AVENGERS #370 & #371

"DELTA FORCE" | "GODLINGS AND GLADIATORS"
Writer: Glenn Herdling
Issue 370: Layouts: Geoff Isherwood | Finishes: Al Milgrom & Kevin Yates
Issue 371: Breakdowns: Mike Gustovich | Finishes: Tom Palmer
Letterer: Bill Oakley | Colorist: Chris Matthys
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: (Issue 370) Sersi falls from the sky and smashes into the Pentagon, where she speaks with the Deviant warlord, Kro, who now works for the U.S. government. Sersi explains that the Avengers (minus Vision and Black Widow) were summoned by a distress signal to Lemuria under the South Pacific Ocean, where they were promptly captured by Deviant shock troops led by Brother Karygmax. Karygmax cut off Sersi's arm, but the shock allowed her to break free of the mental control device he had placed on her (and the other Avengers') head. Sersi flew to find help and wound up with Kro. Kro then recruits several Deviants, living among the humans, to join his and Sersi's "Delta Force". The group heads to Lemuria, but they are promptly ambushed by more Deviant forces, as the Deviants' true leader reveals himself: the high priest Ghuar.

(Issue 371) In the Deviants' arena, Giant-Man and the Black Knight are forced to battle two of Kro's team, Ransak and Karkas. Meanwhile Ghuar is attacked by Kro, but turns Dragona and Tzabaoth, two more of Kro's team, against him. Back in the arena, the final two members of Kro's force, Enigmo and Red Bull, arrive to stop the battle. Giant-Man and Black Knight are freed from the Deviants' mind control, and the heroes go in search of Ghuar. Elsewhere, Guar gloats over the imprisoned Captain America, Hercules, Crystal, and Sersi, who he merges with Varua of the Young Gods to create a physical Uni-Mind. Ghuar wears the Uni-Mind, which gives him the power of everyone inside it, and challenges Black Knight and his allies. But the Uni-Mind is destroyed in short order, as Sersi reveals that she and Black Knight are joined in a sort of mini-Uni-Mind, which makes it impossible for her to participate in another Uni-Mind.

Though the Avengers and Kro's Delta Force are victorious, Ghuar declares Lemuria's indepdendence, and the heroes leave without further battle.

AVENGERS #366

"THE FIRST RULE!"
An adventure of the mighty Avengers brought to you by:
Bob Harras/Steve Epting/Tom Palmer
Letterer: Rick Parker | Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: At Avengers Mansion, Sersi warns Black Widow and Captain America that the Black Knight and his team are being tortured. Vision arrives to confirm the story, explaining that he witnessed his teammates' capture and watched as a Kree ship rose from beneath Galen Kor's farmhouse headquarters. The ship left, ferrying the nega-bomb, and Vision was unable to keep up with it, so he returned to the Mansion. Sersi immediately flies off, her mental bond with the Black Knight leading her to him. Leaving the injured Vision behind to coordinate operations, Captain America, Black Widow, Giant-Man, and Magdalene follow.

On an island in the South Pacific, Galen Kor's soldiers finish torturing the Black Knight and Crystal, then turn their attention to Deathcry while a captive Hercules watches helplessly. Galen Kor speaks with someone over a comlink about delivering the captive Avengers to a mysterious benefactor. Meanwhile, Black Knight continues to try to reach Sersi. The Avengers approach the island and are intercepted by two Kree Sentries. Sersi takes one out while Giant-Man defeats the other. Vision informs the group that the nega-bomb will soon detonate. Inside the Kree ship, Galen Kor orders his troops to execute Deathcry -- but Hercules finally breaks free of his bonds and attacks, at the same time the rest of the Avengers burst into the ship.

The nega-bomb's final ignition begins, allowing Kor and his men to beam away. The Avengers move to the bomb, where Vision directs Sersi to transmute its energies. She manages to to mostly do so, but Vision realizes the bomb will detonate before she can finish. The Avengers retreat, and the bomb takes out two hundred square miles of uninhabited ocean. Elsewhere, Kor apologizes to his benefactor for his failure to deliver the Avengers, and the mystery man is revealed as the Collector, who vows that he will someday capture the Avengers.

AVENGERS ANNUAL #22

"BLOOD WRAITH"
Writer: Glenn Herdling | Penciler: Mike Gustovich
Inker: Ariane Lenshoek | Letterer: Steve Dutro | Colorist: Gina Going
Associate Editor: Pat Garrahy | Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Note: This annual also features a backup story spotlighting new characters called the Anachronauts. It has nothing to do with the Avengers' ongoing saga and I have opted not to cover it here.

The Plot: A group of mystics invades Avengers Mansion, in search of the Black Knight's ebony blade. The intruders gain the upper hand over the Avengers in residence, Crystal, Hercules, and Vision. Meanwhile, at the Black Knight's castle outside Washington, D.C., the Knight spars with his squire, Sean Dolan. But when an Avengers priority alert comes in, the Knight mounts his steed, Valinor, and takes off for New York. Back at the Mansion, Black Widow arrives and helps Crystal against her opponents, while Sersi shows up to aid Vision and Hercules. Outside, Black Knight confronts the final invader, Le Sabre. Le Sabre tells the Knight that several wizards are engaged in a race to collect various artifacts, and the ebony blade is one of them. Le Sabre says that someone is surely already at the Knight's castle, seeking to claim the blade.

And back at the castle, two more villains break inside. They are confronted first by the castle butler, Catherwood, and then by Sean. When the castle's caretaker, Victoria, appears, one of the men takes her hostage. Sean grabs the ebony blade as is transformed by its magic. He maims one of the invaders and kills the other, then, overtaken by the sword's blood curse, lunges for Victoria. The Black Knight arrives and stops him, with the Avengers showing up soon after. The battle moves outside, where Sean draws Hercules' blood and knocks out Vision, then proves immune to Sersi's powers. Black Knight engages Sean again, and during their fight, the former squire christens himself Blood Wraith. Eventually, the Avengers all recover -- but the Black Knight wants to face Blood Wraith alone, so he allows him to leave for the time being. Blood Wraith mounts Valinor and takes off for parts unknown.