the Illuminati's dealing with the problem of one character who is in maximum-security super-villain prison for having attempted to conquer the earth, comes an offhand discussion between the Illuminati—all heterosexual males—about their various and sundry romantic interests. Not only do Bendis and Reed—I have no idea how much of this first part is whose—write Professor Charles "Prof. X" Xavier, Tony "Iron Man" Stark, and Reed "Mr. Fantastic" Richards woefully wrong—the dialogue has them barely concealing contempt for those "lesser" human beings who have no idea how much the superheroes really help them, which doesn't fit their traditional characterization at all—but in their discussion of their romantic interests—which aspect is the only real part of the entire volume that even begins to crackle with Bendisian dialogue—their "partners"—who never actually appear anywhere in the comic for more than a panel or two, except as I'll describe shortly—are nothing more than sexual conquests, not even real, fully-fleshed out human beings. That in the chapter's front page by Cheung, the drawings of the women—the only major place they appear—are universally sexualized in a manner not even closely comparable with their male "counterparts"; witness, as did I, a red-blooded heterosexual male myself, their pointy nipples, barely concealed by their skin-tight costumes. Never mind that a story that "passes" Alison Bechdel's test by not having any women doesn't really pass it; the so-called male gaze is alive and well here, and that's not a good thing.
In general as a result, The New Avengers: Illuminati is a necessary read only to those obsessively reading every piece of background to every comics crossover/event.
Recently, I sold off my entire collection of comics, but for my bound volumes—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, etc.—and my MAD Magazines. The New Avengers: Illuminati, written by otherwise-wünderkind Brian Michael Bendis (in addition to Brian Reed) and penciled by Jim Cheung, is a "perfect" example of why most comics in general and most superhero comics in particular no longer appeal to me.
In The New Avengers: Illuminati, a cabal of six of the central figures in Marvel Comics superhero comics formed a clandestine working group to accomplish tasks that heroes could never accomplish in the open, beginning with the 1970s' The Avengers: The Kree-Skrull War. If you guessed that this comic, published in the 2000s, is an excuse to shoehorn plot devices onto past stories while pretending that We Just Didn't See What Really Went On, you'd have guessed correctly. The New Avengers: Illuminati is primarily an engine to drive the perennial state of company-wide Comics Events that Marvel—and DC Comics, for that matter—never seems to get out of; even its Ultimate line, so well established by Bendis in the 1990s, fell into this trap with Ultimatum a couple years ago, about which the less said, the better. Such events are plot-driven, but to make extra money rather than to serve any actually compelling storyline; veteran writer Peter David used to complain regularly about such things when he first wrote for Marvel's X-Factor title. In this circumstance, The New Avengers: Illuminati drives the plot of the entire succession of Bendis-conceived Marvel Events, from Avengers: Disassembled through Secret Invasion and beyond. In fact, the only reason this volume works in the least is because Bendis, who co-wrote this one, also spearheaded so many contemporary Marvel Events.
And therein lies some of my frustration. Bendis is usually known for his crackling dialogue and eye towards characterization. None of that is evident here; that Bendis is playing less in his own sandbox than usual—see my reviews of Torso and Ultimate Spider-Man, Vol. 2: Learning Curve for more detail—only exacerbates the situation. Perhaps the greatest illustration of this problem is in the fourth chapter of the book: Amidst the Illuminati's dealing with the problem of one character who is in maximum-security super-villain prison for having attempted to conquer the earth, comes an offhand discussion between the Illuminati—all heterosexual males—about their various and sundry romantic interests. Not only do Bendis and Reed—I have no idea how much of this first part is whose—write Professor Charles "Prof. X" Xavier, Tony "Iron Man" Stark, and Reed "Mr. Fantastic" Richards woefully wrong—the dialogue has them barely concealing contempt for those "lesser" human beings who have no idea how much the superheroes really help them, which doesn't fit their traditional characterization at all—but in their discussion of their romantic interests—which aspect is the only real part of the entire volume that even begins to crackle with Bendisian dialogue—their "partners"—who never actually appear anywhere in the comic for more than a panel or two, except as I'll describe shortly—are nothing more than sexual conquests, not even real, fully-fleshed out human beings. That in the chapter's front page by Cheung, the drawings of the women—the only major place they appear—are universally sexualized in a manner not even closely comparable with their male "counterparts"; witness, as did I, a red-blooded heterosexual male myself, their pointy nipples, barely concealed by their skin-tight costumes. Never mind that a story that "passes" Alison Bechdel's test by not having any women doesn't really pass it; the so-called male gaze is alive and well here, and that's not a good thing.
