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Avengers (1998) (Single Issues) #41-56, Annual 2001
Avengers Assemble, Vol. 5
Kurt Busiek's most stunning Avengers saga, collected in its entirety Devastation, drama and death leave no Avenger untouched when Kang the Conqueror finally meets his goal of conquering the world alongside his son, the Scarlet Centurion As Atlanteans, Deviants and Sentinels enter the fray, heroes from around the world and across the galaxy unite - but the Avengers' best allies may be the enemies who want Earth for themselves Secrets are shared and societies shaken in the war to win the world
Collects Avengers #41-56 and Avengers Annual 2001.
Collects Avengers #41-56 and Avengers Annual 2001.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2007
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,851 books625 followersKurt 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,
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,
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 26, 2022
Busiek ends his Avengers tenure with a whopping 15-part Kang story. Kang takes over the Earth in this world-spanning story, leaving the Avengers as insurgents. Busiek makes Kang a real menace and digs into his character by bringing his son along, the Scarlet Centurion. While he's at it, Busiek closes the dangling threads of Hank Pym's doppelganger and the Triune Understanding plot that's ran through the whole series. The Triune story is out there, complete with flying pyramid spaceships. I can't say that was very satisfying considering this plot has been around for over 50 issues. I did love the insertion of the Alpha Flight villain, the Master of the World. Overall, this was a very good Avengers run, certainly better than any stories for at least the preceding decade. Busiek's run was something of a return to greatness after the Avengers had laid fallow for years.
February 25, 2017
A good epic ending to long Busiek's run on Avengers, deserving a multi-title crossover in a time when they were so rare: Kang attacks the world and all the not-avenging other heroes appear just in a pair of drawings, in text only or just not at all... Meh.
Besides that the storyline was excellent (the ending and the two tail introspective issues were amazing) and the author really love these characters and Marvel continuity, but sadly just first 3 issues were drawn by Davis and the other ones by too many not as good artists (but Kieron Dwyer's covers were a blast!).
Not a masterwork, but still far better then more recent/famous Avengers storylines/runs and awful yearly events by Marvel.
October 27, 2012
Starting with the enjoyable feature length Ultron Imperative one-shot, which is great fun if annoying with its multiple artists, the finale of Busiek's run on the Avengers titles ends with a bang as the Kang storyline comes to a head, and all of the other storylines he has been running for a while, like the Triune Understanding plot, finish themselves off. Whilst some of it is a little contrived (evil flying pyramid? Really?), the finale works very well and is both heartfelt and explosive. The final two issues are a nice coda to Busiek's run as a whole. I wasn't as much of a fan of the fluctuating art styles, since Perez and Davis' styles were consistent across the last four volumes, but it's a small problem. I'll be honest, I didn't bother with the randomly included Avengers #1 1/2 by Roger Stern at the back of the trade.
July 11, 2021
Last arc with Busiek helming the Avengers and the first I've truly enjoyed since Avengers Forever, possibly even more. Avengers battle Kang the Conqueror, who has conquered Earth. There are some issues with very epic battles, but for such a grand scale most issues focus on the consequences of events on individual characters or small groups, lending them more depth and humanity. There's even a satisfactory ending to the Triune Understanding arc, which I definitely wasn't expecting. No good explanation about the Trion or why they let an evil pyramid on the loose, but still a better ending than I was hoping for the Triune.
The biggest flaw would be how world-changing this arc should be, but since it wasn't a crossover or an event, we don't really see anything happening beyond the Avengers. Not Busiek's fault per se, but more of a problem with the Marvel storytelling method, although he could at least have taken into account what everyone was going through, or at the very least Thor, who was living through tumultuous times at Asgard.
Again, one of my favourite issues was the 'Nuff Said (#49). Marvel's dialogues can be really cheesy, so removing them normally makes for a more complex experience interestingly! #55 was really moving, especially because I hadn't realized what had happened to Duane Freeman, and #56 was a very fun issue that stands on its own. I love a story about how normal people have to deal with the financial costs of supes' heroics.
The biggest flaw would be how world-changing this arc should be, but since it wasn't a crossover or an event, we don't really see anything happening beyond the Avengers. Not Busiek's fault per se, but more of a problem with the Marvel storytelling method, although he could at least have taken into account what everyone was going through, or at the very least Thor, who was living through tumultuous times at Asgard.
Again, one of my favourite issues was the 'Nuff Said (#49). Marvel's dialogues can be really cheesy, so removing them normally makes for a more complex experience interestingly! #55 was really moving, especially because I hadn't realized what had happened to Duane Freeman, and #56 was a very fun issue that stands on its own. I love a story about how normal people have to deal with the financial costs of supes' heroics.
