The definitive, chronological, and up-to-date guide on collecting Avengers comic books from 1996 to 2005 – including Heroes Reborn and Avengers by Busiek & Pérez – via omnibuses, hardcovers, and trade paperback graphic novels. A part of Crushing Comics – Guide to Marvel Comics. Last updated August 2024 with titles scheduled for release through December 2024.
Avengers: Reborn and Disassembled
This run continues from Avengers (1963) – see Guide to Avengers (1963 – 1996) for collection details.
In 1996, The Avengers were presumed dead at the hands of Onslaught in the Marvel Universe, but they were just hidden – trapped in a pocket dimension without realizing they had been removed from their own reality. This was an attempt by Marvel to revitalize some of their most-established (but not especially popular) properties by handing them to the creators who left them for Image Comics.
The experiment was short-lived, but Marvel took advantage of the heroes return to restart The Avengers third volume in 1998 with a bang – they brought in Kurt Busiek and classic DC artist George Perez.
The series remains popular to this day, as does the following run by Geoff John. However, Marvel hasn’t shown any recollection love to the two Chuck Austen stories that followed prior to Brian Bendis thoroughly disassembling the franchise to launch New Avengers.
- Heroes Reborn: The Avengers (1996) #1-13 (Sep 1996 – Sep 1997)
- Avengers (1998) Vol. 3 by Kurt Busiek & George Perez (1998 – 2002)
- Avengers (1998) Vol. 3 by Geoff Johns and Chuck Austen (2002 – 2005)
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Heroes Reborn: The Avengers (1996) #1-13 (Sep 1996 – Sep 1997)
The Avengers re-debuted in their own universe of continuity (along with Fantastic Four), as initially penned by Rob Liefeld and later by Walt Simonson. Note that issue #13 crossed over to the thirteenth issues of the other three Heroes Reborn books (Captain America, Fantastic Four, & Iron Man) and featured characters from the WildStorm Universe – which means Marvel has been unable to reprint it.
in omnibus…
#1-12: Heroes Reborn Omnibus
(2019 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302918040 / 2021 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302929718 / 2021 oversize hardcover (DM variant?), ISBN 978-1302929725)
Collects Heroes Reborn (1996) #1/2, Captain America (1996) #1-12, Avengers (1996) #1-12, Fantastic Four (1996) #1-12, Iron Man (1996) #1-12, and material from Incredible Hulk (1968) #450.
#1-7: Marvel Universe by Rob Liefeld Omnibus
(2019 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302920029)
Collects X-Factor (1986) #40, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #245, What If? (1989) #7, Captain America (1996) #1-6, Avengers (1996) #1-7, Wolverine (1988) #154-157, Onslaught Reborn (2006) #1-5; and material from Amazing Spider-Man (1963) Annual 23; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #51-53, 85-86, & 99, & Heroes Reborn (1996) #1/2
in paperback…
#1: I Am An Avenger, Vol. 2 (2010 paperback, 978-0785143611)
Collects modern Avengers debuts and joining issues, including The Avengers (1996) #1, The Avengers (1998) #1, 4, & 27, Dark Avengers (2009) #1, The Mighty Avengers (2007) #1 & 21, and New Avengers (2005) #3 & 15.
#1-12: Heroes Reborn: The Avengers (2006 paperback, ISBN 978-0785123378)
#1-12: Heroes Reborn: The Avengers (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302923440)
Also collects Fantastic Four (1996) #12 (and material from #6), Iron Man (1996) #6 & 12, and Captain America (1996) #12 (and material from #6).
Issues #6 & 12 are sometimes excerpted or collected in full in the collections of the other Heroes Reborn titles.
#13: Not collected.
Heroes Reborn: The Return (1997): See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Heroes Reborn for collection information on the event that resolved the storyline of the “Heroes Reborn” pocket universe.
