The definitive, chronological, and up-to-date guide on collecting Avengers and New Avengers comic books via omnibuses, hardcovers, and trade paperback graphic novels. A part of Crushing Krisis’s Collecting Avengers: A Definitive Guide. Last updated November 2018 with titles scheduled for release through July 2019.
In 2005, Marvel stopped publishing a comic called “Avengers” for the first time since 1963. In its place was the Brian Bendis helmed New Avengers, and later Mighty Avengers along with it.
That changed in 2010, when Marvel and Bendis launched the twin flagship books of Avengers and New Avengers, each focused on a different element of the team. From that point forward, the Avengers franchise would have at least two headlining titles in each period.
That is what this guide tracks – the flagship Avengers titles from 2010 and forward, as well as any supporting books that are tied in closely with them.
[Patreon-2017][/Patreon-2017]
- The Heroic Age (2010 – 2012): Avengers, New Avengers, & Avengers Assemble
- Marvel Now (2012 – 2015): Avengers, New Avengers, & Avengers World
- All-New, All-Different Marvel (2015 – 2017): All-New, All-Different Avengers, New Avengers, Avengers, Champions, U.S.Avengers, & Occupy Avengers
- Marvel Legacy (2017 – 2018)
- Marvel Fresh Start (2018 – present)
Join the Crushing On Crushing Krisis mailing list for a notice whenever this page is updated with new collections – plus, a infrequent ping about new comics content.
Avengers in the Heroic Age by Brian Bendis (2010 – 2012)
Avengers, Vol. 4 by Brian Michael Bendis (2010 – 2012)
In the wake of Siege, Brian Bendis finally reassembles The Avengers as a team of heavier hitters that can deal with epic threats like time travelers and the Infinity Gauntlet!
(Really, this team is not so different than the team that originally launched New Avengers, simply replacing Sentry with Thor.)
as recollected in complete collections…
Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: The Complete Collection Vol. 1
Collects Avengers Prime #1-5, Avengers (2010) #1-12 & Annual 1, and New Avengers (2010) Annual 1
Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: The Complete Collection Vol. 2
Collects Avengers (2010) #12.1 & 13-24; plus Avengers Assemble: An Oral History Of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: The Complete Collection Vol. 3
Collects Avengers (2010) #24.1 & 25-34; Avengers Assemble (2012) #1-8; Avengers: Heroes Welcome 1#; and material from Avx: Vs #6
as originally collected…
#1-6: Avengers, Vol. 1 (ISBN 078514501X)
Cover of Marvel’s “big five” – Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Wolverine, and Spider-Man swinging up the middle. Available in hardcover (ISBN 0785145001)
#1-6: Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: Heroic Age Oversize Hardcover (ISBN 0785161988)
A comprehensive collection of the first arcs of Avengers (#1-6), New Avengers (#1-6), and the Avengers Prime mini-series (#1-5) focused on the trinity of Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor. If you choose to buy the first volumes of the two main series separately, Avengers Prime is available as its own trade paperback and hardcover.
#7-12 & 12.1: Avengers, Vol. 2 (ISBN 0785145052)
Red Hulk on cover. Available in hardcover (ISBN 0785145044)
I believe Avengers: Children’s Crusade Oversized Hardcover fits best here, but Marvel’s EIC says it belongs after Fear Itself. See its entry on the Marvel Events page for more on my reasoning.
#13-17: Avengers: Fear Itself (ISBN 0785163492)
Includes both Avengers #13-17 and New Avengers #14-16. Available in hardcover (ISBN 0785163484)
#18-24: Avengers, Vol. 3 (ISBN 0785151176)
Available in hardcover (ISBN 0785151168). Also includes #24.1
Avengers vs. X-Men Oversized Hardcover
Collections Avengers vs. X-Men #0-12 and Vs. #1-6
#25-30: Avengers, Vol. 4 – Avengers vs. X-Men (ISBN 0785160809)
Available in hardcover
#30-34: Avengers, Vol. 5
Available in hardcover. Also includes Avengers Annual 1 and New Avengers Annual 1.
New Avengers, Vol. 2 by Brian Michael Bendis (2010 – 2012)
New Avengers maintains the theme of its prior volume by focusing on a street team of heroes able to handle more knock-down, drag-out threats than cosmic ones. It also continues the story of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, and includes more of Bendis’s familiar heroes chatting around breakfast.
