Earth’s Mightiest Heroes—The Avengers Appreciation 2019

[Nomads1]

The fact that Disassembled topped this list, shows this list is garbage.

Agreed 100%. With you, not with the list, of course.

Peace

[Nomads1]

I also like Harras's run up until Steve Epting leaves. The era gets a bad reputation because of the bomber jackets (which were dumb) and a cast that maybe had too many B- and C-listers even by Avengers standards. But Harras/Epting brought some quality back to a title that had been pretty weak ever since Mark Gruenwald made the big mistake of firing Roger Stern. And though Harras inherited most of the cast he did some good things with characters like Sersi, and put his own stamp on the team by adding Crystal. Harras really seemed to like Quicksilver and Crystal, but also, adding a young mother and a baby and her nanny to the Avengers was something we hadn't really seen before, at least not on a regular basis.

Obviously it was influenced a lot by Harras's work with the X-Men, with all the soap opera romance and time travel and constant teasing of stories to come (some of which never even happened) but up until The Crossing that was mostly a good thing, because it brought back some of the soap opera that the title had been known for in the '70s and mostly lost in the Stern/Gruenwald era which had more of an emphasis on the pressures of running a team.

Wow, it's almost like I wrote this. It's exactly how I felt and what I think about the period. Kudos.

Peace

[Digifiend]

https://www.cbr.com/the-origin-of-th...e-little-tale/

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

Avengers #181 Mar 1979
"On the Matter of Heroes!"
Wonder Man and Beast catch a movie, and afterwards discuss the need and psychological role that heroes play.
They return to the mansion, only to have inserting Wonder Man's key provoke a security response!
They manage to unentangle themselves and, thinking something is wrong, they burst through the door to find a technician (Scott Lang).
Wonder Man is in the middle of shaking him down when Gyrich and Tony Stark come up and stop him.
Gyrich tells them to head to the conference room, where he'll make known
the rest of his demands for the Avengers priority status to be returned to them.

A cab drops a mysterious white-bearded person off in front of Avengers mansion.

Inside, Gyrich addresses all Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
He tells them that they have to pare down to seven members (!!), and then proceeds to tell them who those members will be!
He lists Iron Man, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Beast, Captain America, Wasp and... The Falcon?

Iron Man objects, but Gyrich tells them equal opportunity for minorities is a federal requirement.
Quicksilver also objects strenuously on the grounds that Falcon isn't even an Avenger,

and then suddenly falls over.
Thor rushes to "get a doctor", and outside the mysterious white-bearded man smiles.

Doctor Blake is waiting for test results. The Guardians of the Galaxy are leaving to return to their time.
Wonder Man packs his bags. Jan and Henry flirt. Various other now "former" members leave to much sadness,
with the few remaining to be gone in 24 hours, and then Wanda also mysteriously collapses!
Dr. Blake reveals that Quicksilver's test results just came in -
his heart no longer beats, but his body doesn't decay... He is neither dead nor truly alive!

The mysterious white-bearded figure checks into a hotel and opens his bag to reveal two little wooden figures carved to
look like Wanda and Pietro in cages, and they're moving! Not only that, but the man refers to them as... his children?

Cameo appearances by the Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Black Widow, Hercules and Moondragon.
Note: John Byrne begins his 1-year stint as the regular artist on the series. Note: First appearance of Scott Lang (the second Ant-Man).

Written by David Michelinie. Art by John Byrne (breakdowns) and Gene Day (finishes).

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

Is there a way I can vote for everything up to and including Ultron Unlimited?

I am grateful it is not multiple choice so that there is no way to include voting for to me House of Manure and Drivel Gore II!

[Nomads1]

Avengers #181 Mar 1979
"On the Matter of Heroes!"
Wonder Man and Beast catch a movie, and afterwards discuss the need and psychological role that heroes play.
They return to the mansion, only to have inserting Wonder Man's key provoke a security response!
They manage to unentangle themselves and, thinking something is wrong, they burst through the door to find a technician (Scott Lang).
Wonder Man is in the middle of shaking him down when Gyrich and Tony Stark come up and stop him.
Gyrich tells them to head to the conference room, where he'll make known
the rest of his demands for the Avengers priority status to be returned to them.

A cab drops a mysterious white-bearded person off in front of Avengers mansion.

