The Avengers Omnibus Vol. 5

Background. Steve Englehart took over the Avengers in 1973 and immediately pushed the book in a more politically engaged direction, using the Watergate scandal as the backdrop for the Secret Empire storyline — a conspiracy narrative where the highest office in the US government was revealed to be complicit in supervillain activity. The story ran simultaneously with the real-world Watergate hearings and was as close to direct political allegory as mainstream Marvel comics produced in the Bronze Age.

What's inside. This omnibus collects Englehart's early-to-mid Avengers run, covering the Secret Empire storyline, the Avengers' government investigation, and the introduction of new roster members including Mantis and the Swordsman's return. Sal Buscema and Bob Brown provide the primary artwork. The collection covers the period where Englehart used the superhero format to engage with contemporary political reality more directly than any prior Avengers run.

Why it's worth it. The Secret Empire storyline is the most significant piece of political superhero comics from the Bronze Age — its Watergate allegory was explicit enough that readers at the time understood exactly what Englehart was doing, but constructed carefully enough to survive as a standalone narrative. Englehart's Avengers is required reading for understanding how the team's mythology and purpose were defined in the 1970s, and the Secret Empire arc specifically is foundational to Captain America's complex relationship with US government institutions.

Edition details. Hardcover omnibus. US edition published by Marvel Comics. ISBN 9781302954116.