In general as a result, The New Avengers: Illuminati is a necessary read only to those obsessively reading every piece of background to every comics crossover/event.
January 19, 2018
This is a great read. Combine these iconic characters with a compelling story, a comic doesn't get much better than this.
March 12, 2019
Предыстория (и причина) "Тайного Вторжения" скруллов на землю. Забавно, как в одном из выпусков могущественные Иллюминаты на своей сходке обсуждают не камни бесконечности и прочие дела космического масштаба, а устраивают семейную консультацию, болтая про жен, подруг и семейные проблемы.
January 6, 2021
Not bad. A pretty cool time.
April 18, 2022
preparing for MoM
October 19, 2023
Amei a ideia de ser um grupo secretos de momentos importantes do universo marvel com as mentes mais inteligentes. Aqui os diálogos são muito bonss e a arte nem se fala!!!
December 31, 2014
So, I was interested in reading up on the Civil War arc, you know? Having no idea where to start, and Goodreads being surprisingly unclear, I reached out to the internet and the internet reached back in the form of someone sharing a link with me.
This link gives the order I apparently should read comic books in to get the Civil War arc started.
Unless I read it wrong, this was where I should start. Frankly, I don’t really see it. But I learned more about the Kree and Skrulls, and Infinity Gems, so there’s that. I also got a better grasp on Dr. Strange and Namor.
In closing, I don’t really have a good grasp of everything that was going on, but it was interesting. Especially towards the end. How do you figure out who’s on your side and who’s not when
What some people might be uncomfortable reading about in this book because of personal opinion or belief (spoilers): pretty clean for a comic book. PG-13.
This link gives the order I apparently should read comic books in to get the Civil War arc started.
Unless I read it wrong, this was where I should start. Frankly, I don’t really see it. But I learned more about the Kree and Skrulls, and Infinity Gems, so there’s that. I also got a better grasp on Dr. Strange and Namor.
In closing, I don’t really have a good grasp of everything that was going on, but it was interesting. Especially towards the end. How do you figure out who’s on your side and who’s not when
What some people might be uncomfortable reading about in this book because of personal opinion or belief (spoilers): pretty clean for a comic book. PG-13.
April 1, 2008
The Illuminati, Marvel's secret group of team leaders retconned into existence, gets its own team up book, where they take on the Skrulls, the Beyonder, their ex-girlfriends (sorta) Marvel Boy, and the Infinity Gauntlet. This book provides a logical bridge between two big crossovers, Civil War and Secret Invasion.
All the creators involved are guys I like, but this book feels a bit too much like moving chess pieces around to appease continuity gods. That said, Brian Michael Bendis always writes in some nice dialogue. Jim Cheung does quite well with the action scenes, though I think his style works much better with younger characters, like in Young Avengers and Scion. His wrinkly Professor Xavier looks creepy; I wouldn't let my mutant kids go to his school.
All the creators involved are guys I like, but this book feels a bit too much like moving chess pieces around to appease continuity gods. That said, Brian Michael Bendis always writes in some nice dialogue. Jim Cheung does quite well with the action scenes, though I think his style works much better with younger characters, like in Young Avengers and Scion. His wrinkly Professor Xavier looks creepy; I wouldn't let my mutant kids go to his school.
February 11, 2024
Pretty fun! I like how it jumped around to different points in Marvel history, Namor making remarks to Reed about how he'd love to slip it to Sue. Great illustration of Reed constantly over-reaching (pun intended), and the burden of being the people to make the hard decisions, even if it all turns to shit in the end. They should do one of these every 5 years or so, to show how the group changes and what they might have done through various Marvel events.
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