Inside, Gyrich addresses all Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
He tells them that they have to pare down to seven members (!!), and then proceeds to tell them who those members will be!
He lists Iron Man, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Beast, Captain America, Wasp and... The Falcon?

Iron Man objects, but Gyrich tells them equal opportunity for minorities is a federal requirement.
Quicksilver also objects strenuously on the grounds that Falcon isn't even an Avenger,

and then suddenly falls over.
Thor rushes to "get a doctor", and outside the mysterious white-bearded man smiles.

Doctor Blake is waiting for test results. The Guardians of the Galaxy are leaving to return to their time.
Wonder Man packs his bags. Jan and Henry flirt. Various other now "former" members leave to much sadness,
with the few remaining to be gone in 24 hours, and then Wanda also mysteriously collapses!
Dr. Blake reveals that Quicksilver's test results just came in -
his heart no longer beats, but his body doesn't decay... He is neither dead nor truly alive!

The mysterious white-bearded figure checks into a hotel and opens his bag to reveal two little wooden figures carved to
look like Wanda and Pietro in cages, and they're moving! Not only that, but the man refers to them as... his children?

Cameo appearances by the Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Black Widow, Hercules and Moondragon.
Note: John Byrne begins his 1-year stint as the regular artist on the series. Note: First appearance of Scott Lang (the second Ant-Man).

Written by David Michelinie. Art by John Byrne (breakdowns) and Gene Day (finishes).

I liked Day's heavy inking over Byrne's dynamic breakdowns. Too bad I don't recall them teaming up elsewhere.

Peace

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

Avengers #301 Mar 1989
"Super-Nova Unbound!" Part 1 of 3.
A new era for Earth's Mightiest Heroes begins by moving Hydro-Base into New York Harbor,
so the Avengers' headquarters will be closer to the big city!
But shortly after the relocation, a former avenger sends a distress call to the new team!

The cry for help is from Starfox (holding the cosmic staff of Firelord)!
Apparently while chasing Nebula through the galaxies,
the Son of Mentor and the former herald of Galactus ran into an unstoppable foe called Super-Nova!
Alerted to the situation, the Avengers blast off into outer space on the FF's rocket ship to search for the so-called last Son of Xandar!
Thanks to Starfox's directions, Mr. Fantastic quickly locates an old Xandarian spaceship approaching Earth!

Once the Avengers board the alien vessel, a horde of brain leeches attacks!
However, defeating the brain drains is the easy part!
Defeating Super-Nova is a whole other story!

First appearance of Super-Nova. Cameo appearances by Starfox, Firelord and Michael O'Brien (aka the former Guardsman).
Avengers Lineup: Captain America, Gilgamesh, Thor, Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman.
NOTES: Starfox and Firelord previously appeared in Silver Surfer (2nd series) 19 and 20.
This issue was Don Heck's last artwork on the Avengers series.

Plot by Mark Gruenwald. Script by Ralph Macchio. Art by Bob Hall (layouts) and Don Heck (finishes).

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

I voted for Galactic Storm. Plenty of characters and teams. Each chapter was in numerical order so I knew what to read first. Plus the moral dilemma at the end had future implications on the team. Eric Materson Thor beating the crap out of Gladiator was a bonus.

I loved that the black woman Captain Marvel was the leader of the Shi'ar envoy which had Erik Masterson Thor as a member who defeated the imperial guard's Gladiator.

[Phoenixx9]

The little old man from Vladivostok! I remember him!

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

Avengers #63 Apr 1964
"And in This Corner...Goliath!" Part 1 of 3.
Clint Barton takes center stage as he changes identities after receiving a distress call from the Black Widow!


Exit Hawkeye...and enter Goliath!
A new super-villain triumvirate has taken the widow prisoner and crafted a plan to conquer the United States!
With his fellow avengers away on a phony mission, Clint storms into Coney Island to rescue Natasha all by himself!
But the Mad Thinker's massive android stands in his way!

Will the new Goliath be cut down to size on his very first adventure?
Avengers Lineup: Black Panther, Hawkeye/Goliath, Vision, Wasp and Yellowjacket.
NOTES: Elements of the plot continue from Captain Marvel (1st series) 12 and continue in Sub-Mariner (1st series) 14.
Egghead previously appeared in Tales to Astonish 61. The Puppet Master and Mad Thinker appear next in Sub-Mariner 14.

Script by Roy Thomas. Pencils by Gene Colan. Inks by George Klein.

