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 →
Avengers #10-11, Iron Man #10, Quicksilver #13, The Incredible Hulk #470, Silver Surfer #146, and X-Man #46 (November-December 1998)
These two issues of Avengers begin with a celebration of the 35th anniversary of the team's founding (in September 1963's Avengers #1) and end of the somber return of some fallen colleagues, followed by a grab-bag of minor appearances of Captain America and the team across the Marvel Universe. (Even though the cover to #10... Continue Reading →
Avengers #1 (February 1998)
This is the first issue of the third volume of Avengers, following the return of the core of the team from the "Heroes Reborn" universe in what is also a wonderful return to form for the Avengers and the book, now in the hands of Kurt Busiek and George Pérez. (See editor Tom Brevoort's reflections... Continue Reading →
Thunderbolts #9 and Spider-Man/Kingpin: To the Death (November 1997)
While we eagerly await the heroes' return from the "Heroes Reborn" universe, this issue of Thunderbolts provides a welcome flashback to earlier days: specifically, the beginning of "Cap's Kooky Quartet" from Avengers #16, as told by Black Widow to two members of the Thunderbolts. (Also, we have a bonus page from a Spider-Man one-off that... Continue Reading →
Marvel Fanfare #1 and Spider-Man Team-Up #4 (September 1996)
Although these two comics were published in the middle of the Onslaught Saga, both take place slightly earlier—although the cover of Marvel Fanfare, which hypes the story as Captain America and the Falcon's "final adventure", does not bode well for the conclusion of that massive crossover storyline! Note also the George Pérez cover to the... Continue Reading →
Secret Defenders #6-8 (August-October 1993)
This three-issue story is from Secret Defenders, which started out as a second Doctor Strange book after his powers were reduced in his main book, and he was forced to assemble specific teams to handle different cases. (Starting with issue #12, other people brought together teams, starting with the Mad Titan himself, Thanos.) Captain America... Continue Reading →
Amazing Spider-Man #380, Spectacular Spider-Man #202-203, Spider-Man #37, and Web of Spider-Man #103 (July-August 1993)
This post covers the five issues featuring Captain America in the 14-part "Massive Carnage" event that ran through the Spider-Man titles from May through August 1993, with Spidey and his amazing friends fighting Carnage and his gang of Carnies. (Wait, no, that's not right... or is it? We'll see.) Not only are Carnage and friends... Continue Reading →
Avengers #341-342, Quasar #28-29, and Amazing Spider-Man #354 (November-December 1991)
These two issues, guest-starring the New Warriors (including two future Avengers) and written by their regular scribe Fabian Nicieza, focus on Rage amidst heightened racial tensions in New York City, courtesy of the fella on the second cover, who adopts a familiar villain name (unfortunately well deserved). Also, we get a couple issues of Quasar's... Continue Reading →
Avengers #332-333, Thor #433, Amazing Spider-Man #348, and X-Factor #66 (May-June 1991)
As previewed at the end of the last issue as well as the covers above, these two issues of Avengers have Doctor Doom himself visiting the team, but this is no normal throw-down between capes, mainly owing to the purpose and motivation of Doom's visit. If that weren't enough, we get some minor Avengers appearances... Continue Reading →
Avengers #330-331, West Coast Avengers #69, and Web of Spider-Man #75-76 (March-May 1991)
The two issues of Avengers covered in this post finish up the storyline introducing Rage and involving the Tetrarchs of Entropy (which would make an awesome name for a death metal band) that began in issue #327. Captain America has a more active role in the first part, stepping back to supervise in the second,... Continue Reading →