"Old Entanglements" Guest-starring the Thunderbolts. Double-Sized Anniversary issue. Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by George Pérez. Inks by Al Vey and Bob Wiacek.
Wraparound cover by George Pérez. It's the second meeting between Earth's Mightiest Heroes and the Thunderbolts! And fortunately for the Avengers, both Wonder Man and the Vision have returned to the active roster! Something of which the Scarlet Witch is keenly aware! Nevertheless, when the mansion's computers locate Hawkeye's communicard in Arizona, the Avengers rush to the Grand Canyon State! And upon finding the Thunderbolts exploring the old Dominus Base, the Avengers attack! Some of the T-Bolts participated in the Masters of Evil's destruction of Avengers Mansion several years ago! And payback is now underway! But maybe Hawkeye and Firebird can diffuse the situation and get everyone focused on the real threat: Dominex! An outstanding issue!
48 pages. Cover price $2.99.
"Lords & Leaders" Guest-starring the New Warriors. Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by George Pérez. Inks by Al Vey and Scott Koblish. Cover by George Pérez.
Justice and Firestar join their former teammates in raiding an A.I.M. warehouse in the Bronx! And the battle is going great until Lord Templar appears! Nobody knows who he is, but Firestar soon realizes the New Warriors can't beat him! One thing leads to another...and the Avengers' new deputy leader, the Scarlet Witch, leads Thor, Wonder Man, and the Vision on a rescue mission to the northernmost borough! Will the combined might of ten super-heroes be enough to topple Lord Templar? First appearance of Lord Templar. Cameo appearances by Tony Stark and Hank Pym. New Warriors Lineup: Night Thrasher, Nova, Rage, and Speedball. (Notes: This issue was reprinted in 2005 in the hardcover: Avengers Assemble #2. The hardcover collects issues #12 thru #22.)
32 pages. Cover price $1.99.
"Under Cover of Night!" Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by Stuart Immonen. Inks by Wade von Grawbadger. Cover by Stuart Immonen and George Pérez.
At the end of last issue, Captain America resigned from the Avengers. But now he's apparently changed his mind! Under the cover of darkness, Cap recruits four pseudo-avengers for a special mission! Silverclaw, Warbird, Ant-Man (aka Scott Lang), and Captain Marvel (aka Genis-Vell) join the star-spangled avenger for a raid on the Triune Understanding's headquarters in New York! However as the clandestine operation proceeds, Cap's behavior arouses suspicion! Then out of the blue, the Taskmaster materializes inside the Triune's HQ! And the free-for-all begins! Just like the Triune Understanding planned! Cameo appearances by Cassie Lang. Foggy Nelson, Jonathan Tremont, Lord Templar, Triathlon, and Rick Jones. Special 8-page insert: Fast Lane Part 3 of 4. "On the Edge" Starring Spider-Man and the Human Torch. Script by Glenn Herdling. Pencils by Gregg Schigiel. Inks by Richard Case. (Notes: Warbird and Ant-Man first fought the Taskmaster in Avengers 196. Also this month the Avengers guest-star in Fantastic Four (3rd series) #27 and #28.)
40 pages. Cover price $1.99.
Heroes Return - Once an Avenger! [The Morgan Conquest]: Part 2 of 3 - "The Call!" Story by Kurt Busiek. Art by George Perez and Al Vey.
Earth's Mightiest Heroes - Donar, Iron Knight, Gypsy Witch, Yeoman America, and the rest - awake in a world that seems so familiar, yet somehow feels wrong. One by one their memories begin to surface. But how can only a handful of Avengers hope to defeat the sorceress Morgan Le Fay when they'll have to first defeat an army of their own comrades?
Cover price $1.99.
Painted cover by Ray Lago. Heroes Return - The Morgan Conquest Part 2 of 3. "Once An Avenger... The Call" Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by George Pérez . Inks by Al Vey.
