Avengers Epic Collection: Operation Galactic Storm (Avengers: Galactic Storm)

Okay, this one's a little different; this latest Avengers volume (volume 22 in the overall chronology)... only has three issues of Avengers in it. Why is that, I hear you ask, True Believers? Well, this particular book covers the largest crossover storyline yet collected in the Epic line - the titular Operation: Galactic Storm, which makes up the entirety of the volume, is a mammoth 20-part crossover between the Avengers, Avengers West Coast, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Quasar and Wonder Man titles. Other Epics are likely to reprint their particular issues (the three Cap issues in a Cap Epic, for example), but the decision was made to collect the whole story under the Avengers line. Does it work? Yeah, pretty much.The story sees a war between the star-spanning Shi'ar and Kree empires, a conflict that threatens to destroy the Earth as well. Before long, Earth's Mightiest Heroes split into three groups - one each heading to the Kree and Shi'ar homeworlds and one remaining behind to guard the Earth. Switching between the groups, the entire epic builds to a cataclysmically cosmic finale.Considering that, being a multi-title crossover, it is the work of several writers and artists (notable names include Mark Gruenwald, Roy Thomas, Greg Capullo and Steve Epting), the whole thing reads very well as a single long narrative. Swapping between the three hero teams keeps things interesting, there are a ton of bad guys from both the Shi'ar and Kree camps, and towards the last act the Avengers have to wrestle with issues of morality and vengeance that threaten to split the team apart.So something a bit different as this line goes, but not bad at all for all that - it's been interesting to see how the Epics have dealt with the varying types of megacrossovers, and so far they've been making all the right choices in my opinion. Extras include a few pieces of original art, the covers to previous Galactic Storm trades, relevant articles from Marvel Age and Marvel Age Preview, and a Swimsuit Special pinup. A handsome collection for a chunky story.