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 →
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 →