Post by dlw66 on May 11, 2006 8:44:33 GMT -5
Avengers 56, drawn by John Buscema, is entitled "Death Be Not Proud" and features a time-travel story. The Avengers roster is Goliath (in his recently-new red/blue duds), Hawkeye, Wasp, and Black Panther. Cap appears both in the present and in the past. Let me explain --
The team heads to Latveria to use Dr. Doom's time machine -- they are looking for Cap. They actually find Cap hiding out in the castle! Doom isn't home, so they all go ahead and help themselves to the time platform. The Wasp is put in charge of the control panel, and told basically not to screw up -- the men need to remain wraiths whilst they view Cap in the end days of WWII. We are taken to 1945 where we see Baron Zemo is working on an experimental rocket (perhaps part of the real Nazi V-2 rocket program?). The WWII-era Cap and Bucky burst in to foil his plans, the Wasp mysteriously gets drowsy (see Annual #2), and the boys appear in the flesh. Of course upset that they will now alter history, they nonetheless take advantage of the chance to help the earlier Cap in his most dire moment. Zemo "magically" unleashes a giant from a box to scrap with Goliath, a huge Buscema-driven scuffle ensues, and the team is forced to still witness Bucky's demise. One of the memorable scenes is the Panther diving for Zemo as Zemo is pressing the button to launch the warhead. The Wasp comes to her senses, depresses the button that had caused the team to materialize in the past, and the Panther passes through Zemo like the wind.
The story is somewhat continued in Annual #2, although the brilliant Buscema cover betrays the Don Heck art within. By 1968 Heck's art very much paled in comparison to Buscema, who was nearng the height of his powers. The story is another time travel epic where the current team (above) has to battle the original team. The Scarlet Centurion is introduced, who becomes part of the Kang legacy. The story is acceptable, if not memorable.
This is a nice two-parter, immediately preceding two of the more memorable stories in Avengers lore, the intro./origin of the Vision and the intro. of Yellowjacket/wedding of Hank and Jan.
The team heads to Latveria to use Dr. Doom's time machine -- they are looking for Cap. They actually find Cap hiding out in the castle! Doom isn't home, so they all go ahead and help themselves to the time platform. The Wasp is put in charge of the control panel, and told basically not to screw up -- the men need to remain wraiths whilst they view Cap in the end days of WWII. We are taken to 1945 where we see Baron Zemo is working on an experimental rocket (perhaps part of the real Nazi V-2 rocket program?). The WWII-era Cap and Bucky burst in to foil his plans, the Wasp mysteriously gets drowsy (see Annual #2), and the boys appear in the flesh. Of course upset that they will now alter history, they nonetheless take advantage of the chance to help the earlier Cap in his most dire moment. Zemo "magically" unleashes a giant from a box to scrap with Goliath, a huge Buscema-driven scuffle ensues, and the team is forced to still witness Bucky's demise. One of the memorable scenes is the Panther diving for Zemo as Zemo is pressing the button to launch the warhead. The Wasp comes to her senses, depresses the button that had caused the team to materialize in the past, and the Panther passes through Zemo like the wind.
The story is somewhat continued in Annual #2, although the brilliant Buscema cover betrays the Don Heck art within. By 1968 Heck's art very much paled in comparison to Buscema, who was nearng the height of his powers. The story is another time travel epic where the current team (above) has to battle the original team. The Scarlet Centurion is introduced, who becomes part of the Kang legacy. The story is acceptable, if not memorable.
This is a nice two-parter, immediately preceding two of the more memorable stories in Avengers lore, the intro./origin of the Vision and the intro. of Yellowjacket/wedding of Hank and Jan.
