The new story in this issue of Avengers—alongside several reprints, in a conscious callback to the “100-Page Giants” published by DC Comics in the 1970s and again in conjunction with Walmart more recently—sees Captain America return briefly to the team for the Changing of the Roster, a time-honored tradition going back to the original Avengers #16 and celebrated in two trade paperback collections (here and here). This one also adds the element of racial diversity, highlighted by the protests the last few issues (even if augmented by outside forces), which previously came up in Avengers #181 (referenced below). We also have a few panels from the 2000 Avengers Annual, which is really a Hellcat story setting up her new miniseries.
Avengers #27 opens with the team’s government liaison Duane Freeman reviewing the team’s recent troubles, including Cap stepping away from active duty (in issue #25), while Tony keeps in mind that the Triune Understanding, with whom Freeman is affiliated, is suspected of involvement in the protests.
Freeman is interrupted by Justice, who announces that he and Firestar are leaving the team to pursue their romantic relationship—and receives a highly sought-after stamp of approval from his idol.
After Wanda tells the others that Wonder Man is leaving too, she confirms that she’s staying on and has invited Janet and Hank back as well. Cap approves, but then he and Tony both notice Freeman muttering to himself about the likely effect of the line-up changes on the various groups of protestors…
…which the entire team is offended by. For his part, Tony acknowledges and validates the concerns of the protestors, but would rather see diversity achieved naturally by fair consideration of all potential members rather than giving preference to some simply to fill a quota. He recalls the last time they recruited a member solely on racial grounds…
…which Freeman blames on his infamous predecessor Henry Gyrich, not the merits of the idea itself. He counters with a suggestion that, as long as they’re going to invite past members back, to ask the ones of color first, and the Pragmatic Iron Man agrees.
They are once again interrupted, this time by Jarvis, who describes the events of the last issue, not covered here because it did not feature Captain America—although it did feature a Cap imposter, Taskmaster, whom Tony suspects may have been hired by the Triune Understanding.
After Thor flips out and leaves the team when Freeman asks him to apologize to the press, several former members arrive to help rebuild the roster, including Carol Danvers, whom Tony wants to offer a second chance on the team and is surprised when Freeman agrees, almost too easily (arousing Tony’s suspicions again). Meanwhile, Cap reaches out to a few former members of whom Freeman would approve, and the first remembers the last time he went through this all too well.
After he has similar luck recruiting other past members of color, Janet considers that Freeman may have a point—but I see this entire exercise as validating the diversity of the team over time, given how many past members would have been “acceptable” to the government, had they only been available.
The leader of the Triune Understanding shows up with their own resident superhero, Triathlon (last seen in issue #15), who conveniently takes out a handful of armed anti-mutant protestors before joining the make-nice press conference with his boss and the Avengers. Tony continues to ponder the possible conspiracy underlying it all…
…which gets added support when Freeman asks Triathlon to wait til he talks to the team, and even the young man himself sees the big picture.
Tony puts his boot down, arguing the team doesn’t want a Triune member on the team after their past clashes, but Freeman argues just as forcefully that the Triunes haven’t done anything wrong, and then threatens Tony with charges of religious discrimination if he refuses, with disastrous consequences for the team.
Tony gives in, but Triathlon has his own reservations, agreeing to join only to defend the names of the Triunes as well as his own.
After Freeman questions Vision’s status after he disappeared in issue #23, Janet invites her old friend Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk, to the team, and Wonder Man agrees to stay on as a reserve member. Finally, discussion turns to leadership: After Tony and Wanda pass for their own reasons, all eyes turn to Janet, who was a very effective team leader in the past (starting in issue #217).
After clearing the air with Tony about his feelings about Triathlon and the Triune Understanding, both hoping that he’s wrong, the new Avengers announce themselves to the world…
…and Cap will seldom be seen in this title for a while (until starting a gradual return with issue #34). But at least we have this summer’s annual, in which he is seen training with Tony and Wanda.
After Tony says “nice job for a old man,” Cap’s absence from active duty is noted, and he makes reference to recent events in his book (issues #25-27 and #28-30, respectively) before making it clear he’s not returning any time soon even though he does miss being part of a fighting unit.
In the climactic battle when the Avengers and the Thunderbolts team up against Salem’s Seven, Cap humbly questions his and Tony’s decision to launch Hellcat’s superhero career in Avengers #144, while Tony responds by citing her impressive actions since.
ISSUE DETAILS
Avengers (vol. 3) #27, April 2000, “New Order”: Kurt Busiek (writer), George Pérez (pencils), Al Vey (inks), Tom Smith (colors), Richard Starkings and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in Avengers Assemble Volume 3 and Avengers: I Am an Avenger, Vol. 2.
Avengers (vol. 3) Annual 2000: Kurt Busiek (writer), Norm Breyfogle and Richard Howell (pencils and inks), Tom Smith (colors), Richard Starkings and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Both collected in: Avengers Assemble Volume 4 and Thunderbolts Epic Collection: Targeted for Death.
PREVIOUS ISSUE: Avengers #25 (February 2000)
ALSO THIS MONTH: Captain America #28 and Fantastic Four #26 (April 2000)
NEXT ISSUES: Avengers #34-35 (November-December 2000)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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