Kurt Busiek and George Perez continue their acclaimed run on Earth's Mightiest Heroes, pitting them against classic foes like Ultron, Count Nefaria and Kulan Gath, new foes who include the Exemplars and the ever-growing threat of the Triune Understanding. Plus, the Avengers are the centre of the crossover event MAXIMUM SECURITY which sees Earth transformed into a prison for interplanetary criminals.
While Kurt Busiek will continues to write the adventures of the Avengers, George Perez wraps up as series artist with Avengers #34.
MCG Notes:
- Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Avengers stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
- Issue listings in grey: Part of the Avengers' chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that are non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
- Chronology: Every appearance of the Avengers from this period is included in chronological order, mapping out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
- Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
- JUST WANT TO KEEP IT SIMPLE? Scroll down to THE CORE LIST to see a version of this reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns or less important appearances - just a list of the essentials.
Ultron returns to claim his 'family' - Hank Pym, Wasp, Scarlet Witch, Vision & Wonder Man - and advance his species, but to do that he needs to kill an entire nation; the Black Panther allies with the Avengers to oppose Ultron and Alkhema during ULTRON UNLIMITED.
Captain America #20[1/2]-21[1/2]. 22 (1999)
Black Panther #12 (1999)
Captain America and Sharon Carter continues to investigate the destruction of the world's Vibranium supply; in Wakanda, Captain America battles Klaw who attempts to turn the situation to his advantage; Captain America teams up with the Black Panther when Achebe and the White Wolf attempt to steal the Wakandan throne during ENEMY OF THE STATE.
Hulk #3, 5 (1999)
Avengers cameo; Iron Man, Vision, Scarlet Witch and Wonder Man specifically ask to become involved to stop the Hulk's latest rampage.
Hulk #7 (1999)
The Avengers battle the Hulk, unaware that his rampages are being caused by an old foe whose manipulating him from behind the scenes during GRUDGE MATCH.
Fantastic Four #23 (1999)
The terrorist group SKULL use mind-control nanites to turn the Avengers against the Fantastic Four on behalf of the Red Skull and the Mad Thinker.
Iron Man #18(pp.6-22)-20 (1999)
Iron Man and a drunken Warbird face-off against Sapper and Golden-Blade; Sunset Bain sends her War Machine to kill Iron Man when he discovers the true source of Baintronics' latest technological advancements is a former Avenger; Madame Masque's body is recovered.
Captain America '99 Annual (1999)
Scarlet Witch cameo; Captain America battles Flag-Smasher whose been turned into a mindless super-powered pawn of Roxxon.
Warlock #2 (1999)
Iron Man teams up with the techno-organic Warlock against a Gatekeeper robot.
Iron Man #21[1/2] (1999)
Tony Stark offers to help Carol Danvers deal with her alcoholism.
Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #11 (1999)
Captain America assists the Human Torch against the Asbestos Man.
Iron Man '99 Annual (1999)
When someone starts killing off ionic powered superhumans, Iron Man investigates; Count Nefaria is back from the dead and is building to something big.
New Warriors #1 (1999)
Firestar and Justice team up with their former teammates, the New Warriors, against Blastaar during ONE GOOD REASON.
Black Panther #13-14 (1999-2000)
Justice assists the Black Panther against Hydro-Man.
Galactus the Devourer #1-6 (1999-2000)
First appearance of Red Shift; Galactus' new Herald, Red Shift, leads him to Earth to consume it; the Avengers, Silver Surfer and more of Earth's heroes defeat Red Shift and the Surfer becomes Galactus' Herald again to prevent him from devouring the Earth; the Silver Surfer, Avengers, Fantastic Four and the Shi'ar combine their forces to end Galactus' life when he refuses to consume anything other than inhabited worlds.
Domination Factor: Fantastic Four #1.1 (1999)
Domination Factor: Avengers #1.2 (1999)
Domination Factor: Avengers #2.4 (1999)
Domination Factor: Avengers #3.6 (2000)
Domination Factor: Fantastic Four #4.7 (2000)
Domination Factor: Avengers #4.8 (2000)
Ageing multi-millionaire Nora Queen sends agents to obtain the pieces of Odin's Golden Apple in order to prolong her life and reshape reality; the Avengers and Fantastic Four attempt to thwart Queen's Praxis agents, unaware that her most trusted ally is actually an Asgardian in disguise during DOMINATION FACTOR.
