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.

It's crazy hot on Polemachus, so our heros spend the majority of the issue stripped down (Sersi isn't wearing her jacket, Crystal is in a T-shirt, and Black Knight has doffed his chainmail, wearing only his tunic with no helmet).

Even though they were abducted along with Arkon via teleportation last issue, somehow the Avengers have a Quinjet in this one. Even odder, when the issue begins, they're in some kind of random ship, and then later they're in the Quinjet.

Crystal is overly relieved that Black Knight survives the initial fact-finding mission, prompting Hercules to wonder if there's more to her concern than friendship. Crystal haltingly tells Hercules that she's committed to repairing her marriage with Quicksilver.

Assemble: {Sigh.} No. ("Avengers Assemble!" count: 4 in 26 issues to date.)

My Thoughts: Okay, we're back to the whole "code against killing" thing. I talked about this somewhat when the Avengers executed the Supreme Intelligence several issues back. In this case, I do think Sersi overreacts when she kills Anskar. Even though he just murdered a girl in cold blood, and even though he was kind of an A-hole in the previous chapter, he was acting according to the mores of his society here. If anything, as I suggested regarding the Supreme Intelligence, the Avengers should have simply turned Anskar over to Arkon for judgment.

But that said, I personally was quite happy to see Anskar get offed, because what he does in the final couple pages is reprehensible and needless. However, I'm a little surprised that all the Avengers seem horrified by Sersi's action here. Even Hercules, a god who probably knows Astra's execution was unnecessary. Even Black Widow, a one-time cold-blooded spy. It's just odd to me that they all seem so put off by this murderer getting killed in retribution for what he did. Like, I feel like their immesiate reaction should be something like, "Way to go, Sersi!" Followed by, "Uhh... maybe that was a little bit of overkill, though..."

Nonetheless, it's nice amid this massive "Gathering" storyline to have a simple 2-parter about the Avengers going on a mission of mercy, saving a planet, and doing general "Avengers-type" stuff that doesn't involve fighting off the machinations of Proctor! Every so often you need a story that's primarily "one-off plot-driven" -- i.e., not building on an ongoing storyline or springing out of a team member's sub-plots. True, "Fear the Reaper" did that as well, but it was produced by a fill-in creative team. This one is done by the regulars, so it feels more "real" for that reason.