Avengers Assemble Vol. 2 (Avengers

Avengers (1998) (New Editions)

by Kurt Busiek, George Pérez (Artist), Jerry Ordway (Artist)

Collects Avengers #12-23, Avengers Annual '99, & Avengers #0:

Threats including the Thunderbolts, Dominex, Lord Templar, Pagan, and the Wreckin Crew! Then: every man, woman and child in Slorenia is dead with a message from its murderer: Ultron has returned! Our only hope is a desperate U.N. strike on Slorenia, led by the Avengers themselves.

Genres: Marvel, Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Comic Book, Adventure, Graphic Novels Manga

413 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2012

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 4 out of 5]

The 2nd year of Busiek and Perez's Avengers rolls on with a three issue break in the middle where Jerry Ordway steps in. It's all solid stuff. The issue where Beast appears is my favorite. It's an ode to the bromance Beast and Wonder Man had back in the 70's Avengers. I really wish Beast could have joined the team again. There's a love triangle between Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man, and Vision that is starting to go on too long. There's also a bunch of stuff with the Triune Understanding and the media going after the Avengers that would fit in today. I think that's why I don't care for it. I'm already tired of that stuff in real life. Ultron's appearance is badass. It's also some of the story they used for Avengers: Age of Ultron. I am glad to see Justice finally getting over being starstruck of all of the Avengers. That was beginning to wear thin. All in all though, still a great series.

[Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Busiek continues his brilliant Avengers run. Great stories with great character development and art. This collection contains the following:

#12 - The Avengers team up with the Thunderbolts, led by Hawkeye. Busiek wrote both series at the time, so it's cool seeing these 2 teams together.
#13 - The New Warriors guest star and the Avengers face Lord Templar, a villain who will continue making appearances in this run going forward as his mystery unfoldds. The Scarlet Witch also moves into more of a leadership role.
#14 - Very fun issue. The Beast arrives to hang out with his best buddy: Wonder-Man. Beast, Wonder Man and Scarlet Witch have a night on the town and we are introduced to another mysterious villain named Pagan. Like Templar, he will also appear throughout this run as his mystery unfolds.
#15 - Triathlon returns as the Avengers fight both Lord Templar and Pagan. The Triune Understanding is also introduced, which is a cult-like group that seem to have a sinister motive.
#16-18 - Gerry Ordway fills in for writing duties temporarily. It's an okay story involving the Wrecking Crew and Arkon.
#0, 19-22 - The highlight of this collection, and one of the best Ultron stories ever written. Ultron seems unbeatable in this story due to recreating himself out of adamantium, as well as creating many other Ultrons. There are some great moments in this story with the Avengers facing impossible odds.

In the Ultron story, we also get some great character development with Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne, who have gotten their relationship back together during this run. Hank finally seems to overcome his complex over Ultron, and Janet also confronts how she wasn't a very good partner for Hank in the past. Namely, she fact that she always tried to change who he was. Then when he had his mental breakdown and literally thought he was a different person, Janet took advantage of his breakdown and married him, ensuring that Pym felt that she never accepted him as himself, and that she preferred him when he was someone else who was more outgoing and reckless. Obviously Hank didn't treat Janet that great either, but it's good to see that the Wasp realizes that she was also toxic. Great character growth for both of them.

This collection also contains the 1999 Annual and an introduction by Gerry Ordway.

[James Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second volume of Busiek and Perez's Avengers starts off much like the first - focused on what seems like setup for later, and team dynamics. Then we hit the Ultron Unlimited storyline, and things really get good. (One of the best Avengers stories, and possibly the best Ultron story.) The volume also includes some interesting side stories by other authors, including John Francis Moore's account of what happened while the original Avengers were thought to be dead, and a two-parter by Jerry Ordway featuring the Wrecking Crew. On the other hand, the volume concludes with content from a Wizard Avengers special, and Avengers #1 Rough Cut (basically the first issue in sketch form) - which are nice to have archived, but feel like filler. Still, overall this is a good collection, with the Ultron story alone making this well worth picking up. (A-)

[Adam Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book collects 12-23, #0 Annual '99 and Avengers Rough Cut with primary writing by Kurt Busiek and Art by George Perez.

There's a lot that happens here including a battle/team-up with the Thunderbirds, a storyline involving Lord Templar, and a cult that's being protected by Triathlon. as well as a guest written story that features the Wrecking Crew and the return of Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau) and Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers.) and also a fight with Ultron.

Some of the highlights for me would be the Ultron story, which is actually very well-told and unlike some later ones didn't go on for too long and also the Annual which focused on Jarvis' activities during Ultron. There were a couple big ongoing storylines: First, was Justice's efforts to prove himself to the Avengers as someone who had looked up to them as heroes and to move on being starstruck. There's also continual tension between Wonder Man and Vision over Scarlet Witch which continually is hinted at but only comes to the surface towards the end of the book.