Thor #14-16 (1999)
First appearance of Enrakt; first full appearance of Tarakis; Iron Man and Thor take on the Absorbing Man and Titania; Thor loses control of his hammer Mjolnir in battle with the Enchanters; Loki makes another move to take the throne of Asgard.
Iron Man #21[2/2] (1999)
Thor #17 (1999)
Peter Parker: Spider-Man #11 (1999)
Juggernaut: The Eighth Day #1 (1999)
First appearance of the Exemplars (Bedlam/Olisa Kabaki, Conquest/Bridget Malone, Decay/Yoshiro Hachiman, Inferno/Samantha MacGee, Stonecutter/Tom Somchart & Tempest/Nicolette Giroux) and the Temple of Watoomb; first full appearance of Balthakk, Farallah and Krakkan; first appearance of Andreas Zorba as Carnivore; Iron Man, Thor and Spider-Man face the avatars of the mystical Octessence who the Juggernaut to their number and empower the deadly God Machine during THE EIGHTH DAY.
Thor #18-20 (1999-2000)
Scarlet Witch cameo; even the combined might of Thor and Odin may not be enough to defeat the Enchanters; Enrakt's true identity is revealed.
Thor #21 (2000)
Thor Annual 2000 (2000)
Thor #22-25 (2000)
Thor investigates the connection between Loki and Jake Olson; Mangog recovers the mystical items for his master 'Thanos' in order to gain the power of Ragnarok; Thor risks his life in order to gain the powers to intervene and end his plans during THE FINAL MORNING.
Fantastic Four #24 (1999)
Avengers cameo; the Avengers appear on a TV screen.
Thor #26-27 (2000)
Thor finds out the reason for the Absorbing Man's most recent rampages.
Generation X #59 (2000)
Artie and Leech try to sneak into Avengers Mansion to meet the Avengers.
Captain America #23 (1999)
Captain America goes undercover in a prison.
Iron Man #23-25 (1999-2000)
Avengers cameo; the US Navy use Ultimo to power a new warship, but it's awakened by Golden-Blade and Sapper; Iron Man and Warbird join forces to take Ultimo down; Iron Man convinces Warbird to go to Alcoholics Anonymous.
Captain America #24 (1999)
The Absorbing Man allies with Crossbones and Hydra in order to afford Titania's treatment; Captain America convinces him to reconsider his alliances.
X-51 #4-5 (1999)
Merged with the Life Model Decoy (LMD) of SHIELD agent Jack Kubrick and infected with nano-Sentinels, X-51 (formerly Machine Man) has become a mutant-hunter; he targets Justice & Firestar of the Avengers; the Vision risks a similar infection when he comes to their aid.
Avengers #23 (1999)
The public protest against the Avengers lack of a more socially representative roster; the Vision and Wonder Man confront each other over their issues, including Wonder Man's relationship with the Scarlet Witch.
Hulk #11 (2000)
Captain America cameo; Cap suggests Bruce Banner should face some kind of atonement for the recent deaths the Hulk is believed to have caused.
Thunderbolts #34 (2000)
Scarlet Witch & Wonder Man cameo; the two Avengers watch a news reports about Hawkeye's leading the Thunderbolts during HULK SMASH: WORLD TOUR.
Fantastic Four #26-28 (2000)
The Avengers react to Doctor Doom joining the Fantastic Four and his marriage to the Invisible Woman during WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE.
Avengers #24-26 (2000)
The Triune Understanding are revealed to be behind the protests at Avengers Mansion; the Juggernaut sides with the Avengers and Quicksilver against the Exemplars; Captain America quits the team; 'Captain America' forms a new line-up of 'Avengers' consisting of Warbird, Ant-Man, Captain Marvel (Genis-Vell) & Silverclaw whose disastrous mission results in the Avengers' reputation being damaged even further.
Deadpool #37 (2000)
Justice cameo; after discovering Loki is his father, Deadpool steals Mjolnir and gains the power of Thor.
Captain America #25-28(pp.1-5) (2000)
Captain America teams up with the Falcon and Nick Fury when the Hate-Monger returns.