As recollected in a pair of Complete Collections, with their numbering continued from the prior volume
#1-16: New Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: The Complete Collection Vol. 6
#16.1 & 17-34: New Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: The Complete Collection Vol. 7
As originally collected
#1-6: New Avengers, Vol. 1 (ISBN 0785148736)
A “street-level” team that inexplicably stars Ms. Marvel. Available in hardcover (ISBN 0785148728)
#1-6: Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: Heroic Age Hardcover (ISBN 0785161988)
A comprehensive collection of the first arcs of Avengers (#1-6), New Avengers (#1-6), and the Avengers Prime mini-series (#1-5) focused on the trinity of Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor. If you choose to buy the first volumes of the two main series separately, Avengers Prime is available as its own trade paperback and hardcover.
#7-13: Avengers, Vol. 2 (ISBN 0785148752)
Spider-Man swinging over logo. Available in hardcover (ISBN 0785148744)
#13-17: Avengers: Fear Itself (ISBN 0785163492)
Includes both Avengers #13-17 and New Avengers #14-16. Available in hardcover (ISBN 0785163484)
#16.1 & 17-23: New Avengers, Vol. 3 (ISBN 078515180X)
A Dark Avengers reunion, featuring both Norman Osborn’s alternative team and art from Mike Deodato! Available in hardcover (ISBN 0785151796).
#24-30: New Avengers, Vol. 4 – AvX
Available in hardcover.
#31-34: New Avengers, Vol. 5
Available in hardcover.
Avengers Assemble by Brian Bendis & Kelly-Sue DeConnick (2012 – 2014)
In 2012, Marvel launched a new Avengers title that was unique in not presenting a specific team or central mission. Instead, Avengers Assemble was launched as the perfect starting point for fans of the Avengers movie to leap into comics – it included the same team of heroes, and featured a villain from the movie.
Of course, that was only the first arc. From there, it keeps the mandate of continuity-light stories featuring the movie Avengers as well as Spider-Woman, Captain Marvel, Wolverine, and Spider-Man.
#1-8: Avengers Assemble, Vol. 1 (ISBN 078516328X)
Available in oversize hardcover. Also included in Guardians of the Galaxy by Brian Michael Bendis Vol. 1 Omnibus.
Avengers vs. X-Men: See Marvel Universe Events: Avengers vs. X-Men. There is much debate as to whether this occurs before or after the Thanos arc in #1-8. I choose to place it here because (1) the team is headquartered in the Tower rather than the mansion (where they move after AvX), (2) no Scarlet Witch in the vast cast of Avengers in #8 (though she is clearly active after AvX), and (3) Hulk’s appearance in #1-8 contextualizes his arrival late in AvX.
Marvel Now begins here; this title continued running written by Kelly Sue DeConnick until the beginning of 2014.
#9-13: Avengers Assemble, Vol. 2 – Science Bros (ISBN 0785167978)
Also includes Annual 1
#14-15: See Marvel Universe Events: Age of Ultron. This pair of issues is not in continuity, but instead in the splinter continuity of AoU, and are collected only with its tie-ins.
#16-17: Avengers: The Enemy Within (ISBN 0785184031)
Collects a crossover event with Captain Marvel, including Avengers: The Enemy Within #1; Captain Marvel #13-14, 17; Avengers Assemble #16-17. Also collected in full in Captain Marvel: Earth’s Mightiest Hero Vol. 2.
#18-20: See Marvel Universe Events: Infinity.
#21-25: Avengers Assemble: The Forgeries of Jealousy
Part of Inhumanity, co-written by Warren Ellis! This fun girl-power romp starring Arana the Spider-Girl sees the series through its end. It is ostensibly replaced with Avengers World.
Avengers in Marvel Now by Jonathan Hickman (2013 – 2015)
Fresh off of a critically acclaimed run on Fantastic Four and FF, Jonathan Hickman is the first new helmer of Avengers in nearly a decade. He makes the changes of status quo clear by completely altering the tone, scope, and cast of both of the Avengers flagship books.
In Avengers, Vol. 5, Hickman introduces a cosmos-threatening event and a oversize team of 18 Avengers to deal with it with a new comic shipping every two weeks! The team includes all five familiar “movie Avengers,” the now-obligatory Spider-Man and Wolverine, plus other comic mainstays like Captain Marvel and Spider-Woman. Oh, plus some newbies like former New Mutants Cannonball and Sunspot and totally left-field picks Hyperion and Smasher!
