When I wrote the post for Avengers #4, I was inspired to do this…
THE TOP TEN AVENGERS “OLD ORDER CHANGETH” ISSUES
10. Dark Reign: Dark Avengers #1. I fully expected the Norm Osborn team to suck. Turned out to be fantastic.
Thor asks for new members on TV?! Beast joins. So does Moondragon. I’m not a huge Moondragon fan, but Beast’s role on Avengers was one of the best–especially when he started bromancing Wonder Man.
8. West Coast Avengers (first series).
In 1984, Marvel decided to expand the franchise for the first time, and at least in this miniseries the results were a resounding success. Subsequent volumes of WCA weren’t nearly as good.
7. Avengers #181.
6. Avengers #16
Cap picks his team. The pictures of Avengers on the cover was his idea–and one that would be copied several times throughout these kinds of issues. I would bet it’s also an inspiration for the classic cover of The Uncanny X-Men: Days of Future Past (in which pictures of X-Men are featured on the cover as noted as “slain” or “missing,” etc.).
5. Avengers #4
Kurt Busiek shrinks an unwieldy lineup to a core recognizable group plus a couple wildcards, like fan favorite Firestar.
4. Avengers #221.
I could stare at this cover forever. Not sure why, I just love it.
3. The New Avengers #1.
I loved this issue. It was exciting in a way that comics hadn’t been for a while, and The Avengers hadn’t been in many years.
Moondragon hypnotizes the team into squabbling at the mansion. One of my all-time favorite comics.
Captain America was not a founding Avenger. Even if he later became one by vote.
That panel is from the other Avengers #4 on this list, above.