The Avengers #24.NOW

   The issue of The Avengers has some crazy numbering going on. There's a big #1 in the upper right hand corner - but it's actually issue #24 (it's the first issue in the "Rogue Planet" story, I assume).

   But it's actually #24.NOW, to indicate the beginning of a new (and "now") storyline.

   The story starts in the distant future, as a familiar name journeys into the past to save the planet Earth from the ultimate world-killer: a runaway planet.

   The issue is a nice mix of decompression, as the extended team celebrates its victory over the Builders and Thanos in the Infinity series, and launches right into a rescue effort to stop the unstoppable.

   It's another terrific, big-picture science fiction story from writer Jonathan Hickman, tying into the ongoing story in New Avengers.

   It features terrific art by Esad Ribic, Salvador Larroca, Mike Deodato and Butch Guice - four very different artists, but their work blends nicely here, with some stunning images.

   You might have expected a smaller story for the team after the cosmic overkill of Infinity, but it looks like the creative team isn't taking a break - they're plunging headlong into the next massive event.

   Impressive!

Grade: A

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