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Post by ta6bur on Jan 9, 2009 11:07:39 GMT -5
I'm loving this site as I read my way through Avengers lore (up to vol. 1 #53 via Essentials at this point).
Getting frustrated, though, with how many of the review articles I've been unable to pull up. One of the messages that I find is "Hometown has been shut down"(I'll use "Beginner's Guide - vol. 1, 26-50" as an example). Are the archived articles reachable in some way I haven't stumbled across?
Thanks for any info, and also for the informative forum.
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Post by dlw66 on Jan 9, 2009 11:47:01 GMT -5
ta6bur --
Nice to have you! I see what you mean, although I was unaware it was a problem. One of our moderators should be along and will hopefully see this. My guess is that there are areas of the larger AA! website that have simply expired over time -- urls not registered, etc.
But don't let that stop you from jumping into some of our conversations on the message boards!
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Post by ta6bur on Jan 9, 2009 13:57:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the quick response.
If I can't get to the existing reviews, perhaps I could get Scott Harris to run through those early issues? Really enjoying his Silver Age recaps.
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Post by Shiryu on Jan 9, 2009 15:18:00 GMT -5
Hi Ta6bur, welcome in the forum!  Like Dlw said, the main website has files over several different servers, one of which appear to have expired. Generally, when this happens the stored files are deleted altogether, so they shouldn't be reachable unless Van puts them somewhere else (or unless it's only a temporary bandwidth problem, but doesn't look like it). Anyway I have these guides saved somewhere, I'll try to post them here over the weekend  |
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Post by Shiryu on Jan 18, 2009 7:27:12 GMT -5
I finally managed to look through my old dvds, and it looks like I don't have these files in the end (or I saved them somewhere else). Sorry  |
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Post by ta6bur on Jan 21, 2009 1:11:12 GMT -5
Thanks for checking. Funny how in these times I don't feel like I've finished reading an issue until I've also read a review of it. But there's plenty on these boards to enhance my enjoyment of the old Avengers' books, which I'm reading for the first time.
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Post by Tana Nile on Jan 21, 2009 22:04:11 GMT -5
ta6bur, let me also welcome you to the board. If you dig back through some of the threads, like Classic Avengers, you may find some subject matter to complement your reading! Feel free to post in any of the threads - we love bringing up old subjects around here.
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Post by Shiryu on Feb 3, 2009 18:33:56 GMT -5
I found them!! They were in a very old DVD I just happened to come across today. I have up to #75 and the entire folder is only 700kb, will probably zip and put it up somewhere for download if it's ok for Van.
In the meantime, 26-50
Here they are
Issue: Avengers 26
The Voice of the Wasp
By Stan Lee, Don Heck and Frank Giacoia
Line up: Captain America, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye.
Villains: Attuma
Guest Stars: The Wasp, Giant-Man, Namor
So What happens?
Captain America calls a meeting to explain the new communications setup that Tony Stark has designed but Hawkeye takes it as another opportunity to fight with the team. He squabbles with Quicksilver this time until Cap breaks it up.
Out at sea Hank Pym's floating Lab has been damaged by the Sub-Mariner. Mind controlled by the Puppet Master he has set off to attack New York and left the lab in flames.
Luckily Hank and Jan are onboard and Jan tries to fly back to New York to get help. She can't make it all the way in one go and stops to float on the surface to regain her strength.
She is spotted by an undersea craft and kidnapped by the Atlantean warlord Attuma who naturally thinks that any woman floating alone miles out to sea has to be spying on him. Despite thinking she is a spy he procedes to tell her all his plans.
He is getting ready to flood the Eastern seaboard and has set up a huge device on the ocean floor that is already stirring up the tides. She is thrown into the undersea equivalent of a fish tank but shrinks down and escapes. She manages to get to a radio and sends out a mayday to the Avengers.
After debating whether is another trap Cap decides to answer the call and tries to get in touch with Hawkeye. Unfortunately he is out impressing some babes and has taken his communication device off. The Avengers head off without him in their new aircraft.
They too are captured by Attuma who sends a huge pincer to the surface to grab them. They come out fighting and easily deal with a squad of Atlanteans. Attuma himself is a different matter, the avengers put up a good fight but get beaten when Attuma's ship fills up with water.
Hawkeye returns to the mansion from his night on the town but because he wasn't listening in the earlier meeting he can't work the computers and find out where the team has gone.
So it is any good?:
It is a reasonably solid issue, I certainly preferred it to 25 although it never threatens to become a classic of any kind.
Hawkeye's bickering is becoming a bit much, back in the 60s it was seen as characterisation and with a month between issues it was probably fun but reading the issues in order it gets repetitive. He is basically a liability in this issue and while I like his sniping it works better when he is otherwise pulling his weight.
I like Attuma but his 'bunny ears' helmet only works when Kirby or John Buscema draws it. In my mind it is probably the main thing that stopped him becoming a major villain. He certainly got used enough but he often looked silly. At least here his plan involved flooding the land, too often water based villains have just wanted to invade it which doesn't make sense.
The story refers to Jan's previous encounter with Attuma in Astonish 64. Together with the Sub-Mariner 'cross over' and updating us on Hank and Jan that is quite a lot of continuity for one issue. Lee seemed to vary how much he referred to the rest of the Marvel Universe in different titls but he does a good job here of making it seem like it is all happening in one connected universe.
Altogether it is a solid start to the story.
Avengers Facts:
The story dealing with the Sub-Mariner's attack on the ship and New York can be found in Tales to Astonish 78 which unfortunately I haven't read so I can't go into much detail about, I know that he broke free of the Puppet Master in 79 though and then got tied up in a story with Warlord Krang.
Attuma's plan is heavily featured in Marvels #3 where the rising tides are believed by some to mark the end of the world.
Although he has never really made it into the Avengers rogues gallery Attuma has battled the team on a number of occasions and they have all been reasonable stories. Conway used him in his sprawling hydrobase arc in the 150s, Stern used him just before the Mansion siege and he of course played a large part in Atlantis Attacks.
The Avengers launch their 'rocket jet' straight from Avengers mansion. It would be one of the little details in the older stories that later writers would use to inject some realism when the government banned them from doing so.
Are there any goofy moments?
Jan floating in the middle of the ocean looks a little silly but Lee does have a sensible reason for it.
Attuma's ship coming complete with a pincer that can reach up and catch a flying aircarft is a little far-fetched as well.
Is it a landmark?
No
Where can I read it?
In the masterworks volume or Marvel Triple Action 20
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Issue: Avengers 27
Four against the Floodtide
By Stan Lee, Don Heck and Frank Giacoia
Line up: Captain America, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye.
Villains: Attuma, the Beetle, the Collector
So What happens?
Hawkeye uses the teams memory inducer to remember how to work the computers but before he can find out where the others have gone he is attacked by the Beetle. Abe proves a little more effective than usual but still ends up wrapped up in Hawkeye's bolo arrow.
He gets the Avengers location from the computers and sets off to find them.
The other three are still fighting Attuma but are hampered by being underwater Wanda silently hopes that Clint will rescue them. Using a hex-bolt to break through into a drier part of Attuma's ship she sends gallons of water flooding out of the tank that they are in. Quicksilver manages to escape in the process but is shot out of the ship and left to drown in the ocean.
Hawkeye has borrowed a flying submarine from the FF and on his way out to see notices shipping being endangered by rising tides. He rescues the floating Quicksilver and pilots the vessel underwater to find Attuma. He finds himself outgunned by two of Attuma's scout ships, trying to flee they run into a giant octupus which conveniently ignores them and catches the two Atlantean vessels.
Back on Attuma's flagship everything has been repaired and Steve and Wanda are brought before Attuma. As Cap gets him to explain his plans Clint crashes the FF's sub through the wall of Attuma's base flooding it yet again. The two newcomers take down a squad of Atlanteans and provide a diversion for Cap and Wanda to escape, Cap quickly sabotages Attuma's flood controls and joins in the fight. After taking control of some of Attuma's weaponry and trashing the place the four Avengers jump in the FF's sub and escape.
Attuma tries to use his flood weapon to sink their ship but Cap's sabotage causes it to destroy his own base instead.
The team returns home to check on Hawkeye's prisoner but he has gone missing and a message arrives telling them the Wasp is in trouble.
So it is any good?:
I enjoyed it, Hawkeye gets to redeem himself and quicksilver and Wanda play a more active role than usual. While it is Cap that wins the day he does so off panel and lets the others shine.
Lee forgets to include the Wasp in this story but it didn't really spoil my enjoyment of the story. It is a decent action story and the art is better than in the preceding issue. Little details like the size of Attuma's base and which bits have water seem to change slightly during the story but again it didn't spoil the fun.
It would be the last outing for the Kooky quartet and while it isn't as strong as issues 17-24 it isn't a bad story.
Avengers Facts:
The Beetle starts his connection with the team in this issue, until now he had been a solo Human Torch and Spider-Man villain but this issue makes him into a lackey for another villain the role he would largely play from now on. While he isn't a match for Hawkeye he isn't quite the joke that he would later become, he puts up a decent fight and tears chunks out of the mansion.
The Wasp was held captive by Attuma last issue but Lee seemed to forget her, according to the Avengers Index she escaped in the confusion.
It would be a while before Attuma clashed with the Avengers again, in the time in between he would become Hawkeye's first opponent as a Defender.
Are there any goofy moments?
The fact that Hawkeye mentions that the giant Octopus should be in a Japanese monster movie doesn't change the fact that he is right. It is drawn about the size of Galactus' ship and looks more than a but out of place.
Is it a landmark?
It's the last Kooky Quartet story which makes it a minor landmark I guess
Where can I read it?
In the masterworks volume or Marvel Triple Action 21
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Issue: Avengers 28
Among us walks a Goliath
By Stan Lee, Don Heck and Frank Giacoia
Line up: Captain America, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye, Giant-Man, The Wasp. (Goliath and the Wasp rejoin in this issue)
Villains: the Collector, the Beetle
So What happens?
The Avengers receive a message from Hank Pym asking them to find the Wasp. Unfortunately none of the Avengers knows that Pym is one of their founder members and he has to reveal his secret to get their help. After bringing him to the Mansion Cap and Hawkeye still aren't convinced about him and demand that he use his growing powers to prove his identity.
Before he can prove it the team gets a message from the Collector telling them that he has the Wasp and giving directions to find her. None of the team had ever heard of the Collector and they aren't prepared to walk into a trap until they are sure Pym is who he says he is.
Pym explains that he had given up his growth powers due to the strain on his health but that he can still grow to 25 feet in height as long as he stays that height for 15 minutes. He can no longer shrink or vary his height. Wanda hands him a costume she had sewn up just in case he ever rejoined and to the delight of everyone except Hawkeye he shows that he is indeed Giant-Man or rather Goliath as he now wants to be called.
Elsewhere we meet the Collector and learn that he sent the Beetle to the Mansion last issue. He has captured the Wasp and is keeping her in a tiny glass case alongside various antiques. But one Avenger isn't enough, he wants the whole set and he has decided to let them come to him, hence the message.
The Avengers arrive at the Collector's castle base and are gassed and captured within moments. However he doesn't recognise Goliath and complains that he is spoiling his collection. Goliath obligingly grows to full size and attacks. The Collector holds him off with a medieval catapult and runs off to get some weapons from his collection.
Hank frees the others and wants to search for Jan but being stuck at twenty five feet tall he can't get around the castle. As he struggles with doorways the others are attacked by the Beetle. Cap can't get past his armoured suit and ends up getting knocked out while Hawkeye and Wanda are both held off by the Beetle.