Meanwhile, New Avengers, Vol. 3 could easily be titled “The Illuminati,” as it focuses on the powerful heroes who are trying to control the fate of Earth and a full set of Infinity Gems. The stories in this title weave between those in Avengers to add more context to the overarching story there.
Finally, the new Avengers World takes a broader look at how the team plays a role around the planet in the wake of Infinity.
Since all three titles are penned by Hickman (with some assists from Nick Spencer), they fit together in relatively tight continuity.
as a pair of omnibuses…
Avengers by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus, Vol. 1
Collects effectively four oversized hardcovers worth of Avengers – Avengers (2012) #1-23, New Avengers (2013) #1-12, and Infinity Free Comic Book Day and Infinity #1-6 (and Infinity: Against The Tide Infinite Comic #1-2). Plus, this adds two stories not recollected elsewhere – Astonishing Tales: Mojoworld (starring Cannonball and Sunspot) and material from Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu (2009) one-shot.
Avengers By Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Vol. 2
Collects two oversized harcovers as well as Time Runs Out, which was nearly an omnibus in size on its own. Collects Avengers (2012) #24-44 and New Avengers #13-33.
as a series of oversize hardcovers…
Avengers #1-11: Avengers by Jonathan Hickman, Vol. 1
New Avengers #1-12: New Avengers by Jonathan Hickman, Vol. 1
Avengers #12-23: Avengers by Jonathan Hickman, Vol. 2
New Avengers #13-23: New Avengers by Jonathan Hickman, Vol. 2
Avengers #24-34: Avengers by Jonathan Hickman, Vol. 3
Avengers #35-44 & New Avengers #24-33: Avengers: Time Runs Out
as paperback Complete Collections…
Avengers World: The Complete Collection
Collects Avengers World #1-21, Avengers (2012) #34.1-34.2, and material from All-New Marvel Now! Point One
as originally released…
Avengers #1-6: Vol. 1: Avengers World
Available in hardcover.
Avengers #1-3: Secret Wars Prelude
Collects key lead-in issues to Secret Wars, including New Avengers (2013) 1-3, Secret Wars (1984) 10-12, Fantastic Four 611, Ultimate Comics Spider -Man (2011) 1, Ultimate Comics Ultimates 4
New Avengers #1-6: Vol. 1: Everything Dies
While issues #1-3 concluded after Avengers #1-6, they come before Avengers #1-3 in reading order. Then, read #1-5 after Avengers #9. Available in hardcover.
Avengers #7-11: Vol. 2: The Last White Event
Available in hardcover.
Avengers: Endless Wartime OGN Oversize Hardcover
An in-continuity original graphic novel by Warren Ellis starring Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Wolverine, and Captain Marvel. It could be just prior to the expansion of the team due to the events of Avengers and New Avengers #1, but it could also be in the brief break in action prior to the prelude to Infinity. Also available in paperback.
Avengers #12-17: Vol. 3: Prelude to Infinity
Issues #12-13 are not integrated with Infinity, below. All of this volume can be read prior to the start of Infinity – issues #14-17 are collected alongside Infinity, but they are an uninterrupted prelude story. Available in hardcover.
Infinity
Collects Infinity #1-6 along with Avengers #14-23 and New Avengers #7-12 in story order. See Marvel Universe Events: Infinity for more information. Available in oversize hardcover, which collects Infinity Infinite Comic #1-2 (unsure if the paperback includes this). The reading order in this volume is NA7, Av14-17, Infinity 1, NA8, Av18, NA9, Infinity 2, NA10, Av19, Infinity 3, Av20, Infinity 4, Av21, NA11, Infinity 5, Av22-23, Infinity 6, NA12. The same material minus the prologue from Avengers #12-13 and the Infinite Comic was recollected in oversize hardcover format in 2018 as Infinity by Starlin & Hickman Omnibus (along with Infinity Gauntlet (1992) #1-6).
New Avengers #7-12: Vol. 2: Infinity
Collected in full with Infinity. Available in hardcover.
Avengers #18-23: Vol. 4: Infinity
Collected in full with Infinity. Available in hardcover.
In the wake of Infinity, a Avengers World launches as a third title, telling stories with the team that do not connect to the main plot that was moving forward to Secret Wars.
New Avengers #13-17: Vol. 3: Other Worlds
Issues #13-15 are the first Avengers story after Infinity. Then, read #16-17 after Avengers #34. Available in hardcover.
