The Avengers, Vol. 1 #278B (Marvel Comics 1987)

This Newsstand Edition of The Avengers Vol. 1 #278B secures a documented roster shift and features the complete Roger Stern script paired with John Buscema breakdowns and Tom Palmer finishes.

Captured thirty-six pages into the 1987 publication cycle, the issue navigates the immediate fallout of the “Masters of Evil” conflict. Avengers Mansion lies in ruins, Hercules remains comatose, and J.A.R.V.I.S. recovers in a hospital ward. Black Knight and Doctor Druid establish a forward operating base at Hydro-Combat for tactical drills, but the training schedule collapses when Tyrak assaults the facility. Captain Marvel, She-Hulk, and the Wasp deploy reinforcements to neutralize the Atlantean threat, triggering a cascade of operational decisions that culminate in Janet Van Dyne stepping down as chairwoman.

The resulting personnel reassignment cements the late-1980s team configuration now centered on Black Knight, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Doctor Druid, She-Hulk, and Thor. Collectors targeting the #278B variant recognize the Newsstand distribution channel as a distinct shelf marker within the direct-market split era. With its original cover price noted at $0.75 and verified creative credits across interior pacing and cover composition, this issue functions as a primary reference point for tracing post-crisis narrative restructuring and artist rotation patterns in Marvel’s flagship continuity.