April 24, 2016
The fifth hard cover volume collecting the conclusion of Kurt Busiek's amazing run on The Avengers is a return to greatness. Collecting issues # 41–56 and Annual 2001, this gives us not only the final three Alan Davis issues but Busiek's full Kang saga. Teamed up with a lot of great artists (e.g. Ivan Reis, Brent Anderson and Keiron Dwyer), Busiek delivers a much more unified final volume and in some sense manages to end his run on the top (though nothing really tops the first three HC volumes and his collaboration with George Pérez.
Drawing upon his vast knowledge of the Marvel universe and its characters, we are treated to appearances by the likes of the Presence and the Master of the World, and also given a resolution to Busiek's Triune Understanding sub-plot. All this while given a vast, overarching war story. Kang the Conqueror has come to the 21st century with his son, the Scarlet Centurion... and Kang has set his mind on conquest.
I would recommend anyone to start with the earlier volumes first, but be certain to keep going. The full run is definitely worth it.
Drawing upon his vast knowledge of the Marvel universe and its characters, we are treated to appearances by the likes of the Presence and the Master of the World, and also given a resolution to Busiek's Triune Understanding sub-plot. All this while given a vast, overarching war story. Kang the Conqueror has come to the 21st century with his son, the Scarlet Centurion... and Kang has set his mind on conquest.
I would recommend anyone to start with the earlier volumes first, but be certain to keep going. The full run is definitely worth it.
December 30, 2017
First time Busiek has really hooked me in since Avengers Forever. I guess he should just stick to writing about Kang? The Kang war plot was riveting and the issue with no words was excellent. It also wrapped up the Triune plot really convincingly which I never expected to happen. This would've been absolutely amazing payoff if it hadn't required fifty issues of build-up. That's just too much patience. Especially considering how much the writing actually developed from the start. It was well-written by this volume but it was fairly cringey in the first few at times.
September 9, 2018
This may not be quite the masterpiece the first two volumes of his run were, but it's still very good, and Busiek manages to craft two amazing last issues on his run, which don't come off as indulgent. Altogether he's probably had the best run of anyone in the book's history.
December 13, 2018
Really enjoyed it.
June 5, 2020
this was a good ending to busiek's run, with some really good story arcs
September 28, 2021
Busiek closes out his run on top! This storyline encapsulates everything his run did well, it avoids all of the pitfalls that it sometimes fell into, and most of all it just rules.
January 6, 2009
In many ways, the last volume of Busiek's Avengers is also the best. When reading it in single issues, I gave up on the book around this time, but that turned out to be a mistake. His epic Kang story needed trimming and stronger pacing, but it had the gigantic larger-than-life feel that a superhero epic needs, and really felt like a definitive showdown between the Avengers and their classic foe.
In addition, the use of mildly obscure Russian villain The Presence (and obscure Russian heroes The Soviet Super Soldiers, renamed to the slightly cooler but not as evocative Winter Guard) made for a good story, and if the Firebird/Thor "Woe is me, I'm gonna live forever story" was a little ham-fisted and melodramatic, it was still an interesting use of both characters.
Overall, the Avengers Assemble hardcovers are really only for the big Avengers fans, but they were good enough that even having most of the single issues, I re-bought the series in oversized hardcover format.
In addition, the use of mildly obscure Russian villain The Presence (and obscure Russian heroes The Soviet Super Soldiers, renamed to the slightly cooler but not as evocative Winter Guard) made for a good story, and if the Firebird/Thor "Woe is me, I'm gonna live forever story" was a little ham-fisted and melodramatic, it was still an interesting use of both characters.
Overall, the Avengers Assemble hardcovers are really only for the big Avengers fans, but they were good enough that even having most of the single issues, I re-bought the series in oversized hardcover format.
May 11, 2012
Since the movie has put me in an Avengers mood lately, I decided to check my bookshelves for any Avengers books I had been saving for a rainy day. I found a hardcover copy of Avengers Vol. 5. As stories go, this multiple issue arc of the Avengers fighting Kang the Conquerer is fine. While not the best Avengers story I have ever read, it is by no means the worst either. The only real problem I had with it was the scope. The size of the story would really require a company-wide crossover event that affects all of Marvel's characters, not just the Avengers. The best part of the collection was actually the one-shot issue at the end that showed how the Avengers' accountants deal with all of the expenses and red tape that goes with saving the world.
April 6, 2014
Raccoglie l'intero arco della guerra di Kang contro la Terra.
La storia è l'ultimo grande arco narrativo di Kurt Busiek su Avengers; i disegnatori vanno dal grande Alan Davis a Garcia e Dwyer, sempre all'altezza anche se George Perez l'avei preferito.