Avengers World #1-5: Vol. 1: A.I.M.pire
Also includes material from All-New Marvel Now #.1
Avengers World #6-10: Vol. 2: Ascension
Avengers World #10-16: Vol. 3: Next World
Read only up to #14 and then save #15-16 for just before the next volume, below.
Avengers Annual 1 & New Avengers Annual 1: Avengers: Revelations
Collects Thanos Annual 1, Uncanny Avengers Annual 1, New Avengers Annual 1, Avengers Annual 1
Avengers #24-28: Vol. 5: Adapt or Die
Available in hardcover.
Avengers #29-34: Vol. 6: Infinite Avengers
Available in hardcover
New Avengers #18-23: Vol. 4: Perfect World
Read issues #16-17 (from the prior collection) directly before this. Available in hardcover
Avengers World #17-21 & Avengers 34.2: Vol. 4: Before Time Runs Out
Read issues #15-16 (from the prior collection) directly before this. Hold #21 until after New Avengers #25, below.
Avengers: Millenium
A digital-first comic. Includes a octogenarian Cap, so it is likely from prior to Axis
Avengers: No More Bullying
Of dubious continuity. Collects Avengers: No More Bullying #1, Thor (1966) #356, Prevent Child Abuse America Presents: Amazing Spider-Man On Bullying Prevention #1, material From Daredevil (2011) #28; and Stomp Out Bullying Cover Gallery
Avengers: Ultron Forever
The present-day action of this likely fits in the gap prior to Time Runs Out. Collects Avengers: Ultron Forever #1, New Avengers: Ultron Forever #1, Uncanny Avengers: Ultron Forever #1, Avengers (1963) #54-55
Time Runs Out introduced an 8-month spring-forward in the Avengers timeline, which gave other Marvel books time to wrap up their stories while Hickman played out the endgame that lead to Secret Wars
Avengers #35-37 & New Avengers #24-25: Avengers: Time Runs Out, Vol. 1
Begins an eight-month forward jump in time in the two primary Avengers titles, placing them ahead of all the other books in the line until they catch up in May 2015. Available in hardcover.
Avengers #38-39 & New Avengers #26-28: Avengers: Time Runs Out, Vol. 2
Available in hardcover.
Avengers #40-42 & New Avengers #29-30: Avengers: Time Runs Out, Vol. 3
Available in hardcover.
Avengers #43-44 & New Avengers #31-33: Avengers: Time Runs Out, Vol. 4
Available in hardcover.
The story continues in Marvel Universe Events: Secret Wars.
Avengers: Rage of Ultron OGN oversized hardcover
An original Avengers graphic novel by the superstar Uncanny X-Men team of Rick Remender and Jerome Opena. This is definitively post-Axis and includes a female Thor. It can be read as the first post-Secret Wars Avengers story.
All-New, All-Different Avengers by Waid & Ewing (2015 – Present)
This era launched with a pair of surprising Avengers teams.
Mark Waid’s All-New, All-Different Avengers could fairly be called “Avengers: The Next Generation” with a team of fresh heroes like Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel, Mike Morales as Spider-Man, Sam Alexander as Nova, Sam Wilson as Captain America, and Lady Thor, plus Avengers veteran The Vision.
Meanwhile, Al Ewing’s New Avengers dealt with one of the fallouts of the Hickman era – a destabilized AIM ripe for takeover. However, the “who” of the taking over was a shock – Sunspot, Cannonball, Hawkeye, Songbird, Wiccan, and Hulking, among others.
ANAD Avengers Deluxe Hardcover, Vol. 1 (ISBN 978-1-302-90409-8)
Collects All-New, All-Different Avengers #1-12; Avengers #0 (ANAD story); Free Comic Book Day 2015 (Avengers) #1 (A-Story); and material from Free Comic Book Day 2016 (Civil War II) #1
ANAD Avengers #1-6: Vol. 1: The Magnificent Seven
Collects All-New, All-Different Avengers #1-6; Avengers #0 (All-New, All-Different story); Free Comic Book Day 2015 (A-Story)
New Avengers #1-6: A.I.M. Vol. 1: Everything is New
Also collects a story from Avengers #0
ANAD Avengers #7-8 & New Avengers #8-10: Avengers: Standoff
Collects Welcome To Pleasant Hill Prologue 1, Assault On Pleasant Hill Alpha 1, Agents Of S.h.i.e.l.d. 3-4, Uncanny Avengers 7, All-new, All-different Avengers 7-8, New Avengers 8-10, Captain America: Sam Wilson 7-8, Uncanny Avengers 8, Illuminati 6, Howling Commandos 6, Assault On Pleasant Hill Omega 1. Available in hardcover.
