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 →
Avengers #52-54 and Tigra #1 (May-July 2002)
These three issues of Avengers wrap up the Kang Dynasty storyline that began in issue #41. In issue #49, the Earth—and the Avengers, represented by the Wasp—surrendered to Kang, but the team has not finished fighting, especially after Captain America learned of the surrender at the end of issue #50. Also, we have two pages... 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 →
Avengers: The Ultron Imperative (November 2001)
This oversized one-shot takes place between Avengers #45 and 46, following from previous storylines involving Ultron and his "bride" Alkhema and raising contemporary issues about the value of artificial life. It is also a collaborative effort, involving different writers, pencilers, and inkers for each chapter of the story—just in case you find the art in... Continue Reading →
Avengers #45-46 and Thor: Godstorm #1 (October-November 2001)
These two issues continue the "Kang Dynasty" storyline that began in issue #41, and which Cap has relatively little to do with (even compared to other Avengers tales). Part of this is explained by his first appearance in issue #45, where we see he is recovering from the injuries he sustained in issue #43 while... 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 #41-43 and Iron Man #42 (May-July 2001)
These three issues of Captain America primarily deal with our hero's ongoing conflict with Connie Ferrari and the long-simmering mystery surrounding her brother David, whom she believes was killed in a hazing episode in the military for being gay, but in actuality Nick Fury has found him alive and (reasonably) well. (We also get a... Continue Reading →
Captain America #40, Iron Man #39, and X-Men #111 (April 2001)
This issue finishes the story begun in the last issue, in which both parts of Captain America's life began to converge. As the Sentinel of Liberty, he is working with Sharon Carter and SHIELD to bring down AIM before they can create another Protocide, while as Steve Rogers he is growing more uncomfortable with his... Continue Reading →
Avengers #38-44 and Annual 2001 (March-September 2001)
These issues herald a new era for Earth's Mightiest Heroes and their book, as Captain America returns to the team full-time, and writer Kurt Busiek is joined by the legendary team of Alan Davis and Mark Farmer on pencils and inks (respectively) for the first six issues, the last three of which also launch "The... Continue Reading →