Goliath and Quicksilver find their way to the Collector but Quicksilver falls to one of his many weapons and the Collector summons a pair of magical giants to deal with Hank. Driven by a desire to free Jan even the giants can't stand up to Goliath.
Faced with defeat the Collector activates his time machine and he and the Beetle are spirited away. Jan is released and her identity revealled to the others, however Hank had to stay at giant size for longer than 15 minutes to free her. As he tries to shrink down to normal size he gets stuck at 10 feet and collapses in pain.
So it is any good?:
I enjoyed it a lot, Hank and Jan were probably the best choices out of the original Avengers to return and the cancellation of their solo series probably made it inevitable. We don't see a lot of Jan here but it is one of Hank's finest hours.
Lee makes good use of the confusion over secret identities, after a few stories where they were tricked by villains pretending to be heroes it makes sense that they would suspect Pym. Putting him through his paces means that any readers who had joined since #16 get to see who he is without it seeming out of place.
The constraints on Pym's heights are a little forced, I think Lee wanted to bring him back without having him overwhelm the others and having him stuck at one height meant that he could be visually impressive without taking the focus away from the team work that had developed since the founders were removed from the book. Stopping him shrinking meant that the Wasp wasn't redundant and could play a bigger role in the stories. It makes sense dramatically but it was shoe horned in.
These days almost every comic I read seems to have some sort of meta commentary and it is getting boring. I'm not sure how much Lee intended the Collector to reflect comics collectors but I found the idea of him wanting a complete set of Avengers to be quite funny, I also liked the idea that Hank ruined the set because the collector didn't recognise him.
Hawkeye isn't happy about Hank's return as it pushes him down the pecking order but he doesn't fuss about it. Instead by simply thinking his complaints it seems like they are more valid and he doesn't come across as a jerk as he did in 26. The characterisation is getting a little more subtle.
Hank's presence enlivens the visuals. Four human sized Avengers were rather dull artistically but having the giant Hank alongside them spices it up a little.
It is a very enjoyable action issue and makes postive changes to the team, one of the good ones in my opinion.
Avengers Facts:
Wanda designed Goliath's costume, a slight variation of which he is still wearing today. I wonder what Jan had to say about that?
As well as having his size set at 25 and then 10 feet Hank also has gained the ability to grow by simply willing it, before now he needed to swallow Pym particles.
The Beetle beating Cap in this issue is often brought up by the lists Thunderbolts fans. While he does beat him Cap lost more fights than he won in the early days.
Are there any goofy moments?
Wanda revealling that she had a Giant-Man costume hidden away in her cupboard was slightly funny but I guess Lee just needed him in costume quickly.
Is it a landmark?
It is Hank Pym's first appearance as Goliath, the first time anyone rejoins the team and the first appearance of the Collector. A number of small landmarks really.
Where can I read it? In the masterworks volume or Marvel Triple Action 22
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Issue: Avengers 29
This Power Unleashed
By Stan Lee, Don Heck and Frank Giacoia
Line up: Captain America, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, Goliath and the Wasp
Villains: The Swordsman, Power Man, Black Widow, Communists, a sparrow
So What happens?
Despite Pietro's medical help Hank is still unconcious. A call to Don Blake goes unanswered so the Avengers turn to Cap's old army Doctor. His examination of the ten foot tall Hank Pym shows that he can never again change size without instantly endangering his life. He is stuck a giant.
Cap and Jan try to console Hank when he returns to conciousness but he slips off to angst about it alone.
In the far east the brainwashed Black Widow is given a new assignment by her communist masters and returns to the USA to recruit the Swordsman and Power Man.
When Hawkeye learns that she is alive and in the country he goes to find her prompting the concerned Cap to send the Wasp to spy on him.
When Clint sees who Natasha is with he assumes she is being held captive and attacks the two villains. He is soon knocked out and the Wasp (who forgot to pack her stingers) leaves to get the others. Narrowly avoiding getting eaten by a sparrow she knocks herself out falling out of a tree.
Power Man and the Swordsman invade the mansion and take Cap prisoner. Luckily they dont know about the Avengers communicator devices and he signals to Wanda and Pietro for help. Meanwhile Jan has recovered and sends out a message for Hank whereever he may be.
Wanda and Pietro make it to the Widow's base only to get beaten. It is left to Hank and Jan to save the day. Hank tangles with the two villains while Jan frees the others and stings Natasha. Faced by the whole team the villains decide to retreat, Hawkeye has a clear shot at them but can't bring himself to harm Natasha. Expecting a lecture from Cap he is surprised to find him understanding his decision. As Clint gains a new respect for Cap Hank sulks about being stuck at ten feet tall.
So it is any good?:
Yes, it isn't an issue that I would think of as a favourite but I found myself enjoying it a lot, more than some issues that have lodged themselves in my brain. Hank and Jan really add a lot to the team and Hank is particularly effective in this story. On a team stacked with Thunder gods and Ionic Wonder Men a tend foot tall strong guy doesn't sound impressive but Lee gets the most out of him and Heck makes his size impressive. I think this last bit is the key to large characters they can either look dopey or effective and here Hank works artistically.
The art is excellent on this issue, really confident pencils and inks and some excellent figures. It is the first issue that Frank Giacoia inked under his own name so possibly he had a little more time to give to the book than he had in the past.
Hawkeye gets a much needed chance to mature in this story, his affair with the Black Widow shows another side of him than had previously been shown and he gains a new respect for Captain America when Cap doesn't blame him for letting her go.
Jan's fight with a hungry bird is was an ok scene, an attempt to highlight her own special powers but it can't help but fade next to the perils of the other Avengers, avoiding getting eaten by a sparrow just isn't as heroic as beating up Power Man and the Swordsman.
This one surprised me by how much I enjoyed it, one of the bonuses of reading the run in order.
Avengers Facts:
All three villains in this issue would end up as heroes, two of them as Avengers and one as a Thunderbolt. It is the first teaming of Power Man and the Swordsman who would become somewhat of a double act.
The Avengers try and get Dr Don Blake to tend to Hank Pym but he is busy in Olympus saving Hercules from Pluto (Thor 129)
Hawkeye's relationship with the Black Widow was a hold over from his days as an Iron Man villain, until this issue he believed she had been killed by the communists for betraying them.
Quicksilver as the team medic surprised me, I guess they just wanted something for him to do apart from running into traps.
Are there any goofy moments?
Jan breaking a tree branch with her weight and knocking herself out as she fell probably isn't her finest hour.
Is it a landmark?
I suppose Hank getting stuck at ten feet is another little landmark in his checkered career but it is far from the most important.
Where can I read it?
In the masterworks volume or Marvel Triple Action 23
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Issue: Avengers 30
Frenzy in a far off land
By Stan Lee, Don Heck and Frank Giacoia
Line up: Captain America, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, Goliath and the Wasp (Quicksilver + Scarlet Witch leave this issue)
Villains: The Swordsman, Power Man, Black Widow, Communists, The Keeper of the Flame.
So What happens?
Wanda and Pietro decide to leave the team because their powers hadn't been functioning properly. They plan on going back to the homeland in the hope that it restarts them. Cap is sorry to see them go but promises to keep their places open.
They aren't the only ones wanting to leave, Hank is angsting over being stuck at ten feet tall and decides to head off to South America to consult his old college professor about his problems.
The only one whose mind is on the job is Hawkeye who is determined to bring in the Black Widow, Power Man and Swordsman who escaped last issue. After Jan finds out where they are based by hanging around in bars Hawkeye tells the others he will catch the alone. Luckily the villains are in the process of falling out as the two men fight over Natasha.
Hank arrives at his mentor's house to find it smashed up and the professor missing. He is ambushed by a bunch of guys from the 'forbidden land' dressed in armour and carrying clubs. He easily beats them and learns that the Professor is being held prisoner in their underground land.
Hawkeye bursts in on the villains but gets his butt kicked until Natasha throws off her brainwashing and saves him.
Hank is led to an underground civilisation where his college professor is about to be sacrificed to a huge 'flame of life' that the city worships. Hank charges in but realises he is outnumbered and turns tail. He is hidden from the bloodthirsty mob by Prince Rey supposedly the rightful ruler of the underground kingdom. He is led to safety but the cities high priest the 'Keeper of the Flame' vows to kill them both.
So it is any good?:
It should be really silly but I ended up enjoying it, Lee wrote a lot of better comics and the Avengers stared in dozens of far better ones but it is fun in its way.
Lee really must have had a soft spot for Hank, Issues 28-31 are all about Goliath and he also plays a prominent role in 32-3. Heck is fast becoming my favourite giant sized Hank Pym artist and turns in another good job here.
Wanda and Pietro were being overshadowed before Hank and Jan returned and it was probably best to ship them off to Europe for a bit. Neither really did much while they were around and Lee seems to have thought four was the best number of team members so they probably would have gotten even less screen time if they had stuck around. They would be back fairly soon but not until Lee himself had moved on.
The Hawkeye sequences are interesting, I get the impression that Lee realised he had gone a little to far with Hawkeye baiting the others and putting him up against three villains was a way of showing he wasn't all mouth. I've never found his relationship with Natasha very convincing but at least he isn't brooding over Wanda any more.
Avengers Facts:
I'm not sure if Adam has read this issue but Hank comments on Rock Hudson's good looks, that has to be food for thought.
The Keeper of the Flame, Prince Rey would reappear in one of the 1970s longest epics. They took on the name 'They who wield Power' and joined up with Tyrannus to appear in countless titles before being defeated in the pages of the Incredible Hulk (their origin appeared in Hulk 240-41)
The Swordsman and Power Man stopped bickering about who the Black Widow liked most and turned up next working for the Red Skull in Tales of Suspense 88.
Are there any goofy moments?
Not really Hank and Hawkeye both act a little stupid at times but it isn't really funny.
Is it a landmark?
Not unless you are nuts about 1970s hulk comics.
Where can I read it?
In the masterworks volume or Marvel Triple Action 24
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Issue: Avengers 31
Never Bug a Giant!
By Stan Lee, Don Heck and Frank Giacoia
Line up: Captain America,Hawkeye, Goliath and the Wasp
Villains: The Keeper of the Flame.
Guest Stars Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch
So What happens?
The team tracks Hank to South America and sets off to rescue him
In the Balkans Wanda and Pietro hang around waiting for their powers to get back to full strength.
In El Dorado Hank is taken to meet the rebels who oppose the Keeper of the Flame and learns the origins of the settlement. A group of Inca's were driven underground by the Spanish and found a strange fire that gave them enough warmth and light to survive underground. They appointed a priest, the Keeper of the Flame, to watch over it and feed it cobalt to keep it burning. The current Keeper was determined to feed it more and more Cobalt and hence endanger the Earth (I'm not sure how) the Prince decided that the Keeper was mad and tried to get rid of him but was driven into hiding.
Hank realises pretty quickly that the Prince is as dangerous as the Keeper and that they both need to be stopped.
The other three Avengers arrive in South America and start tracking Hank. They find him just as he attacks the Keeper and gets shot by the energy rays that the underground Inca's somehow developed.
Cap and Hawkeye intervene but get caught in a huge net leaving only Jan free. As the Keeper tries to sacrifice the avengers to the flame Jan manages to let Prince Rey's forces in. The Avengers escape and Hawkeye manages to douse the flame by blowing up most of the room on top of it.
Without any need to fight for control of the flame Rey and the Keepers forces stop fighting and let the Avengers leave with Hank's college professor in tow.
