After having found success at Marvel Comics with Ultimate Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Alias, Brian Michael Bendis took over The Avengers more than twenty years ago. The writer started his run with Avengers Disassembled, a story that concluded the previous era, before he relaunched the team with New Avengers — the start of the modern era for the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
More than that, it was the beginning, like it or not, of one of the most impactful runs in Marvel History. Because, soon enough, the arc became simply the first part in a trilogy of events orchestrated by Bendis that would continuously reshape the Marvel Universe for almost ten years. From one event to another, superheroes would die, lose their minds or their powers, or reveal they are not what they seemed to be. And it all started with Avengers Disassembled, called “The Worst Day in Avengers History.”
Avengers Disassembled is often presented as a perfect entry point in the world of Marvel, in particular the Avengers, as things are blown up before being completely rebuilt. To help you in your Marvel Journey, following is our reading guide to the Avengers Disassembled story, exploring the main event and all the tie-ins!
What to read before Avengers Disassembled?
As said earlier, Avengers Disassembled serves as a starting point in the Avengers franchise. There is no background reading, and you can enjoy the story without having any particular knowledge.
With that said, some events are referenced in the story, with more or less importance, that you can take a look at for an enhanced reading experience if you want to! You can then go back at the end of the eighties for an Avengers West Coast two-part story where the team must take on Master Pandemonium and reveal Wanda’s children’s real nature:
- Avengers West Coast 51 & 51
Collected in Avengers West Coast Epic Collection: Vision Quest
Then, during Geoff John’s run on the Avengers and not so long before disassembled, Ant-Man’s rivalry with Jack of Hearts is forgotten when the life of Scott Lang’s daughter is put in danger:
- Avengers (Vol. 3) #76
Collected in The Avengers by Johns & Coipel Omnibus
And finally, if you are curious to know when and how Tony Stark became Secretary of Defense, we invite you to read the following:
- Iron Man (Vol. 3) #73–78
Uncollected.
Avengers Disassembled Reading Order
In addition to the main story, Marvel Comics put out the Disassembled banner on several comic titles at the time to boost sales. There are no other reasons, as all the supposedly tie-ins are mostly unconnected or loosely connected into the event. You need to only read the main story and nothing else.
Avengers Disassembled: The Main Event
Since the first publication, the story has been reprinted in different editions, from the classic trade paperback to the more recent Epic Collection:
- Avengers Disassembled – The classic trade paperback edition collecting the main story released in paperback and hardcover in 2006. Collects Avengers (1998) #500-503 and Avengers Finale #1.
- New Avengers Modern Era Epic Collection: Assembled – You can discover the start of a new era for the Avengers with this Modern Epic Collection, a full trade paperback of 400-500 pages, reprinting Disassembled and the first ten issues of New Avengers. Previously available in The Complete Collection.
- The New Avengers Omnibus Vol. 1 – First release in 2012 and reprinted this year, this Omnibus is for everyone who likes big books with hardcover! With the Disassembled story, you’ll find the first part of the New Avengers (31 issues!) and several one shots.
Under the Disassembled Banner: Other Titles
- Avengers Disassembled: Thor
Collects Thor #80-85.- The first two issues happen before Disassembled, with Iron Man and Captain America present.
- This complete story, unconnected to Disassembled, is also the end of the pre-modern era Thor. The character will come back three years later.
- Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill is a sequel to that story.
- Also collected in Avengers Disassembled: Iron Man, Thor & Captain America.
- Avengers: Disassembled – Iron Man
Collects Iron Man (1998) #84-89.- Iron Man is maybe the title with the most ties to the main story, although the comic doesn’t properly explore the impact on Tony.
- Like Thor, the first two issues are a prologue to Disassembled, while the rest take place in the aftermath.
- Also collected in Avengers Disassembled: Iron Man, Thor & Captain America.
- Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 4: Disassembled
Collects Spectacular Spider-Man (2003) #15-20.- Captain America is present. That is the only element connecting this story to the main event. There is no correlation at all.
- Excalibur Vol. 2: Saturday Night Fever
Collects Excalibur #5-10.- Only issue #8 is considered part of the event. It is a parallel story with Xavier and Magneto, and the conclusion is set just after the end of A #503.
- The following issues are considered prologue to House of M.
- Avengers Disassembled: Captain America
Collects Captain America #29-32 and Captain America And The Falcon #5-7.- Captain America and the Falcon #5-7 and Captain America #29 are part of the prologue.
- Captain America #30–32 takes places in the aftermath. References are made, but could be erased and it would not change anything!
- Also collected in Avengers Disassembled: Iron Man, Thor & Captain America.
- Fantastic Four Vol. 5: Disassembled
Collects Fantastic Four (1998) #514-519.- Issues #517-519 have the Disassembled banner and are set in the aftermath.
- Except for one discussion referencing the events, there is no correlation between the two stories.
- The FF story continues until issue #524, collected in Fantastic Four Vol. 6: Rising Storm.
Avengers Disassembled, an Issue-by-Issue Reading List
If you still want to read this event following something closer to a chronological order, following is an issue-by-issue reading guide to help you:
Prologue
- Thor #80-85
- Spectacular Spider-Man #15-20
- Iron Man #84-85
- Captain America and the Falcon #5-7
- Captain America #29
The Main Event
- Avengers #500-503
- Excalibur #8
Aftermath
- Iron Man #86-89
- Captain America #30–32
- Fantastic Four #517–519
Epilogue
- Avengers Finale #1
Where was Hulk during Avengers Disassembled?
Unlike in the MCU, Hulk is not a regular member of the Avengers in the Marvel Comics Universe. Around Disassembled, Hulk was put under the Marvel Knights banner for some Big Things.
What to Read After Avengers Disassembled?
Brian Michael Bendis started to redefine the Avengers franchise, one series at a time. We invite you to take a look at our Brian Michael Bendis’ Avengers Reading Order. But know that it all started with:
- Secret War – Nick Fury puts a team of the most misunderstood heroes on a secret mission.
- The Pulse (#1-6) – Jessica Jones from Alias officially joins the Marvel Universe.
- New Avengers (#1-10) – A new group of superheroes unites to become the New Avengers! Around the same time, a team of young superheroes unite to fill the gap as Young Avengers (by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung).
It all culminates with the second part in a trilogy of events… House of M!
Note: An earlier version of this guide appeared on our site in 2021. It has been completely refreshed and updated with a new revised reading order, new information, and new images!