I did think the Thunderbolts issue went on a bit long and felt more like it was trying to promote the Hawkeye-led Thunderbolts. That did cause the book to start a bit slow, but it definitely picks up towards the end.

Overall, this is another great volume and I look forward to reading the next.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This was quite the epic compilation, mainly because of the Ultron story included here, which is one of the most intense Avengers adventures I've ever read.

As evil as Ultron can be based on his core concept, the way Busiek used this history to shape this story took things to a whole other level. It almost feels like a miracle that the team managed to find a way to deal with him as a threat as Ultron's relentless nature was really leveraged effectively to make him quite the villain.

We also got a great moment between the Vision and Wonder Man to better unpack their inherent baggage as characters. There's still more to this side of the story, but the way things are being handled so far really demonstrates a strong appreciation for character development.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dobra kontynuacja serii. 4 zeszyty o walce z Ultronem najlepsze. Fajny annual orbitujący wokół Jarvisa. Początek dłuższego wątku z sektą Triune.

Zeszyty w antologii:
Avengers (Vol. 3) #12
Avengers 1999 #1
Avengers (Vol. 3) #13
Avengers (Vol. 3) #14
Avengers (Vol. 3) #15
Avengers (Vol. 3) #16
Avengers (Vol. 3) #17
Avengers (Vol. 3) #18
Avengers (Vol. 3) #0
Avengers (Vol. 3) #19
Avengers (Vol. 3) #20
Avengers (Vol. 3) #21
Avengers (Vol. 3) #22
Avengers (Vol. 3) #23

[Dow · Rating 2 out of 5]

FINALLY done with this one. was almost a DNF. avengers comics specifically are so cookie cutter that it's hard to enjoy them. there were a couple good issues in there, justice and firestar were good, and THAT LAST ISSUE with jarvis was amazing. but it's hard to make it through all the same old same old just to get to the actual good nuggets. gonna be taking a break from marvel for a bit methinks

[Bruce Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s extremely entertaining! The plot is very well thought out and weaved together in an imaginative way. The lore goes crazy! 😂🫡

[Brendan Mckillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Busiek/Perez Avenger stories are great, but wow are they wordy. It’s a miracle these heroes are able to get anything done with all the talking they do.

[Jeffrey Jelmeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kurt Busiek has long been one of my favorite writers, and his run on Avengers is a good example of his work. He excels at pulling out the humanity in the characters, hero, villain or supporting cast, and showing them as being real beings with flaws, ambitions, skills, and everything else that makes somebody a complete being. However, while he excels at bringing out the humanity in characters he doesn't forget that the book is a super hero story, and as such need super heroics. Too many others focus on the humanity and forget the reason for the characters, and turn a perfectly good story into nothing more than a soap opera. Busiek finds the balance between the two, and the result is a rousing story that ropes you in on multiple levels, and before you know it you are emotionally invested in the story.

This volume was certainly no exception. I originally read the first few parts of the story in single issue format, but had been unable to complete the story. Finding this collection was fantastic, and provided me with the means to finally finish the story, and to read more of Busiek's work. Unfortunately, that prior exposure to the early parts of the story almost caused me to set the volume aside. The story was too familiar, even after all the years since I last read what few parts I had of it, and I was afraid that the entire volume was going to be old news to me. I am glad that I persevered and continued because I quickly found new material and an engaging story. I now find myself eagerly anticipating getting my hands on the next volume, and I am none too patient in my waiting.

[***Dave Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite eras of the Avengers, the installments here with Kurt Busiek and George Perez at the tops of their game are marvelous, both the cross-over with the Thunderbolts and the "ultimate" Ultron tale -- with the continued plotting of the Triune Understanding in the background feeling a bit contrived, but still enjoyable.

Busiek is busy doing something interesting with every Avenger here, character-wise, including bits that won't pay off for many, many months. Perez, in turn, takes general stage directions from Busiek and turns them into gorgeous, busy, dynamic art, adding his own spin to each individual. Triffic stuff.

This collection falters a bit when Jerry Ordway takes the reins with the Wrecking Crew and Arkon -- both old school villains/characters that, like Ordway's scripting and art, never rise from their 60s/70s sensibilities. (It would have been interesting to see both Busiek and Perez' take on those tales).

I'd give the B/P sections (the majority here, including a script breakdown of Issue #1) 4.5 stars, and Ordway 2 -- with a net 4 for the collection as a whole.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another big volume. Some nice character moments in this that seem to be more important than the baddies to me. There's Ultron, and that is a good storyline. I also like the introduction of Firestar and Justice to the team. A good read.

[Marshall Ruddock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hey, a second volume of Busiek written Avengers!

Okay.

[McKayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out my thoughts on this in my February 2021 Wrap-Up over on booktube!