This annual continues the long Avengers tradition of stories centered on Jarvis, of which issue #201 is perhaps the most well known. Here, he writes a letter to Black Widow, reporting on the current status of the team and reflecting on her time leading what was left of the Avengers during the Heroes Reborn episode,... Continue Reading →
Avengers #16-18, Black Panther #8-9, and Magneto Rex #1 (May-July 1999)
These three issues of Avengers comprise an old-fashioned romp with the Avengers taking on the Wrecking Crew, powered up by a mysterious figure (seen on the middle cover above) who really wants them to find Carol Danvers (seen on the same cover in her original outfit). This story was written and drawn by Jerry Ordway,... Continue Reading →
Cable #66-68 (April-June 1999)
This three-part Cable story sees Captain America and several other Avengers helping the mutant from the future battle the Harbinger (not her), who is threatening to destroy humanity for his master, Apocalypse. Our heroes don't show up until the very end of issue #66, as the Harbinger makes his mission clear while apparently having Cable... Continue Reading →
Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #7 (March 1999)
This issue contains two stories. First in the comic, but second in this post, is the continuation of the Revolutionary-era Captain Steve Rogers story that began in the last issue (and unfortunately gets the cover of this one), which ends with a modern-day scene that raises even more questions than the ones mentioned before. But... Continue Reading →
Avengers #14-15 (March-April 1999)
These issues are not the most significant, but do include some interesting moments with the Scarlet Witch challenging Captain America's leadership—and speaking of whom, Cap doesn't even appear in issue #13, and no one knows why except the editor (and us). Cap is back by issue #14, most of which deals with the Beast's return to... Continue Reading →
Captain America #13 (January 1999)
This issue serves as a brief respite between major storylines, an intermission that revisits something that happened during the Skrull/Capmania episode that Mark Waid and company knew couldn't be forgotten, while also injecting some welcome levity, following the (literal) nightmare scenario of the last several issues and the red storm to come. The loose thread... Continue Reading →
Avengers #12, Thunderbolts #0, and Amazing Spider-Man #1 (December 1998-January 1999)
This issue of Avengers brings the team into conflict with the Thunderbolts for the first time since the team of villains broke with Baron Zemo and tried to go straight (for real), and also reunites them with Hawkeye for the first time since he walked out on the team at the end of Avengers #9. As... Continue Reading →
Captain America #11-12 and Thor #6 (November-December 1998)
These two issues of Captain America wrap up the storyline that began in issue #9 dealing with outstanding Americans being overcome with rage, which it turns out was due to the influence of the villain Nightmare. The last issue ended with Captain America's dream self voluntarily entering Nightmare's realm, after which his body is taken... Continue Reading →
Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #2-4 (October-December 1998)
These three issues comprise a fantastic Invaders story set in 1942, narrated by Captain America—to whom is not clear, but he does note it's "nearly sixty years" later, so he is probably telling this story in 1998 (or even 2001, when the last issue took place for some reason). Anyway, Grandpa's war story gives us... Continue Reading →
Avengers #8-9 (September-October 1998)
These issues introduce two new heroes (one of whom is prominent on the cover to issue #8 above) as well as a threat who is new to the Avengers (but well known to the X-Men, Spider-Man, and Black Panther), and see one of their own leave the team. After opening with a charming scene of... Continue Reading →