Fan-favorite creators Kurt Busiek and George Pérez craft a new era for Earth's Mightiest Heroes! The Avengers forge an uneasy alliance with the Thunderbolts to face Count Nefaria -- but the true threat comes from the stars as Earth is declared a cosmic maximum-security prison for alien criminals! To save their planet, and contend with hordes of rampaging Hulks and the spawn of Ultron, the Avengers must rebuild their operation bigger and better than ever. But none of it will do any good when the time-spanning Kang the Conqueror wages war on the present day...and wins! Now, Captain America and a small band of rebels may be the world's only hope for freedom!

COLLECTING: AVENGERS 24-56, 1 1/2, ANNUAL 2000-2001; THUNDERBOLTS 42-44; MAXIMUM SECURITY: DANGEROUS PLANET; MAXIMUM SECURITY 1-3; AVENGERS: THE ULTRON IMPERATIVE

Written by KURT BUSIEK, ROGER STERN, FABIAN NICIEZA, ROY THOMAS & STEVE ENGLEHART

Penciled by GEORGE PEREZ, STUART IMMONEN, JOHN ROMITA JR., STEVE EPTING, ALAN DAVIS, MANUEL GARCIA, KIERON DWYER, BRENT ANDERSON, IVAN REIS, PATRICK ZIRCHER, YANICK PAQUETTE, BRUCE TIMM, NORM BREYFOGLE, RICHARD HOWELL, MARK BAGLEY, JERRY ORDWAY & MORE

Cover by GEORGE PÉREZ