I was surprised when I received a copy of this from Marvel. Then I thumbed through the contents and remembered that I had plotted or co-plotted three issues, in addition to having edited about a third of the stories ...

Essential Avengers Volume 9


Written by: Mark Gruenwald, Steven Grant, David Michelinie, Jim Shooter, Bill Mantlo, Roger Stern, Bob Budiansky, and Tom DeFalco
Penciled by: John Byrne, Don Newton, Arvell Jones, Sal Buscema, George Perez, Carmine Infantino, Alan Kupperberg, Gene Colan, and John Fuller
Cover by George Perez

The Avengers travel to Wundagore Mountain in search of the deadly secrets hidden in the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver's childhoods. But what about the secret from Tony Stark's own history, one that lies beneath Avengers Mansion itself? Then, the Avengers' rivalry with meddling Henry Gyrich comes to a head just as the Grey Gargoyle makes his move! Fan-favorite villain the Taskmaster debuts! Immortus returns, but what are his plans for Ms. Marvel? Plus: The mad robot Ultron's history with Earth's mightiest heroes is a long and violent one. But this time, how is Iron Man responsible for his return -- and how can he be stopped? All this -- and Hawkeye gets a job! Guest-starring the Elements of Doom, Inferno and the Yellow Claw!

Collecting: AVENGERS (1963) #185-206 and AVENGERS ANNUAL #9, and material from TALES TO ASTONISH (1979) #12

496 pages ... $19.99

On Sale 9/11/2013