These two issues of Avengers begin with a celebration of the 35th anniversary of the team’s founding (in September 1963’s Avengers #1) and end of the somber return of some fallen colleagues, followed by a grab-bag of minor appearances of Captain America and the team across the Marvel Universe. (Even though the cover to #10 is the showy one, the cover to issue #11 is notable for the homage to Kevin Maguire’s much homaged cover to 1987’s Justice League #1, many by Maguire himself.
We’ll start with Iron Man #10, the culmination of a long battle with the Mandarin that nearly kills Tony, the aftermath of which is referenced in Avengers #10-11 (both written at the time by Kurt Busiek). Even though we won’t see Tony below, we do see the other Avengers, called to Russia by the Black Widow to fight alongside the Winter Guard, and specifically Cap, leading the team while deferring to Natasha for guidance.
They’re all looking up at the Dragon of Heaven, the Mandarin’s huge dragon-shaped ship, where they assume Tony is and which is now their focus of attack. To that end, Cap hesitantly requests that Wanda summon Wonder Man, balancing concern for her with the needs of the moment (which she also recognizes).
Finally, we see Cap fighting Mandarin’s forces alongside the Russian army and Steel Guardian (formerly Red Guardian), who seems to resent not being at the center of the action, while Cap highlights their true contribution.
In the end, Tony destroys the Mandarin’s ship from the inside, falling to the ground with it, perilously close to death.
Turning to Avengers #10, after a page of random parade-goers praising their favorite members, we get this double-page spread, showing the classic “original” line-up (including Cap) plus the Wonder Twins for the kiddies.
We also see other heroes silently paying tribute, starting with Spider-Man, wishing he were riding the float but thinking it’s better that he’s not, while Cap remembers the recent “Capmania” before asking Tony about his injuries. Leave it to Tony, of all people, to put the celebration into context (and dismiss Cap’s concerns about his true state of his health, which the armor does a lot to disguise).
The issue also contains some flashbacks as the media reviews the team’s history, resembling issues #150-151 in which they did the same in anticipation of a new team roster, giving George Pérez an opportunity to revisit some classic scenes in Marvel history (instead of just interpolating between them as he did in issues #150-151).
The real treat is Pérez’s page of all the members to date (and even those who have just worked with the team, such as the original Guardians of the Galaxy).
(This is followed by a cute scene of the X-Men watching this all on TV, jealous of the way the public embraces the Avengers and resenting a sign reading “The Beast: Born to Be an Avenger.”)
Of course, we also need a page of the team’s foes. (‘Nuff said!)
Another tribute comes from Daredevil, who reminds himself why he chose not to join when asked (in issue #111): sensory overload. (Mmhm, sure.)
Another hero is heard from below, noting that his team was here first (Cap might disagree), who watches as a tribute to fallen Avengers begins…
…which is the perfect time for the Grim Reaper to appear. Cap shows the compassion at the heart of the Avengers when he offers help, but the Reaper has other plans.
Those green lumps of energy transform into zombie versions of heroes long gone, including Doctor Druid, Hellcat, Mockingbird, Swordsman, Thunderstrike, Captain Marvel, and even Wonder Man. (Keep in mind, this is comics, so many of these heroes have since been resurrected for real.)
The zombies battle the Avengers, who, like Cap, are hesitant to fight back against friends and colleagues (or even magical constructs that look and sound like them).
Because of this hesitance, the Avengers fall, and in issue #11 we see them held captive by the Grim Reaper, who’s whining about living under the shadow of his brother Simon (Wonder Man), while Justice references Iron Man’s injuries and his resolve to keep up the fight despite them.
At Avengers Mansion, where they’ve tied up Jarvis, Wonder Man and the Zombie Heroes (#1 issue coming soon!) confront Wanda, who gets through to Simon and convinces all of them to join her. After freeing the Avengers (and apparently moisturizing), they join forces against the Reaper.
After Wanda brings Simon back permanently, the rest of the “returned” heroes disappear and Simon defeats his brother. On the final page, Thor checks with Dr. Jane Foster, who’s taking care of Tony in this month’s Iron Man #11, and Cap offers Jarvis his analysis of what happened with the Reaper, ending on a (mildly) optimistic note.
Now for the lightning round, where we see what else the Avengers have been up to these two months, starting appropriately enough with Quicksilver #13, the final issue of his title. Here, Pietro reviews his life with a “mysterious” hooded stranger, including his time with Cap’s Kooky Quartet, with Cap having to not only lead but mentor the three newly reformed criminals.
In Silver Surfer #146, also the last issue of the series, Cap confers with Reed Richards about a new attack from Firelord, and while they both pledge their team’s services, they also agree on who is the natural person to call.
It’s not the Hulk (darn), but in The Incredible Hulk #470, Cap and Wanda respond to an emergency call about Rick Jones after the woman below found him very ill in his home, and Cap in particular does not hide his grave concern for his former partner.
(Don’t worry, this blog will cover Avengers Forever soon!)
Finally, in the (singular) X-Man #46, Cap, Wanda, and Thor argue with each other and Nick Fury about the political precarity of intervening in Latverian affairs, with Cap giving his “situation pointing south” speech and Thor making the point that the Latverians are isolationist only because Doctor Doom (still on the “Heroes Reborn” world) made them that way.
ISSUE DETAILS
Avengers (vol. 3) #10, November 1998: Kurt Busiek (writer), George Pérez (pencils), Al Vey (inks), Tom Smith (colors), Richards Starkings, Dan Lanphear, and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Avengers (vol. 3) #11, December 1998: Kurt Busiek (writer), George Pérez (pencils), Al Vey and Bob Wiacek (inks), Tom Smith (colors), Richards Starkings and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Avengers Assemble Volume 1.
Iron Man (vol. 3) #10, November 1998: Kurt Busiek (writer), Sean Chen (pencils), Larry Stucker and Eric Cannon (inks), Steve Oliff (colors), Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Iron Man: Heroes Return – The Complete Collection Vol. 1.
Quicksilver #13, November 1998: Joe Edkin (writer), Chris Renaud (pencils), Scott Elmer (inks), Joe Rosas (colors), Richard Starkings, Albert Deschesne, and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Avengers: Quicksilver.
The Incredible Hulk (vol. 1) #470, November 1998: Joe Casey (writer), Ed McGuinness (pencils), Nathan Massengill (inks), Steve Buccellato (colors), John Workman (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Incredible Hulk Epic Collection: The Lone and Level Sands.
Silver Surfer (vol. 1) #146, November 1998: Glenn Greenberg and Tom DeFalco (writers), Denys Cowan (pencils), John Floyd (inks), Michael Kraiger (colors), Emerson Miranda (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Sun Rise and Shadow Fall.
X-Man (vol. 1) #46, December 1998: Terry Kavanagh (writer), J.H. Williams III (pencils), Mick Gray (inks), Mike Thomas (colors), Richard Starkings and Wes Abbott (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Cable: The Nemesis Contract.
PREVIOUS ISSUES: Avengers #8-9 (September-October 1998)
ALSO THESE MONTHS: Captain America #11-12 and Thor #6 (November-December 1998), Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #3-4 (November-December 1998), Deadpool #23 (December 1998), and Avengers Forever #1 (December 1998)
NEXT ISSUE: Avengers #12 (January 1999)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
Leave a comment