JAMES BOND NEWSPAPER STRIPS PART 8

"THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS" | "OCTOPUSSY"
"THE HILDEBRAND RARITY" | "THE SPY WHO LOVED ME"
September 12th, 1966 - November 12th, 1966 | November 14th, 1966 - May 27th, 1967
May 29th, 1967 - December 16th, 1967 | December 18th, 1967 - October 3rd, 1968
Written by Peter Lawrence | Illustrated by Yaroslav Horak

"The Living Daylights" was a short story by Ian Fleming, loosely adapted and greatly expanded into a 1987 film of the same name starring Timothy Dalton as Bond. As usual, the comic strip adapts the original story far more faithfully than would the eventual film. The story is simple: a British agent in East Berlin plans to cross the Berlin Wall with Russian nuclear secrets, but the Russians' best Sniper, "Trigger", is tasked with stopping him. But MI6 gets wind of this, and Bond is dispatched to West Berlin to snipe Trigger before the Russian can snipe Agent 282. Bond realizes Trigger is actually a beautiful woman, and rather than kill her, simply shoots the rifle from her hand. But she's killed in the end anyway, in an "accident" arranged as punishment for her failure.

And that's it! The film version of the story uses this entire sequence, in modified fashion, as its cold open. The short story is finished before the opening credits roll, save for Trigger's death, and the remainder of the movie is an original story about Bond locating her and eventually working with her to take down a drug lord.

"Octopussy" was another short story by Fleming, but the newspaper adaptation is quite long, running just over six months in length. In it, Bond is approached by Trudi Oberhauser, the daughter of a man who was like a second father to him. The elder Oberhauser's body has been found with a British service revolver's bullet in his head, two decades after he disappeared in the Swiss mountains. Bond plays detective, working this personal mission with Trudi, following a trail from London to Jamaica, where he reunites with Mary Goodnight for assistance. Eventually, Bond determines that Oberhauser was killed by a British officer over some Nazi gold in the final days of World War II -- and the officer, Major Smythe, now lives on a seaside estate in Jamaica. But Bond fails to capture Smythe, as the villain instead meets his end at the hands of his own humongous pet octopus, which he has nicknamed "Octopussy" (a much better way to integrate the title into the story than in the motion picture, where "Octopussy" was a nickname Smythe gave his daughter).

The various adaptations are a little weird on this one. All versions of the story begin basically the same way, with Bond seeking to investigate someone's murder -- only in the film, that deceased party is agent 009 -- while in the short story and newspaper strip, it's Trudi's father (though so far as I can tell, Trudi herself does not exist in the source material). The original version sees Bond corner Smythe and take pity on him, allowing him to choose suicide over arrest. This is referenced as backstory for the character of Octopussy in the film, which otherwise goes off in its own, typically over-the-top direction, sending Bond to India to investigate a cult led by Smythe's daughter, who is involved in a scheme to steal Russian nuclear secrets.

JAMES BOND NEWSPAPER STRIPS PART 7

"YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE" | "THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN"
May 17th, 1965 - January 8th, 1966 | June 10th, 1966 - September 9th, 1966
Written by Henry Gammidge & Jim Lawrence
Illustrated by John McLusky & Yaroslav Horak

As Bond's next adventure begins, eight months have elapsed since the murder of his bride, Tracy. Bond is in bad shape, and M decides to snap him out of it with a new, extremely difficult mission: he is to purloin a Japanese code-breaking device. Bond travels to Japan and links up with his contact there, an Australian MI6 diplomatic agent named Dikko Henderson. Soon after, Bond meets M's opposite number in the Japanese secret service, Tiger Tanaka. Right off the bat, the film adaptation differs from the source material. As usual, Fleming's original work is much more down-to-earth. Bond is simply trying to obtain a decoder device, and in order to do it, he agrees to a favor for Tanaka -- breaking into a compound where a Westerner named Doctor Shatterhand has set up a sort of amusement park of suicide, and assassinating Shatterhand. Compare that with the film, where Bond travels to Japan to try and find the source of a giant rocket that swallows space shuttles!

(I don't know what to make of the premise, by the way, that scores of Japanese people are flocking to Shatterhand's castle so they can kill themselves in interesting ways. It's very clearly presented as a common shared interest among the Japanese; it's not a few odd apples out to off themselves. This is possibly one of the biggest instances of what I once saw described as the commonplace "weird racism" in Ian Fleming's works.)

However in both versions of the story, the villain is the same: Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the head of SPECTRE. Though SPECTRE no longer exists here; indeed it's notable that in Fleming's original works, the organization only existed in THUNDERBALL, where it was basically disbanded by the end. The stories then followed Bond's search for Blofeld in ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, and his final encounter with the villain here, in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE -- and that's it. One story with SPECTRE proper, followed by two more with Blofeld more or less alone. Meanwhile in the films, SPECTRE exists as an organization in four installments: DR. NO, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, THUNDERBALL, and YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, with Blofeld operating solo or with a pared-down organization in two more films, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE and DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, afterward.

