In this post we continue with the “Heroes Reborn” run of Avengers: In the first issue, the team found Thor trapped in amber, and in these four issues they face this reality’s version of Kang and a new Hulk born from their old reality’s Bruce Banner (split from the familiar Hulk in Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1).
Issue #2 opens with Henry Gyrich, the team’s SHIELD liaison, looking rather upset, followed by the double-page spread below, in which the team tests their new member’s strength while Gyrich fumes about that the fact that there is a new member at all.
Zooming in on the relevant dialogue between Captain America and Hank Pym, we see that the team is already holding the God of Thunder back from his true calling.
Thor grows impatient and breaks Pym’s machine, and Cap has an opportunity to share his experience being a “man out of time” as well as the moral reservations he expressed in the last issue.
It’s Nick Fury, whom we already know Cap does not like, but the exchange below reinforces this.
The good news is that the Scarlet Witch and Hellcat are already on the scene, soon joined by the rest of the team to face Kang (as revealed fully on the next page), against whom Cap hopes one of Hawkeye’s arrows will suffice. (Fingers crossed!)
Cap soon learns the folly of this plan after Kang repels Mjolnir, and he revises his strategy.
When Cap tries to use “the voice that could a command a god” to do just that, he finds it falls short…
…and when even Hawkeye, who is not a god despite what he may think, disregards him, Cap tells his one loyal soldier that he is going to issue one heck of a memo when this is over.
For but now, they will charge ahead with teeth gritted, as Avengers do.
Nonetheless, Kang defeats them all (including Thor), and by issue #3 he has most of the Avengers in containment and their weapons (and Vision) in storage. Each member’s thoughts reflect their unique mindsets, with Cap engaging in self-recrimination and renewal of dedication to prevail.
Thor summons Mjolnir to him, freeing him and enabling him to break the glass containing the others (definitely a case of emergency), after which Cap launches into leadership mode once again, affirming that the gear does not make the hero.
After Cap is beat upon the head with his own shield, he engages Hawkeye and the Swordsman in some teamwork…
…and after the rest of the team join in, they defeat their foe. As the Swordsman holds his sword to Kang’s chest—and Mantis, Kang’s partner, pleads for his life—Captain Eyebrows affirms the central principle of Avengers in any reality (despite their name).
Issue #4 introduces the Hulk to the title, but first, Cap indulges in what is likely his favorite Avengers activity: a training session. And when the Swordsman tries to turn Cap’s criticism back on him, Cap dismisses it and simply says, “again!”
When the Green Goliath shows up, Cap does manage to hurt him with his shield, but not nearly enough…
…and as of the next page, the final one of the issue, Cap is down for the count.
We don’t actually see Cap conscious in issue #5, most of which deals with Thor’s battle with the Hulk—during which we see Hulk trying in vain to lift the mighty hammer (with the usual inscription, as shown in issue #1, although not in the post).
Our single glimpse of Cap comes during a break in the battle, giving Thor an opportunity to excavate his leader…
…until a giant green hand grabs his hair, and round 2 commences. (Read it for yourself to see how it ends!)
And where, oh where, is Iron Man in all of this? The next post will introduce him to the Avengers in “Industrial Revolution,” the first “Heroes Reborn” crossover.
ISSUE DETAILS
Avengers (vol. 2) #2, December 1996: Rob Liefeld, Jim Valentino, and Jeph Loeb (writers), Chap Yaep (pencils), Jon Sibal (inks), Extreme Color (colors), Richard Starkings and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Avengers (vol. 2) #3, January 1997: Rob Liefeld, Jim Valentino, and Jeph Loeb (writers), Chap Yaep (pencils), Jon Sibal (inks), Extreme Color (colors), Richard Starkings and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Avengers (vol. 2) #4, February 1997: Rob Liefeld and Jeph Loeb (writers), Chap Yaep and Ian Churchill (pencils), Extreme Color (colors), Richard Starkings and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Avengers (vol. 2) #5, March 1997: Rob Liefeld and Jeph Loeb (writers), Rob Liefeld and Ian Churchill (pencils), Jon Sibal, Joe Weems, and Lary Stucker (inks), Andy Troy and Extreme Color (colors), Richard Starkings and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Heroes Reborn: The Avengers.
PREVIOUS ISSUE: Avengers #1 (November 1996)
ALSO THESE MONTHS: Captain America #2-5 (December 1996-March 1997) and Fantastic Four #3 (January 1997)
NEXT ISSUES: Avengers #6, Captain America #6, and Iron Man #6 (April 1997)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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