Avengers #27[1/5] (pp.1-21) (2000)
The pressure from the media and the Triune Understanding finally pushes the Avengers into changing their line-up; Captain America, Firestar, Thor & Wonder Man all leave the team; Iron Man and the Scarlet Witch are joined by Goliath (Hank Pym), She-Hulk, Triathlon, Warbird & Wasp.
Warlock #8 (2000)
The Avengers help Warlock defend Earth from techno-organic robots.
Avengers #27(pp.22)-30 (2000)
The new line-up of Avengers return Silverclaw to her home in Costa Verde, only to find it transformed to resemble the Hyborian Age by Kulan Gath as part of a plan to gain power from the Old Gods; the Avengers are stalked by Yellowjacket.
Thunderbolts Annual 2000 (2000)
Scarlet Witch cameo; Scarlet WItch meets Moonstone in secret to discuss their worries about Hawkeye's plans to rescue Mockingbird from Mephisto's realm during THE CAT CAME BACK.
Avengers Two: Wonder Man & the Beast #1 (2000)
Scarlet Witch cameo; the Scarlet Witch calls on the Beast to talk to Wonder Man about his recent resurrection.
Magneto: Dark Seduction #1-4 (2000)
The United Nations send the Avengers to end Magneto's reign on Genosha; Magneto works to regain his full powers and maintain his hold on the haven for mutants during X-MEN REVOLUTION.
Avengers Annual 2000 (2000)
The Avengers are reunited with Patsy Walker who returns to her Hellcat identity when she discovers a dark secret in her hometown of Centerville during THE CAT CAME BACK.
Black Panther #19 (2000)
Iron Man cameo; Iron Man reacts to the news of the Black Panther's latest activities.
Iron Man: Bad Blood #1-4 (2000)
When he learns he is dying of cancer, Justin Hammer makes one last bid to destroy Tony Stark and destroy Iron Man.
Iron Man #½ (2000)
First appearance of the Sons of Yinsen; Rumiko Fujikawa reveals she knows Iron Man's true identity; Iron Man first encounters the Sons of Yinsen, an army wearing his original Iron Man armour design.
First appearance of the Sons of Yinsen; Rumiko Fujikawa reveals she knows Iron Man's true identity; Iron Man first encounters the Sons of Yinsen, an army wearing his original Iron Man armour design.
Iron Man #26-30(pp.1-9) (2000)
The Iron Man armour gains sentience and rebels against its creator, initially killing one of his foes, then trying to replace Stark during THE MASK IN THE IRON MAN.
New Warriors #9 (2000)
Tony Stark behind the scenes; the Sentient Iron Man Armour answers an Avengers distress call and, in battle with the Blizzard, turns its rage against New Warriors during THE RETURN OF K'UN-LUN / THE MASK IN THE IRON MAN.
Iron Man #30(pp.10-22) (2000)
Tony Stark fights for is life against his own armour during THE MASK IN THE IRON MAN.
Iron Man #31-32 (2000)
Iron Man Annual 2000 (2000)
First appearance of Sun Tao; Iron Man meets the Sons of Yinsen again, learning of their intentions to resurrect Ho Yinsen and the fate of Wong-Chu during THE SONS OF YINSEN.
Black Panther #22 (2000)
Deadpool #44 (2000)
Black Panther #23 (2000)
Having defeated T'Challa, Erik Killmonger is now the Black Panther and attempts to claim his position as a member of the Avengers; while the Avengers explain that Killmonger is not eligible to join, Deadpool tries to steal his leopard Preyy during CAT TRAP.
Avengers #31 (2000)
The Avengers interrupt a Maggia meeting which raises more questions about Madame Masque's true identity; Yellowjacket continues to stalk Goliath during THE NEFARIA PROTOCOLS.
Incredible Hulk Annual 2000 (2000)
The Hulk returns to New York City and he's looking for the She-Hulk.
Avengers #32 (2000)
Thunderbolts #43 (2000)
Avengers #33 (2000)
Thunderbolts #44 (2000)
Avengers #34 (2000)
Captain America, Vision and the Black Widow assist the Avengers when Count Nefaria returns, claiming Atlas of the Thunderbolts and Wonder Man as his ionic minions; the true origins of Madame Masque are finally revealed during THE NEFARIA PROTOCOLS.
