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There's only a week left before the Marvel blockbuster "The Avengers" hits theaters, and what better way to get hyped up than taking a crash-course in "Avengers" comics?Readers who spent twelve cents on the first issue of the long-running series had no idea in 1963 that the first ever team-up of the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp would go on to spawn one of the most audacious summer movies in history.
Over the last fifty years, the team has been involved in everything, from time-travel to alien planets to death to romance to action (there was even a scrappy teenage sidekick named Rick Jones).
Here, we've hand-picked the very best "Avengers" comics to help you become an almighty "Avengers" trivia master (or, at the very least, help you can fake it during "Avengers" cocktail parties -- those are things, right?). So give it a look and get to reading!
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Gallery | Avengers Comic Crash-Course
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The Ultimates 1: Ultimate Collection
Writer: Mark Millar Artist: Bryan Hitch This 2002 reboot ditched the comic-book hokiness and went for cinematic Michael Bay-style storytelling. The upcoming movie actually has more in common with the Ultimates than the traditional "Avengers" comics, both in style and attitude. Plus, you can thank this book for blessing us with the "Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury" idea -- one of the most clever casting calls ever. Recommended Reader: Complete Newbie -
The Ultimates 2: Ultimate Collection
Writer: Mark Millar Artist: Bryan Hitch You'll find that the plot of the May 4 blockbuster has a lot in common with Ultimates 1. So it only makes sense to get a leg-up on the inevitable sequel's possible plotline. Then try to figure out how the hell they're going to film one of the most ridiculous, gargantuan final comic battles ever. Recommended Reader: Complete Newbie -
New Avengers Volume 1: Breakout
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artist: David Finch The classic Avengers line-up gets completely turned upside down: Thor is missing?! Hawkeye is dead?! (He gets better) After a super-villain Alcatraz pulls a massive prison break, it's up to Cap and Iron Man to assemble a completely new team featuring Wolverine, Spider-Man and cult characters-turned-superstar heroes: Luke Cage, the Sentry and Spider-Woman. Recommended Reader: Complete Newbie -
Avengers Assemble Volume 1
Writer: Kurt Busiek Artist: George Perez After toiling in poor reviews and dwindling sales for years, this '90s relaunch brought old-school, pulpy, comic-book fun back to the franchise. With colorful and detailed art illustrating a massive team-up of Every. Avenger. Ever. (A 30-plus grouping from Black Panther to Beast to Scarlet Witch) Here, readers will be treated to a fantasy-filled Arthurian adventure. Recommended Reader: Avengers Geek 101 -
Avengers: Under Siege
Writer: Roger Stern Artist: John Buscema A beloved tale from the '80s features the team at one of their darkest points. The Masters of Evil -- the Legion of Doom to the Avengers' Super-Friends -- stage a massive invasion of the heroes' headquarters, taking out the crime-fighters one-by-one. It's kind of a downbeat story, but in that trademark Marvel manner. Recommended Reader: Avengers Geek 101 -
The Kree-Skrull War
Writer: Roy Thomas Artist: Neal Adams This is story that made the "Avengers" a big deal. Earth's Mightiest Heroes find themselves caught between two feuding alien races that want to use our planet for their battlefield. This is Rebel Alliance vs. Empire, Enterprise vs. Klingon sci-fi epicness. Recommended Reader: Infected with Avengers-Mania -
The Avengers-Defenders War
Writer: Steve Englehart Artist: Bob Brown Watching two heroes trade fisticuffs is a comic-book staple and this caped blow-up might be one of the comic book-iest. Movie bad guy Loki partners up with the mystical Dormammu, to try to get their hands on an ancient artifact -- that will bring about Earth's doom! -- and they set up the Avengers to unwittingly do battle with fellow good-guys, the Defenders. Iron Man and Captain America brawl with Dr. Strange, Silver Surfer and Namor the Sub-Mariner before we're treated to the main event: Thor vs. Hulk. Recommended Reader: Infected with Avengers-Mania -
The Korvac Saga
Writer: Jim Shooter Artist: George Perez This is the "2001: A Space Odyssey" of "Avengers" comics; a futuristic computer technician gains god-like cosmic awareness (seriously) and travels backward in time to reshape the Earth into his vision of a utopia. The Avengers team-up with futuristic cosmic heroes -- and probably the next team to get a movie -- the Guardians of the Galaxy for a consciousness-expanding battle of life, death, rebirth and more death. Recommended Reader: Infected with Avengers-Mania -
Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers, Vol. 1
Writer: Stan Lee Artist: Jack Kirby & Don Heck We may be committing sacrilege by saying this, but it's not necessary to brush up on the first appearances of the fabled team if you're a total newb. But for historical context alone, it's worth digging in and learning how the whole phenomenon started. Recommended Reader: Vintage Avengers Connoisseur -
Marvel Adventures The Avengers, Vol. 3: Bizarre Adventures
Writer: Jeff Parker Artist: Juan Santacruz This pocket-sized collection of stories is aimed for younger readers, but that doesn't mean preschool-level reading comprehension; instead, you get some of the quirkiest tales featuring Cap, Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine and Storm fighting amorous living planets, evil witches and giant floating heads. It's bursting with child-like humor and imagination. Recommended Reader: Avengers Kid-at-Heart -
Avengers Forever
Writer: Kurt Busiek Artist: Carlos Pacheco Okay so (deep breath) a time-traveling bad-guy tries to rewrite history and it's up to an Avengers squad pulled together from the past, present and future to stop him. The Old West, the 1950s and alternate dimensions are just some of the stops on this "This is Your Life"-style retrospective of the Avengers' greatest hits. Be willing to fall down the rabbit hole or you'll be left scratching your head. Recommended Reader: Hardcore Avengers Groupie