Thanks to the Asgardian Twilight Sword and the Scarlet Witch's hex power, Morgan Le Fay has created her own medieval reality on the Earth! And the Mighty Avengers are serving as her special honor guard to keep the peace! However Captain America is able to break free of Morgan's mind control! And he starts searching for other avengers to join him. First Cap reaches Hawkeye, then the Wasp and Photon, and finally Quasar and Justice! Will six avengers be enough to defeat the Queen's Vengeance? Meanwhile in Morgan's dungeon, Wanda desperately sends a mystical call for help... to anyone who will listen!
32 pages. Cover price $1.99.
Heroes Return - The Morgan Conquest Part 3 of 3. "Once An Avenger... Fata Morgana" Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by George Pérez . Inks by Al Vey. Cover by George Pérez .
Wonder Man is back among the living! And just in time to help the Scarlet Witch, Captain America, and Thor lead the final charge against Morgan Le Fay! Nine avengers assault Morgan's castle to wrest the Twilight Sword from her clutches! And once the other avengers break free from the sorceress' mind control, the closing act in this medieval drama starts! Forty avengers vs. Morgan Le Fay! An awesome battle! A sensational issue! Cameo appearances by Mordred the Evil and Kro. (Notes: Wonder Man was presumed dead in Force Works (1994) #1. This issue features a gatefold cover. This three-part story was reprinted in 2004 in the hardcover: Avengers Assemble #1. The hardcover collects issues #1 thru #11.)
32 pages. Cover price $1.99.
The Morgan Conquest Epilogue - "Too Many Avengers!" Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by George Pérez . Inks by Al Vey and Bob Wiacek. Cover by George Pérez .
Earth's Mightiest Heroes return to New York following their triumphant battle against Morgan Le Fay. And the first thing on the Avengers' agenda is trimming the active roster down to a manageable size! The founding members agree upon a roster of seven! And it looks like an all-time great one: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and Warbird (aka Carol Danvers)! Plus Justice and Firestar as reserve members! Cameo appearances by Jarvis, Duane Freeman, and Whirlwind. (Notes: This issue was published with a pullout poster (as an 8-page insert) by George Pérez . This issue features a gatefold cover. This story was reprinted in 2000 in the trade paperback: Avengers The Morgan Conquest.) Special comment: Easily one of my all-time favorite rosters ever assembled. - Odinson, Lonestar Comics Archivist.
40 pages. Cover price $1.99.
"Accusation Most Foul" Part 1 of 2. Guest-starring the Squadron Supreme. Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by George Pérez . Inks by Al Vey. Cover by George Pérez .
The new Avengers lineup has its first mission! Rescue a commercial airliner that has crashed at sea with personnel from Project Pegasus onboard! Earth's Mightiest Heroes (minus the injured Vision) zoom to the North Atlantic and begin helping the survivors. But their rescue operation is interrupted by the Squadron Supreme! The squadron thinks the Avengers are imposters, and they want to bring them to justice! Wow, the Avengers haven't tangled with the Squadron Supreme since the classic Serpent Crown saga years ago! However a rematch is beckoning! Here we go! Cameo appearances by Jarvis, Duane Freeman, and Imus Champion. Squadron Supreme Lineup: Dr. Spectrum, Hyperion, Haywire, Moonglow, Power Princess, Shape, Skylark, and the Whizzer. (Notes: The Serpent Crown saga took place in Avengers (1st series) 141-144 and 147-149. This issue features a gatefold cover. This two-part story was reprinted in 2016 in the hardcover: Squadron Supreme Classic Omnibus.)
32 pages. Cover price $1.99.
"Lo, There Shall Come...an Accounting!" Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by Yanick Paquette. Inks by Ray Snyder. Painted cover by Luke Ross.
For Kurt Busiek's final script of the Avengers 3rd series, tax accountants from the Maria Stark Foundation stop by Avengers Mansion. They are here today to receive a full accounting about two quinjets and two office buildings -- that were destroyed during a recent battle in St. Louis vs. the Elements of Doom. Some of the avengers are happy to talk to the accountants while some are not. Will Earth's Mightiest Heroes receive a tax break or tax penalty?