New Warriors #10 (2000)
She-Hulk cameo; She-Hulk assists Nova as his lawyer when his connection to the death of Darren Firestone comes under investigation during THE RETURN OF K'UN-LUN.
Iron Fist/Wolverine: The Return of K'un-Lun #2-4 (2000-2001)
Avengers cameo; Iron Man is among the heroes who oppose the Hand when they steal the power of the Iron Fist in an effort to control K'un-Lun during THE RETURN OF K'UN-LUN.
Iron Man #33-34 (2000)
Iron Man meet Maximus Power who offers temporary superpowers as a drug for the super-rich during MAXIMUM SECURITY.
Avengers Infinity #1-4 (2000)
Despite being off the active roster, Captain America forms a special team of Avengers - Thor, Moondragon, Photon, Quasar, Starfox & Tigra - to investigate the existence of the all-powerful Infinites.
Maximum Security #1 (2000)
Iron Man #35 (2000)
Thor #30 (2000)
Thunderbolts #45 (2000)
Maximum Security #2 (2000)
Avengers #35 (2000)
X-Men Unlimited #29 (2000)
Maximum Security #3 (2001)
First appearance of Allie 'Mac' McGruder, Farley Mowat and the Superhuman Tactical Activities Response Squad (STARS); the Intergalactic Council have decreed that Earth is now a penitentiary for the worst criminals in the galaxy; the Avengers, Fantastic Four and the X-Men rally against the actions of the alien Ruul while Ego the Living Planet begins consuming the Earth during MAXIMUM SECURITY.
- Avengers #0, 19-22
- Iron Man #21
- Thor #17
- Peter Parker: Spider-Man #11
- Juggernaut: The Eighth Day #1
- Avengers #23-30
- Avengers Annual 2000
- Avengers #31
- Thunderbolts #42
- Avengers #32
- Thunderbolts #43
- Avengers #33
- Thunderbolts #44
- Avengers #34
- Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet #1
- Avengers Infinity #1-4
- Maximum Security #1
- Thor #30
- Maximum Security #2
- Avengers #35
- Maximum Security #3
The Avengers reading order continues:
- 2000-2002: Conquered
- 2002-2004: Red Zone
- 2004-2006: New Avengers
- 2006-2007: Superhuman Civil War
- 2007-2008: Avengers vs Avengers
- 2008-2009: Invasion!
- 2009-2010: Dark Avengers
Avengers Assemble! vol.3-4
Avengers #½, 23-40
Avengers Annual 2000
Avengers: The Ultron Imperative #1
Maximum Security #1-3
Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet #1
Thunderbolts #42-44
Thunderbolts #42-44
Avengers by Busiek & Perez Omnibus vol.2
Avengers #½, 23-56
Avengers Annual 2000
Avengers Annual 2001
Avengers: The Ultron Imperative #1
Maximum Security #1-3
Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet #1
Thunderbolts #42-44
Thunderbolts #42-44
Hawkeye and the Thunderbolts vol.2
Thunderbolts Omnibus vol.2
All include...
Avengers #31-34
Avengers #31-34
Thunderbolts #42-44
Avengers/X-Men: Maximum Security
Avengers #35
Bishop: The Last X-Man #15
Captain America #36
Gambit #23
Iron Man #35
Maximum Security #1-3
Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet #1
Thor #30
Uncanny X-Men #387
X-Men #107
X-Men Unlimited #29
I never liked anything from Kurt busiek 😠,his take on Marvel characters came across as being written by someone who knows little to basic about Marvel characters like Thor just spins his hammer he just leave out the whole Thor is a god thing
ReplyDeleteI think he's got a good handle on the history (as seen in the fantastic Avengers Forever!) but I'll admit I wasn't among the fans who adored this era. The retro feel didn't work for me, but this was still quit a nice one to put together as Marvel really started to lean into their countuity again. Reading all of these titles at the time gave some great payoff in terms of it all being set in one, coherent universe.
DeleteUltron Unlimited was a good story and I liked Kang Dynasty (covered in the next entry) but I'm not too fussed about the rest, even if I'm easily in the minority with that feeling!
I'm looking forward at giving his Arrowsmith and Astro City books a go now that Image are finally re-releasing both!