By d. emerson eddy — Operation: Galactic Storm was not my first crossover. That was Crisis on Infinite Earths. It wasn't even my first crossover from Marvel, but I do think it has the distinction for me as being the longest that actually crossed over between different titles. I'd read a number of events with tie-ins by the time Galactic Storm came around, but most seemed to have a limited “core” number of titles that directly led into one another. Even events like Legends and Millennium, I tended not to go in for the entire event, but only what I was already reading. There was just something about Galactic Storm that hooked me and had me reading through the entire story as it went through Captain America, Avengers West Coast, Quasar, Wonder Man, Avengers, Iron Man, and The Might Thor.

I didn't know a lot about either the Kree or the Shi'ar going into the crossover. I'm sure they'd shown up in the odd Avengers and X-Men story I'd read beforehand, but my broader knowledge of the Marvel Universe was somewhat limited. Although I'd branched out from The Mighty Thor with X-Factor, Incredible Hulk, Quasar, the occasional Avengers issue, and a number of the cosmic titles due to Infinity Gauntlet, I was still mainly a DC Comics guy. Operation: Galactic Storm changed that and had me adding both Avengers titles and Captain America to my regular monthly reads. (Getting a paper route and starting to earn a steady paycheque was also probably an influence.) Reading the story again now, it's easier to see the ties to the earlier Kree/Skrull War, fallout from Uncanny X-Men right before the mutants had their expansion, and a whole lot of Fantastic Four.

The story overall is an interesting one as it places Earth and the Avengers in a precarious place between the two warring empires (a war that in itself may have you scratching your head at times why it's even taking place throughout much of the crossover). Although we get the warring factions searching for weapons on Earth, and factions of Avengers going to try to stop the war at both Empire's homeworld, it's the Sun being used as an energy source, threatening our solar system, that puts Earth in peril. I think it's fascinating how treating our solar system as a throughway without thought to the ramifications lies at the crux of the horror of this war. Not even accounting for the cost paid by both interstellar empires.

The creators throughout the crossover have a delicate dance with so many moving pieces. There are a couple blips of continuity, but by a large this 19-part story is very cohesive. Titular heroes get their moments to shine in their respective books, multiple plot threads weave tightly across the tapestry of the team books, and there are interesting layers shown as even continuing plots from the ongoing titles get moments.

It was Steve Epting's art that got me reading Avengers regularly out of this, he'd quickly developed more of his own style when just a little while earlier he looked to me more like a blend of Paul Ryan and John Buscema. It was Roy and Dann Thomas that got me to continue with Avengers West Coast, liking the personal bits they brought to the characters. But I think what impressed me the most was the lead story in Captain America #400 from Mark Gruenwald, Rik Levins, Danny Bulanadi, Christie Scheele, and Joe Rosen. Though still deep within the crossover, it also took a moment to logically work in Cap's past for the anniversary issue. I loved how that was handled and further made me want to check out what Gruenwald had written. He had an amazing way of making the history of the characters feel important to the stories at hand, without making it feel like I was missing anything in the current story, only to have it enriched when reading those older tales.

Overall, I think Avengers: Operation Galactic Storm holds up over time. It was entertaining when I first read it as a kid and I can appreciate it even more now. The creative teams each do their part justice and the end result is an epic that belongs alongside the earlier Kree/Skrull War and the ramifications that are still felt through the Marvel Universe in Empyre.

Classic Comic of the Week: Avengers - Operation Galactic Storm

Avengers - Operation Galactic Storm (Epic Collection 22)
Writers: Mark Gruenwald, Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas, Bob Harras, Len Kaminski & Tom DeFalco
Pencillers: Rik Levins, Dave Ross, Greg Capullo, Jeff Johnson, Steve Epting, Paul Ryan, Pat Olliffe, Rurik Tyler & Stephen B. Jones
Inkers: Danny Bulanadi, Harry Candelario, Tim Dzon, Bob Wiacek, Dan Panosian, Tom Palmer, Al Milgrom, Fred Fredericks, Keith Williams, Jan Anton Harps, Art Nichols & Bud LaRosa
Colorists: Christie Scheele, Bob Sharen, Joe Rosas, Tom Palmer, Mike Rockwitz, Paul Becton & Gina Going
Letterers: Joe Rosen, Bill Oakley, Janice Chiang, Pat Brosseau, Michael Heisler & Michael Higgins
Publisher: Marvel
The Kree/Shi'ar War! When two of the galaxy's most ancient and powerful races clash, it's up to Earth's Mightiest Heroes to play cosmic peacekeeper! With Earth in the crossfire, the Avengers are drawn into the conflict — and end up as alien invaders on war-torn worlds of wonder! Assemblers East and West are embroiled in an epic too big for even two Avengers titles — one that will shake the team to its very foundations! Super heroes from three galaxies clash in a war filled with incredible action — including Thor vs. Gladiator of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard — and the Avengers will face repercussions that will haunt them for years!
Buy It Here: Avengers Operation Galactic Storm - Epic Collection 22

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d. emerson eddy is a student and writer of things. He fell in love with comics during Moore, Bissette, & Totleben's run on Swamp Thing and it has been a torrid affair ever since. His madness typically manifests itself on Twitter @93418.