So it is any good?:
Some of the action sequences were all right and I liked the continued focus on Hank Pym but it isn't the best of Lee's many hidden civilisation stories. It is all a little too silly really.
It is handled well though and the art is very nice but I just couldn't get into the plot very much.
Jan seems to have made a habit of freeing the others. That makes sense given her stealth but I'd like to see her do a little more.
Avengers Facts:
The link between the twins powers and their homeland was explained in 185-7. It hadn't actually been named as Transia yet.
The underground civilisation is just called the Forbidden Land in this two parter but was named as El Dorado in Hulk 240.
Are there any goofy moments?
the title 'Never Bug a Giant' always raises a smile from me but beyond that it is more silly than funny.
Is it a landmark?
No
Where can I read it?
Giant Size Marvel Triple Action #1
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Issue: Avengers 32
The sign of the serpent
By Stan Lee and Don Heck
Line up: Captain America,Hawkeye, Goliath and the Wasp
Villains: The Sons of the Serpent
Guest Stars Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, Nick Fury, the Black Widow, Bill Foster
So What happens?
The Avengers return home and forget to turn the defences off, luckily Cap and Hawkeye are on the ball enough to safe them from getting shot by their own security.
Hank is still moaning about being trapped at 10 feet tall so Cap gets his mind off the problem by whacking him a few times with his shield. Jan gets upset but Hank realises that Cap was just trying to help and decides to stop moaning and cure his problem, Jan plants a big kiss on Steve's cheek to thank him.
Things are obviously looking good for the Avengers but elsewhere events are less rosy. A hispanic immigrant is attacked by a mob dressed in snake like costumes while onlookers stand by unwilling to get involved.
The racists belong to the Sons of the Serpent who at that moment are trying to recruit more members with the promise that they will drive all foreigners from America. Among the crowd is the distinctly un-American Black Widow who vows to do something about the hate group and heads over to Avengers mansion to recruit Hawkeye's aid.
Hank is getting to work on his problem in a special giant sized lab but ends up smacking Jan in the face with his elbow. He decides that a lab is no place for a 'chattering female' and as she walks out on him decides to get an assistant. Tony Stark recommends a chemist from his Baltimore lab, a young black scientist called Bill Foster who quickly impresses Hank with his know how.
Over in rural Transia the Scarlet Witch is being subjected to some tests in a remarkably high tech lab apparently the twins need to stay there for a few more weeks to get their powers back fully.
Walking home from Hank's lab Bill is attacked by a group of Sons of the Serpent who want him to stay out of the neighbourhood. By the time Hank has arrived he is unconcious on the floor with a serpent staff left as a calling card.
After getting him to safety Hank calls the team together and they agree to tackle the Serpents after Cap has visited Nick Fury to get some information on them.
Elsewhere in New York a crowd has gathered to protest a visit to the UN by General Chen an asian communist dictator. The car behind Chen's is destroyed by a blast from a cloud overhead and Chen blames the Serpents saying it isn't safe for foreigners to visit the US and that the group makes a mockery of the USA's supposed principles.
The Avengers hold a press conference to announce they are taking on the Serpents. As Cap goes searching for them he is caught in a tractor beam and drawn up into a low lying cloud. The Serpents announce that they will kill Cap unless the Avengers back off and TV reports soon show that the Avengers have agreed.
So it is any good?:
The main reason I started on this project was that I had a bunch of back issues sitting around that I couldn't get round to reading. This is the first of those issues and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. This two parter is hard to judge properly, Lee was trying to do some very admirable things, tackle prejudice and introduce black characters and on that level it is a good pair of issues but parts of it dont hold up especially well. This issue reads far better today than the conclusion which was rather hampered by a need not to be too controversial.
This issue has some of the best characterisation so far, Cap and Hawkeye share some banter that makes them actually seem like they like each other and that there is more to them than the one note patriot or jerk we have seen so far. Jan and Hank's relationship is shown perfectly, she thanks Cap for trying to bring him out of his shell but they still fall out when he actually gets into the lab, unlike a lot of comic book relationships there is more depth than just 'they are in love' they quarrel and argue at times.
Lee manages to make the Sons of the Serpent hi-tech enough to seem like regular Avengers foes while still retaining the idea that he is talking about a real problem. The conclusion would lose that slightly but by having the SoS stick to beating up people in alleys they dont seem quite as comic booky as they could.
Heck starts inking himself here and he does a decent job of the art. My copy is a little faded which doesn't help appreciate it but he does a good job of using different face types and this is one of the few issues I have read where the Black Widow's early costume looks any good at all. Bill Foster isn't subjected to the stereotypical art that many non-white characters had at the time, in fact he is drawn as a science geek with bow tie and pocket full of pens.
A surprisingly good issue, much better than the conclusion or the Keeper of the Flame two parter that preceded it.
Avengers Facts:
The Sons of the Serpent returned again and again under various leaders, one of their most recent appearances was as the villains in Kurt's first Avengers story.
Bill Foster went on to star as Black Goliath in his own short lived series before becoming Giant Man and co-starring in Marvel 2-in-1 a few times. He teamed up with the Avengers in AWC annual 2 but I haven't seen him used recently.
Cap is ready to give the leadership of the team up to Goliath due to his seniority. Hank turns it down but Jan isn't even considered despite being another founder Avenger.
Are there any goofy moments?
The Transian scientist telling Pietro
'the fame of the mighty Avengers has even spread to this sleepy village'
While standing in a lab that wouldn't look out of place in the Baxter Building doesn't quite fit.
Is it a landmark?
The Sons of the Serpent still turn up occasionally and Bill Foster got his own series eventually so yes it is somewhat of a landmark.
Where can I read it?
Giant Size Marvel Triple Action #2
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Issue: Avengers 33
To Smash a Serpent
By Stan Lee and Don Heck
Line up: Captain America,Hawkeye, Goliath and the Wasp
Villains: The Sons of the Serpent
Guest Stars: the Black Widow, Bill Foster
So What happens?
If the Avengers want to see Cap alive again they have to attend the next Sons of the Serpent rally and voice their support for the group. They agree, much to the disgust of Bill Foster who walks out on his job with Hank.
General Chen informs a senate commitee that he intends to speak about the Serpents at the UN and use them to damage America's reputation.
The Hank and Jan arrive at the rally but the Serpents want to know where Hawkeye has got to. He has taken one of the Avengers jet cruisers and investigated the weird cloud he saw hanging over New York when Cap was kidnapped. He is pulled inside a giant flying craft by tractor beam and attacked by Serpents. Fighting them off he tries to find Cap.
Hank and Jan stand up in front of the crowd and denounce the Serpents, the crowd is swayed against the racists until Cap turns up and tells them that Hank is a traitor. Mayhem erupts and the Serpents and Cap retreat to the airborne base with Hank and Jan on their tails.
The two Avengers are out numbered and look to be beaten before Hawkeye intervenes along with the Black Widow who he had secretly smuggled onboard. Natasha has found the real Cap who jumps into battle with the imposter who is carrying his shield and wearing his uniform.
Hawkeye heads after the Serpents leader who has fled the battle but he gets caught and used as a hostage. As the Supreme Serpent's attention is on escaping Jan and Natasha pop up and take him out. He is unmasked to reveal General Chen, the Serpents were a communist plot.
So it is any good?:
It is a bit simplistic and gets extremely Scooby Doo at the end complete with masks being removed and villains saying they would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for those pesky Avengers.
To be honest it is a bit of a let down after a pretty good opening chapter and the idea that the hate group was the brainchild of Communist outsiders rather than something caused by Americans undercuts the work of the first issue a little. The next two Sons of the Serpent arcs would both have twist endings that had a similar effect and it makes you wonder how they continue to recruit bigots as all their leaders seem to be foreigners or African Americans, if the Avengers publicised that fact they wouldn't have to worry about them again.
On the plus side Hawkeye the Wasp and the Black Widow get a chance to shine. Hawkeye and Natasha going into the Serpents base to rescue Cap shows them both in a far more positive light than they had been seen in recent issues. Jan and Natasha's abilities to attack stealthily are well used at the end which makes a change from Jan just getting to rescue the others, she at last gets to use her sting.
In fact Hawkeye and the Black Widow make a good double act here, it wasn't always the most convincing of romantic relationships but they work as a double act as far as action goes.
Avengers Facts:
After this issue the Avengers help Cap beat the Super Adaptoid in Tales of Suspense 84 and offer Spider-Man membership in Spider-Man Annual 3. Both are fairly major appearances and well worth looking for.
One of the Senators meeting with General Chen is Senator Byrd, he was a regular member of Iron Man's supporting cast at the time.
Are there any goofy moments?
Aircraft encased in clouds are automatically goofy.
Is it a landmark?
Not really
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 25
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Issue: Avengers 34
November 1966
The Living Laser
By Stan Lee and Don Heck
Line up: Captain America, Hawkeye, Goliath and the Wasp
Villains: Living Laser
Guest Stars: Bill Foster
So What happens?
While the Avengers are having their latest meeting the NYPD are being stumped by a bank robbery. Someone has cut their way into the vault and escaped through a freshly cut hole in the roof while the cops surround the place. From a nearby roof the thief throws the money he had stolen down onto the street, he just wanted to test his powers before moving onto bigger things.
The Avengers are called in but are a little upset to just be dealing with a bank robbery instead of something important. At the scene Janet meets a society friend, Lucy Barton, whose fiance is the son of the Bank's President. Lucy gets spooked when she notices her ex-boyfriend in the crowd that has gathered outside, Arthur Parks is a research scientist who got angry about her dumping him for the rich guy.
Jan tells her not to get worried but we soon see that not only was Parks the Living Laser but that as soon as he saw Jan he fell for her. He starts stalking Jan and follows her and Hank back to her house. When they get there they find that Bill Foster has realised that their sympathy for the Sons of the Serpent was a ruse and come back to work for Hank. The two scientists want to get down to work so Jan heads for the hairdressers.
The Living Laser cuts through the ceiling and attacks Bill and Hank. After buying time for Bill to run Hank draws the Laser outside and knocks him out. He calls the Avengers to come pick him up and Captain America and Hawkeye take him back to New York in the flier.
Mid journey he wakes up and cuts a huge hole in the wall of the craft before flying off as it crashes towards the bay. Hawkeye snags a nearby bridge with a suction arrow and he and Cap swing to safety. The Laser gets to work improving his weapons and goes on a rampage around New York. The Avengers go after him and track him down to an apartment building where he is shooting at traffic. As Cap and Hawkeye charge in on him they are caught in a cage of laser beams. Wasp backs them up and is caught in a suction blast and deposited in what looks like a jam jar.
The villain tells them that it was the Wasp he is after and gets ready to use the lasers to chop the other two into pieces.
So it is any good?:
This is another one I was reading for the first time and another one I enjoyed. It had a very different tone to a lot of the others with the Laser's crush on first Lucy and then Jan giving him a lot creepier feel than a lot of the early villains. Having the Living Laser slicing up traffic from an apartment window was a bit more bloodthirsty than the Avengers usual villains who tended towards the world beaters.
Heck's self inked art is fairly distinctive in this issue. On a lot of issues his style got lost under the inks. He had some good inkers on Avengers and it often looked good but this issue is a lot closer to what I think of as Heck art. I liked it a lot but I know a lot of other people dont.
I liked the Avengers feeling that bank robberies were beneath them. It might not have shown them in the best light but it was quite funny and was a way of setting them apart from ultra-serious DC heroes.
Hawkeye getting to save Cap and Hank having no problem defeating the villain who later beat the others were also good moments. Lee shared out the action very well in this issue and gave everyone a turn in the spotlight.