The Avengers (1998) #1-56 by Kurt Busiek & George Pérez (1998 – 2002)
This series was collected in both hardcover and trade paperbacks listed separately below, followed by a list of non-sequentially collected issues.
collected as omnibus editions…
#0-23: Avengers by Kurt Busiek & George Perez Omnibus, Vol. 1
(2015 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785192886 / 2023 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302945459 / digital)
Collects Avengers (1998) #1-23, 0, 1 Rough Cut; Iron Man (1998) #7; Captain America (1998) #8; Quicksilver #10; Avengers Annuals ’98 & ’99; and Avengers Forever #1-12
#24-56: Avengers by Kurt Busiek & George Perez Omnibus, Vol. 2
(2015 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785198079 / 2024 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302959012 / digital TBA)
Collects Avengers #24-56, #1 1/2, Annual 2000 and 2001, plus Thunderbolts #42-44; Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet; Maximum Security #1-3; Avengers: The Ultron Imperative.
collected as “Avengers Assemble” in oversized hardcovers and matching paperback reissues…
#1-11: Avengers Assemble, Vol. 1 (Oversize Hardcover, ISBN 0785115730)
Collects Avengers #1-11 and Annual 1998. Also available in a 2011 trade paperback, which adds “Live Kree or Die” crossover issues from Iron Man (1998) #7, Captain America (1998) #8, and Quicksilver #10.
Avengers Forever #1-12(Oversize Hardcover)
This time-spanning series begins during #10, but most of its cast are past alternate versions of characters. Also available in 2011 trade paperback and 2018 trade paperback.
#12-22: Avengers Assemble, Vol. 2 (Oversize Hardcover, ISBN 0785117733)
Also collected issue #0 (a Wizard special) and Annual 1999. Also available in a 2012 trade paperback.
#23-34: Avengers Assemble, Vol. 3 (Oversize Hardcover, ISBN 0785121307)
Collects Avengers #23-24 & 1.5, Annual 2000, plus a crossover with Thunderbolts #42-44. Also available in a 2012 trade paperback.
#35-40: Avengers Assemble, Vol. 4 (Oversize Hardcover, ISBN 0785123474)
Collects Avengers #35-40, Annual 2000, & Annual 2001, as well as Avengers: The Ultron Imperative (2001) #1, Maximum Security (2000) #1-3, and Maximum Security Dangerous Planet (2000) #1. Also available in a 2012 trade paperback.
#41-56: Avengers Assemble, Vol. 5 (Oversize Hardcover, ISBN 0785123482)
Also includes Annual 2001. Also available in trade paperback, which includes #1 1/2 and Avengers: Ultron Imperative.
Collections by single issue or storyline…
See above for Avengers Assemble trade paperbacks corresponding to the five-volumes of oversized hardcovers covering issues #1-56.
#1-4: Avengers, Vol. 1: The Morgan Conquest (ISBN 0785107282)
#1-4: Collected as part of the Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Box Set Slipcase (2019 hardcover box set, ISBN 978-1302916312)
#1 & 4: I Am An Avenger, Vol. 2 (ISBN 0785143610)
Collects modern Avengers debuts and joining issues, including The Avengers (1996) #1, The Avengers (1998) #1, 4, & 27, Dark Avengers (2009) #1, The Mighty Avengers (2007) #1 & 21, and New Avengers (2005) #3 & 15.
#4: Marvel 70th Anniversary Collection (ISBN 0785137432)
Collects major milestone issues from 1962 to 2001, including Sub-Mariner Comics (1941) #1 and Avengers (1963) #93, among many others.
#4: Captain Marvel: The Many Lives of Carol Danvers
Collects Marvel Super-Heroes (1967) #13; Ms. Marvel (1977) #1 & 19; Avengers (1963) #183-184; Uncanny X-Men (1963) #164; Logan: Shadow Society (1996) 1; Avengers (1998) #4; Iron Man (1998) #85; Ms. Marvel (2006) #32-33; Captain Marvel (2012) #1
#5-6: Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe (ISBN 0785120912)
Collects The Avengers (1998) #5-6 & Annual 1998, Marvel Graphic Novel: Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe (1989), Squadron Supreme: New World Order (1998) #1, and Thor (1966) #280.
#5-6: Squadron Supreme Classic Omnibus Oversized Hardcover
Collects Avengers #69-70, 85-86, 141-144, 147-149; Thor #280; Defenders #112-114; Squadron Supreme #1-12; Captain America #314; Squadron Supreme: Death Of A Universe OGN; Quasar #13-16 & 51-52; Avengers (1998) #5-6; Squadron Supreme: New World Order (1998) #1; Exiles (2001) #77-78; Ultimate Power (2006) #7-9
#5-7 & Avengers / Squadron Supreme Annual 1998: Avengers, Vol. 2: Supreme Justice (ISBN 0785107738)
Also collects Captain America (1998) #8, Iron Man (1998) #7, and Quicksilver (1997) #10, which precede #7 and Annual 1998.
