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 →
Avengers/Squadron Supreme Annual 1998 and Silver Surfer/Thor Annual 1998
The annual featuring the Avengers and the Justice League of America Squadron Supreme follows up on their "tense" team-up in Avengers #5-6 and offers a good old-fashioned "split into smaller teams to defeat the Big Bad's threat" story, while the Silver Surfer/Thor Annual from around the same time features one page with the Avengers, with... Continue Reading →
Captain America #8 and Avengers #7 (August 1998)
These two issues are half of the "Live Kree or Die!" crossover that begins in Iron Man #7 and also includes Quicksilver #10 (although Captain America appears in neither). The Kree are presumably jealous of the recent attention the Skrulls have received in recent issue of Captain America, so a faction called—I am not kidding—the... Continue Reading →
Thor #1-2 (July-August 1998)
Finally, a new Thor series following "Heroes Return," and the first #1 issue of Thor ever (because his original title took over the numbering of Journey into Mystery with #126 and he didn't get his own "Heroes Reborn" title). As we know, Thor was delayed coming back to the 616 with the gang after he... Continue Reading →