Avengers: Living Legends

Avengers (1998) (Old Trades)

by Kurt Busiek

The long-awaited final collection of Avengers issues by the legendary team of writer Kurt Busiek and artist George Perez finds Earth's Mightiest Heroes on the outs They've shared the same brain patterns -- and loved the same woman. Now, Wonder Man and the Vision go head-to-head. Collects Avengers vol. 3, #23-30

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.

Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.

During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).

Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.

In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.

In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.

In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.

Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.

Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best group of Avengers stories. This thing with the Triune Understanding is dragging on way too long. Almost the whole team gets turned over to a new roster. I did like the Kulan Gath story. He's an old magician that used to threaten Conan before making it into the Marvel universe occasionally. George Perez's art is still brilliant.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's some interesting bits here but there's just too much going on. And yet the subplots and substories are pretty good. I hadn't read the Wonder-Man/Vision story. And the simultaneous protests against mutants in the Avengers and the Avengers being all-white has a lot of possibilities. And the anti-religious overtones of the Avengers against what is clearly an evil organization hiding behind a religious organization also has possibilities. And the art was okay and the writing pretty good. But the subplots just keep coming until there are just too many of them. Focus would be better.

[Robert Noll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars. It was entertaining to read about the group membership getting rebooted, but the second group of Avengers was less than entertaining. The story about Kulan Gath was irrelevant. The fight with Wonderman and the Vision, as well as the purported racism faced by Triathlon would make a more compelling story arc.

[Winston Cleveland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and relatable characters! I really felt for them.

[Sineala · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well. I really, really, really could have done without the anti-affirmative action storyline. Uh. I mean, I get that they had good intentions (or at least I assume they had good intentions) but I really did not need to read Captain America saying that he's going to save the world with white Avengers.

Positive things: Carol's back! Hooray.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Avengers face public opinion that don't like mutants on the team or the fact that all the members are white. They also have some fun with a magical enemy. I did like some of the character stuff here, just a shame that sometimes it was overshadowed by the action. A good read.