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: Dead Men Running #1-3 (March-May 2002)
One long month since his untimely passing—as previewed in that very comic—Captain America returns to the land of the living in the Dead Men Running miniseries. These three issues deal with a group of soldiers trapped with a bunch of children in the Colombian jungle on a mysterious mission, as narrated by Sergeant Solo, who... 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 →
Thunderbolts #50-54 (May-September 2001)
These five issues of Thunderbolts see Captain America assume leadership of the Redeemers, the government-sanctioned successor to the Thunderbolts, after Hawkeye cuts a deal with the government in issue #50, surrendering to federal custody to guarantee the rest of the Thunderbolts immunity for their unlawful activities. It's a long story which also involves Jack Monroe, the... Continue Reading →
Black Panther #30 (May 2001)
This issue of Black Panther reveals Captain America's first meeting with the King of Wakanda—not T'Challa, whom he met in Tales of Suspense #97, but rather his father T'Chaka, whom he met in early 1941, months before the United States entered World War II. (This meeting would later be expanded and revised in the Captain... 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 →
Avengers #36-37 and Black Panther #27 (January-February 2001)
These two issues of Avengers see Captain America continue his gradual and tentative return to the team what found him all those years ago. He doesn't appear in these issues extensively, but when he does, it is great to see him drawn by Steve Epting, familiar from his incredible work (with Tom Palmer's inks) on... Continue Reading →
Avengers #27 (April 2000) and Avengers Annual 2000
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... Continue Reading →