JAMES BOND NEWSPAPER STRIPS PART 6

"THUNDERBALL" | "ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE"
December 11th, 1961 - February 10th, 1962 | June 29th, 1964 - May 15th, 1965
Written by Henry Gammidge | Illustrated by John McLusky

THUNDERBALL has the peculiar distinction of being the only James Bond story developed by Ian Fleming himself with the intention that it would become a movie. In the 1950s, Fleming worked with producer Kevin McClory on a project to bring Bond to the silver screen. When the project fell by the wayside, Fleming went ahead and adapted the story they had come up with into a novel. Years later, when Bond finally did make it to the movies, producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman adapted the novel THUNDERBALL into the fourth film in the series. So essentially, THUNDERBALL was a movie treatment adapted into a novel, which was then adapted into a screenplay!

As such, one might expect the original THUNDERBALL, adapted into this comic strip, to sync up fairly closely with the film -- and at least initially, that's true. Both versions open with Bond declared unfit for field duty by M, and sent to recuperate at a spa called Shrublands. There, he encounters a mystery man named Count Lippe, who tries to kill Bond when the agent shows too much interest in the Count's Tong tattoo. Bond reciprocates, giving Lippe a near-death experience, and then returns to work at MI6. Meanwhile, the Special Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion -- SPECTRE -- holds a meeting to discuss their latest plot: stealing a NATO plane transporting two nuclear missiles. SPECTRE's agent on the inside, co-pilot Giuseppe Petacchi, kills the plane's crew and hijacks it, ditching it in the Atlantic ocean near the Bahamas after SPECTRE takes the bombs.

LOOK UP! LOOK DOWN! LOOK OUT!

JAMES BOND IS BACK!

(With all due apologies to the THUNDERBALL movie poster.)

Back in 2018, I started looking at the James Bond newspaper strips originally syndicated in Britain's Daily Express in the 1950s and '60s. I got about halfway through the series, and then was forced to stop due to a number of factors in my life at the time. It was the first retrospective series I ever failed to complete, and it has bothered me ever since. I vowed at the time that I would finish my originally intended run (all of the strips that adapted Ian Fleming's original novels) someday. And now, five-and-a-half years later (seriously?!), it's time.

There are eight storylines left, but a few are based on short stories -- so I've broken it out to three posts in total, which will take us right up to the end of the year. And I know we're going to sail right through to the end of this thing, because unlike last time, I've already written up all the posts! As previously, the main crux of these posts will be to compare and contrast the quite faithful newspaper adaptations with the typically more loosely adapted (or in some cases totally made up) films.

For those who need a refresher, or perhaps weren't even born yet those many years ago when I started this project, here are the first five posts in the series:

JAMES BOND NEWSPAPER STRIPS PART 1
JAMES BOND NEWSPAPER STRIPS PART 2
JAMES BOND NEWSPAPER STRIPS PART 3
JAMES BOND NEWSPAPER STRIPS PART 4
JAMES BOND NEWSPAPER STRIPS PART 5

And with that, we'll reconvene next week to get to it. See you then!

BLACK KNIGHT: EXODUS

Stan Lee Presents: Dane Whitman, Master of the Ebony Blade
"THE BOND"
Writer Ben Raab | Penciler: Jimmy Cheung | Inker: Andy Lanning
Lettering: Richard Starkings and Comicraft | Colors: Tom Zuiko
Editor: Kelly Corvese | Editor in Chief: Bob Harras

The Plot: In another dimension, Sersi attempts to open a portal to bring herself and the Black Knight home. They're both enveloped by light and then awaken in the twelfth century, where the Black Knight inhabits the body of his ancestor, Sir Eobar Garrington, in Egypt searching for an "Eternal Pharaoh" alongside his best friend, Bennett du Paris. Sersi catches up with the Knight and he recognizes her. That night, one of Garrington's men informs him that Paris has left. The Black Knight and Sersi head out to find him.

Meanwhile, Paris battles a humanoid/insect creature in the desert, and he unleashes his mutant power to defeat it -- then he vanishes. Sersi, meanwhile, fills Garrington in on her past with his descendant, Dane Whitman. Garrington realizes that he must turn his body over to Dane, and so allows his spirit to depart. Dane assumes control of Garrington, then he and Sersi are attacked by one of Garrington's former allies, Sahreed -- who reveals himself as a mutant in the service of the Eternal Pharaoh. Then a gigantic citadel appears, from which emerges the Eternal Pharaoh himself, Apocalypse. Apocalypse says that he has rewarded Paris with great power, and then later inside the citadel's dungeon, Paris -- now calling himself Exodus -- visits with Sersi and the Black Knight. He challenges the Knight to a duel and takes him away, leaving Sersi behind. But she immediately breaks free of her bonds and follows the pair.

