10 Best Avengers Stories of the 00s

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Among the iconic franchises under Marvel, The Avengers stands out as one with a rich history. In the Silver Age, it was the Fantastic Four that dominated Marvel’s bestselling team comics, but The Avengers wasn’t far behind. Over time, The Avengers climbed to the top spot and held it until the X-Men gained prominence. In the ’90s, The Avengers faced a decline in popularity, but they were creatively sound during the Busiek/Perez run on The Avengers, reminding fans of their enduring love for these superheroes. However, the 2000s would prove to be the era of The Avengers once more. With the introduction of New Avengers and Marvel’s event-driven storylines in the 2000s, The Avengers reclaimed their position as leaders of the Marvel Universe and sales charts, marking a creative resurgence for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

The year 2000 showcased some exceptional storylines across titles like “Avengers,” “New Avengers,” “Dark Avengers,” “Mighty Avengers,” and essentially every Marvel-published Avengers comic. Some critics argue that the ’00s Marvel era was excessively praised, attributing its popularity to nostalgia. Nevertheless, it’s undeniable that the ’00s were a golden age for Avengers stories. Here are ten standout tales from the ’00s, narratives that redefined the Avengers for the modern era.

10) “World Trust”

Following Kurt Busiek’s tenure on Avengers, readers were in for a delightful surprise when writer Geoff Johns, who was then embarking on his successful stint with JSA, was assigned to pen the team. Johns’ run during the 2000s is often lauded as one of the best, and his debut story served as a captivating introduction. “World Trust” spanned issues #57-61 of Avengers (Vol. 3), penned by Johns and Kieron Dwyer. A fresh lineup of Avengers, featuring characters like Jack of Heart, Black Panther, Scott Lang, She-Hulk, Captain America, Vision, Wasp, Yellowjacket, and Iron Man, found themselves squaring off against Scorpio and the Brotherhood of the Ankh. Johns infused his signature enthusiasm into the comic, which proved to be a perfect fit for the Avengers. Johns’ portrayals of Captain America and Iron Man were particularly noteworthy, while he also crafted intriguing story arcs for the newcomers, all while rekindling the classic dynamic between Yellowjacket and Wasp. “World Trust” possesses that timeless appeal while remaining contemporary, a testament to Johns’ storytelling prowess. It is a tale that deserves more recognition than it currently receives.

9) “Breakout”

The catastrophic event titled ‘Avengers Disassembled: Chaos’ brought about the demise of the Avengers, yet their resurgence was swift. The eagerly awaited series, ‘New Avengers’, is now renowned as one of the most cherished Marvel comics of the 2000s. Readers adored this book, and it all began with its inaugural story arc — “Breakout” from New Avengers #1-6, penned by Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch. Electro is hired to wreck the Raft, releasing the villains confined within. On the day of his assault, Spider-Woman, Daredevil, and Luke Cage arrive to speak with a mysterious figure known as the Sentry in prison, only to be ensnared in the breakout. Just when they need help, Spider-Man, Captain America, and Iron Man appear on the scene, giving birth to a new team of Avengers. They embark on a quest to find Electro and uncover his motives. This adventure leads them to the Savage Land, where they encounter their last members, Wolverine, and uncover a significant issue within SHIELD. ‘Breakout’ is classic Bendis — rich in character development with minimal action — but it effectively sets the tone for this debut of the New Avengers, paving the way for numerous subsequent tales, all stemming from this six-issue narrative.

8) “The Sentry”

In “New Avengers”, the action kicks off right away, seamlessly continuing from where the previous storyline ended. The comic series “The Sentry” (issues #7-11) by Brian Michael Bendis and Steve McNiven follows a group of new Avengers – Spider-Man, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Luke Cage, Captain America, and Iron Man – as they pursue villains who have escaped from the Raft. The Sentry’s secret is also a mystery they are trying to unravel. This story takes some unexpected twists when the Void is awakened, prompting the Avengers to enlist the aid of the Fantastic Four and X-Men, and making a desperate attempt to stop the Sentry before the Void can bring about global destruction. While it lacks in action-packed moments, it’s an enjoyable read, particularly for fans of the Sentry. Even if you’re not a fan, it’s still a compelling narrative, with McNiven’s artwork being simply spectacular. Notable battles include a cool fight between the Wrecker and the hunting team in issue #7, and there are several other standout moments throughout the storyline. Despite not receiving much recognition, “The Sentry” is undeniably one of the best stories in the “New Avengers” series.

7) “Avengers Disassembled: Chaos”

Avengers Disassembled: Turmoil”

The storyline titled “Avengers Disassembled: Turmoil” spanned issues #500-503 of Avengers and its conclusion, Avengers Finale, penned by Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch, and some of Marvel’s top artists for Avengers Finale. This storyline carried significant weight. As Joss Whedon departed from the Avengers series to sign an exclusive deal with DC Comics, Marvel assigned Chuck Austen to write the book, which proved disastrous. However, Bendis and Finch stepped in to salvage the situation. This storyline marked the darkest day for the Avengers, as they faced one catastrophe after another on various levels. At the heart of it all was an adversary no one anticipated. By the end, not only would the Avengers cease to exist as a team, but several individual members would meet their demise. “Avengers Disassembled: Turmoil” stands as one of Bendis’s finest moments writing the Avengers, striking a perfect blend of action and character development. It holds great significance in the history of the Avengers and lives up to the anticipation generated by its reputation.

