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 - The Earth-Skrull War in this one makes it worth readingWhen the Avengers started off they were not just Marvel's answer to the Justice League of America, they were a place to toss half of the characters that were sharing space in some of the company's titles. So you had Captain America and Iron Man from "Tales of Suspense," Giant Man & the Wasp along with the Hulk from "Tales to Astonish," and you might as well toss Thor from "Journey Into Mystery" into the mix as well. Of course, the Hulk was gone by the time Captain America showed up, and those began the revolving door that was the Avengers decades before the current dissembling and what not. Consequently, what you consider the glory days of the comic book has to begin with what lineup you like as well as who was writing and drawing the group at any given time. That being said, I think the best days of the Avengers are represented in the comics collected in "Essential Avengers, Volume 4." This trade paperback has issues #69-97 and as a special bonus "Incredible Hulk" #140, which is the celebrated Harlan Ellison story "The Beast That Shouted Love at the Heart of the Atom" (the favor is returned in "Essential Hulk, Volume 3" which also has that story and "Avengers" #88, which sets it up). For me the Avengers have to be led by Captain America and have to have the Vision, who is the quintessential Avengers character, in the line-up. I also prefer to have Iron Man around but not Thor and never Giant-Man (to put a limit on the muscle). I can only stand so much of Hawkeye (and making him Goliath was just the worst of two worlds), and I would be a lot happier if the Scarlet Witch would stick around while Quicksilver was off pouting somewhere. So, I never really get to the idea Avengers lineup, but when we get to the end of this collection and we have Cap, the Vision, Iron Man, and Thor, and that makes me pretty happy. By that point we also have Neal Adams showing up to do the artwork, which means the Avengers have never looked better. I can remember being excited that Adams was breathing some new life into the book, although I think his work on "X-Men" was even better in terms of drawing a superhero group. More importantly, Tom Palmer does most of the inking here, not only of Adams's work but of John Buscema's as well. Along with the work he did with Gene Colan on "Tomb of Dracula," Palmer is clearly my all-time favorite inker and he always makes the artwork look better. Adams shows up for issue #93 in the middle of a solid story arc that has the Avengers stopping a Skrull invasion. Making things even more interesting is the appointment of H. Warren Craddock as the newly appointed head of the Alien Activities Commission who is out to get Captain Marvel and whipping up the common folk so that they attack the Avenger's mansion. At that point the group is made up of the Vision, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, which is why the original members of the Avengers show up to disband the group and then save the world. This one ends up in outer space by the time it is done and given some of the lame villains the Avengers had to deal with in earlier issues it is nice to see them out there letting lose for once. . Before that it is basically a normal series of Avengers adventures. At the start the group is Yellowjacket, the Wasp, the Vision, Goliath and the Black Panther. They take on Kang the Conqueror (#69-71) and pick up the Black Knight as a new member. Then there are encounters with Scorpio (#72), the Sons of the Serpent (#73-74), Arkon the Magnificent (#75-76, 84), and the Lethal Legion (#78-79). Red Wolf pops up (#80-81) and then Daredevil (#82), followed by the Valkyrie and her Lady Liberators (#83) and then the Squadron Sinister (#85). Other battles are against Brain-Child (#86). We also have the origin of T'Challa revealed at last (#87), the attempt to help the Hulk (#88), and then the arrival of Captain Marvel signals the beginning of the big story arc that makes this collection worth having. That is a 5 star story, but the rest of the collection is above and below 4 stars, so we end up rounding down on the difference. Rating:  - PERHAPS THE BEST RUN OF AVENGERS!!!This period of the late 1960;s through early 1970's was I think the finest in Avengers history. Vol. 4 of the Essential Avengers is a 640 page trade that collects Avengers issues 69 - 97. This was a time of Great Roy Thomas Stories and fantatic artwork by John Buscema and Neal Adams. Without a doubt the highlight of this book is the legendary Kree-Skrull war storyline featuring art by Neal Adams. It is one of the most complex storylines EVER in Comics and has some classic Neal Adams covers, particularly #96 with the Vision just pummeling a Skrull. Other issues of note is #83 with the Lady Liberators...perhaps the first story ever tackling the womens lib movement of the 1970's. #87 features the Origin of the Black Panther. #80 features the first appearance of the American Indian hero Red Wolf. Damn good stuff! Rating: - If your a fan of John and Sal Buscema and art ......This one has some of the best classic Avengers tales available to date. It has the Captain Marvel Saga with Neal Adams on the art chores. If you are a fan of Roy Thomas's writing, John and Sal Buscema art, then this is the book for you. Marvels finest talents are seen throughout this one. Why can't there be more artists and writers like this in todays versions of the characters? page 2 of 2
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