This issue, and this storyline in general has all the ingredients to be great. Problem is, it is just turning out to be "okay" instead.
Let's start this review by addressing some of the characteristics that make this book good. The premise behind the story is great. Every comic book reader who was around when the Illuminati hid the infinity gems knew the day was going to come when somebody would find them. Who better than the Hood! Likewise, most readers have been dying to know where each Illuminati member hid the gems, so it is interesting to see some of that story unfold.
Everybody knows Bendis' strength lies in his dialogue. He works the witty banter better than anyone in the industry. I'm starting to think that h has painted himself into a bit of a corner with this unique skill set though. It appears as though he has difficulty progressing his stories because he is so focused on the personal dialogue. Comic book stories are basically unique summaries of a story that make the reader interpret a minimal amount of text, piece it together with an abundance of imagery, and then make inferences about the missing information. This has always been the secret ingredient. Bendis' dialogue bogs down this formula, slowing the story down to a crawl, and making it appear as though he is no longer capable of communicating plot, setting or even climax! I personally believe this has happened because too many people told Bendis they love his dialogue (me being one!) And rather than continue writing the way he was, he amped up the thing that people were talking about the most, the dialogue!
With all of this said, the writing is still good. Bendis always gets me laughing and the way he depicts a room full of people conversing is more realistic than thinking that they would each wait for their turn to speak one at a time. I just want him to find a little balance to help progress the story a little better.
If you thought I was hard on Bendis (whom I love by the way!), wait until you hear what I say about artist John Romita Jr.! I honestly can't believe this guy gets gigs over other artists out there. His blocky style is so annoying! Nowhere is this more apparent than in the faces he draws. There are so many artists out there that deserve a shot, and yet Marvel sticks with this hack!
So, after reading all of that, many people might be wondering why I continue to purchase the book, or even why I still give this story 3 out of 5 stars. It's simple, the story is pretty good. The characters involved are awesome. Seeing Iron Man and Captain America right back at each other's throats is great (I personally am hoping that is a bridge that can never be repaired.) Who wouldn't be pumped about seeing Thor and the Red Hulk throw down with the Hood, with both sides in possession of some of the Infinity Gems! So all in all, the story is good. The only reason I am hard on the creative team is because I think this story should be a slam dunk. With all of the elements that are in place it should be amazing, not just good.