32 pages. Cover price $2.25.
"Earth's Mightiest Frauds?" Part 2 of 2. Guest-starring the Squadron Supreme. Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by George Pérez . Inks by Al Vey, Bob Wiacek, and Bruce Patterson. Cover by George Pérez .
After an inconclusive battle last issue, the Avengers are determined to show the world they are not imposters! So the team flies to Project Pegasus to confront the Squadron Supreme! When Earth's Mightiest Heroes arrive on site, they receive a cold reception from the Blue Shield and the facility administrator! Is something corrupt (or is the Corruptor) at work inside Project Pegasus? Several minutes later the squadron returns to its temporary home! And once Wanda summons Wonder Man, round two between the Avengers and the Squadron Supreme commences! And this time there will be a winner! Cameo appearances by Jarvis, Imus Champion, and the Vision. Avengers Lineup: Captain America, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Thor, Warbird, and Wonder Man. (Notes: The Avengers meet the Squadron Supreme again in Avengers (3rd series) Annual 1998. Also this month the Avengers battle the Destroyer in Thor (2nd series) #1 & #2. The Live Kree or Die storyline begins next month in Iron Man (3rd series) #7 with a key appearance by Carol Danvers. This issue features a gatefold cover which serves as an homage to George Perez's classic cover to Avengers 141.)
32 pages. Cover price $1.99.
Live Kree or Die Part 4 of 4. "The Court Martial of Carol Danvers" Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by George Pérez . Inks by Al Vey. Cover by George Pérez .
Story continues from Quicksilver (1997) #10. These are difficult times for Carol Danvers after suffering a loss of power (from her days as Binary) and then turning to alcohol for comfort. And following Warbird's major mistake (in part 3), the Avengers have no choice but to convene a court martial. Fortunately, the painful proceedings are interrupted when an emergency call comes into the mansion! The Lunatic Legion is still threatening the Earth from their lunar base! So the Avengers (plus Firestar and Justice) rocket to the moon to make sure the citizens of Earth live free... instead of live Kree! An exceptional issue!
32 pages. Cover price $1.99.
"Full House" Script by Geoff Johns. Pencils by Steve Sadowski. Inks by Andrew Currie. Cover by Jae Lee.
Earth's Mightiest Heroes return to their Fifth Avenue mansion to make a serious decision about the future of their membership. Between the Jack of Hearts and She-Hulk, one of them has to go -- because their powers are incompatible. What will the Avengers decide? Meanwhile across town, Scott Lang's daughter, Cassie Lang, is kidnapped by a child predator! Ant-Man rushes to the scene to rescue her, but things do not go as planned. He needs help from his erstwhile nemesis...the Jack of Hearts! And the explosive avenger will bring his own brand of justice to the matter! Appearances by Peggy Lang, Black Panther, Captain America, Falcon, Redwing, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, She-Hulk, and the Vision. (Notes: This issue completes Geoff Johns' entertaining year-and-a-half run as the writer of the Avengers 3rd series.)
32 pages. Cover price $2.25.
"The Villain Who Fell from Grace with the Earth" Part 2 of 2. Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by George Pérez. Inks by Al Vey. Cover by George Pérez.
In the Caribbean Sea, the Mighty Avengers infiltrate Moses Magnum's floating entertainment resort! The heroes know that Magnum is onboard somewhere with the seismic cannon (that his troops stole from the airport last issue). But what the Avengers don't know is that Moses Mangum's powers have been augmented by Apocalypse! And those powers are currently out of control! When Hawkeye and Triathlon reach the central lab, the seismic struggle erupts! Moses Magnum vs. Earth's Mightiest Heroes plus Silverclaw and Triathlon! Will the Eastern Seaboard survive? Cameo appearance by Jarvis. Avengers Lineup: Captain America, Firestar, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Justice, Scarlet Witch, Vision, and Wonder Man. (Notes: After the battle Hawkeye leaves the team to find the Thunderbolts. See Thunderbolts (1997) #20 and #21. This issue features a gatefold cover.)
