Kang Dynasty

"Kang Dynasty", sometimes called "Kang War", is a 16 part comic book storyline which ran through Avengers (vol. 3) #41–55 and Avengers Annual 2001 between June 2001 and August 2002. It was written by Kurt Busiek and illustrated by several artists, including Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer, Ivan Reis, and Manuel Garcia. The story features Kang the Conqueror, a warlord from the 30th century, and one of the Avengers' oldest and deadliest foes, arriving in the early 21st century with his son Marcus, intent on conquering the planet. Although Kang is temporarily successful, the first villain in Marvel Comics to physically take over the world (as opposed through mind control, as Doctor Doom once accomplished by amplifying the powers of the Purple Man) he is opposed and eventually defeated by the Avengers. The story is noteworthy for its length, as well as depicting the destruction of the United Nations headquarters building (though without loss of life, as Kang saved them all to make a point) and the death of the entire population of Washington, D.C.; it had been planned before the 2001 September 11 attacks, but was published afterwards as Marvel Comics decided not to alter the storyline.