Its a good introduction to the villain and the focus on the Wasp is welcome even if was just as the victim of a nutjob's crush.
Avengers Facts:
This is Stan Lee's last issue of Avengers, Roy Thomas would take over next issue.
Goliath is chairman for this story.
The shield cap was using in this story has been retconned into being a special replacement built by Tony Stark rather than the real thing.
Are there any goofy moments?
The Living Laser's rampage takes in buildings, planes and ships but Lee makes sure that the captions show that they were empty, the planes were 'obselete planes being sent overseas. I guess Don Heck got a little carried away for the codes liking.
Is it a landmark?
Just about, the Living Laser went on to become a recurring villain but not an especially major one.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 26 but 2 pages are missing.
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This issue reviewed by Rob Clough
Issue: Avengers 35
"The Light That Failed"
By Roy Thomas and Don Heck
Line up: Captain America, Hawkeye, Goliath, Wasp
Villains: Living Laser, assorted Costa Verde guerrilas
So What happens?
Cap and Hawkeye are stuck in the Living Laser's deathtrap. LL was so convinced that it was going to work that he took off to go zap things. Cap tries to use his shield to deflect the rays, but the supposedly invincible shield gets disintegrated! Hawkeye figures this is the end and actually tells Cap what an honor it was to work with him. Cap is annoyed because he never gives. This is one time the villain's deathtrap will actually work...except that Goliath homed in on them with his "directi- finder". Looking for Jan, he found Cap and Hawk instead. After freeing them and trading insults with Hawkeye, Goliath and the gang go back to the Mansion.
Meanwhile, Wasp wakes up to find herself trapped in a jar. She hears the Laser offering his service to some rebels to help them overthrow their government. It's not altruism...the Laser just wants money and fame. Of course the rebels (Valdez and Carlos) are planning to double-cross the Laser.
Laser notices that Jan is awake and she learns that he has a crush on her. He plans to use the time-honored courting method of causing world terror in order to impress the girl, and assures her that Goliath will never find her after she threatens him.
The revolution in Costa Verde proceeds, with the Laser's weapons wiping out the army. This ruckus gets the attention of the Avengers, and they proceed onward, though not before Cap noticed that Goliath had disappeared for awhile and was evasive in talking about it.
Flying in on a Tony Stark-designed Aero-Car, they got shot down quickly and head into the water. They escape the craft and swim ashore, managing to sneak their way right outside the Laser's castle. Cap thinks it's all too easy, and he's right...the Laser starts firing at them. Goliath saves a teetering Cap as Hawkeye brings the roof down on the Laser. Meanwhile, the guerrilas catch up and start firing on our trio. The Avengers are winning, but the Laser digs his way out and fires a super-powerful laser cannon at them. The gang dives off a cliff into the ocean, seemingly dead.
The Laser then starts gloating to Jan about killing the Avengers. She asks his name and he reveals that he's Arthur Parks, who had been in love with Jan's friend Lucy Barton. His infatuation got shifted onto Jan, who realizes this and tries to get him to free her. He refuses, saying that when she realizes how great he is, she'll come to love him. He walks away and utters one of the great lines in comic book history: "The ways of women are a mystery to me! But, not so my newly-developed laser cannon!" The Avengers then bust in, having survived the fall thanks to Goliath and drowning thanks to some hollowed-out arrows that they used as snorkels.
Cap and Hawkeye put up a good fight against the Laser's army, but both are knocked out. Goliath bursts into the Laser's control room and finds Jan, but he is zapped from behind. He has the three heroes taken away, prepared for execution. Goliath is chained tight and can't break free from his bonds, so he gambles and reveals that he used an "experimental molecular space transformer" to restore his ability to shrink. It works, and he manages to wreck the big laser cannon before it can be turned on the Avengers. In fact, when the Laser tries to use it, he gets shocked and the machine blows up. The remaining rebels scatter, with the ringleaders surrounded by the Avengers and the original state army. The leader promises to establish a democracy at last in Costa Verde.
Back home, Jan is annoyed at Goliath for keeping secrets from her, but is glad that he' back to normal. Hank invites Bill Foster to stick around full-time as his research partner. Natasha is mad at Hawkeye for going to a "holiday spot" without her. And while Cap is depressed about being alone...someone surprises him.
So it is any good?:
It has its moments. Roy was still feeling his way around the book and was having trouble establishing his own voice. The plot was one that was not especially unique; frankly, I was pretty tired of the Wasp getting kidnapped every other issue. On the other hand, it tied up an annoying plot-line (Hank stuck at 10 feet) and actually made Goliath look pretty good. He rescued Cap and Hawkeye (more than once) and ended up beating the Laser. Whenever Jan was in danger, Hank suddenly became much more competent. The Living Laser would prove to be an interesting villain, going on to join the Lethal Legion and menacing Iron Man a few times. Here, he rants and raves a bit too much and falls into the usual villain cliches. Lastly, the whole banana republic thing was a bit silly. I think it'd be interesting to see if a "democratic republic" was indeed installed.
The art is fairly sloppy. Heck can really tell a story but his detail level leaves a lot to be desired, especially when inking himself.
Avengers Facts:
Costa Verde is the home country of current Avengers ally Silverclaw. I think we may have also seen it in Thunderbolts 11, when Zemo was conquering the earth.
Are there any goofy moments?
There's a huge continuity error. Cap's shield is apparently destroyed early in the issue, and then it appears again, perfectly intact a few pages later. I will only assume that the first shield was not the real article somehow.
Is it a landmark?
Not especially.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 27
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Post by Shiryu on Feb 3, 2009 18:37:38 GMT -5
Issue: Avengers 36
The Ultroids Attack
By Roy Thomas and Don Heck
Line up: Captain America, Hawkeye, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and the Wasp, The Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver rejoin in this issue
Villains: Ixar, Ultrana, the Ultroids
Guest Stars: The Black Widow
So What happens?
Returning to the mansion Steve Rogers is confronted by the tearful Scarlet Witch. She tells him that their trip to the Balkans did restore their powers but they witnessed an alien space craft landing and Pietro was captured when investigating it.
As Cap calls the team together Hawkeye arrives with the Black Widow calling for her to be given membership. Goliath disagrees because she had only just fought the team. Wanda can't believe they are arguing over this with Pietro in danger and they all (Natasha included) jet off to eastern Europe.
They almost fly straight into a force field that has been erected around the alien craft but Wanda warns them at the last minute claiming to have developed new powers during her stint in Europe. Landing nearby the Avengers approach on foot but still cant get past the force field.
After their powers fail to dent it Wanda tells them about some caves she and Pietro played in as kids that should lead under the field.
Sure enough the cave does lead under the forcefield and leads them to a huge cave occupied by a gigantic computer with the mayor of the Transian village connected to the centre of it. Getting closer they notice two more figures captured within, Wanda and Pietro.
The Avengers guide is revealed as an android as Cap has suspected all along. She says she is working for the alien Ixar and sets an army of robots on the team (the ultroids) all the Avengers eventually fall to them but the Black Widow stays free in the cave complex.
She manages to free Captain America who goes on the counter attack but they are only able to crack one of the capsules containing a captive Avenger before they are recaptured.
So it is any good?:
The first time I read this issue I hated it but I think I must have grown to appreciate Don Heck in between readings as I found the art at least quite enjoyable this time round. It is certainly one of the most Heckish issues if you know what I mean but I quite like that. On the downside you can't actually tell which Avenger is in the capsule Cap damages. From the story I would guess Goliath but it looks more like Wanda, less stylised art would have helped there.
The story isn't brilliant and the substitution of Wanda is rather obvious but if you give Thomas some credit for his inexperience then it isn't that bad. He can't write a convincing action sequence yet but the build up to it is fairly well done although it is a lot more talkative than under Lee. Very few panels have less than three speech bubbles but most of them serve a purpose. Its a reasonable start on the series but nothing to really write home about.
There is a real change of focus in this issue. Thomas features Goliath a lot less than Lee had been doing and gives Cap a few chances to shine showing clearly that he is distrustful of 'Wanda'. The Black Widow also gets a turn in the spotlight, I dont know if she was seriously being considered for membership by Thomas but it looked to me like she was being set up as a possible Avenger.
Even though it isn't really Wanda her impostor gets far more screen time than Wanda often got under Lee and just by picking up the loose end of Wanda and Pietro Thomas seems to be getting ready to bring them back onto the cast. The change over in writers quickly influenced which heroes got a chance to star.
Avengers Facts:
After scripting Stan Lee's last plot in the previous issue this is Roy Thomas first story.
Ultrana and the ultroids are possibly Roy Thomas' first contributions to the Marvel universe. The similarity in names and robotic nature to Ultron suggest that perhaps Ultron was an attempt to improve on the earlier idea.
Transia had appeared in earlier issues of both Thor and the Avengers but it wasn't named until this issue.
Ultrana recently showed up in George Perez' montage of Avengers foes, probably the most obscure villain to do so.
Are there any goofy moments?
Hawkeye and the Black Widow are getting ready to go out to dinner in full costume. Maybe they got better service that way.
Is it a landmark?
Only as Roy Thomas' first real story, his links to the team continued for decades.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 28 but a pages is missing. I was reviewing from that reprint so I may have missed something
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Issue: Avengers 37
By Roy Thomas and Don Heck Line up: Captain America, Hawkeye, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and the Wasp
Villains: Ixar, Ultrana, the Ultroids
Guest Stars: The Black Widow
So What happens?
The Avengers are all trapped in those plexi-glass tubes that villains keep for such occasions. Hawkeye convinces Ultrana to tell them what is going on and she tells them about a war between two alien races fought mainly with the robots that had beaten the Avengers. One of the races, the Sirians, ended up with only one survivor, Ixar, who told his robots to place his conciousness in a giant computer and go looking for a race with super powers that could be transferred to his robot servants.
As the Avengers fit the bill the space ship takes off and heads into space. Goliath shrinks down to ant size and escapes from his tube, quickly feeing the others.
The Avengers beat off the robots but Ultrana tells them that unless they surrender she will murder the Transian mayor who is still being held captive.
Due to their code that stops them allowing any living being to come to harm due to their actions they agree. The alien robots disappear and their energies are used to power a huge 15 foot tall robot who attacks the team.
He beats most of the team before hawkeye realises that the Transian hostage is in fact the disguised Ixar and holds the robot off by threatening to kill him. He realises that Hawkeye wont break the Avengers code by doing so but agrees to back down when Natasha convinces him that she doesn't share the Avengers vow against killing. Ixar returns the ship to Transia and lets the team out.
So it is any good?:
No, I was pleasantly surprised by 36 but this was probably a tie with #14 for the worst issue I've read so far. Thomas had a reasonable grasp on the teams characterisation but this issue was mainly action and he didn't handle it very well the battle stops and starts and there isn't a whole lot of logic involved.
There is a lot going on but none of it is particularly interesting, it ends up just being a mixture of cliches. The dull alien story, the villain explaining his origin to the captive heroes and lots of running around hitting each other.
There are a some tiny positive points. This issue shows that there is a gap between Natasha and the Avengers. She is willing to kill. These two issues did a good job of presenting her as a capable heroine who is good enough to be an Avenger if not quite suited to the team. Thomas gets this across quite well. Hawkeye seeing through the aliens story shows that he is reasonably intelligent but these little character moments dont make up for the rest of the story.
Heck has a few nice panels and a lot of confused scratchy ones. There was a shot of Goliath wrapped up in the robots power cables that I particularly liked and the robot himself is quite a nice design but beyond that the art wasn't great.