As Apocalypse watches, the Black Knight and Exodus begin their fight. Exodus outmatches the Knight, but Sersi appears and mindblasts him. He overcomes her power and takes her down, and Apocalypse orders Exodus to kill them both -- but Exodus refuses to serve his new master and attacks Apocalypse instead. The villain then vanishes, and Exodus disappears with him. But six months later, the Black Knight and Sersi, along with two of the Knight's crusaders, find Exodus in suspended animation inside a tomb created by Apocalypse. The Knight's allies swear to guard the tomb with their lives forever, then the Knight and Sersi embrace and disappear, apparently bound for home at last.

AVENGERS ANNUAL #23

Exciting news! I had wanted to cover AVENGERS ANNUAL #23 as part of this project -- even though it's not by Harras/Epting/Palmer/Deodato/etc. and really has nothing to do with their run, it was published during the "Gatherers" saga and is written and drawn by the legendary AVENGERS creative team of Roy Thomas and John Buscema -- but at the time I wrote up all the posts we just finished, it was not yet reprinted anywhere. However, just this past August, Marvel relesed the AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION: THE GATHERING volume, which includes the Annual, and published the issue to Marvel Unlimited as well. So, as we wrap things up, here's one final little gem from the era:

"STRANGERS ON AN ASTRAL PLANE"
Writer Roy Thomas | Artist: John Buscema
Letterer: Susan Crespi | Colorist: John Kalisz
Flake: Ralph Macchio | Assistant Flake: Matt Idelson | Snowflake: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: Somewhere in an empty dimension, the visages of Loki and Pluto meet and hatch a plot for revenge on Odin and Zeus by killing their respective sons, Thor and Hercules. Pluto agrees to kill the former while Loki deals with the latter. At Avengers Mansion, the Avengers -- Hercules, Giant-Man, Vision, and Crystal -- conduct an impromptu trianing session while Captain America takes a nap. Eventually, Hercules leaves to go on a date with a pair of beautiful women. Meanwhile, Loki heads to the realm of Tartarus, where, at Pluto's suggestion, he liberates the villain called Typhon, along with three of Typhon's fellow prisoners.

The villains ambush Hercules at the restaurant, but his communicard is inadverently activated as he falls unconscious. The Avengers arrive; however Typhon and his cohorts escape with Hercules. Vision suspects that Typhon's hatred of Zeus means he will try to execute Hercules in front of his father, and Thunderstrike uses his enchanted mace to attempt to warp the Avengers to Mount Olympus. But Typhon makes a stop in Hades, where he dunks Hercules in the River Lethe, which renders the Lion of Olympus an amnesiac. Typhon tricks Hercules into believing Zeus is his enemy, and then the group heads to Olympus, where Typhon makes a beeline for the Promethean Flame. He plunges into it and retrieves a magical axe, causing the flame -- and the lives of the Olympians -- to snuff out instantaneously.

The Avengers arrive on Olympus and battle Typhon's cohorts, but Captain America makes it past them and challenges Typhon himself. Hercules comes to Typhon's defense and fights Cap, forcing the super soldier to taunt Hercules into plunging both of them into Olympus's river -- which somehow restores Hercules's memory. He rescues Captain America from the roiling waters and then returns to battle Typhon. Cap grabs Typhon's axe and passes it to the Avengers, who arrive just in time to throw the axe back into the enchanted brazier which reignites the Promethean Flame. Reborn, Zeus banishes Typhon and his friends back to Pluto's realm, and Pluto soon plans to carry out his half of his bargain with Loki by making an attempt on Thor's life. Meanwhile, the Avengers return to Earth.

AVENGERS #390

Stan Lee presents a glimpse into the future of the mighty Avengers...
"CAMPFIRE TALES"
Story: Bob Harras & Terry Kavanagh | Script: Bob Harras
Penciler: Mike Deodato | Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorist: Paul Becton | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Mark Gruenwald

The Plot: The Avengers, along with Luna, Marilla, and Lockjaw, are relaxing in upstate New York, at a cabin owned by Tony Stark, where Swordsman and Magdalene have recently been residing. Lockjaw runs off into the forest after a rabbit, and Hercules gives chase. He finds a teenage boy named Tuc in the woods, and eventually returns with him to the cabin as the sun sets. Around a campfire, Tuc tells the Avengers' fortunes -- including the facts that Quicksilver and Crystal are soulmates, Deathcry is destined to be involved in an interstellar war, Hercules must beware a "viper" in the Avengers' ranks, and the fact that Luna will always love Marilla. Tuc then vanishes

Later that night, after everyone has fallen asleep, Tuc visits Luna in her room in the cabin and tells her that he has done all he can, then he departs.