6) “Assemble”

Following the events of “Secret Invasion“, Norman Osborn was granted his own Avengers series titled “Dark Avengers“. The initial storyline, “Assemble”, unfolded in issues #1-6 written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Mike Deodato. In this war against the Skrulls, Osborn solidified his power by reforming the Avengers to suit his likeness. He introduced characters like Bullseye, Moonstone, Venom, and Daken as new versions of Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, and Wolverine respectively. He retained Ares and the Sentry from Iron Man’s previous team, the Avengers, and added Noh-Varr as Captain Marvel. Osborn then donned a modified version of an old Iron Man armor to become the Iron Patriot, blending the revered symbols of Captain America and Iron Man. This team was assembled just in time to aid Doctor Doom, another member of Osborn’s group, against Morgana Le Fay. The Dark Avengers faced their trial by fire in this battle, making for one of the greatest Avengers stories ever told. Bendis’ narrative focus on characters is ideally suited to this series, and Deodato’s artwork is exceptional. In my opinion, “Dark Avengers” stands out as the best Avengers comic book of the 2000s, and this story serves as an excellent introduction to the team.

5) Secret Invasion

In the epic comic series “Secret Invasion,” penned by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Leinil Yu, we reach the climax of decades-long Avengers narratives, starting from “Breakout” to “Civil War” and “World War Hulk.” The narrative revolves around the covert Skrulls attempting to undermine the heroes and seize control of Earth. This comic surpasses its MCU counterpart in many ways, offering a gritty tale where our heroes are at their most vulnerable and divided, with Luke Cage’s New Avengers (Luke Cage, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Ronin, Iron Fist, Doctor Strange, and Echo) and Iron Man’s Mighty Avengers (Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, the Wasp, Ares, the Sentry, Black Widow, and Spider-Woman) finding themselves at odds even before the invasion commences. The narrative, while sometimes unevenly paced, remains thrilling throughout. Leinil Yu’s artwork is central to the story’s appeal, with Bendis’ dialogues occasionally becoming repetitive but never detracting from Yu’s masterful visuals. This comic was a sensation when it debuted, skillfully wrapping up various plotlines, and remains an engaging read even today.

4) “The Trust”

In the comics “The Trust” storyline, spanning issues #32-37 of “New Avengers” and its annual issue #2 written by Brian Michael Bendis, Leinil Yu, and Carlo Pagulayan, serves as the prelude to the epic event “Secret Invasion.” The New Avengers team is in turmoil after learning that Elektra had been replaced by a Skrull, causing suspicion and mistrust among them, even towards one another. Matters escalate when one of their own steals the body of Skrull Elektra. Simultaneously, the villain known as the Hood gathers disreputable villains who escaped from the Raft to form an alliance against the Avengers, vowing to accomplish what others have failed to do – eliminate the Avengers. This storyline features a significant focus on Wolverine, which is advantageous given Yu’s exceptional artistry with the character. “The Trust” exemplifies Bendis’s knack for character-driven narratives and creates an ideal foundation for “Secret Invasion.” The storyline is impressive, as are other Bendis-penned tie-ins in “New Avengers” and “Mighty Avengers,” serving as the perfect prelude to “Secret Invasion.

3) “Revolution”

The ‘New Avengers’ comic series served as a response to the ‘Civil War’, and it reached its pinnacle for approximately twelve issues. In ‘New Avengers’ issues #27-31, written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Leinil Yu, Luke Cage, Wolverine, Jessica Drew, Iron Fist, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Clint Barton as Ronin, and Doctor Strange take shelter in Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum to dodge Iron Man and his Avengers, who are enforcing the Superhero Registration Act. The team decides to keep opposing the act and confront Iron Man head-on. However, an urgent call from Echo transports the team to Japan, where Elektra and the Hand have become increasingly ruthless. A fierce ninja battle ensues, leading the New Avengers to a shocking revelation. Bendis and Yu make a fantastic pair, and this story is the epitome of ‘New Avengers’, undoubtedly surpassing other works. It represents Bendis’s finest work on the Avengers, offering readers engaging narrative that blends humor with high-stakes action.

2) “Red Zone”

In Geoff Johns’ second storyline on Avengers, titled “Red Zone”, he delivered his most impressive work. This arc spanned issues #65-70 of Avengers (Vol. 3), penned by Johns and Olivier Coipel. The narrative unfolds as a bioweapon is released on Mount Rushmore, forcing the Avengers to find a solution to prevent its spread, while simultaneously uncovering the mastermind behind this scheme. The identity of the culprit will leave them stunned, as it’s someone they never would have suspected for this particular task. “Red Zone” showcases Johns’ skill in character-driven storytelling, expertly portraying the tension and panic of the outbreak, as the Avengers strive to save as many lives as possible. Regrettably, not everything goes smoothly for the team, leading one member to suffer a breakdown that was sadly foreseeable. “Red Zone” offers exhilarating Avengers action, and I strongly recommend reading the concluding part of Johns’ run, “Search for She-Hulk”, to discover how it all unfolds.

1) “Kang Dynasty”

In collaboration with artists George Perez, Jerry Ordway, Stuart Immonen, and others, writer Kurt Busiek revitalized the Avengers franchise, culminating in a spectacular final storyline. The series “Kang Dynasty” spanned issues #42-54 of Avengers (Vol. 3), penned by Busiek, Alan Davis, Manuel Garcia, Kieron Dwyer, Brent Anderson, and Ivan Reis. Throughout his tenure, Busiek delivered the definitive Ultron tale with “Ultron Unlimited” and followed suit with an equally epic storyline for Kang titled “Kang Dynasty”. This is an unmissable Avengers saga, as the team confronts their deadliest adversary after he’s already triumphed. At its core, this is the Avengers at their best, making it a must-read for any fan of the team.

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2025-07-12 17:41