One of the better Fear Itself books I've read. I liked the vignettes rather than an overall contribution. ( )

I liked the individual stories in this but they didn't really gel into a whole. I was also disappointed that it focused so much on Black Widow, I was hoping to see some more Moonkight because I haven't read that many comics with him in them. ( )

The best thing I can say about this Fear Itself crossover tie-in is that it made me want to read the Secret Avengers series with these characters. This group is an eclectic and interesting mix.

The book opens with Steve Rogers briefing the team on the extraction for an informant after a massive leak reveals the names of all informants (outright villains & otherwise). They can't save them all, so he has chosen this one person who seemed to act out of conscience. The mission does not go as planned. This story really had nothing to do with Fear Itself, but it was an intriguing look at this "secret" black ops team that has peaked my interest in reading the series. Next up, Beast finds himself helping a Congressmen get a message of hope out to the people during the crisis in DC. And lastly, Valkyrie leads a (human) military mission which calls to mind what her true purpose is.

The book also contains two Black Widow stories. Now, I always enjoy her character, but again the stories aren't necessary and do little to expand on the event. The first story has Natasha confronting an online tabloid about reporting that Bucky Barnes is not really dead. This story would be a total throwaway if not for its revealing look at how regular people view the heroes and their seeming immortality - "this isn't the first time Captain America has died." It was a cool idea that worked well in this brief story. Natasha's second mission is against a terrorist organization that is unhappy that the Serpent has upstaged them with his message of fear. They want to prove themselves. This story was heavy on the action, with an ending that fits perfectly with Widow's character. I liked it.

Overall, the stories in this collection were worth reading but are not worth the retail (or even discounted) price of the book. If you can get a cheap used copy, definitely pick it up. ( )

Very uneven collection that is not particularly new reader friendly. Decent art, decent coloring, but nothing in the stories that engage me enough to seek out more Secret Avengers trades. If your local library has it, get it there, otherwise there's so many other better trades you could be reading. ( )