There is also a fairly nice Gil Kane cover, its a real shame he never got to draw the actual comic.
Avengers Facts:
The Sirians and their ultroids appear to be tied into the aliens in X-men 21 (another early Thomas story). I sold my X-men collection a few years back so I can't really elaborate.
Thomas starts to work on explaining the Avengers powers in this issue. Showing us that Wanda needs to wait to restore her powers between Hex bolts but that she has worked at shortening that rest period. Lee tended to keep super powers unexplained so they could easily be changed if needed, Thomas tended to quantify everything.
Another point of explanation is the Avengers code against killing. I can't remember seeing it mentioned before this.
Are there any goofy moments?
It contains most super hero cliches but no one moment is particularly funny.
Is it a landmark?
No
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 29 (2 pages missing)
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Issue: Avengers 38
In our midst, an immortal
By Roy Thomas, Don Heck and George Roussos
Line up: Captain America, Hawkeye, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and the Wasp Captain America leaves this issue
Villains: Enchantress, Ares, Power Man and the Swordsman
Guest Stars: The Black Widow, Nick Fury and Hercules
So What happens?
On returning home from Transia Clint and Hank start bickering about whether the Black Widow deserves a place on the team. Quicksilver and Cap break it up and agree to discuss her membership at the next meeting. Unfortunately Natasha herself is nowhere to be seen.
In Olympus Hercules is just about to defeat Ares when the Enchantress appears claiming to want to watch the battle. She gives both gods goblets of divine mead. Hercules wont touch it until Ares has shown that it is safe but it turns out that Ares is working with Amora and that his mead was harmless. Hercules' drink sends him falling into love with the Enchantress.
Ares heads back to Olympus to tell Zeus that Hercules has fallen for an Asgardian in the hope that it will turn him against his son. Amora has a rather less devious plan in mind and simply tells Hercules to destroy the Avengers.
The Avengers wait in vain for Natasha but she has been kidnapped by Nick Fury who wants her to go on a mission against the communists who brainwashed her and made her battle the Avengers. She swears to keep the mission secret from everyone including Hawkeye. As she is being recruited Cap recieves a personal message that sends him off on a solo mission of his own.
Natasha arrives at the mansion to tell the team that she is leaving the country and reluctantly dumps Hawkeye to stop him trying to follow her. Hawkeye is heart broken but Hank is convinced that Natasha is going back to the reds. Once she has gone Hawkeye walks out on the team followed by the Wasp who is annoyed at Hank.
With the team cut back to just Goliath, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch the mansion is visited by the Enchantress and Hercules. The three Avengers get beaten within moments but Wanda manages to sound the alarm.
Clint and Jan receive the alarm at a fancy restaurant but think that their teammates are just trying to get them to return and ignore it.
Eventually after the Avengers have been knocked around some more by Hercules Jan and Clint return home. A flare arrow from Hawkeye manages to free Hercules from the Enchantress' spell. While Hercules tries to apologise for attacking them Amora gets ready to finish them off with a spell. Hercules turns on her and she slinks off rather than facing them all alone.
With the battle over Zeus decides to stick his nose in, Hercules has broken his rule about the gods not visiting Earth and as punishment he banishes him for a year. The Avengers agree to take him in and Amora is left wondering if she has fallen for the Prince of Power.
So it is any good?:
Its not a classic but I quite enjoyed the first, character led, half of the book. Thomas seems to be trying to settle on his cast and moves Cap and the Black Widow out of the picture for a while and brings Hercules in. Hawkeye's argument with Goliath seems a little forced, I guess that with Cap out of the way they needed someone for Clint to argue with.
Hercules has never really been a favourite of mine but he is fairly well handled here. I don't quite see the logic of banishing him to Earth as a punishment for visiting Earth but who am I to argue with Zeus. In fact Zeus comes across as a poor copy of Odin who was also fond of materialising at the end of stories to issue a punishment to his wayward son.
There is some nice use of continuity here with the Hercules/Ares fight being the result of events in Thor and Cap rushing off to deal with matters in his own book. Thomas also used Nick Fury to foreshadow a future Black Widow plotline. In short the book is at the center of the Marvel universe but doesn't rely on having read the other books. (Then again i have read the other books so maybe I'm not the best judge)
There isn't a lot to write about this one but it is a solidly enjoyable issue that shuffles the cast around a little.
Avengers Facts:
Hercules is fighting Ares in this issue because the God of War stood by and did nothing when Hercules was captured by Pluto. Thor managed to free him in Thor 131.
Cap rushes off in such a hurry because he has learnt that Bucky is seemingly alive. That story including the cameoes by Power Man and the Swordsman featured in this issue is told in Tales of Suspense 88
The Enchantress and Ares would team up again in Avengers 100
Are there any goofy moments?
Hercules' punishment doesn't really seem to fit the crime.
Is it a landmark?
It isn't Hercules' first appearance but it is his first contact with the team and he would go on to be a reasonably important member so yes.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 30 (2 pages missing)
I reviewed it from MTA and from comparing it to the Avengers Index summary one of the missing pages deals with the Black Widow being abducted by SHIELD I couldn't quite work out what else was missing.
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Issue: Avengers 39
The Torment and the Triumph
By Roy Thomas, Don Heck and George Roussos
Line up: Hawkeye, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and the Wasp
Villains: Mad Thinker and the Triumverate of Terror
Guest Stars: The Black Widow, Nick Fury and Hercules
So What happens?
Hawkeye is broken up over the news that the Black Widow has stolen some defence plans and defected to China. Although Nick Fury knows she is working for SHIELD he hasn't told her friends in the Avengers.
Without Cap to lead them the Mad Thinker decides that the Avengers are easy pickings and lures Hawkeye into an ambush by his lackey Hammerhead. Setting off Hawkeye's Avengers communicator he lures the others into a trap. Goliath and the Wasp both fall to another of his henchmen, the super strong Piledriver. Taking his final henchman, the terrible Thunderboot the Thinker invades Avengers Mansion hoping to steal Tony Stark's inventions.
Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch fall to his kicking power and the Thinker traps all the unconcious Avengers in a special super villain death trap. Unfortunately he didn't realise that Hercules was staying with the team and he returns home from an evening spent nightclubbing.
He beats up the four villains while the bound Avengers watch helplessly and chat about what a great Avenger he would make.
So it is any good?:
Not really, I quite liked the fact that Hercules was spending his time chatting up the ladies of New York rather than indulging in any goody goody super hero activity but beyond that it is a fairly dull silver age super hero story with not a lot to recommend it.
Thomas keeps the Black Widow subplot on the boil but beyond that there isn't a lot going on. Hercules shows all the others up.
Roussos isn't the most attractive of inkers but this is quite a solid issue artwise. The villain designs aren't up to much but neither are the villains.
Avengers Facts:
Hercules gains a secret identity this issue. Mr Powers was thought up for him by the Wasp.
Piledriver and Hammerhead have no connection to the wrecking crew member or the gang boss despite similar powers. In fact they are never seen again after this issue.
The Mad Thinker would return again in #63 but until then he would go back to being a Fantastic Four villain. Based on this story he was more suited to that book.
Are there any goofy moments?
Thomas did ok on two of the villain names here. Hammerhead and Piledriver both got reused for more important characters. For some reason that didn't happen to Thunderboot. I can't think why.
Is it a landmark?
No
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 31
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Issue: Avengers 40
Suddenly the Sub-Mariner
By Roy Thomas, Don Heck and George Roussos
Line up: Hawkeye, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and the Wasp
Villains: Mole Man, Namor
Guest Stars: The Black Widow, Captain America and Hercules
So What happens?
As the Avengers survey the wreckage Wanda collapses provoking concern from Hercules who has obviously fallen for her. As Pietro tends to her Hawkeye's thoughts drift to the Black Widow believed to be a traitor behind the bamboo curtain.
In Atlantis Prince Namor notices a US Navy submarine testing torpedoes nearby and intervenes. Misdirecting the torpedo and trying to scare them off. Instead the sub commander decides to take Namor on but gets dragged into a patch of magnetic seaweed that holds it captive. They radio for help and Namor decides that he will attack the Navy base that the sub is calling.
Back in New York the Avengers hear the news that Cap has turned traitor but before they can act he manages to reach them on the communicator to tell them it is all an act and to warn them about the cosmic cube giving them coordinates to its last known location in the Caribbean. The team with house guest Hercules in tow heads for the islands.
They arrive in the area just as Namor has broken into the Naval base. He makes easy work of the first wave of Avengers. Breaking Jan's sting and throwing Hank out to sea. Hercules does better and sends Namor packing, however he also lets slip that the cube is in the area.
Namor returns minutes later with the cube and a monster that he created with it. Leaving the monster to deal with the others he turns on Hercules using the cube to create a huge crevise filled with water in which to battle Hercules in his element. He is all set to beat him when he decides that he doesn't want to win by cheating and returns to the surface. The Wasp is waiting and manages to seperate Namor from the cube. It falls into the crevise just as it closes up, disappearing along with everything else Namor created with its power.
Namor flees out to sea and miles under the ground the cube is found by the Mole Man who tosses it away thinking it a worthless bauble.
So it is any good?:
Not particularly. Thomas is still learning his trade and while this one is readable it isn't particularly brilliant. There are quite a few gaps in the story, we dont even see Namor find the cube or learn what happened to the submarine.
This is an absoultely bizarre art job. The faces seem to vary between the usual Heck detail full of furrowed broughs and feathered cheekbones and completely detail free ones, little more than a few lines for eyes mouth and nose. It isn't altogether unattractive but it is very strange. John Buscema would replace Heck next issue.
Thomas does quite well with Namor including all the standard ideas. His nobility, his rage and the fact that he is driven into battle by the surfaces undersea devastation. He doesn't quite manage to make him interesting though.
Avengers Facts:
The Cosmic Cube obviously turned up again. It found its way into the Red Skull's clutches in Captain America 114
Talking of the Red Skull, Captain America's brief appearance in this issue comes during a story in his own comic where he is believed to be working with the Red Skull (Tales of Suspense 90)
Hercules' epic battle with Namor and Namor's decision to save his life rather than win by use of the cube are referred to in avengers 262 when Hercules is instrumental in Namor joining the team. In fact the Hercules/Namor partnership would be an important part of that era.
Namor had actually had his own series for close on two years at this point. This is one of the last uses of him as a misguided villain, his role for much of the early silver age.
Are there any goofy moments?
Magnetic seaweed?
Is it a landmark?
No
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 32
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Issue: Avengers 41
Let Sleeping Dragons Lie
By Roy Thomas, John Buscema and George Roussos
Line up: Hawkeye, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and the Wasp
Villains: Diablo, Dragon Man and communists
Guest Stars: The Black Widow, Bill Foster, the Fantastic Four and Hercules
So What happens?
A training session goes wrong due to Hercules' lack of concentration and leaves the mansion damaged and the team at each others throats.
In the far East the Black Widow makes contact with the communists but she is thrown in a cell and subjected to their new super weapon, the Psychotron, which bombards her with horrible images in an attempt to drive her mad.
Back in the states Hank and Jan receive the deactivated Dragon Man, a huge robot that had recently battled the Fantastic Four. Hank hopes he can study him to help his robotics experiments. The delivery is watched by Diablo, the alchemist who first brought the robot to life.
Using his alchemy gun he turns a nearby building to gold causing a crowd of onlookers to predictably go nuts.,The two Avengers try to calm them down but they switch from a greedy mob to a star crazed mob and rush towards the avengers instead. They shrink down and escape but Hank realises it was probably a diversion to get them away from Dragon Man and calls for the rest of the team.
