So much for the "illusion of change." Instead of a mere cursory facelift on the Avengers, writer Brian Michael Bendis first dismantled the team as readers knew it with Avengers Disassembled, then rebuilt the franchise from the ground up with New Avengers, which saw some traditional faces joining with Avenger newbies Spider-Man and Wolverine to face hazy conspiracies alongside the usual supervillain threats. The team was initially born to stem a mass outbreak at the Raft, a high-security supervillain prison.

While separate story arcs have taken place throughout the title's run, the overall mystery remains the same: Who freed the villains from the Raft, and why? This sense of unease, of unseen forces aligned against this ragtag band of heroes, has permeated the title and given the book its own distinct flavor from the typical Avengers comic. The tonal shift is even more distinct when compared with the second Avengers title, Mighty Avengers, launched in the wake of Civil War, which offers a brighter color palate and more "traditional" spandex storylines.

All of Bendis' writerly tics are in full bloom here, with plenty of banter and naturalistic dialogue that's of the "love it or hate it" variety. However, the humor does offer some bright spots in the book's otherwise dark tone. The art team has rotated consistently since the book's launch, with such pencilers as David Finch and Leinil Francis Yu leaving their distinct marks on the title.

These may not be your daddy's Avengers, but they provide their own allure, and at their heart, they reflect the same spirit of teamwork and adventure that brought the classic Avengers to life some forty-odd years ago.