Dark Avengers #1

Now this, I like.  I was a little worried after reading Mighty Avengers (probably should have read that after this, but I don't think it hurt that much) and the I-don't-care shift of status quo there.  Here, the shift is much more well-done.  The good Bendis showed up for this one.  The story was focused, well-paced and not at all decompressed, and as a bonus it didn't lean on Bendis-speak or use the same "voice" for each character.  Everyone was distinct and interesting (I think Ares was a stand-out).  My hat goes off to Bendis here, and I really like the art on this as well.  It's a unique look without being too jarring.  In the lead-up to this book, the identities of the Dark Avengers has been treated like some great mystery, even though the answers were obvious.  The thing I appreciate the most is that once we arrive, the story acknowledges that the mystery isn't really no mystery at all, and wastes no time on it.  Just gets right down to it, calling the team to assemble.  This is both fun and interesting, and if this is any indication of the kind of storytelling that Marvel has been promising Dark reign will deliver, then I'm certainly a lot happier about this new direction.