Before they arrive Diablo has gotten into Hank's lab and restored the robot to life. He attempts to turn Hank to solid gold but Jan manages to knock the alchemy gun from his hand. He gets revenge on the Wasp with another ray and leaves Hank to Dragon Man.
After a long fight he is beaten and the others arrive. They get beaten up as well and Diablo turns the walls to gold causing the roof to collapse on the beaten heroes. Taking the unconcious Wasp and Goliath hostage he flies off on the back of Dragon Man to his hideout.
So it is any good?:
Its alright without ever threatening to be especially interesting.
I like John Buscema's work a lot but the inks really dont suit him. I quite like his Dragon Man though. It wasn't one of Kirby's most important characters but Buscema suits his dinosaur like appearance quite well. His Goliath is ok as well which is good because he gets the bulk of the action. He hasn't really found a good look for the others yet.
Thomas goes a bit overboard on the dialogue. It isn't quite as bad as usual because Hank can be a bit longwinded and Diablo is suited to pompous speeches but there is still too much talking.
It really reads like two creators finding their feet which is fair enough. Goliath battling the two villains on his own takes up 7 pages of fairly straightforward fighting which doesn't seem quite right in a team book. When the others do arrive they are beaten in a matter of panels, a better balance might have been more interesting.
All in all it is ok but nothing special.
Avengers Facts:
Diablo gave Dragon Man life in Fantastic Four 35. After that story the robot got caught up in the first Inhumans arc in FF 44-7 and somehow ended up in Hank Pym's possession.
Quicksilver has to stop Hercules from beating up Hawkeye. The long and turbulent relationship between Hercules and Hawkeye was recently played up in Thunderbolts.
Bill Foster briefly appears, Thomas obviously wanted to keep him around for more than just racially motivated stories but he had a hard time fitting him in, he doesn't appear again until issue 54 by which point the Black Panther had joined the team and taken on the bulk of the issue led plots. Foster would continue to appear every now and again until he got his own series in the early 70s.
Are there any goofy moments?
With a crowd of gold crazy people rushing towards you shrinking down to ant size on the pavement in front of them seems a bit stupid.
Is it a landmark?
John Buscema is considered by many to be THE Avengers artist putting in two long stints on the title. As his first issue this is something of a landmark.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 33 minus 2 pages
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Issue: Avengers 42
The Plan and the Power
By Roy Thomas, John Buscema and George Roussos
Line up: Hawkeye, Captain America, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and the Wasp
Captain America rejoins in this issue
Villains: Diablo, Dragon Man and communists
Guest Stars: The Fantastic Four, the Black Widow and Hercules
So What happens?
The Avengers try to work out where Diablo has taken his prisoners but Hawkeye gets annoyed at Hercules for sitting around eating grapes when he should be helping. After Wanda breaks them up the team turns to the FF for help. Reed Richards gives them directions to Diablo's last known base and the team heads for Transylvania
Diablo is busy gloating to Goliath in true Super villain style. Studying Dragon Man he has succeeded in duplicating him and producing an army of androids. However he can't bring them to life and he wants Pym's biochemistry knowledge to help him. Hank attacks him instead so Diablo quickly shows Hank the sight of Jan being guarded by the original Dragon Man. He agrees to help Diablo.
The Avengers find Diablos base and break in while Hercules goes looking for the Wasp. Goliath attacks his team mates to keep Diablo from killing the Wasp.
Telling Hank about Hercules he switches sides but they still cant get to Diablo. Luckily Captain America turns up after tracking the teams flier. He knocks out Diablo just as Hercules beats Dragon Man and frees Jan. Cap blows up Diablos base and they all head for home.
In the Far East the Black Widow tries to escape the communists but is recaptured. The communists tell the world that they have caught the Black Widow spying for Shield. When Hawkeye learns of this he wants the team to go rescue her.
So it is any good?:
Not particularly it is just an average sixties hero book. Not bad but nothing to write home about. At least Diablo had a decent reason for kidnapping Goliath and the Wasp which explains why he didn't just kill them last issue.
Hercules lazing around eating grapes was quite funny as was his rather pompous response to Hawkeye's complaints. He isn't a favourite of mine but Thomas managed to give him a distinct personality. His battle with Dragon Man could have been good but neither one is really an interesting character.
Cap turning up out of the blue to save the day doesn't really help the story much. Thomas sets up the situation quite well but then has Cap just rescue everyone.
The inks really dont do Buscema any favours at all but his Diablo is pretty good.
Avengers Facts:
Transylvania seems to be a sovereign state in the Marvel Universe rather than a region of Romania. It turns up on the maps in the Official Handbook to the Marvel universe and of course featured in dozens of comics over the years.
Cap returns to the team this issue after clearing his name in Tales of Suspense 91. His rather rushed absence and unconvincing return were mainly the result of Thomas accomadating his solo series so perhaps I shouldn't be too hard on it.
After trying to take over the world with an army of Dragon Men Diablo's next appearance was battling Dr Doom in his first solo story (MSH 20). He was a pretty rubbish villain but at least he thought big.
Are there any goofy moments?
Not really although Diablo is a fairly campy villain at the best of times.
Is it a landmark?
No
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 34 minus 2 pages
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Issue: Avengers 43
Color him the Red Guardian
By Roy Thomas, John Buscema and George Roussos
Line up: Hawkeye, Captain America, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and the Wasp
Villains: Communists and the Red Guardian
Guest Stars: The Black Widow and Hercules
So What happens?
Quicksilver announces to the team that he has learnt how to fly for short periods of time by running real fast. Like most announcements at the Mansion it provokes a quick fight between the members. Hercules and Cap this time and Hercules ends up being beaten by Cap's agility and decides to consider him his friend.
Janet gets some good news as well, passing her 23rd birthday means she is able to claim her inheritance. Three Million dollars. Hank suggests investing it but Jan wants to spend it.
Hawkeye is determined to rescue the Black Widow and beats up some underworld figures to learn which part of asia she is being held in. Bringing Hercules along for the ride he heads for the far East.
The readers get there ahead of him and witness the Red Guardian being presented to some Communist officials. He is the Russian equivalent of Captain America and proves more than capable of beating a platoon of soldiers with his flying belt buckle.
Hercules and Hawkeye arrive and Clint promptly gets knocked out by the belt buckle. Hercules does better but gets dragged into the room holding the Psychotron weapon. It summons the image of a Hydra from Hercules' mind and he gets caught up battling that.
Hawkeye gets put in another one of those glass tubes that all Roy Thomas villains have. The Black Widow has already been put in a neighbouring tube and the Guardian takes great pleasure in showing Natasha his secret identity. It is her husband who she had believed dead. Hawkeye naturally gets in a strop.
Back in the states the other Avengers realise Hercules and Hawkeye have disappeared and vow to find them.
So it is any good?:
There are some nice titbits here but they aren't always presented in the best way. The fight between Hercules and Cap doesn't make that much sense but it could be seen as part of his 'gift of battle' personality trait where he routinely gets beaten up by people before deciding to become best buddies.
Quicksilver learning to fly smacks of desperation. It had been over two years since he joined and he had done very little. His speed was rarely highlighted in order to give others time to shine and his personality hadn't really developed. I guess Thomas thought giving him new powers might make him more interesting. It is a nice contrast with Lee who tended to strip characters of powers to highlight their personalities (Goliath in avengers and Spider-Man, Thor and the FF on a number of occasions) while Thomas throughout his career would increase abilities to try and force the characters to become more interesting. I preferred Lee's method.
The hydra is pretty good, Buscema suited that sort of thing more than super heroes in my opinion although he was great at the heroes as well.
Not a brilliant issue but Thomas is slowly getting the hang of it.
Avengers Facts:
The Wasp has her 23rd birthday the day before this story (during 42) and inherits the Van Dyne fortune. I knew she was always referred to as an heiress in the early Marvels but i didn't realise her inheritance had actually been depicted. I would guess that she is now somewhere around 31. It is probable that Marvel was still working in real time back then if so she was 19 when she became the Wasp.
Quicksilver flying by moving his legs real fast seems to me to be based on the DC hero Johnny Quick who made a similar leap in power.
Are there any goofy moments?
A flying belt buckle isn't quite as impressive as Cap's shield.
Is it a landmark?
A small one, there have been other Red Guardians and his presence is still felt in the Marvel Universe. He was referred to in this weeks Black Widow #1 for example.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 35
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Issue: Avengers 44
The Valiant also die
By Roy Thomas, John Buscema and Vince Colleta
Line up: Hawkeye, Captain America, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and the Wasp
Villains: Communists and the Red Guardian
Guest Stars: The Black Widow and Hercules
So What happens?
The communists tell the captive Avengers that they intend to improve the psychotron so it can send its illusions to America rather than being limited to a single room. First they have to work out how the Black Widow evaded its effects. She convinces them that she is loyal to the reds and she goes off with her former husband leaving Hawkeye imprisoned alone.
The others have tracked Hawkeye's ship and attack the base. Making easy work of the Communist guards. Captain America fights his way through to the Red Guardian freeing Hawkeye in the middle of the battle.
The Guardian proves unable to beat Cap so his superiors electrocute the Avenger. The Russian hero is disgusted at their actions and turns to argue with his bosses. When one of them tries to shoot the Black Widow who is trying to escape he jumps in the way of the shot and is fatally injured.
Hawkeye and Hercules manage to destroy the Psychotron and attempt to escape with the unconcious Captain America. As one of the russians tries to shoot the helpless Cap the Red Guardian spoils his aim and causes the room they are in to be blown up instead. The complex burns to the ground as the Avengers escape.
Back in the states the team visits the Widow in hospital and learns the history of their opponent who gave his life to save theirs, she also tells them how Nick fury hypnotised her to enable her to fool the communists about her loyalty.
So it is any good?:
It is basically a twenty page slugfest that is slightly improved by the fact Thomas was willing to show the Russian hero as just that. Up until now Communist villains had been treacherous and evil through and through but Thomas made the Red Guardian someone who was loyal to his country but still a good person. A nice touch in 1967.
While Roussos wasn't the best inker of Buscema I'm not sure that replacing him with Vinnie Colleta was the best idea. He doesn't do a bad job on this one but it still isn't the best Buscema art.
This was the first time I had read the story and I found it to be readable although way below the standard of anything I read today.
Avengers Facts:
The next Red Guardian would debut in the pages of Defenders 35. Unlike this one she was a private super hero rather than a government agent.
This is one of the few 'no body' deaths in the Marvel Universe that has stuck (or at least I believe it has). Then again Devin Grayson referred to him in the new Black Widow series so maybe it is due to be undone after 30 years?
Rather than make up yet another fictional country or set this story in a real one Thomas is cagey about where it is set. It is obviously in Asia and America was fighting the communists in Vietnam at the time which might explain the reluctance to name names given the heroic end of the communist foe.
Are there any goofy moments?
Not really
Is it a landmark?
It is one of the first deaths in the Avengers and one of the only major deaths in the Marvel Universe to stick.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 36
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Issue: Avengers 45
Blitzkreig in Central Park
By Roy Thomas, Don Heck and Vince Colletta
Line up: Hawkeye, Captain America, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver Hercules and the Wasp
Hercules joins in this issue
Villains: The Super Adaptoid
Guest Stars: The Black Widow, Thor and Iron Man
So What happens?
The Avengers (including Thor and Iron Man) have been invited to celebrate Avengers Day in Central park. Amongst the crowd of fans the Super Adaptoid is hiding waiting for Captain America to arrive so he can complete his programming and kill him.