40 pages. Cover price $1.99.
"Day of the Remains" Plot by Kurt Busiek. Script by John Francis Moore. Art by Leonardo Manco. Cover by Leonardo Manco.
The Avengers' support staff took the team's defeat (and apparent deaths) at the hands of Onslaught very, very hard two years ago. In fact one member of the staff, Fabian Stankowicz, decided to take it upon himself to build a group of robots (from spare parts of Sentinels) to replace the Avengers. And now Fabian's "protectorate" is ready to guard New York City! But when the four powerful robots begin their aggressive patrolling, Earth's Mightiest Heroes take notice! And an awesome battle kicks off between the Mighty Avengers and the protectorate at the 59th Street Bridge! However Fabian built his robots super tough! And the actual key to victory lies with the Avengers' faithful butler: Edwin Jarvis! An excellent story!
48 pages. Cover price $3.50.
"The Third Man" Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by Ivan Reis. Inks by Scott Hanna. Cover by Ian Churchill and Norm Rapmund.
Plot continues from Avengers (3rd series) #43. Since the Avengers' encounter with Kulan Gath several months ago [See Avengers (3rd series) #29], there have been two Henry Pyms existing on Earth -- one as Yellowjacket and the other as Goliath. But no one among Earth's Mightiest Heroes was aware of this phenomenon until now! As the Kang War rages around the globe, both Hank Pyms lie inside Avengers Mansion in comatose states. Dr. Jane Foster and the Wasp don't know what to do to help them, but Triathlon has an idea. Could Jonathan Tremont and the Triune Understanding save Henry Pym's life(or lives)? The Avengers travel to Texas to give the Triunes a shot! Plot continues in Avengers (3rd series) #44. Avengers Lineup: Firestar, Justice, Hank Pym, Photon, Triathlon, and the Wasp. Second story: "House Cleaning" Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by Ian Churchill. Inks by Norm Rapmund. Jarvis takes a moment to revisit the controversial Crossing storyline from Avengers 1st series 390-395. And then he explains what happened to the Wasp, Teen Tony, and Iron Man from the end of the Avengers 1st series -- thru the Heroes Reborn Universe (Avengers 2nd series) -- and to the beginning of the Avengers 3rd series (Heroes Return). (Note: This annual was reprinted in 2002 in the trade paperback: Avengers The Kang Dynasty.)
48 pages. Cover price $2.99.
#0 - 84 + 1B + 2B
Script by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by George Pérez . Inks by Al Vey.
Following the events of the Heroes Reborn The Return (1997) limited series, Earth's Mightiest Heroes are alive and well in the Marvel Universe (aka Earth-616)! But at the moment, they are scattered across the globe and fighting strange monsters! Eventually, the Asgardian monsters disappear and every avenger makes his or her way to Avengers Mansion in New York! And once the heroes assemble, Thor tells a dire tale about the Norn Stones and the Twilight Sword! In response the Avengers split into teams and take off for different parts of the world. And just like that Earth's Mightiest Heroes' next great saga begins! Cameo appearances by Morgan Le Fay and Mordred the Evil. (Notes: The Avengers' chronology continues from Avengers (2nd series) #13. The special one-shot Avengers Rough Cut (1998) #1 provides information about the development of the story and art.
This special one-shot issue reprints Avengers (1997 3rd series) issue 1 with pencils only -- no inks, coloring, or lettering. "Once an Avenger... " Heroes Reborn. Plot by Kurt Busiek. Pencils by George Perez.
This issue provides Avengers' fans with an inside look at how Busiek's plot notes and Perez' pencils come together to develop the story. The inside front cover explains the new direction for Earth's Mightiest Heroes and provides background information on Busiek and Perez. The inside back cover lists the credits for the issue. There are not any advertisements inside. Wraparound cover. (Note: Around the same time, Marvel also published Captain America Sentinel of Liberty Rough Cut (1998) #1 and Thor (1998-2004 2nd Series) Rough Cut Edition #1.)
48 pages. Cover price $2.99.