[Nomads1]

Avengers #301 Mar 1989
"Super-Nova Unbound!" Part 1 of 3.
A new era for Earth's Mightiest Heroes begins by moving Hydro-Base into New York Harbor,
so the Avengers' headquarters will be closer to the big city!
But shortly after the relocation, a former avenger sends a distress call to the new team!

The cry for help is from Starfox (holding the cosmic staff of Firelord)!
Apparently while chasing Nebula through the galaxies,
the Son of Mentor and the former herald of Galactus ran into an unstoppable foe called Super-Nova!
Alerted to the situation, the Avengers blast off into outer space on the FF's rocket ship to search for the so-called last Son of Xandar!
Thanks to Starfox's directions, Mr. Fantastic quickly locates an old Xandarian spaceship approaching Earth!

Once the Avengers board the alien vessel, a horde of brain leeches attacks!
However, defeating the brain drains is the easy part!
Defeating Super-Nova is a whole other story!

First appearance of Super-Nova. Cameo appearances by Starfox, Firelord and Michael O'Brien (aka the former Guardsman).
Avengers Lineup: Captain America, Gilgamesh, Thor, Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman.
NOTES: Starfox and Firelord previously appeared in Silver Surfer (2nd series) 19 and 20.
This issue was Don Heck's last artwork on the Avengers series.

Plot by Mark Gruenwald. Script by Ralph Macchio. Art by Bob Hall (layouts) and Don Heck (finishes).

This three issue arc was basically the only full adventure with this full Simonson line-up.

Peace

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

Avengers #182 Apr 1979
"Honor Thy Father!"
Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch have mysteriously collapsed inside Avengers Mansion.
Dr. Donald Blake tries to diagnose their condition, but he doesn't realize
that Wanda's and Pietro's souls have been transferred into miniature dolls!
How did Django Maximoff do that? Fortunately, Jocasta picks up a trail of mystic energy that leads to a rundown rooming house in the Bowery.

And inside a small guest room,

the Avengers wage a bizarre battle against apparitions of the Toad, Princess Python and Nighthawk!

Can the Avengers free Wanda and Pietro from the clutches of the nivashi stone?

Avengers Lineup: Beast, Iron Man, Jocasta, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Thor, Vision, Wasp, Wonder Man and Yellowjacket.
Note: This issue reveals several details about the upbringing of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch
along with Django Maximoff's involvement in the events of Spider-Woman (1st series) 12.
Note: The letters page includes a letter from comics writer Kurt Busiek.

Written by David Michelinie. Art by John Byrne (breakdowns) and Klaus Janson (finishes).

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

Avengers #302 Apr 1989
"Earth Rocks!" Part 2 of 3. Guest-starring Firelord and Quasar.
After dispatching the Avengers in outer space, Super-Nova streaks towards Earth! And the last Son of Xandar's first stop is Chicago!
Super-Nova threatens to destroy the city unless the Avengers hand over Nebula!
But Earth's Mightiest Heroes much less Nebula are nowhere to be found!
In fact the first superhero on the scene is not even an avenger! It's Quasar!

Can Quasar stop Super-Nova? Probably not, but more help is on the way from the west coast!

Specifically Hawkeye, Hank Pym, Tigra and Wonder Man! Meanwhile after the massive explosion onboard Super-Nova's starship,
the remaining avengers and Firelord try to get back to Earth! But first they must survive their fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere!
And it's going to take all of the strength and skill of the Invisible Woman to accomplish that!

Avengers Lineup: Captain America, Gilgamesh, Thor, Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman.

Plot by Mark Gruenwald. Script by Ralph Macchio. Art by Rich Buckler (breakdowns) and Tom Palmer (finishes).

[Jekyll]

What are the general thoughts on Aaron’s current Avengers run? Trying to decide if it’s worth adding to my pull list or not.

[Anthony W]

What are the general thoughts on Aaron’s current Avengers run? Trying to decide if it’s worth adding to my pull list or not.

It depends on how you feel about certain characters.

Doctor Strange: Terrible

She-Hulk: Terrible

Thor: Terrible

Ghost Rider: Good

Blade: Excellent

Black Panther: Excellent

Captain America: Okay

Iron Man: Okay

Captain Marvel: Okay

There you have it. Three "okay", two "excellent", one "good" and three "terrible".

That would be enough to make me leave, but comics is a visual medium and the art carries the writing when it falls down.