Hawkeye chats to some reporters before the Wasp turns up in a brand new sports car and takes the spotlight away from him. After a few party tricks for the crowd Thor and Iron Man fly off leaving the current team to announce that Hercules is joining the team. The Super Adaptoid has been watching all the stunts and gained the powers of the whole team including the departed Thor and Iron Man. He changes from human form into a huge (Goliath sized) green amalgam of the heroes.
He gets dragged into a fight at insect size against the Wasp and Goliath while the other avengers try and convince a policeman that there actually is a villain.
Hank gets knocked out but the Wasp manages to grow to normal size with the Adaptoid trapped between her fingers. She tries to break the robot by tossing his tiny body against a tree but he returns to normal size and attacks the whole team with a shock wave arrow.
Cap saves the team but nobody can hurt the robot who has all of Thor and Hercules' strength.
Pietro decides that the team must all attack the Adaptoid at once. He has only been using the powers of two avengers at a time so presumably he has a finite power source. This works and the robot collapses with a flat battery.
A few of the teams fans come out of hiding and Avengers Day is restarted.
So it is any good?:
It has its moments, the Super Adaptoid plot is a but boring but I liked the Avengers Day scenes. The idea of super hero groupies is a natural one and I liked seeing the Avengers interact with their fans. There was some nice interaction between the current Avengers and Thor and Iron Man as well and the amount Hawkeye had grown up was shown in his fielding questions and reassuring Wanda.
The fact that the villain took Thor and Iron Man's powers but didn't want to fight them was actually quite sensible but once the fight started it degenerated into a typical silver age slugfest.
I hate to say it but Heck/Colletta isn't actually that bad. There is a really bad shot of Thor with trademark Colletta crossed eyes but generally it is ok. It must be said that the Super Adaptoid looks stupid, a green combination of the costumes of all the team is never going to be the most threatening of villains except possibly on a bizzare level.
I liked the fact that the Avengers still had fans at the end of the issue too often Marvel would play up the angst angle and have everyone hate the heroes, even after a villain turns up people are still in favour of the Avengers.
The big plan of 'everyone hitting him' was a bit lame.
Avengers Facts:
Although we haven't seen all the Avengers Day celebrations we did see the latest one in the current run so it was presumably a regular thing.
The Super Adaptoid is still around, he turned up in the recent Heroes for Hire/Thunderbolts cross over.
Counting the Swordsman Hercules was the eleventh Avenger to join. Apart from the Swordsman and the Hulk he probably had the least impact of the early members but he has rejoined the team on a number of occasions without ever really making it into the big leagues.
Are there any goofy moments?
The Super Adaptoid is one big goofy moment.
Is it a landmark?
Hercules joining is a minor landmark.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 37
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Issue: Avengers 46
The Agony and the Anthill
By Roy Thomas, Don Heck and Vince Colletta
Line up: Hawkeye, Captain America, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver
Hercules and the Wasp
Villains: Whirlwind
Guest Stars: Black Widow
So What happens?
Hawkeye and the Wasp both bring visitors to the Avengers regular meeting. Everyone is pleased to see that the Black widow has recovered from her injuried (sustained in 44) and that she is is retiring to live a safer life from now on.
The Avengers are less pleased that Janet has brought her newly hired chauffer along. Hank quotes some Avengers laws about letting unauthorised people into the mansion but Jan is having none of it. Unfortunately she should have listened to Hank as it becomes obvious that he is a villain scouting out the Avengers Mansion.
When most of the Avengers go out for the evening the Chauffer reveals himself to be the Human Top or, as he now calls himself, Whirlwind.
Back at the mansion Hank is showing Jan that he has started experimenting with controlling insects again and has installed a nest of red ants to study. Having earlier learnt that the others were due to go out the Whirlwind crashes through the wall of the mansion and hits Jan and Hank with one of Hank's shrinking devices. He throws the two tiny heroes into the ants nest.
Although he had been working on ant control he didn't actually get round to adding the circuits to his costume and the pair are soon attacked by ants. Climbing to safety Jan clears away the dirt on the side of the ant farm and watches Whirlwind placing a bomb in the lab.
Cap and Quicksilver return home after the ball game got washed out and notice the hole in the mansion wall.
Pietro is soon beaten but Cap manages to knock out whirlwind, unfortunately he is so dizzy from battling him that he too falls unconcious while the bomb remains ticking. Seeing what has happened Hank and Jan go on the offensive and battle the swarm of ants with a handy piece of wire. After Jan knocks out the queen and stops the others attacking Hank remembers that there is a tiny ant control device under the dirt and they burrow down to find it. Using it they get an ant to carry them to the surface and the tiny hank uses a microphone to tell the reawakened quicksilver about the bomb, he shoots off and throws it in the East River. Unfortunately some passers by think he must be a mutant terrorist.
Back at the mansion Hank decides to incorporate his insect control device into his regular costume.
So it is any good?:
Yes it is a lot quieter than most of the issues that preceded it and the villain's more low key approach pays off after a lot of over the top threats to society like Diablo, Ixar or the communists of the Red Guardian story. It reminded me of the first chapter of the Living Laser story another one that dealt with a villain going after Jan and Hank.
Having a villain go to work for a hero, especially a villain who was obsessed with that character is a good idea. Tying his sudden appearance into the fact that Jan is splashing out her new found wealth is another intelligent idea. Thomas was starting to get a better handle on the book.
One sign of this is the fact he starts developing friendships. Hercules is hitting on Wanda and the pair go out for the evening with Clint and Natasha, Pietro and Cap plan on going to a ball game and so on. Little things like this would lead to greater characterisation over the next few years and a move away from the rather one note (although well handled) personalities of Lee's run.
Vinnie Colletta's tiny group of fans often point to his was ability to draw women. I'd never been convinced until this issue but the Buscema Colletta combination draws a great Black Widow and Scarlet Witch and a pretty good Wasp. The quiet moments of this one are very well drawn and Buscema is starting to show that he can draw all the team, his Goliath is particularly good.
The anthill sequences were a nice nod to to Hank Pym's first appearance and Buscema actually does a better job on conveying the danger and atmosphere than Kirby did in that story.
It isn't all great, I'm not sure why the wasp didn't have the use of her wings and stinger while at tiny size. Maybe they only work when she shrinks under her own power and it was too dangerous for the tiny Jan to shrink again. Who knows.
I wasn't that happy to see the mutant hysteria angle raised, it was presumably foreshadowing for next issues Magneto story which I haven't read yet.
Avengers Facts:
Whirlwind was fomerly known as the Human Top and was probably the closest Hank and Jan got to an arch enemy he appeared at least 4 times (my collection is a bit spotty) in Hank's Tales to Astonish run and was responsible for Hank seemingly retiring as a crime fighter at the end of Tales to Astonish 69.
Despite being quite a creepy villain the Whirlwind was hampered by rather lack lustre powers. When Kurt Busiek wanted a small time villain to show just how bad the Avengers team work was in v3 #4 he chose Whirlwind.
Whirlwind shares with the Radioactive Man the honour of being on three Masters of Evil teams.
Whirlwind stayed undetected as Jan's chauffer until issue 139, 8 years later. Actually he was sacked once for attempting to defraud the Pyms but they still didn't work out who he really was.
Are there any goofy moments?
Not really it is all played fairly straight.
Is it a landmark?
Its the first use of the Whirlwind identity but that isn't that major. Hank adding insect control abilities is even more minor given the number of powers he has gotten through.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 38
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Issue: Avengers 47
Magneto Walks the Earth
By Roy Thomas, John Buscema and George Tuska
Line up: Hawkeye, Captain America, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver Hercules and the Wasp
Captain America leaves this issue
Villains:Magneto, the Toad, whirlwind and a flashback to the second Black Knight
Guest Stars: Black Widow and the Black Knight, a flashback by Iron Man
So What happens?
Magneto thinks he has found a way to escape his imprisonment in space. By sending out magnetic waves he is communicating with a young scientist on Earth who is convinced he has made contact with a peaceful alien world.
The young scientist Dane Whitman explains to his technician that he is determined to make a name for himself to attone for his evil uncle. Professor Garret better known as the Black Knight who had recently died in combat with Iron Man.
In the states Captain America announces to the others that he is quitting to concentrate on his personal life leaving Goliath in charge of the team.
The Avengers take a break from each other with Hercules returning to Olympus to try and make peace with his father only to find the place deserted.
Dane Whitman's technician decides to knock out his boss and take the glory of communicating with outer space for himself. Unfortunately he does so just as Magneto finds a way to use the magnetic waves to return home. He tries to send the criminal back into space but gets knocked out and tossed in a dungeon.
Magneto contacts Wanda and Pietro to try and put his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants back together. When they arrive at the castle he threatens them with an army of robots if they wont join his cause. They still refuse but are no match for Magneto and his robots.
So it is any good?:
I am reading this and the next few issues for the first time so my comments are a bit more immediate than usual.
It isn't exactly good, it has some interesting moments but they tend to be interesting in hindsight rather than actually exciting. It is always good to see just how much of a one dimensional villain Magneto was before Claremont got hold of him. I prefer Claremont's version but anyone who thinks it was some sort of natural progression for the character needs to read stories like this. He is a fairly minor, personality free, bad guy.
Wanda and Pietro needed time in the spotlight but basically spent the time getting beaten up which doesn't really help. The Hercules subplot is off to an interesting start but I haven't read how it turns out yet.
Dane Whitman is one of Thomas' pet characters, based on a 50s super hero and one of the first characters Thomas actually created for the Marvel universe he always seemed desperate to find a place for him but the mixture of cool young scientist and medieval trappings didn't always work. Even here before he becomes the Black Knight he is at work in a Castle somewhere near Washington complete with torches, suits of armor and dungeons. It is obvious foreshadowing of his role as the Black Knight but it doesn't really make sense.
Beyond that there is some reasonable art from the mismatched team of Buscema and Tuska and that is about it.
Avengers Facts:
Magneto's easy escape from the Stranger's world is explained by the Strange losing interest in Magneto after capturing the Abomination in Astonish 91. Magneto had been the prisoner of the Stranger ever since X-men 18, he was nowhere near as important a character as he is today and I would guess that it was only Thomas' need to give Wanda and Pietro a time in the spotlight that brought him back at all.
Apparently Roy Thomas really wanted Captain America, Iron Man and Thor in the title regularly but Stan Lee was writing their solo titles and wanted them to only appear as guest stars in the Avengers. Cap's frequent bouts of membership followed by quitting were Thomas' way of getting round it, keeping Cap around as much as Lee allowed but never keeping him long or making him the focus of stories.
The whirlwind is still hanging around, taking Jan and Hank to the airport but he wouldn't actually make another move against the heroes until #54.
Are there any goofy moments?
Why was Dane Whitman doing his experiments in an American Castle?
Is it a landmark?
It is the first appearance of the third Black Knight although the next issue when he actually takes on that identity is probably more important.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 39
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Post by Shiryu on Feb 3, 2009 18:39:34 GMT -5
Issue: Avengers 48
The Black Knight lives again
By Roy Thomas and George Tuska
Line up: Hawkeye, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Hercules and the Wasp
Villains:Magneto and the Toad and a flashback to the second Black Knight
Guest Stars The Black Knight
So What happens?
The captive Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch hear Magneto's plans for a new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Given a choice between joining him or death Quicksilver stalls for time and asks to be allowed to think about it. Left alone he works a hand free and sends an alarm on his Avengers communicator.
