AVENGERS (VOL. 3) #1-4:

Script: Kurt Busiek
Pencils: George Perez
Inks: Al Vey with Bob Wiacek (#4)
Colors: Tom Smith
Editor: Tom Brevoort

Avengers #1: "Once An Avenger..."
39 pages + 2 page cover • February 1998

A short time after the Avengers return from the pocket universe they were trapped in, a series of interconnected attacks occur on the complete rank and file of Avengers memberships. From out of nowhere, creatures related to mythical Asgard launch surprise attacks on Avengers from Captain America, Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch, to Black Widow, Darkhawk and Spider-Woman. Just as sudden as the attacks start, they end.

All the Avengers are assembled at the Avengers Mansion, where the founding team members commiserate on the situation. Thor comes crashing into the room from Asgard, where he found his homeland torn asunder and the Twilight Sword stolen. With it gone, Thor explains to everybody, the fate of the planet is at risk. The team splits up into groups to look for the sword via the Norn Stones, which are also missing. The first group, led by Captain America, traces one of the stones to a location off the coast of England. After passing through an otherworldly storm, they find the actual Twilight Sword, being guarded by Mordred the Evil.

As soon as they land, the Scarlet Witch is taken captive by Mordred's trolls, and the rest of the team is dispatched quickly when the real power behind Mordred is revealed- it is Morgan Le Fey, who can now access the power of the Twilight Sword with the aid of the Scarlet Witch. All the previous events were variables put in play to lure the Scarlet Witch into a trap, and with her power now channeled, Morgan Le Fey now wields the sword, and all the Avengers across the world see reality as they know it fold in on them.

Avengers #2: "The Call"
22 pages + cover • March 1998

Morgan Le Fey has transformed the Avengers into an imperial guard called The Queen's Vengeance, and they help protect her rule over the world. Her hold on certain Avengers, like Thor, is tenuous, though, and Mordred warns her not to allow the hold to remain that way, but Morgan is enjoying the fun and games. Her main captive, the Scarlet Witch, is trying to reach out to someone to help end her captivity. Captain America is free of Morgan's grasp, and begins to start discreetly picking off fellow Avengers, like Hawkeye, Photon and the Wasp. All of them try to get Iron Man back in line, but he cannot resist Morgan's mind control, and suddenly, the small band of Avengers face off against the totality of the Queen's Vengeance, which includes dozens of former Avengers.

Cap tries to pull some of them out of the mind-sapping spell, but he is only able to turn Quasar and Justice. A fierce battle breaks out, and as Thor returns, now free of Morgan's control, he creates a distraction to allow them to escape. As Mordred pleas with Morgan Le Fey to reassert her power, Scarlet Witch reaches out and finally pulls together the one she can feel inside the core of her being: Wonder Man!

Avengers #3: "Fata Morgana"
22 pages + cover • April 1998

As the small group of free-minded Avengers practice together on the outskirts of Morgan Le Fey's kingdom, the villainess rages as she finds out that the Scarlet Witch- her key to governing the power of the Twilight Sword- has been stolen from her. She sends her emissaries out to look for Wanda, who is being cared for by the newly-incroporated Wonder Man. The Avengers try to gain entry into her castle to pull a sneak attack, but they are found out by the Queen's Vengeance.

But Scarlet Witch and Wonder Man are also on the scene and they send Morgan Le Fey reeling, while her power lapses on the rest of the Avengers. With the momentum on the Avengers' side, they join forces to allow the Scarlet Witch to unleash a ferocious attack on Morgan Le Fey, who wildly sends power blasts out, one of which rips the Vision in half. Channeling the ultimate power of Wonder Man, Wanda puts the wraps on Morgan Le Fey, taking the power of the sword away from her and restoring the natural order of the planet.

Thor takes the Twilight Sword back to Asgard, and the Avengers gather themselves together and head home.

Avengers #4: "Too Many Avengers"
22 pages + cover • May 1998

As a two-bit super-powered crook named the Whirlwind tries to rob a bank, he faces the combined assault of a couple dozen Avengers who wind up getting in each other's way to such a degree that he gets away. Meanwhile, the founding Avengers meet with their new national security liaision, Duane Jerome Freeman. They decide Cap, Thor and Iron Man will stay to help lead the team, and also decide that the Vision and Scarlet Witch should be extended invitations to form the new Avengers.

The rest of the fringe members wonder if their name will be called, and the former New Warriors Justice and Starfire are eager to prove they could belong to the group, so they go chase after Whirlwind. Iron Man detects that Carol Danvers might be having a drinking problem. He warns the team that she might be a problem without getting into too much detail, but the rest of the Avengers affirm she would make a good choice.

Justice and Starfire help beat the Whirlwind, and Hawkeye brings them back to the mansion where he is told he has a roster slot, and after some argument, Cap decides to take on Justice and Starfire as reserve members. The New Avengers go and meet the public for the first time.

-- panel scan provided by Avengers Assemble