Review: Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #5 (of 9)

It has been a long wait for the latest installment of what, I think, is the best Avengers title out there. But as the old cliche' goes — it was well worth it!

The quest to find the Scarlet Witch is over — but is it really? Wanda Maximoff, whom is betrothed to a certain Dr. Doom, has no memory of her past life, especially the part about mass genocide! So is the Scarlet Witch truly gone? And if so, should Wiccan even pursue trying to dredge up old memories or dare risk shaking the proverbial hornets nest?

Heinberg's epic mini-series continues to better itself with each and every issue. That's saying a lot, considering the first four were fantastic! This issues sees the return of Iron Lad, the time traveling younger version of Kang the Conqueror, and what he does to save his friends is shocking! As the battle over Wanda Maximoff rages on between the Avengers, Dr. Doom, Magneto and the Young Avengers, he decides to remove his allies into the timestream, dragging Wanda with them. As Ceung's explosive cover reveals, they return to the time of Mr. Bendis' Disassembled, where their actions could possible destroy the entire Marvel U.!

Cheung is arguably the best artistic talent Marvel has to offer. His page breakdowns are smart and enhance everything Heinberg has written to the Nth degree. But it is the pure, crisp lines that he uses and the keen eye for the most minuscule detail, that sends his artistic abilities through the stratosphere. Every page is phenomenal! Whether it be the splash page of all  the heroes against Doom and his Doombots, or the dirt crumbling from Jack of Hearts hair, every detail is done with precision. It is pure, unadulterated awesomeness!

Heinberg is a true craftsman of the form, not just writing amazing stories but making them "count" as well. He takes painstaking time to hit upon both past and future storylines to enrich his already brilliant current one. It is a story well woven within the Marvel mythos, being reverent to the characterization of classic characters – Cap and Doom – while enriching the tale of the Young Avengers with each issue. It is an exciting, over the top, yet down to earth joyride that placates to every fanboys lust for gorgeous art and jaw dropping twists. Every Avengers fan, new or old, owes it to themselves to pick up this series — the final page alone is worth the price of admission!