#8-15: Avengers, Vol. 3: Clear and Present Dangers (ISBN 0785107983)
Does not contain Annual 1999, though it fits best between #11-12.
#10-11: Legion of the Unliving (ISBN 0785159681)
Collects Avengers #131-132, #352-354, & Annual 16; Giant-Size Avengers #3; Avengers West Coast #61; and Avengers (1998) #10-11.
Avengers Forever #1-12
This time-spanning series begins during #10, but most of its cast are past alternate versions of characters. Reprinted in 2018. Also collected as part of the Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Box Set Slipcase (2019 hardcover box set, ISBN 978-1302916312)
Annual 1999: Only collected in Omnibus and “Avengers Assemble,” above
#16-18: Only collected in Omnibus and “Avengers Assemble,” above
#19-22: Avengers, Vol. 4: Ultron Unlimited (ISBN 0785107746)
Also collects issue #0
Domination Factor: Avengers #1.2-4.2: Not collected. A mini-series threaded with an Fantastic Four mini-series of the same name with the .1 decimals. Begins after #22.
#23-30: Avengers, Vol. 5: Living Legends (ISBN 0785115617)
Annual 2000: Avengers: The Many Faces of Henry Pym (ISBN 0785162062)
Follows issue #30. Collects key issues of Dr. Henry Pym, who has been Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket, and even The Wasp! Collects Tales of Suspense (1959) #27, #35, and #49; Avengers (1963) #28 and #59-60; West Coast Avengers (1985) #21; Avengers Annual 2001; and Secret Invasion Requiem.
#31-34: Avengers/Thunderbolts: The Nefaria Protocols (ISBN 0785114459)
Collects a crossover with Thunderbolts #42-44.
Avengers Infinity #1-4: Avengers Infinity (ISBN 0785166785)
Collects a limited series of the same name from late 2000 that follows issue #34 and leads to Maximum Security.
#35: Avengers / X-Men: Maximum Security (ISBN 0785144994)
See Marvel Universe Events for more information. This issue was not originally collected during the 1998-2004 run of TPBs, but in 2010 it was part of a massive paperback collecting Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet, #1-3, Captain America (1998) #36, Thor (1998) #30, Uncanny X-Men #387, Bishop: the Last X-Man #15, Iron Man (1998) #35, Avengers (1998) #35, Gambit (1999) #23, X-Men (1991) #107, and X-Men Unlimited (1993) #29.
#36-40 & Annual 2001: Avengers, Vol. 6: Above and Beyond (ISBN 0785118454)
Also collects #56, Annual 2001, and Avengers: The Ultron Imperative (2001) #1, which falls after #44.
Avengers: Celestial Quest (ISBN 078516233X)
Collects an 8-issue 2001 limited series of the same name that acts as a prelude to Infinity Abyss. Continues from #40, with the team returning to #41 after the beginning of Infinity Abyss. See Marvel Universe Events for more on Infinity Abyss.
Starting with #41, issues are dual-numbered to include their legacy numbering from Avengers, Vol. 1. #41 equals #456.
#41-55 & Annual 2001 / #456-470: Avengers, Vol. 7: Kang Dynasty (ISBN 0785109587)
This huge collection also includes Annual 2001 (presumably different material than in Vol. 6), which fits between #43-44. Note that you should read The Ultron Imperative one-shot after #44, but it is contained in the prior collection. Available in hardcover.
The Avengers, Vol. 3 by Geoff Johns, Chuck Austen, & Brian Bendis (2002 – 2005)
Initial release paperback collections continued their numbering into the Geoff Johns era, but hardcovers restarted their numbering with Vol. 1. The entire Johns run was reprinted in a pair of Complete Collections; the Austen run has never been reprinted after its original collection.
Collections in oversize format…
#57-84: Not collected in this format
#500-503: Avengers Disassembled (Oversize Hardcover, ISBN 078512294X)
Also collects Avengers Finale #1.
