I read Avengers Epic Collection: The Crossing Line, reprinting Avengers #319-333, Avengers Annual #19, and the other parts of the Terminus Factor crossover from Captain America Annual #9, Iron Man Annual #11, Thor Annual #15, and Avengers West Coast Annual #5. I had read the previous Epic Collection a few weeks back.

The TPB is basically three distinction sections. Ihe first bit has the Crossing Line six-parter written by Fabian Nicieza, mostly drawn by Rik Levins & various inkers (although Paul Ryan comes in at the end). It's an overstuffed storyline featuring the Avengers, Alpha Flight (whom Nicieza had been writing), the People's Protectorate (formerly the Soviet Super-Soldiers), some Atlanteans, and a bunch of Soviet terrorists. It's a mess that juggles too many characters, indistinct depictions of other dimensions, and 90s style political intrigue that feels a bit phony. It does get trippy towards the latter portion of the story with a very interesting plot twist. Much more interesting is the multi-part backup story by Mark Gruenwald and various artists that deals with the Avengers support crew (Jarvis, Peggy Carter, John Jameson, etc.) dealing with spectres of their past. The backup story then takes over the whole book with #325 when the Avengers return to town. It's not a spectacular finale, but I feel that story arc was more about the journey. John Byrne provides the cover, so I guess he didn't hold a grudge.

The second section is the annuals that feature the Terminus Factor crossover written by Roy and Dann Thomas. The art is most shaky. I think the best drawn chapter is from Jim Fry, while Herb Trimpe draws a couple of lackluster chapters. Although there are some creepy and suspenseful part of the story, a good bit of it is mediocre. Machine Man guest stars for part of the arc. Initially, he's called X-51, but then everyone starts calling him X-15. I haven't read many Machine Man stories, but even I know that's wrong. The backup stories in the Avengers Annual include one that's essentially a big synopsis of the Acts of Vengeance crossover. It actually makes more sense than when I just read the Avengers & AWC parts of the story in the previous Epic Collection, so many a lot of key details weren't in those core books. The other backups are fairly lackluster.

Finally, Avengers #326-333 features new writer Larry Hama teaming with artists Paul Ryan and Tom Palmer. This is the best part of the TPB. Hama starts with story of a Soviet hero irradiated at Chernobyl (which I think is better than Nicieza's Soviet intrigue earlier in the TPB) which then leads into some interdimensional hijinx (again done better than Nicieza did it), before resulting in a demon invasion. These subparts flow very well into each other, but also feel distinct. Then, he caps it off with a two-part Doctor Doom story. I'm not a big Dr. Doom fan, but I really like it.

Meanwhile, Hama is also making some roster moves. Avengers #329 is one of those classic "the old order changeth" stories. Hama dumps Byrne's concept of all past and current members now being equally part of both East & West rosters interchangeably and as needed, which I don't think worked very well. Instead, we get a fixed primary roster of 7 Avengers, plus a regular reserve of 7 Avengers. The primary roster is basically characters who have appeared on a solid number of issues under Byrne and/or Nicieza, with the one main addition being Black Widow. It's funny because although the Widow's history with team goes way back (supporting cast in the Heck era), she had barely any appearances as an official member at this point. I know she gets to rack lots of roster time in the 90s. The other big roster development is that the reserves include two new probationary members: Rage and the Sandman. I've read a couple Rage appearances that come after the last issue in this TPB. However, I've read so little of the character that I had forgotten whether he was an Avenger or a New Warrior first. I was ready for some corny attempts at edginess and clumsy portrayals of black culture. And although there are some bits of cringe there, as the issue go by, I find Rage and his subplot . . . growing on me. I'm shocked, but it seems like there's some thought there. Hama gives out Rage's origin in bits and pieces. Just when you think you've got it, there's more. There's also portions of his backstory that for fans reading this in 1990 or 1991 would've probably evoked fairly recent incidents in the time from the Howard Beach and Bensonhurst neighborhoods.

Is that the whole evil Tony Stark gets replaced by teen Tony thing? I haven't read it, but I've heard only bad things. No, this is a few years earlier. I've never heard the phrase "crossing line," but it seems like what you pass to get into the danger zone.

When does Avengers become trash? Is The Gathering bad too? I bought the Operation Galactic Storm Epic Collection; I read a lot of that crossover when it came out.

I've been re-reading the Star Wars: Dark Empire series for the umpteenth time in order to join in with wildfire2099's "Star Wars by Dark Horse" review thread. It's a fun series, with lots of action and is a pretty breezy read.

Back in 1991, this series marked the welcome return of SW comics, coming four years after the original Marvel series ended.

Need to read Stewart at some point (and Destroyer Duck for that matter). I always got the impression that Howard's transformation into a rat/mouse in HTD MAX was more inspired by Stewart than an outright loathing of Disney's forced changes in the 70's/80's (because, god forbid the danes/swedes have more than one Duck out there other than the Carl Barks/Don Rosa drawn ones)