Defining the Relevant Runs: Setting the Stage for the Clash
Kurt Busiek’s Reign on *Avengers*
Kurt Busiek’s tenure on *Avengers* is often regarded as a modern classic. His run, starting in the late nineties, breathed new life into the team, focusing on character development, complex storylines, and a sense of grand, operatic storytelling.
Busiek meticulously crafted a narrative tapestry that wove together multiple plot threads, explored the legacy of the Avengers, and reintroduced classic villains in compelling new ways.
Busiek’s *Avengers* team often featured a blend of classic and contemporary heroes. Think of the core team as a stable but varied collection of characters that were often present. The team roster was constantly shifting, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of the Marvel Universe. It wasn’t just about the ‘big names’; it was about their interactions, the internal dynamics, and the external threats they faced together.
He was particularly skilled at crafting epic, large-scale stories that embraced the cosmic and the mundane. The threats the Avengers faced were often universe-shattering, requiring the team to push themselves to their absolute limits. Busiek’s run also explored themes of legacy, responsibility, and the weight of history, making his interpretation of the Avengers far deeper than just the team’s immediate adventures. He also laid groundwork for events which would occur later in other writers’ runs.
Other Influential Comic Book Runs
To provide a fuller understanding of the timeframe, it’s essential to include a quick glance at other runs, such as Grant Morrison’s celebrated run on *Justice League of America*. Morrison redefined the JLA for a modern audience. He created a team that was grand, and explored the inherent power and responsibility associated with being Earth’s greatest heroes.
The specific character rosters and the nature of the threats in this run are important. Each creative team contributes their own nuance to the characters, and this is particularly crucial when examining team-ups like *JLA/Avengers*.
Arguments for the Crossover’s Placement Within Busiek’s Run
Matching Character Lineups: A Matter of Perspective
The initial lineups can be somewhat indicative. By examining the character rosters of *JLA/Avengers*, a general idea of the timeline can be made. Was it more aligned with the team during Busiek’s time on *Avengers*? Are there members who were frequently present, and those whose presence doesn’t seem to coincide? If certain characters like the Captain America and the core members of the Avengers team were present during a certain period, that can be taken as a clue.
Looking at the Justice League side, it is important to see who was the prominent members. In some periods, the roster shifted frequently.
Echoes of Tone and Theme: A Shared Ground
Beyond the specific characters, there are similarities to be noted. Busiek’s *Avengers* was characterized by a sense of epic scope, high stakes, and complex character interactions. The *JLA/Avengers* crossover shares these characteristics. It’s a story of cosmic proportions, with both teams pushed to their limits against a threat that transcends their individual universes. The themes of teamwork, sacrifice, and the responsibilities of heroism are central to both narratives. Examining the crossover’s tone, which features grand, sprawling, and often universe-altering confrontations, and comparing it to the tone of Busiek’s run, one may find it reasonable that they align.
Navigating Continuity with the Multiverse
The concept of the multiverse plays a significant role in *JLA/Avengers*. As a story that bridges two different universes, it inherently grapples with the complexities of parallel realities. This offers a degree of flexibility in terms of chronological placement. The crossover might not precisely fit into the established timeline of either DC or Marvel’s main continuity, but rather, exist as a unique event, a story that transcends the rigid boundaries of a single, linear timeline. This “Hypertime” or “multiverse” approach allows for events to occur without being completely consistent.
Arguments Against Placement During Busiek’s Run
Clash of Events: Discrepancies in the Narrative
One of the strongest arguments against the crossover fitting neatly into Busiek’s *Avengers* run stems from chronological inconsistencies. Sometimes, specific events within the *JLA/Avengers* story seem to contradict plot developments or character arcs that were occurring in Busiek’s run at the time. For example, if a character in the crossover is depicted as having a relationship that completely contradicts the relationship the character had during that period, the placement becomes questionable. This is true of any continuity, even during the same writer’s work.
Character Development and the Character Arcs
The depiction of characters in the *JLA/Avengers* story might not fully align with how these characters were portrayed during Busiek’s run, especially with the specific timelines of the teams and characters. Characters evolve over time; their motivations, relationships, and power sets change. Significant deviations from a character’s established arc raise questions about where the crossover can truly fit. Even a seemingly simple aspect such as a character’s power level can be useful in this consideration.
Intent of the Authors: Where the Story Should Reside
Examining the author’s intent can sometimes clarify the situation, even in these cases. While the writers involved might not have explicitly outlined the exact position of the crossover within either continuity, their general ideas and any commentary during the time of release provide useful information. In other cases, the *JLA/Avengers* story may have been crafted to be a standalone event, existing outside of either specific timeline and with no definite placement.
The Elseworlds Approach: The Crossover’s Identity
It’s important to consider if the nature of *JLA/Avengers* makes it difficult to integrate it into a specific time. Because it involves two separate universes, the creative teams may have approached the story as an *Elseworlds* or “What If?” type of event. Therefore, strict placement within continuity might not have been a primary goal. The crossover can exist as its own unique tale, unburdened by the need to perfectly align with every event and character detail in either universe.
Conclusion: Weighing the Evidence, Finding the Place
So, **does JLA/Avengers take place during Busiek’s run**? The answer is not definitively clear-cut. The evidence is complex and open to interpretation. While there are certain aspects that align, the number of potential contradictions raises doubts.
It’s possible to argue that it *could* fit within the timeframe, especially if the multiverse concept is taken into account. However, the inconsistencies, particularly concerning character development and the specific events, make it challenging to definitively place the crossover within Busiek’s run.
Ultimately, the beauty of the *JLA/Avengers* story lies in its grand scope and the way it celebrates the core elements of both the Justice League and the Avengers. This crossover, a monumental undertaking, continues to captivate readers, regardless of its exact placement in the intricate tapestry of continuity. Its lasting impact stems not just from its position in the timeline, but from its themes of teamwork and the inherent importance of heroism. The shared struggle, the victories, and the sense of camaraderie make it a timeless story that transcends any single, definitive place in the comic book universe.
Resources Consulted
This analysis is based on the primary source material: the *JLA/Avengers* comic book itself. Other relevant books included:
- *Avengers* (various issues) by Kurt Busiek and other writers
- *Justice League of America* (various issues) from the period.