#500-503: New Avengers Omnibus, Vol. 1 (Oversize Hardcover, ISBN v0785164898)
Collects Avengers #500-503, Avengers Finale, New Avengers #1-31 and Annual 1; New Avengers Most Wanted Files; New Avengers Custom 676: Army & Air Force; Giant -Size Spider-Woman 1; New Avengers: Illuminati (2006) #1; Civil War: The Confession #1; and Civil War: The Initiative #1.
#57-63 / #472-478: Avengers: The Complete Collection by Geoff Johns, Vol. 1 (ISBN 0785184333)
This book also collects Vision (2002) #1-4, Thor (1998) #58, and Iron Man (1998) #64.
#64-76 / #479-491: Avengers: The Complete Collection by Geoff Johns, Vol. 2 (ISBN 0785184392)
#77-84 / #492-499: Not collected in this format
#500-503 & Finale: New Avengers by Brian Bendis: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1
Collects Avengers (1998) #500-503, 500 Director’s Cut, and Finale; New Avengers (2004) #1-10, and 1 Director’s Cut; and New Avengers Most Wanted File. To add further context to the story, you may also wish to purchase Avengers Disassembled: Iron Man, Thor & Captain America Hardcover, collecting Thor #80-85, Iron Man #84-89, Captain America & The Falcon #5-7, and Captain America #29-32.
Collections by single issue or storyline…
#57-62 / #472-477: Avengers, Vol. 8: World Trust (ISBN 0785110801)
Also collects Marvel Double Shot #2. Available in hardcover (ISBN ISBN 0785144730), which is Vol. 1 and did not include #62 (which is in HC Vol. 2: Standoff, below) or Double Shot (which was not collected in the HC line).
#62-64 / #477-479: The Avengers, Vol. 2: Standoff Hardcover (ISBN 0785144676)
Also collects Iron Man #64 and Thor #58. No corresponding paperback version was issued – the TPB sequence simply skips issue #63.
#63 / #478: Thor, Vol. 3: Gods on Earth (2011 edition) (ISBN 0785150889)
Collects Thor (1998) #51-58, Avengers #63, and Iron Man #64. A prior edition included Marvel DoubleShot #1, which in the 2011 versions moved to Volume 4.
#64: All-New Captain America: Fear Him
Collects All-New Captain America: Fear Him #1-4, Captain America (1968) #280, and Avengers (1998) #64
#64-70 / #479-485: Avengers, Vol. 9: Red Zone (ISBN 0785110992)
Available in hardcover, which is Vol. 3 (ISBN 0785144668) and may omit #64
#71-76 / #486-491: Avengers, Vol. 10: The Search for She-Hulk (ISBN 0785112022)
Available in hardcover, which is Vol. 4 (ISBN 0785144722)
Geoff Johns leaves the book; the final run of dual-numbering is written by Chuck Austen prior to Brian Bendis taking over.
Avengers/Thunderbolts, #1-6: Avengers/Thunderbolts, Vol. 2: Best Intentions
This crossover mini-series fits between #76-77
#77-81 / #492-496: Avengers, Vol. 11: Lionheart of Avalon (ISBN 078511338X)
Not released in hardcover.
#82-84 / #497-499: Avengers, Vol. 12: Once an Invader (ISBN 0785114815)
Also collects New Invaders (2004) #0, an offshoot of this Avengers series, plus classic Invaders (1975) Annual #1. Not released in hardcover.
#500-503 & Finale: Avengers Disassembled (ISBN 0785114823)
Also collects Avengers Finale #1.
#500-503 & Finale: New Avengers by Brian Bendis: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1
Collects Avengers (1998) #500-503, 500 Director’s Cut, and Finale; New Avengers (2004) #1-10, and 1 Director’s Cut; and New Avengers Most Wanted File. To add further context to the story, you may also wish to purchase Avengers Disassembled: Iron Man, Thor & Captain America Hardcover, collecting Thor #80-85, Iron Man #84-89, Captain America & The Falcon #5-7, and Captain America #29-32.
#501-503 & Finale: Collected as part of the Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Box Set Slipcase (2019 hardcover box set, ISBN 978-1302916312)
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