Hank and Jan are busy gambling in Vegas but keep getting beaten by a shady looking gambler. Seeing her new found wealth disappear Jan is determined to act. Sending an ant into the gamblers clothing they learns that he is using a magnetic device to influence the roulette wheel. The cheat puts all his money on 11 but Hank shrinks down and places the ball on 16, meanwhile a swarm of ants ruin his magnetic aide. There is no time for Jan to try her luck on a fair wheel as they hear the alarm and have to shrink down and fly back to their jet. Jan is most upset that her new mink stole doesn't shrink with her and gets left in Vegas
The Avengers alarm doesn't quite reach Olympus where Hercules is still searching through ruined buildings looking for any sign of his fellow gods.
Back at the castle Dane Whitman has recovered from his technicians attack and thinks back on being contacted by his dying Uncle who turned over his Black Knight equipment to Dane after being mortally wounded fighting Iron Man. Putting on his armour and taking his uncle's laser lance he saddles up his winged horse and goes to get the Avengers help against Magneto.
Hawkeye naturally thinks he is the Black Knight from the Masters of Evil and lets fly with an arrow. After showing up Hawkeye, Goliath and the Wasp he tells them where Magneto has Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch held captive but when the team still doesn't quite trust him he gets annoyed and flies off to leave them to battle alone.
So it is any good?:
It was ok, it was a lot quieter than I expected. The Magneto story is two issues old now and there still hasn't been a battle against the Avengers. He caught the twins with some robots in the last issue and that is about it. I'm not complaining but it is a very different story than I expected. Thomas really seems more interested in the Black Knight than the Magneto story and the bulk of this issue is taken up with him battling the Avengers due to Hawkeye's misunderstanding.
Heroes fighting then teaming up was a cliche even then but it works ok here. He is dressed the same as an Avengers foe and they dont really team up. In fact the Black Knight seems so annoyed at the reception he got that he skips all the regular buddy buddy stuff. That was a pleasant surprise, usually heroes instantly forget that someone just tried to knock their head off and make friends but Dane doesn't.
Seeing Jan hitting Vegas all decked out in furs was fun and a sign that times have changed a lot since this story was published. Playboy (and girl) heroes seem to be out of fashion these days and wearing furs certainly is.
It was a quiet issue, rather inconsequential apart from Dane becoming the Black Knight but even that isn't shown as a big deal. He has obviously prepared the suit before hand so there isn't any dramatic origin and he doesn't try to fight the villain or doing anything heroic but simply to warn the Avengers. A bit of a damp squib as far as debuts go. I liked what later writers did with Dane, Stern especially, but his early appearances dont do much for me.
The same is usually true for George Tuska but he was ok here. The characters dont look anything like they usually do but his takes aren't actually bad, his incredibly bouncy depiction of the Toad is good and his Janet Van Dyne is very nice.
Avengers Facts:
Dane Whitman was the fourth Black Knight. The first was Sir Percy of Scandia who had his own 5 issue series in the mid 1950s, the second was one of Dane's ancestors in whose body Dane spent some time in the past, the third was Nathan Garret who was introduced as a Giant Man villain in Tales to Astonish 52 and died after falling from his flying horse in the Iron Man story in Tales of Suspense 73. In between he was part of Zemo's Masters of Evil.
This issue wouldn't get past the animal rights lobby today, not only does Jan fret over her Mink but Dane Whitman indulges in a little genetic modification by making a horse grow some wings. The horse would soon be named Aragorn and would end up as the steed of the Valkyrie.
Roy Thomas obviously had high hopes for the Black Knight. Over the next 12 months he had several guest star spots in the Avengers, another in Dr Strange (which crossed over with the Avengers) and even a solo try out story in Marvel Super Heroes all written by Thomas. He also had one of the shortest Avengers membership stints on record but we'll get to that in a few weeks time.
It is possible that the Black Knight was introduced to tie into reprints of the 50s Black Knight stories in Fantasy Masterpieces. The timing is about right but it is just a guess.
Are there any goofy moments?
During the battle with the Avengers the Black Knight's lance develops a bug spray mode and gets rid of a swarm of Hank's ants. The whole scene is slightly silly.
Is it a landmark?
It is the debut of the Black Knight who has had a long (if rather up and down) relationship with the team. He is currently guest starring in the title.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 40
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Issue: Avengers 49
Mine is the Power
By Roy Thomas and John Buscema
Line up: Hawkeye, Goliath, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Hercules and the Wasp
Quicksilver and the Scarlet witch leave in this story
Villains:Magneto and the Toad, Typhon and Tartaro
So What happens?
Searching deserted Olympus Hercules finds Typhon. An evil titan exiled by Zeus who has gotten his revenge by putting out the Promethean Flame that gives the gods life. They all disappeared and Olympus fell into ruins.
Back in New York Hank is showing Jan how he has 'improved' his costume by adding insect controlling antennae. Jan is suitably impressed but still has a go at him for not noticing her new dress.
Magneto takes his captives to an Atlantic island where he wants to build a hq for the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. He then heads to the United Nations to demand that the island be recognised as a refuge for mutants.
The Avengers see him on TV and rush to the scene. Before they can get there he has burst into the main chamber and demanded his island be given a place on the security council. When they refuse to listen he attacks the delegates who are only saved when Hawkeye arrives.
Determined to win Wanda and Pietro to his cause Magneto forces two policemen to shoot their guns and magnetically makes the bullet graze Wanda. Pietro goes nuts and attacks first Goliath then Hawkeye. He tells the Wasp that he is joining Magneto because of the hatred of the human policemen and when she tries to talk him out of it Magneto strikes her down with a nearby pen. Wanda comes to in Magneto's aircraft but the wound seems to have robbed her of her powers.
The three Avengers return to the Mansion downhearted. With Goliath keeping some more bad news to himself, he has realised that he can no longer grow taller than 10 feet.
In Olympus Typhon summons a huge monkey demon to battle Hercules. Hercules breaks its neck but he can't get to Typhon who banishes him to the land of shades while he plots the take over of Earth.
So it is any good?:
I enjoyed it, the art is very good and the depcition of Magneto is fairly intelligent. While he is still in his old archvillain mode he at least acts in a sneaky fashion. Engineering Wanda's injury to win over the twins is a fairly intelligent use of his powers and the sort of callous act that most comic book villains should do regularly but rarely do.
John Buscema takes advantage of the fact that he is inking himself to really pump up the atmosphere. There are some wonderful close ups on classic Buscema faces and a lot of moody black on the backgrounds. The Olympus scenes really suit him. Two guys going at it amongst crumbling ruins, it could almost be Conan.
Oh and he gives Janet a very Mod dress. It is shallow to admit it but that was probably one of the highlights of the issue.
The continued fiddling with Goliath and Wanda's powers is slightly annoying and perhaps suggests that Thomas didn't have much of an idea of what to do with them. It is a shame because Goliath has been my favourite character in the title but neither Thomas or Lee seemed to have any real handle on him.
Pietro being used by villains became something of a cliche but it worked here. I would go as far as to say it was the best use of the character since he joined. While he was duped by Magneto he was still acting in his sisters best interests and was shown to use his powers effectively which he had rarely done as an Avenger. He is another character who writers have had a hard time using well but this misguided good guy role works well here.
Avengers Facts:
The Magneto plot would shift over to X-men for a few issues before returning to the Avengers in #53. Despite Marvel being known for its shared universe such a major cross over was very rare and after 2 issues of X-men it would culminate in one of the earliest formal crossovers between X-men 45 and Avengers 53. I can think of only two earlier ones. A Namor Iron Man cross over and one between Daredevil and Fantastic Four but neither were as complex as the Magneto storyline.
Magneto's island base in this story (and the following X-men and Avengers issues) was the same one as he used in X-men 6 and was seemingly raised from the ocean floor using his powers.
We get a cute little diagram of Goliath's new suit and learn that is made of Morphon a material that could stretch to almost infinite lengths. I'm not sure if the more common 'unstable molecules' had been invented at this point or maybe Morphon is the scientific name for them as they do exactly the same thing.
Are there any goofy moments?
Hank's 'bunny ears' might have an insect controlling range of 10 miles but they look absolutely stupid.
Is it a landmark?
No
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 41
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Issue: Avengers 50
To Tame a Titan
By Roy Thomas and John Buscema
Line up: Hawkeye, Goliath, Hercules and the Wasp
Hercules leaves in this story
Villains: Typhon
Guest Star: The Black Widow
So What happens?
Unable to find Magneto the Avengers head for Greece, the last known location of the missing Hercules.
Hercules has left Greece behind though. Typhon's magic dumped him in the Land of the Shades and he is trying to deal with one of the many monsters in that realm. Having done so he soon finds the other Greek gods.
Zeus forgives him for his earlier indiscretions (going to Earth without permission) and despite Ares' complaints Zeus magically sends Hercules back to Earth to stop Typhon from conquering the world. (This apparently works because Hercules is half mortal which explains why Zeus didn't just escape his own banishment)
Typhon is adjusting to life on Earth by attacking a battleship. off the Greek coast. The Avengers were nearby and the rather underpowered team of Hawkeye, Goliath and the Wasp attack. Luckily Greece has plenty of ants and they tunnel under Typhon's feet moments before he can chop Hawkeye in half.
Hercules turns up and after a battle that shakes the local mountains is victorious. Bidding his companions goodbye he takes the defeated Typhon back to Olympus and leaves the world of mortals behind.
Zeus and co are soon back in place and Hercules is happy to be back in his fathers favour but he thinks to himself ' a part of Hercules shall ever be an Avenger'
So it is any good?:
It is basically a slugfest, almost half the issue is Hercules beating on Typhon. It is a well drawn battle but never risks being exciting. Buscema had a lot of different talents but he never got me to enjoy a fight in the way Kirby would. The lack of interesting powers from the characters involved doesn't help either. It is two guys in Greek outfits hitting each other over and over.
Paradoxically it is still one of Hercules' high points as an Avenger. I liked his relationship with the other gods here and Thomas gets across that he enjoyed his brief stint with the team while still wanting to be back where he belonged. There is a nice shot of the Olympian's partying after their release that suits Buscema down to the ground.
There are no subplots to speak of and precious little characterisation. It really draws Hercules' membership to a close and does little else. There is a brief scene at the end where they acknowledge they are under staffed but that was pretty obvious.
Its not a bad issue as such but it isn't particularly exciting either.
Avengers Facts:
While Thor was a more important Avenger than Hercules Olympus featured in more stories than Asgard. Ares would battle the team in a number of issues leading up to 100, the gods turned on the Avengers in a story published in Ka-zar 1 of all places, Typhon would be back in 163 and John Buscema would later draw the excellent Escape from Olympus storyline in 282-5. A storyline that managed to have all the power and impact that this one lacked.
Hercules' membership was a little more constructive than the Hulk's but not much. He joined at the end of 45, missed the events of 46 while socialising and headed off to Greece on his own in 47. Not really the stuff of legends. He would be back for more prominent stints in the 1980s and 1990s
Typhon was also the villain of Hercules' solo tryout in Marvel premiere 26. I dont know of many other appearances apart from the Avengers fill in I mentioned above. Maybe a champions appearance?
Are there any goofy moments?
The ants tunneling under Typhon is a bit silly but given the power level of the Avengers I can't think of many other ways to hurt the guy.
Is it a landmark?
I'm not sure if it is exactly a landmark but the team ends this issue with 3 members a new low.
Where can I read it?
Marvel Triple Action 42
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Post by ta6bur on Feb 4, 2009 1:45:38 GMT -5
And the award for moderator of the year goes to...
Many thanks. I'll enjoy these.
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