New Avengers #6-11: A.I.M. Vol. 2
ANAD Avengers #7-12: Vol. 2
Civil War II: See Marvel Universe Events.
New Avengers #12-16: A.I.M. Vol. 3: Civil War II
ANAD Avengers #13-15 & Annual 1: Vol. 3: Civil War II (ISBN 978-1-302-90236-0)
In the wake of Civil War II, two teams become four – Waid’s All-New Avengers splits into Avengers and Champions, while Ewing’s New Avengers splits into U.S.Avengers and Occupy Avengers (the latter written by David Walker).
Avengers Unleashed Vol. 1: Kang War One
Collects Avengers (2017) #1-6
Avengers: Unleashed Vol. 2: Secret Empire
Collects Avengers (2017) #7-11
Avengers #1.1-5.1: Avengers: Four
A retcon mini-series built into the decimal point issues of Waid’s Avengers
U.S.Avengers, Vol 1: American Intelligence Mechanics
Collects U.S.Avengers (2016) #1-6
U.S.Avengers Vol. 2: Cannonball Run
Collects U.S.Avengers (2016) #7-12
Occupy Avengers, Vol. 1: Taking Back Justice
Collects #1-4 and Avengers (1963) #80-81
Occupy Avengers Vol. 2: In Plain Sight
Collects #5-9, some of which ties in to Secret Empire.
Marvel Legacy (2017 – Present)
In this era, all of the still-running running Avengers titles (Avengers, U.A.Avengers, and Uncanny Avengers), their casts, and their authors have merged into a single run of weekly Avengers comics called “No Surrender.”
Avengers & Champions: Worlds Collide
Collects Avengers #672-674 (which continue from #11) and Champions (2016) #13-15
Avengers: No Surrender oversize hardcover
Collects Avengers #675-690. Also collected in paperback
Quicksilver: No Surrender
This five issue mini-series steams from Quicksilver’s fate in No Surrender. Technically, it falls into Fresh Start, but with “No Surrender” as the definitive story in Marvel Legacy it feels like it also fits here.
Avengers: Shards Of Infinity: Avengers Assemble: Living Legends (2019 paperback)
Collects a series of throw-back one-shot stories from Thor: Where Walk The Frost Giants, Black Panther: The Sound and The Fury, Avengers: Shards Of Infinity, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Living Legends, and Captain Marvel Title TBA.
Avengers: Back to Basics
This six-issue limited series had a present-day framing sequence with Jarvis and Kamala Khan, but mostly takes place in retcon flashback tales of past Avengers adventures.
Marvel Fresh Start (2018 – Present)
Launched by Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness, this is a literal fresh start for the team – it doesn’t specifically continue from any existing plot.. The cast includes a core of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, and She-Hulk, with other heroes rotating in and out of the team – including Doctor Strange and Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes).
#1-6: Avengers by Jason Aaron, Vol. 1: The Final Host
Also collects material from Free Comic Book Day 2018 (Avengers/Captain America)
#7-12: Avengers by Jason Aaron, Vol. 2: World Tour
#13-17: Vol. 3: Kingdom of Vampires (2019 paperback, ISBN 9781302914615)
Avengers: No Road Home (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302914851)
A 10-part weekly follow-up to No Surrender by the same writing team of Al Ewing, Mark Waid, and Jim Zub.
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots (2020) #1: Marvels Snapshots (2021 hardcover, 978-1302924966)
A series of flashback one-shots inspired by the classic Marvels mini-series. Collects Sub-Mariner: Marvels Snapshots (2020) #1, Fantastic Four: Marvels Snapshots (2020) #1, Captain America: Marvels Snapshots (2020) #1, X-Men: Marvels Snapshots (2020) #1, Avengers: Marvels Snapshots (2020) #1, Spider-Man: Marvels Snapshots (2020) #1, Civil War: Marvels Snapshots (2020) #1, Captain Marvel: Marvels Snapshots (2020) #1
Back to Collecting Avengers Graphic Novels: A Definitive Guide
I love that they are reprinting Hickman’s complete collections, but I only see vol. 1-3. Do you know if there is a 4 & 5 planned or are they going to stop short (which is just stupid).