Avengers: The Crossing Omnibus

Background. The Crossing ran through the Avengers titles in 1995-1996 as a sustained mystery about Tony Stark's secret allegiance to Kang, culminating in the revelation that Iron Man had been a compromised agent for years and needed to be replaced with an alternate-universe teenage version of himself. The storyline is a significant artifact of 1990s Marvel's editorial approach — ambitious in concept, chaotic in execution — and was among the first things retconned when the Heroes Reborn and Heroes Return events reset the line.

What's inside. This omnibus collects the complete Crossing crossover across all participating Avengers titles, presenting the full story of Iron Man's betrayal, the emergency measures taken to address it, and the aftermath that set up the Heroes Reborn departure. The collection brings together material from Avengers, Iron Man, Force Works, War Machine, and related titles that comprised the complete Crossing narrative.

Why it's worth it. The Crossing is required reading for understanding the Heroes Reborn context and why Marvel editorial felt a complete line-wide reset was necessary. It's also a fascinating case study in 1990s Marvel's approach to long-form storylines — the ambition was genuinely impressive even when the execution fell short. For collectors of complete Avengers runs, this omnibus covers an unavoidable chapter in the team's publishing history.

Edition details. Hardcover omnibus. US edition published by Marvel Comics. ISBN 9780785162032.