Ambientata in un periodo in cui ogni testata Marvel, per volere della dirigenza, andava per la sua strada senza cross-over, questa storia sarebbe stata adattissima ad un mega evento di quelli che oggi vanno per la maggiore e sono, generalmente, vuoti di contenuti. Qui di contenuto ce n'è, e parecchio. Non sarà un capolavoro, ma resta un'ottima storia, con personaggi ben delineati, la cui evoluzione è condotta logicamente e magistralmente. Busiek ama questa testata e questa squadra, e lo si vede.
La storia è l'ultimo grande arco narrativo di Kurt Busiek su Avengers; i disegnatori vanno dal grande Alan Davis a Garcia e Dwyer, sempre all'altezza anche se George Perez l'avei preferito.
Ambientata in un periodo in cui ogni testata Marvel, per volere della dirigenza, andava per la sua strada senza cross-over, questa storia sarebbe stata adattissima ad un mega evento di quelli che oggi vanno per la maggiore e sono, generalmente, vuoti di contenuti. Qui di contenuto ce n'è, e parecchio. Non sarà un capolavoro, ma resta un'ottima storia, con personaggi ben delineati, la cui evoluzione è condotta logicamente e magistralmente. Busiek ama questa testata e questa squadra, e lo si vede.
July 25, 2021
Frankly, I think this may be the best Kang The Conqueror story ever told.
This arc is ambitious in scope and scale,and the art is bold and accompanies the narrative excellently.
The Scarlet Centurian is developed quite well and the referrences to the Carol Danvers story of 1980 is also well-handled.
The threat level justifies the large cast of characters and Busiek skillfully makes use of every character no matter how obscure (Torg, The Artic Abomination: first and only appearance Sub-Mariner #55, from 1972).
There is an issue within which is told without any words: it’s beautiful, poignant, and shows our heroes at a low point as they face defeat, perhaps their greatest.
From beginning to end, this is a fantastic story.
This arc is ambitious in scope and scale,and the art is bold and accompanies the narrative excellently.
The Scarlet Centurian is developed quite well and the referrences to the Carol Danvers story of 1980 is also well-handled.
The threat level justifies the large cast of characters and Busiek skillfully makes use of every character no matter how obscure (Torg, The Artic Abomination: first and only appearance Sub-Mariner #55, from 1972).
There is an issue within which is told without any words: it’s beautiful, poignant, and shows our heroes at a low point as they face defeat, perhaps their greatest.
From beginning to end, this is a fantastic story.
May 18, 2014
Wow! I think Busiek's Avengers run gets a 4 star rating overall, but this volume falls a little short...by being so long. One could consider this the last big story born of the verbose , bombastic, four-color epics of the 70s and 80s. Sure, there have been large tales since, but they are influenced more by the widescreen, big picture storytelling of The Authority. This Kang saga drills down to individual Avengers, thought balloons galore, soap opera worthy of a telenovela. Kang's invasion should have been a few issues shorter, the interpersonal drama toned down and then, this would have been a top-notch conclusion.
October 24, 2011
This one ended up taking me a long time to read, because I got kind of bored of the Kang storyline early on. I'll admit he's one of the villains I find least interesting, and he shows up way too often for my taste.
When I did pick it back up, though, I ended shooting through the rest of it, because there's some great stories and moments in here. The silent issue was fantastic, and the final story, with the audits, was hilarious. I enjoyed Busiek's run quite a lot, and wouldn't mind seeing him on the Avengers again some day.
When I did pick it back up, though, I ended shooting through the rest of it, because there's some great stories and moments in here. The silent issue was fantastic, and the final story, with the audits, was hilarious. I enjoyed Busiek's run quite a lot, and wouldn't mind seeing him on the Avengers again some day.
July 10, 2015
So that's what Stingray's head looks like.
This was suitably epic for Busiek's end on the title. It had Captain America and Kang punching each other while the size of small moons and a space station named Damocles that was literally shaped like a sword (never change, comics).
I also love the way Garcia draws Sentinels. This could have been a four but for the truly terrible Ultron Imperative they threw in at the beginning.
This was suitably epic for Busiek's end on the title. It had Captain America and Kang punching each other while the size of small moons and a space station named Damocles that was literally shaped like a sword (never change, comics).
I also love the way Garcia draws Sentinels. This could have been a four but for the truly terrible Ultron Imperative they threw in at the beginning.
September 1, 2013
Oh, Rick Remender. For an artist, you're one hell of a writer. Other than that, this is a fine capper to one of my favorite runs in Avengers history.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews