AVENGERS #375

"THE LAST GATHERING"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting | Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorist: John Kalisz | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: The Avengers head out into Manhattan to face Proctor and the Gatherers, who have appeared in the city with the imprisoned Sersi and Ute, the near-dead Watchter. The Avengers attack, working to protect civilians and take out the Gatherers, while Proctor severs the barriers between dimensions, causing various buildings in the city to be replaced with alternate versions of themselves. While his teammates battle the Gatherers, Black Knight engages Proctor one-on-one. Proctor reveals that he carries the Ebony Blade of his dimenson, and the duel continues.

Thena and Sprite arrive to help the Avengers, while Proctor gains the upper hand on the Black Knight and then begins to "gather" him, which would merge them together. But Quicksilver intervenes, , knocking the pair apart. Thunderstrike and Crystal take Proctor down with a lightning bolt, which also knocks out the Gatherers. Sersi and Ute break free of their imprisonment, and Sersi picks up the Ebony Blade, which she uses to kill Proctor. Then, as Ute dies, he expends the last of his power restoring New York to normal. He also opens a portal to a pocket dimension, where Sersi can go to be free of the madness consuming her. As she prepares to go, the Black Knight declares that he will join her. As the Avengers watch, the pair vanishes together into the portal.

AVENGERS #374

"INTERSECTING PARALLELS"
A Harras/Epting/Palmer Production
with Colorist: John Kalisz | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: The Avengers are rescued from the roiling East River by the Eternals Thena and Sprite. Moments later, Thunderstrike, having responded to a distress signal at Avengers Mansion, arrives with Jarvis and Quicksilver. Jarvis fills everyone in on Sersi's troubled dreams, and the Black Knight deduces that the man haunting her must be Proctor. Meanwhile, Proctor reveals his past to a captive Sersi -- he led the Avengers in another reality, where he fell in love with Sersi and became her gann josin -- until she grew bored of him and flew away, leaving him heartbroken. Proctor then dedicated his life to ridding the multiverse of all iterations of Sersi.

Back in New York, Thunderstrike, Hercules, and Sprite accompany Detective Dubois to her precinct house, where Sprite examines the stone detectives and says that Sersi was not responsible for their transmutation -- and that they are not dead. Meanwhile, at the ruined Avengers Mansion, Black Knight programs the computer with everything the Avengers know about Proctor in hopes it will find his counterpart in the prime reality. Back at Proctor's base. Sersi breaks free and attempts escape, but stumbles into the room where Proctor keeps his near-dead parallel Watcher, as well as multipe copies of Sersi from across the multiverse. One of the Gatherers, Rik, blasts Sersi and Proctor takes her away.

Hercules, Thunderstrike, and the rest return to Avengers Mansion with the restored detectives, who reveal that it was Proctor who changed them to stone. Then Proctor's imprisoned Watcher sends a psionic projection to warn the Avengers that they must stop Proctor or he will destroy reality. Meanwhile, the computer reaches its conclusion, reporting to the Black Knight that Proctor is alternate universe version of himself.

AVENGERS #373

A tale of the Mighty Avengers
"ARMAGEDDON"
Words: Harras | Pencils: Epting | Inks: Palmer
Letters: Oakley | Colors: Kalisz | Edits: Macchio | Chief: DeFalco

The Plot: Walking home from a visit to Quicksilver's doctor, Crystal, Quicksilver, and Luna arrive at Avengers mansion to find the near-destroyed building surrounded by first responders. Crystal races into the wreckage and finds the Black Knight, who says that Sersi caused the damage -- then he runs off to find her. Seconds later, Captain America, Giant-Man, Black Widow, and Hercules emerge from the rubble with detective Marta Dubois and her partner. Black Widow explains to Crystal that when Dubois attempted to arrest Sersi, she exploded with rage and flew out of the mansion. Dubois departs to find Sersi, and the Avengers head for their hanger to do the same.

Black Knight finds Sersi atop the Brooklyn Bridge, where he tries to reason with her -- but their gann josin mindmeld becomes stronger instead. Meanwhile, Jarvis and Marilla return from the market to find Quicksilver standing outside the ruined mansion. Jarvis reveals Sersi's recent troubled visions to Quicksilver. Elsewhere, Proctor speaks with a Gathered version of Jocasta, then consults with his imprisoned Watcher. Back in New York, the Avengers find Sersi and the Black Knight, but discover that they are now fully melded. The pair fights back against their teammates, picking them all off until only Crystal remains. When Crystal tries to appeal to the Black Knight, Sersi flies into a rage and prepares to kill her. This snaps the Knight out of the gann josin bond and he redirects Sersi's blast away from Crystal.

Sersi releases all her power and knocks down part of the bridge. Then, in the aftermath of her tantrum, Proctor appears to comfort her.

AVENGERS #372

"THE FOLDS GATHER"
A Harras/Epting/Tom Palmer Production
with Bill Oakley - Letterer
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: In the East River, acting on a tip from a mystery man, police divers find the stone bodies of missing detectives Delgado and MacNamara. The mystery man leaves the scene and watches as an Avengers Quinjet takes off. Aboard, Vision is taking Avengers guests Deathcry, Swordsman, and Magdalene to investigate a tracking station in Scotland which recently went offline. Meanwhile, Sersi flies over New York and is observed by a group of shadowy figures. At the mansion, Black Knight undergoes a brainwave analysis with Hank Pym. But he abruptly departs when he feels Sersi in his head. The Knight finds Sersi at the waterfront, where he confronts her over being her gann josin.

Back at Avengers Mansion, Pym realizes that Black Knight's and Sersi's brainwaves are becoming more and more alike to the point that they will soon be identical. And at the waterfront, the Knight and Sersi kiss -- but their moment is interrupted by the arrival of a new group of Gatherers: Korg, Tarkas, and Sliver, with their fourth teammate, Rik, observing from a nearby rooftop. When Black Knight and Sersi gain the upper hand on their attackers, Rik blasts the pier out from under them, allowing the Gatherers to escape.

The Gatherers materialize in a Greenwich Village townhouse, where the mystery man from earlier arrives and reveals himself as their leader -- Proctor. Meanwhile, Sersi and the Black Knight return to Avengers Mansion to inform their teammates of the attack, but find the heroes conversing with detective Marta DuBois of the NYPD, who promptly places Sersi under arrest for the murder of her colleagues.

AVENGERS #369

"BLOODTIES: THE FINALE: OF KITH AND KIN"
A tale of the Mighty Avengers & the Uncanny X-Men brought to you by:
Writer: Bob Harras | Pencilers: Steve Epting & Jan Duursema
Inker: Tom Palmer | Colorist: Mike Rockwitz | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: The SHIELD helicarrier approaches Genosha, with Nick Fury in command and the Avengers aboard. Meanwhile, a force field has sprung up around Genosha, created by Exodus's psionic powers. In the sewers beneath Hammer Bay, Exodus takes Luna from Fabian Cortez, then kills him. He then stuns the heroes present - Quicksilver, Crystal, Scarlet Witch, and Jean grey -- and departs. Above, in the city, the Avengers and X-Men link up and join forces. Storm and War Machine investigate the force field and determine it is psionic in nature.

Just then, Professor X telepathically summons both teams to his aid, for beneath the city, he, Beast, U.S. Agent, and their allies are hopelessly overrun by Genoshan Magistrates. The combined X-Men and Avengers burst in and turn the tide, then begin to mop up. Meanwhile, Exodus begins to shrink the field over Genosha. The Avengers aboard the helicarrier realize that he plans to crush Genosha with the field. Exodus emerges from beneath the city with Quicksilver, Crystal, Jean, and the Scarlet Witch in his thrall, then he mentally influences the mutates of Genosha to attack and kill all humans present.

The X-Men and Avengers divvy their forces to both hold back the mutates and attack Exodus. The Unforgiven appear to attack the group dealing with the mutates, while the team against Exodus is pushed back by his psychic power. The force field continues contracting, while Exodus prepares to kill Luna. Professor X blasts him with a mental bolt, allowing the Black Knight to sneak up and stun him with his neural sword.

In the aftermath of the battle, the force field dissipates and Xavier appeals to the Genoshans to lay down their arms, then chides Exodus for overextending his powers in battle. Exodus blasts Quicksilver and then takes off in retreat. Black Knight performs CPR, saving Quicksilver's life. The next morning, as the helicarrier makes it final approach with relief supplies, Captain America and Professor Xavier dwell on all they have been through.

AVENGERS #368

Plus X-MEN #26, AVENGERS WEST COAST #101, and UNCANNY X-MEN #307

"BLOODTIES PART ONE: FAMILY LEGACY"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting
Inker & Colorist: Tom Palmer | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco
Special thanks to X-MEN scribes Scott Lobdell & Fabian Nicieza

The Plot: In Hammer Bay, Capital of the island nation of Genosha, Fabian Cortez holds Luna and looks down on the city. In Washington, D.C., Doctor Valerie Cooper briefs Henry Peter Gyrich and Nick Fury on the fact that Genosha has devolved into civil war between its human and mutant populations. Gyrich says that the president has hand-picked a civlian to travel to Genosha in an attempt to broker peace, and Gyrich is to escort this individual. Later, at Avengers Mansion, Fury and Gyrich brief the assembled East and West Coast teams about the situation in Genosha. Gyrich takes U.S. Agent with him for a secret mission, while Crystal realizes that Cortez may come for Luna. She goes to check on the child, who reveals herself as a disguised Genoshan mutate. The Genoshan lets loose an explosion which blows the roof off the mansion.

At Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Gyrich and U.S. Agent, along with Genoshan expatriates Philip Moreau and Jenny Ransome, recruit Professor Charles Xavier, the president's ambassador. Xavier asks that the Beast come along as well. Meanwhile, in the Danger Room, the X-Men conduct a trianing session. Xavier telepathically informs them that he and Beast are leaving immediately, and reminds the X-Men to meet them in Genosha in twelve hours. Back at Avengers Mansion, Crystal has used her powers to save herself and her friends. The Avengers attempt to depart for Genosha, but Fury tells them that the United Nations does not want them to interfere in Genosha. When the team reaches their hangar, they find several SHIELD troops blocking their exit.

Aboard their Air Force plane to Genosha, Xavier, Beast, and the rest see Cortez on television, announcing that he has assassinated Genosha's rulers and, if the Genoshan army does not surrender by the next morning, he will begin executing every human in Hammer Bay -- beginning with Luna.

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 #365

"FOR AN EMPIRE LOST..."
A Harras/Epting/Palmer Production
Letterer: Bill Oakley | Editor: Ralf Macchio
Assistant Editor: Pat Garrahy | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: The Avengers review recordings of a recent attack by the Kree in China, the latest in a string of similar assaults where a wall of energy appears and destroys everyone in its path. Every such occurrence has been followed by a recording from Admiral Galen Kor. But this time, Vision has tracked Kor's signal to a community in upstate New York called Owl's Head. Black Widow orders Vision, Black Knight, Hercules, and Crystal to investigate, and Deathcry insists on accompanying them. Meanwhile, in Owl's Head, Kor and his men discuss the fact that he deliberately uncloaked his signal so the Avengers would find him.

Later, as the Avengers approach Owl's Head, an electromagnetic pulse knocks them out of the sky and cripples Vision. Emerging from their Quinjet, the Avengers find that Galen Kor has created a new nega-bomb. Then, Kor fells all of the Avengers and takes them prisoner -- except for Vision, who was separated from the group during the EMP.

Continuity Notes: This is a standard-size issue, but the story is only fifteen pages long, with the remainder of the issue dedicated to pinups. You may recall that last issue featured two stories. There, the lead tale was also fifteen pages. Presumably this is all to minimize artistic fill-ins as Steve Epting and Tom Palmer must draw several double-sized issues throughout the Avengers' thirtieth anniversary year. (As mentioned a while back, next issue will be the third of four double-sized, foil-covered installments during 1993.)

When Black Widow dispatches Black Knight and the others to Owl's Head, she says that she and Captain America will remain behind to call in the reserves. Which seems like a flimsy way to write Cap out of the story. It was made clear several issues back that the Widow perfers to be more of a "behind-the-scenes" chairperson, so I have no issue with her hanging back -- but why wouldn't you send the team's best tactician into the field if there's a chance the group will find Galen Kor and his unit? (Also, the excuse becomes even flimsier when we see next issue that only one reservist show up, and it's a guy who is already at the mansion.)

AVENGERS #364

"CALL HER--DEATHCRY!"
A Harras-Epting-Palmer production ~ with
Letterer: Bill Oakley | Assistant Editor: Pat Garrahy
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: A Shi'ar ship comes to Earth, passes over New York, and then travels to the Andes to find the Avengers. There, the team -- Captain America, Hercules, Black Widow, Vision, Black Knight, and Crystal, accompanied by Magdalene -- make their way through the snow. outside the wreckage of the Gatherers' citadel. The Shi'ar ship lands and Lilandra's envoy, Deathcry, emerges to announce that she has been sent to aid the Avengers against the Kree. Just then, three Kree Sentries arrive and attack. Meanwhile, in upstate New York, two hunters step onto an abandoned farm and are killed by three Kree warriors. Back in the Andes, the Avengres defeat the three Sentries, but several more move toward the area. Working together with Deathcry, the Avengers defeat the Sentries -- but in the aftermath of their victory, a hologram of Kree Admiral Galen-Kor appears. He warns the Avengers that within two days, Earth will be destroyed.

"UNBIDDEN MEMORIES"
Wtier: Bob Harras | Penciler: J.B. Jones | Inker Andrew Paquette
Letterer: Bill Oakley | Colorist: Chris Matthys | Editor: Ralph Macchio

Jarvis runs across Sersi outside Avengers Mansion, meditating. She uses her powers to show him some of her recent memories which have recurred in a dream. In it, she sees the man with whom she shared a dalliance some time ago -- but after she leaves him, a mystery figure appears and harms the man. Together, Sersi and Jarvis piece together the mystery figure's appearance, revealing him to be Proctor.

AVENGERS #363

"A GATHERING OF HATE"
A tale of the mighty Avengers brought to you by...
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting
Inker/Colorist: Tom Palmer | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: Somewhere in a snowy mountain range, The Avengers -- Black Knight, Black Widow, Crystal, Hercules, and Captain America, along with their prisoner, the false Vision -- arrive at the citadel of the Gatherers. Inside, Cassandra is torturing Vision -- but at the very moment she pauses her operation, the Avengers burst into the building and attack. Soon, Proctor appears. He announces that his Vision betrayed him by leading the Avengers to his citadel, and then kills the synthezoid. When Black Knight attacks Proctor, the villain hurls him away. Captain America chides the Knight for attacking impetuously, and the Knight turns on Cap. Black Widow stuns the Knight, who apologizes for his actions, stating that Proctor controlled him.

Proctor then reveals "He-Who-Dreams", the being who has guided him in his Gatherings -- it is Ute, Watcher from a destroyed universe. Just then, Uatu the Watcher apperas. Proctor tries to get him to join the Gatherers, but the Watcher is silent. When Hercules mentions that the alternate Vision killed Swordsman, Magdalene turns on Proctor and attacks him. Proctor activates the citadel's self-destruct, so the Avegers grab him and make a break for it. But Proctor again controls the Black Knight, forcing the Avenger to stab Proctor. Proctor vanishes while the Avengers and Gatherers flee the exploding citadel.

Continuity Notes: You may have noticed that this is the second foil cover in the span of four months. Ostensibly, this is due to the ongoing celebration of the Avengers' thirtieth anniversary -- and the foil covers aren't finished! Issues 366 and 369 will also have them. That's one foil cover per quarter in 1993.

AVENGERS #361

"FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY"
A tale of the mighty Avengers brought to you by:
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting
Inker/Colorist: Tom Palmer | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Assistant Editor: Pat Garrahy | Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: A nighttime intruder alarm leads the Avengers to their front lawn, where the Eternals Ikaris, Sprite, and Arex appear. Ikaris announces that they have come to take Sersi home with them, but the Avengers refuse. The group heads inside to discuss the situation, and Ikaris explains that Sersi may be suffering from "mahd w'yry," essentially an Eternal version of senility, brought on early by her Uni-Mind experience with the Brethren. A fight nearly breaks out, but Sprite stops it by suggesting that the Black Knight become Sersi's "gann josin" -- a psychic soulmate. Ikaris immediately bonds them, then the Eternals depart.

Meanwhile, Vision attempts to escape from Proctor, but the villain thwarts him. Back at Avengers Mansion, Crystal speaks with Black Knight, who resents what Sersi and Ikaris have done to him. The Knight then confesses his feelings for Crystal, and the two kiss as Proctor's false Vision watches from nearby, while Sersi observes from her quarters.

Continuity Notes: Captain America appears to be the Avengers' field leader, barking orders as they race outside to greet the Eternals -- but we're told a page or three later that the Black Widow is still team chairperson. I'm not up on the Avengers' by-laws, but I'm curious how this works. When Cap left, he was the "chairman and chief excutive" of the Avengers, and Black Widow was his deputy. Then he went on a leave of absense. Now that he's back, would he not become chairman again, assuming the Widow was operating in an "active chair" role? Or did Cap abdicate the chair when he left, meaning the Widow ascended formally to the position? This is the sort of stuff that keeps me awake at night!

AVENGERS #360

"ALTERNATE VISIONS"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting
Inker/Colorist: Tom Palmer | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: Vision awakens, a prisoner of Proctor and the Gatherers. Proctor reveals his most recent refugee from an alternate dimension, another version of Vision. Vision then thinks back on how he wound up here -- he was working with Swordsman on the other's memory issues when he was summoned by telegram to the home of Laura Lipton. When Laura kissed Vision, he was attacked from behind by the Gatherers, as Laura revealed herself to be Tabula in disguise. Now, in Proctor's lab, the villain prepares to swap the two Visions' minds.

Meanwhile, Black Knight finds Sersi in Wakanda and convinces her to come home. But as they approach New York, Sersi flips out. Their Quinjet crashes into the Avengers' hangar as Proctor and his false Vision, now in the real Vision's body, observe. Sersi throws Black Knight out of the jet and then attacks her teammates. Back at Proctor's base, Vision attempts to escape, but finds that Proctor has disabled his ability to phase. Swordsman dons his costume and joins the Avengers against Sersi, but it is the arrival of "Vision" which turns the tide. The synthezoid ruthlessly takes Sersi down -- and then, as the Avengers stand over her unconscious form, Captain America appears.

Continuity Notes: Not continuity, but -- somebody stretched the logo! I don't know why, but beginning with this issue -- and lasting until #380, when it's replaced with a brand new one -- the AVENGERS logo is vertically stretched to bizarre proportions. Stretching was all the rage around this time in the nineties -- X-MEN had a stretched logo, though I think it was at least redrawn from scratch to appear "taller", and WOLVERINE's logo was stretched really badly. Plus you'd see it now and then on Spider-Man comics (after they switched to the jagged "Sabretooth logo" style), and I think on other titles as well. I really don't understand it, and I think it's quite ugly, but this is nonetheless the logo I chiefly associate with the Harras/Epting/Palmer AVENGERS run (and is the logo I used for my main page of links to these review, accessible from the right-hand menu over there).

AVENGERS #359

"GIFT OF THE GODS"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting
Inker/Colorist: Tom Palmer | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: Aboard a spacecraft, Black Knight, Black Widow, and Vision analyze the issue afflicting Polemachus's rings. Soon after, they return to the planet, where the Knight explains that in re-energizing the rings twice in recent years, Arkon has overcharged them -- but the Avengers believe they can correct his issue. Later, the Avengers head back into space with Arkon, where Crystal and Sersi use their powers in tandem with Arkon's dimension-hopping lightning bolts to drain off the excess energy into another realm. Crystal nearly falls into Arkon's portal as well, but Sersi saves her. Arkon closes the portal and the heroes return, victorious, to Polemachus.

There, they are greeted by the girl, Astra, who was to be executed to appease the gods. But to the horror of the Avengers and Arkon, the noble Anskar kills Astra anyway, proclaiming that the only way the Avengers could have saved the day was with the blessing and guidance of the gods, and that there must still be tribute for this kindness. Enraged, Sersi annihilates Anskar where he stands.

Continuity Notes: There are two epilogues to this issue -- in the first, Jarvis and Marilla, out for a walk with Luna in Central Park, run across Taylor Madison. After a brief chat, she asks them not to tell Hercules that they saw her, and then departs. Marilla observes that Taylor is in pain. Then, Magdalene, Cassandra, and Sloth return from a Gathering with a mystery being, and find that Proctor has activated a former Gatherer known as Tabula, who he says will help to retrieve the Swordsman.

AVENGERS #358

"ARKON'S ASYLUM"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting
Inker/Colorist: Tom Palmer | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: On the planet Polemachus, a noble named Anskar searches for the world's monarch, Arkon. Meanwhile, Arkon has appeared on Earth with his consort, Thundra, and a girl named Astra. The group is in a standoff with police when the Avengers arrive. A fight breaks out, but in the end Arkon and the heroes reach a ceasefire and return to Avengers Mansion. There, Arkon explains that the sky of Polemachus has gone red, and that his people demand a sacrifice to appease the gods. Astra was chosen, but Thundra convinced Arkon that killing her was not right, and the group fled to Earth.

Just then, Arkon, Thundra, Astra, and the Avengers are all teleported to Polemachus by Anskar. He imprisons the Avengers in a force field and appeals to Arkon to kill Astra. Though Astra is willing to play her part, Vision convinces Arkon to allow the Avengers time to repair Polemachus, as they have done before. Anskar disagrees, but tells Arkon he will give the Avengers twenty-four hours and then sacrifice Astra himself.

Continuity Notes: Swordsman is staying in a room at Avengers Mansion. He doesn't appear to be a prisoner, which seems a bit odd. Even though he may have begun to doubt Proctor, he was still trying to kill the heroes just a couple issues back! Marilla brings Swordsman some food and briefly recaps the history of his counterpart on the Avengers' Earth. Swordsman finds her story laughable, but Vision offers to show him that history -- however he is summoned to the meeting with Arkon before he can do so.

AVENGERS #357

"THE NIGHT VISITORS"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting
Inker/Colorist: Tom Palmer | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: To Jarvis's horror, Marilla has summoned the royal kitchen staff of Attilan to Avengers Mansion to prepare a feast for Black Widow's dinner party. Elsewhere in the mansion, the Avengers speak with Swordsman and discern that he is from a parallel reality. Meanwhile, Sersi has a dalliance with a gentleman in SoHo. Back at the mansion, Taylor Madison arrives for the party.

The Avengers and Taylor enjoy cocktails until Sersi arrives, and soon after, Jarvis announces dinner is served. But as the group sits down to eat, the Watcher appears and stares the Avenges down in silence, then vanishes. Meanwhile, on a pier elsewhere in manhattan, two detectives stand over the corpse of the man with whom Sersi had her fling.

Continuity Notes: Avengers-branded apparel continues to be all the rage among our heroes. Black Widow now sports the bomber jacket, and Crystal is seen in the opening pages wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the Avengers logo. (I will reiterate that I like the idea that Avengers have this sort of "company swag" available to them. It makes sense, especially given they're run like a corporation!)

Swordsman says that the white, ghostly Vision is the only version of the android he knows. When shown a hologram of the Vision's original look -- which is the only version the real Swordsman should be familiar with -- he doesn't recognize him. Likewise, he fails to recognize a holgram of his beloved Mantis, but when shown the visage of Moondragon, he calls her Mantis.

AVENGERS #356

"DEATH IN A GATHERING PLACE"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting
Inker & Colorist: Tom Palmer | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: In Wakanda, the Black Panther is attacked by the Gatherers. But, forewarned by the Avengers, he holds his own until Hercules, Thor, Vision, and Sersi arrive via Lockjaw's teleportation power. Black Panther finds Coal Tiger, brought along by the Gatherers, and struggles to determine why they share a face. Back at Avengers Mansion, Black Knight and Black Widow discuss the fact that they are the weakest of the Avengers following Gatherer Cassandra's telektinetic blast, and they had to stay behind because of that. In Wakanda, the battle continues, while Black Panther and Coal Tiger speak and realize they are the same person.

Swordsman begins to doubt what the Gatherers have told him, while Proctor observes from afar. Soon, the Avengers are dispatched and Cassandra begins a procedure to make Black Panther fade from existence, allowing Coal Tiger to remain in his place. But Swordsman can't countenance this, and stuns Cassandra. Hercules rejoins the fray, as does Thor -- accompanied by Wakanda's Elite Strike Force. The Gatherers are forced to retreat. With his dying breath, Coal Tiger thanks Swordsman for saving Black Panther's life. Then, as Swordman unsteadily attempts to follow the Gatherers through their "slash/way", Vision grabs him and keeps him in Wakanda, the Avengers' prisoner.

Continuity Notes: Crystal is weirdly nowhere to be seen this issue, despite Lockjaw's involvement. It's said that Black Knight and Black Widow remained behind because they are "mere mortals" and more susceptible to Cassandra's attacks -- unlike Thor, Hercules, Vision, and Sersi, who all have superhuman (or better) physiques. Crystal is mortal in terms of her body, I suppose, though unlike the Knight and Widow, she has super-powers. But in any case, it just seems odd she's not seen or even mentioned here, aside from the obvious implication that she summoned Lockjaw to help. (And help he does! He even gets into a fight with the Gatherers' animal-guy, Sloth!)

AVENGERS #355

"WHEN COME THE GATHERERS...!"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco
join in congratulating Tom Palmer on his 100th issue
embellishing the adventures of the mighty Avengers!

The Plot: On another version of Earth, Swordsman, Magdalene, and their teammates, the Gatherers -- Cassandra and Sloth -- appear in a ruined New York just as Captain America dies outside Avengers Mansion. The Gatherers find more dead Avengers and one final living soul on Earth -- T'Challa, the Coal Tiger. The Gatherers return with the Tiger to Proctor.

On the real Earth, Black Knight has found matching energy signatures between Marissa Darrow's apartment, the Avengers emergency systems, and the skycar -- proving that someone has been in all three places. The Knight and Vision have prepared a countermeasure for further such tampering, and Black Widow orders them to implement it immediately. Meanwhile, Proctor stabilizes the dying Coal Tiger, then orders the Gatherers to Avengers Mansion to find his counterpart in the main dimension. The Gatherers teleport into the mansion at night, but are confronted by the Avengers, alerted by Black Knight's new system.

A battle breaks out, but the Gatherers prove too much for the Avengers to handle. The heroes are defeated, but left alive per Proctor's order. The Gatherers get the information they needed and depart for Wakanda to find T'Challa, the Black Panther.

AVENGERS #350

"REPERCUSSIONS"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting | Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorists: Tom Palmber & Sarra Mossoff | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: On a remote planet called Seti Tatola IV, a former Kree admiral meets with Raza and Hepzibah of the Starjammers. He convinces them to travel to Earth and kill the Black Knight as revenge for the assassination of the Supreme Intelligence. On Earth, Professor X and Cyclops of the X-Men, as well as Quicksilver and Doctor Valerie Cooper from the U.S. govenment's X-Factor, visit the Avengers. Xavier warns the group that Magneto's Acolytes are back in action, and they may be targeting Luna, daughter of Quicksilver and Crystal. Meanwhile, in space, the Starjammers elude Shi'ar patrols and set course for Earth, with Hepizabah and Raza having convinced the rest that they need to check on Carol Danvers.

Absent from the X-Men meeting is Black Knight, who skipped it for a workout session. Afterward, he heads to the roof, where he bumps into Sersi and the two witness the arrival of the Starjammer. Soon, the Avengers, their guests, and the Starjammers gather in a reception room -- but Raza slips away and sneaks up on the Black Knight, repairing the Avengers' skycar in their hangar. Raza attacks and duels the Knight, until the nursemaid Marilla enters with Luna. Raza grabs Luna and holds her hostage, until the Knight lunges at him. Raza runs the Avenger through. Seconds later, the remaining Avengers respond to the sound of battle, arriving to find Black Knight seemlingly dead.

AVENGERS #349

"DEATH WAGER"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting
Inker/Colorist: Tom Palmer | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: Black Knight, Crystal, and Hercules are testing a skycar recently received by the Avengers from Wakanda, when the craft goes out of control and crashes. The scene is observed from Mount Olympus by Hera and Ares, who make a wager over who can bring more pain and sorrow to Hercules. Two days later on Earth, Black Knight has determined that the skycar was sabotaged. Meanwhile, Hercules is invited to make a charity appearance at a children's hospital. Crystal and Thor accompany him -- but while there, Ares possesses Thor's body and attacks Hercules. Hercules eventually realizes that Ares is in control of Thor, and turns Mjolnir against him, summoning lightning, which Crystal amplifies with her power to stun both Hercules and Thor.

The lightning strike separates Ares from Thor, and Hera then reveals herself. Hercules berates his stepmother and half-brother as they teleport back to Olympus. There, Ares asks Hera why she didn't make any attempt to win their wager. As she scryes over an image of Hercules and a volunteer from the hospital, Taylor Madison, Hera says that her manipulations are subtle and far-reaching.

Continuity Notes: In the opening pages, Black Knight notes that he and Hercules spent three days in Marissa Darrow's apartment, trying to determine how she vanished, with a footnote pointing to last issue. Later, Black Knight states his suspicion that Marissa's disappearance and the skycar sabotage are both related to Swordsman and Magdalene. The former of these makes sense; Marissa was Magdalene's spitting image. But it's unclear why he believes, with nothing to clue him in, that the skycar sabotage has anything to do with the new mystery villains.

AVENGERS #347

Plus CAPTAIN AMERICA #400 & 401, AVENGERS WEST COAST #82, QUASAR #34, and WONDER MAN #9.

Note: While I am summarizing the entire "Operation: Galactic Storm" crossover in the "The Plot" section, the "Contiuity Notes" reflect only AVENGERS #347 unless otherwise indicated

"EMPIRE'S END"
The epic conclusion to the Kree/Shi'ar war brought to you by:
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Steve Epting | Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorist: Gina Gong | Letterers: Bill Oakley & Michael Higgins
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: CAPTAIN AMERICA #400: "MURDER BY DECREE!" by Mark Gruenwald, Rik Levins, and Danny Bulandi -- Captain America is caught up in an explosion in the Kree capitol building. Meanwhile, Iron Man, Black Knight, Hercules, Crystal, Sersi, and Goliath chase after the nega-bomb in their Quinjet, and wonder about Cap's fate. Back on the Kree homeworld of Hala, Cap suddenly finds himself confronted by several of his greatest enemies: King Cobra, Batroc the Leaper, Flag-Smasher, Viper, Crossbones, and the Red Skull. Cap battles the villains, but they prove too much and get the upper hand. But just as the Skull is about to execute Cap, Batroc's sense of honor prevails and he helps his enemy escape and fight back. Cap defeats everyone, then comes to the conclusion that these villains are simulacrums pulled from his own memories by the Supreme Intelligence. The Intelligence ends the charade and tells Cap this was a test to judge him worthy of assimilation. But Cap's sense of independence is too too much for even the Supreme Intelligence to overcome, so he declares that he will not absorb Cap into his collective mind.

AVENGERS WEST COAST #82: "SHI'AR HATRED!" by Roy & Dann Thomas, David Ross, and Tim Dzon -- Lilandra orders that the Kree Starfroce must die, but the Avengers try to convince her to speak with them first. The debate devolves into a battle between Avengers and Imperial Guard, but when Living Lightning blasts the Shi'ar prime minister, Araki, revealing him as a Skrull in disguise, both sides call a truce. Lilandra frees Ultimus and sends him back to the Kree to inform them of what has transpired. Then she reveals that the nega-bomb has gone missing. Back on Earth, the West Coast Avengers return to their compound in California, having left the Shi'ar prisoners in the care of the East Coast reservists at Project: Pegasus. Aboard the nega-bomb, Vision returns from reconnaissance to inform Wonder Man that the bomb is being towed by Skrulls. And back on the Shi'ar throneworld, Captain Marvel receives a call from Quasar, who informs her that he knows where to find the nega-bomb.