The Avengers, Vol. 2 #13A (Marvel Comics 1997) Direct Edition

The Avengers, Vol. 2 #13A is the concluding issue of the second Avengers volume, delivering Part 2 of the four-part “World War 3” storyline and featuring a crossover cast drawn from Marvel and WildStorm’s merged universes.

In “Winning and Losing,” the joint universe remains under attack by the Skrulls, Daemonites, and Doctor Doom. The Avengers and their allies must create a two-pronged strategy to unlock the two universes after the Heroes Reborn universe merges with the Wildstorm universe, reshuffling familiar heroes onto unexpected teams.

What makes this issue distinctive

• Direct Edition: Marvel Comics issue published in 1997.
• Major crossover: Guest appearances by the Fantastic Four, Stormwatch, Wetworks, and the WildCATs.
• Part of a connected event: The story continues from Fantastic Four (2nd series) #13 and continues in Iron Man (2nd series) #13.
• Gatefold cover: The cover contributes to a larger illustration spanning the four-part storyline.
• Creative team: Script by James Robinson, pencils by Michael Ryan, inks by Saleem Crawford and Sal Regla, with a cover by Richard Bennett and Tom Laney.

This 32-page issue is especially significant for readers following the end of The Avengers, Vol. 2. After this story, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes appear in the Heroes Reborn: The Return limited series before the launch of Avengers (3rd series) #1 in February 1998. The original cover price is $1.99.