Seriously. We have to talk. When I buy a comic book that has the word “Avengers” in the title, I want some Avenging. I want some action.

The picture above, right there? That is the most action in the book. Seriously. Luke Cage getting pissed that his wife registered and took their baby to the Republican Avengers Tower.

The rest of the book? Talking heads. Not the awesome band from the 80’s. No, the talking heads that would have been two pages’ worth of wordy art 20-30 years ago now takes up 22 pages that costs four bucks.

Yes, Mr. Bendis, I know you’re building up to this awesome Secret Invasion thing where everyone is a Skrull and it’s going to be up to Slapstick and Henry Hellrung from The Order to save the world (maybe with an assist from Mass Master from Power Pack and Son of Satan), but c’mon. An Avengers issue without one punch thrown in anger? An issue without a major reveal?

This. This right here is why people are starting to really really hate decompression. This is a waste of four dollars. New Avengers #38. Avoid.