I knew it was coming. Marvel Comics kept saying that the storyline titled "Final Exam" didn't mean the end of Avengers Academy. Sadly, they lied. What a shame, too. This was one of Marvel's best written books. It dealt with real human issues and interactions. It offered character development and not just boring action sequences. These were real kids with real problems...on an elevated level. All thanks to writer Christos Gage. With Tigra, Hawkeye, and Giant Man as instructors at the academy, it was even getting close to being the line-up of the original West Coast Avengers, my favorite Avengers-related comic of all time. The academy was even based at the old WCA compound!
It's sad to say goodbye to old friends. I'm not too confident in the Academy's replacement: Avengers Arena. It's the younger Avengers in a Hunger Games setting. Haven't we seen this before? Waaaaaaaaay too many times? Secret Wars. Dark Side Club. Murderworld. Just to name a few.
Just what we need. A comic that's all about battle sequences with a cast of dozens. Goodbye, character development and interaction. Hello, boredom and uncreativity.
Wake me when it's over.
