This book contains the first three issues of Super Heroes, Iron Man: Supernova #1, and Tails of the Pet Avengers #1. The Super Heroes issues start with Captain America and Iron Man informing the United Nations and other key government organizations that the Avengers are a thing and that they intend to work outside any one nation’s government control, but would very much like to cooperate with the government in terms of sharing intel, etc. Stories like these are why comics are so hard to get into. Comics history can be very convoluted and while any given issue #1 is meant to be a good starting point, it rarely actually feels like it. For instance, it’s not at all clear why Sue Storm is part of the Avengers when she’s usually part of the Fantastic Four, yet FF is clearly still in operation because we see Reed Richards in uniform whenever they talk. For reasons that are unclear (though presumably are cleared up in later issues of Super Heroes) Sue Storm and Black Widow are at odds with one another. Because those issues aren’t included in this book, the readers are left hanging. There’s also this weird subplot where Captain America has a crush on Sue. She doesn’t realize it, but everyone else does and I just can’t buy it. Her relationship with Richards is hardly secret, and Cap would certainly respect Sue’s choice in that matter, rather than fawning in the background and appearing hurt when she assures Reed that she will remain true to him. STEVE ROGERS IS NOT THE SORT OF MAN WHO TRIES TO (OR WISHES TO) BREAK UP A RELATIONSHIP! …. I might have some strong feeling on this. Out of character writing aside, the story lines and villains in these three issues are boring.
Iron Man: Supernova is a team-up book, and Supernova is annoying. There are some cool apes in this issue though.
The best by far is the Pet Avengers. A couple I didn’t recognize, but I loved checking in with Lockjaw who valiantly saves a sacred scroll from thieves and then gets chided by a guard for playing fetch with the scroll. Poor Lockjaw. Frog Thor works to unite his people, the frogs of Central Park, in a fight against some alligators. It’s never explained why there are alligators in Central Park, but really the joy is seeing a frog in full Thor-gear wielding a tiny Mjolnir.
This book is fine for if you’re a completist, but it doesn’t serve as a good introduction to these characters or stories, especially since Marvel has rebooted its comics universe at least twice since this was published in 2010. ( )

When I read the Avengers Disassembled trade, I was left feeling it was incomplete. This collection helps fill out the story by focusing on the titular heroes and what happened to them in and around the event. I do recommend readers start with the Disassembled trade because this book never explicitly addresses what caused the event and that context is necessary to follow along.

The best section of this book - by far - is Thor. When just about every Avenger EVER showed up in Disassembled, Thor was absent. Here we learn why he didn't respond in the Avengers' time of greatest need: Ragnarok. Long-time Marvel fans might roll their eyes at this because Ragnarok has happened before, more than once. Yet, the writers have come up with a fresh take on "the end of the world" and why it keeps happening to Asgard! It was a very clever and truly satisfying story arc. Thor learns of Those Who Sit Above in Shadow. As before, Loki is the "cause" of Ragnarok. Only this time, Thor is going to "help" him see it through to the end. This story stands out not only because it was exciting and well-executed, but also because it is complete and can stand alone. There are several epic battles included, and the one between Loki and Thor has an astonishing and hilarious result. And I have to mention how much I loved Thor's armor as depicted here; it is much more kingly and is the most appropriate I have ever seen on him. The end was a surprise for me as Asgard truly falls and Thor will not rise again until Starczynski's run, post-Invasion.

Captain America was next, and was the second best of the three. Parts of it were fantastic, but one part left me completely confused and with unresolved plot points. There are three small sections that compose Cap's part. The first features Iron Man and how his duties as Secretary of Defense conflict with his role as Avenger when he is ordered to dismantle a weapon hidden in Avengers mansion - without alerting the Avengers. This was a short, action-heavy piece that was fun but felt unconnected with Disassembled. The second part ties directly to Disassembled but is also the weakest part because there is not enough context or resolution. Scarlet Witch figures prominently in a mission (and love life!) of Cap and Falcon where they have apprehended a "super sailor" gone rogue and a biological weapon, which turns out to be DNA. "Cap...you do realize whose DNA that is...?" I think readers are supposed to intuit whose it is - only newbies like me will probably have no clue and the story simply ends there. We don't know what happens to the prisoner or the DNA, or if this even happened or was a delusion of the Scarlet Witch. The last section follows Cap post-Disassembled (I *think*!) and his renewed relationship with Diamondback. Only, her motives are not entirely romantic and she may not even be who she appears to be. This story has the return of Cap's nemesis, Red Skull. This story stands mostly on its own and was a solid way to end Cap's section with action, romance and surprises.

The Iron Man section was short, weak, and pretty boring. I think the main purpose of it was to "put the cat back in the bag" vis-á-vis Iron Man's secret identity. The section opens with Iron Man's mental breakdown before the United Nations; a scene which also occurs in the Disassembled trade, which is the only reason I know it is tied into the event. After that, I am not sure if what takes place actually happens or was a delusion. Someone is framing Tony Stark by stealing his armor and pretending to be him. Many people, including an old flame, end up dead and Pepper and Happy Hogan are married in this world. I could have skipped this section entirely because it didn't add anything to Disassembled and so much was out of context I was lost anyway.

Overall, the Thor section alone was worth the purchase of this collection, but the Captain America section also had some really great material. This was a valuable addition to the Disassembled event and I highly recommend it. ( )