Avengers #8
Avengers vol. 3 #8 (September 1998) is the debut issue for two original characters introduced by Kurt Busiek and George Pérez: Silverclaw (Maria de Guadalupe Santiago), a Latina shapeshifter with divine parentage rooted in Costa Verde mythology, and Triathlon (Delroy Garrett Jr.), a disgraced Olympic athlete turned superhero whose Triune Understanding affiliation seeded one of the run's longest narrative threads. Both characters were part of a deliberate push for greater diversity on the team's roster during the celebrated Heroes Return era. The issue also plants the seeds for the Triune Understanding subplot — a slow-burn arc about institutional racism, religious manipulation, and public perception that would run for years — while delivering a tense, character-rich action story that perfectly encapsulates Busiek's tone for the entire run.
Find on ebay
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
Avengers vol. 3 launched in February 1998 as part of Marvel's 'Heroes Return' initiative, which restored the core Avengers to the main Marvel Universe following the divisive Heroes Reborn event. Editor-in-chief Bob Harras challenged the Busiek-Pérez creative team to introduce brand-new characters, continuing an Avengers tradition of expanding the roster with original faces; Busiek's response was to debut both Silverclaw and Triathlon simultaneously in issue #8, keeping readers uncertain about which — if either — would join the team full-time. Busiek has noted that Silverclaw's concept grew from a desire to tie a new hero to Jarvis through a charitable sponsorship, while Triathlon's backstory drew on themes of steroid scandal, spiritual exploitation, and racial tension in a way that Busiek would develop critically over subsequent years.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First full appearance of Silverclaw (Maria de Guadalupe 'Lupe' Santiago), created by Kurt Busiek and George Pérez — a shapeshifter who can transform into animals native to the fictional South American nation of Costa Verde, and daughter of the volcano goddess Peliali.
- First full appearance of Triathlon (Delroy Garrett Jr.), also created by Busiek and Pérez — a disgraced Olympic sprinter gifted with triple-peak-human physical abilities by the Triune Understanding's leader, Jonathan Tremont, who secretly channeled powers derived from the original 3-D Man.
- Written by Kurt Busiek with art by George Pérez; the issue is part of the acclaimed Busiek–Pérez run on Avengers vol. 3 (1998–2002), one of the defining creative partnerships of the Heroes Return era.
- The story, titled 'Turbulence!', pits the Avengers against arms dealer Moses Magnum at a major airport terminal; Silverclaw is revealed to have been coerced into helping Magnum's forces, while Triathlon intervenes independently to help free the team.
- The issue includes a subplot in which Wonder Man kisses the Scarlet Witch while the Vision watches — an emotionally charged moment that foreshadows ongoing tension in the Vision–Wanda relationship.
- Features a gatefold cover by George Pérez summarizing story continuity, a recurring format device used throughout the Busiek–Pérez run.
- The two-part 'Turbulence!' story was reprinted in 2001 in the trade paperback Avengers: Clear and Present Dangers (collecting issues #8–15).
- Issue #8 is also included in the Avengers by Kurt Busiek & George Pérez Omnibus Vol. 1, which collects Avengers (1998) #0–23 alongside related tie-in issues.
Cast · 17 characters
Full credits
Variants (1)
Reviews
Reader reviews
No reader reviews yet.