The first two of these three issues wrap up the "World Trust" storyline begun in the last two, in which massive portals have opened popped up around the world and swallowed world capitals, while the third serves both as an epilogue to that story and a preview of the next major storyline that begins in... Continue Reading →
Avengers #57-58 and X-Treme X-Men #18 (October-November 2002)
With these two issues—the first half of the "World Trust" storyline—we see a new writer for Avengers, Geoff Johns, who soon afterwards will become a mainstay at DC Comics on titles such as Infinite Crisis, JSA, and Green Lantern. This storyline casts a welcome spotlight on Sam Wilson, but also spends a lot of time... Continue Reading →
Avengers #55-56, Tigra #4, Infinity Abyss #1, and Deadpool #69 (August-September 2002)
These two issues of Avengers close out Kurt Busiek's run, which began with the first issue of this volume. The first serves as an epilogue to the epic Kang Dynasty storyline that ended with the last issue, dealing with, among other things, Carol Danvers' court martial hearing for killing the Master and a dedication to a fallen... Continue Reading →
The Order #2, 3, 5, and 6 (May-September 2002)
This post covers four out of the six issues of The Order, a miniseries focused on the original Defenders (Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, Namor, and the Hulk) as well as other heroes associated with the team over the years. When the series begins, the Defenders Four have broken bad, claiming to be Earth's unwilling and resentful... Continue Reading →
Captain America #50 (February 2002)
The final issue of volume 3 of Captain America may the first example we've covered here of something which by now has become a regular occurrence: the oversized anniversary issue, either based on issue number or calendar years, containing a number of shorter stories commemorating the title character(s). DC Comics had been doing this for... Continue Reading →
Captain America #49 (January 2002)
This issue deals with two romantic entanglements involving Captain America as we head into the climactic final issue of this run next month. (Do not worry, Sue Storm is not one of them, despite the cover which, at least to me, seems to show our hero emerging from the shadows to sneak up on the... Continue Reading →
Captain America/Nick Fury: The Otherworld War (October 2001)
This one-shot introduces Captain America to elements of the world of Doctor Strange, but with a twist: these events transpire decades before Stephen had his climactic automobile accident, giving a different spin on what could otherwise be a standard World War II-era tale of Cap and Bucky featuring Sgt. Fury and the Howlin' Commandos. The... Continue Reading →
Captain America #47-48 (November-December 2001)
These two issues complete the storyline that began in issue #45, dealing with the Red Skull's latest attempt to defeat America by exploiting its racial tensions, all against the backdrop of Captain America's friends and allies gathering for a funeral. As issue #47 opens, it is Earth's Mightiest Heroes who assemble in honor of a... Continue Reading →
Captain America #45-46 and U.S.Agent #2-3 (September-October 2001)
These two issues of Captain America start off a four-part story detailing the Red Skull's latest attempt to overthrow American democracy by stirring up racial hatred. We also have two issues from the second U.S.Agent miniseries, featuring some good interaction between Walker and Cap. Not bad for this blog's 600th post! With respect to the... Continue Reading →
Captain America Annual 2001
This annual is a standalone story that does not occur at any particular time relative to the current run of the title (although it was released the week before issue #47). But it can be placed squarely in real time, given the identification of the U.S. president, George W. Bush, and reference to his just... Continue Reading →