Continuity Notes: In a sub-plot scene, Janet van Dyne and Hank Pym visit Jan's attorney, who informs her that all of her investments are tanking and she is soon to be broke. Jan takes this in surprising stride.

Deathcry says that she's spent the past few weeks (following from last issue) being interrogated by Henry Gyrich.

Magdalene observes that Hercules has changed his speech patterns since becoming mortal. He no longer uses "thees" and "thous," but he does still speak with somewhat archaic terms peppered into his language.

AVENGERS #389

Stan Lee presents a tale of the mighty Avengers
"MESSAGE FROM HOME"
Story: Bob Harras & Terry Kavanagh | Script: Bob Harras
Guest Penciler: Fabio Laguna | Guest Inker: Scott Koblish
Colorist: Mike Thomas | Letterers: Bill Oakley & N.J.Q.
Boss: Ralph Macchio | Bigger Boss: Mark Gruenwald

The Plot: A Shi'ar ship emerges from the stargate in Earth's solar system and launches a probe toward Earth. Soon, in Manhattan, Deathcry battles a group of Federal agents in Mandroid battlesuits over a canister from the probe's landing site. The Avengers arrive and assist Deathcry in defeating the Mandroids, but the canister goes missing during the fight.

Henry Peter Gyrich arrives and accompanies the group back to their mansion, where he tells them that Shi'ar probes have come through the stargate to Earth four times recently, and that Deathcry was found at the latest landing point. Confused and angry, Deathcry runs away after Quicksilver expresses concern over her possibly withholding information from the Avengers. Gryrich orders the group to turn Deathcry over to the government, then departs. The Avengers head out in search of Deathcry, except for Hercules -- who remains behind in her room to greet her when she sneaks back into the mansion.

Hercules shows Deathcry that he retrieved the canister during the Mandroid fight. It contains a holographic message from K'rin, the woman who raised her. The message is corrupted, and all Deathcry and Hercules can make out is that K'rin loves Deathcry and is trying to tell her about her destiny. Meanwhile, in Shi'ar space, Lilandra is distressed to learn that the message was sent, and hopes that Deathcry will never receive it.

AVENGERS #388 & CAPTAIN AMERICA #441

"INTO THE BREACH"
Story: Bob Harras & Terry Kavanagh | Writer: Bob Harras
Breakdowns: Mike Deodato | Finisher: Tom Palmer
Colorist: Mike Thomas | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Mark Gruenwald

The Plot: CAPTAIN AMERICA #441: "Through the Perilous Fight" by Mark Gruenwald, Dave Hoover, and Danny Bulandi, Don Hudson, Rick Hoover, & Keith Williams: Captain America and Bucky battle MODOK, until the villain escapes. Falcon finds Cap, but Bucky is nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Adaptoids take Free Spirit and Jack Flag to the A.I.M. command center, where they are ordered to dispose of the trespassers. Elsewhere, Superia and Snapdragon explore the island, while MODOK flies down into the huge crater in an attempt to stop the chain reactions across the island. Elsewhere still, Black Widow and Hercules explore the island, encountering Cosmic Cube-created simulations of the Widow's ex-husband, Red Guardian, as well as Taylor Madison.

Inside the A.I.M. base, the Red Skull confronts A.I.M.'s leader, Alessandrio Brannex, who reveals himself as the Super-Adaptoid. Meanwhile, outside, the temporary antidote Superia gave Captain America wears off, and Cap's atrophy returns. Falcon picks him up to carry him. Back inside, Jack Flag and Free Spirit escape the Adaptoid agents carrying them, just as the base begins to fall apart thanks to energy beams lancing up from beneath the island's surface. Outside, one such beam kills the Red Guardian simulation. Captain America and Falcon are attacked by Adaptoids, and Falcon drops Cap. Jack Flag and Free Spirit exit the base and spot the battle. While Spirit checks on Cap, Jack runs off to help Falcon. Superia and Snapdragon find Free Spirit and Cap, and Snapdragon battles Free Spirit, beating her. Superia grabs Cap, but more energy beams separate them. Cap is hit by a beam, but suddenly his armor appears and he flies into the main energy source, where he finds MODOK begging for help.

AVENGERS #388: The boy who previously found Captain America watches as Cap is sucked into the vortex. Within, Cap finds MODOK, babbling about the power of the Cosmic Cube being too much for humanity to contain. Elsewhere, Black Widow, Hercules, and Giant-Man watch as the island of Boca Caliente changes, revealed as a metal construct created by A.I.M. Quicksilver and Crystal rejoin their teammates, while inside the energy vortex, MODOK allows himself to be sucked into the dimension that birthed the Cosmic Cube. Meanwhile, in the ruins of the A.I.M. complex, the Red Skull is found by a female agent under his command, who flees over the power of the Cube. Captain America, now emerged from the vortex, finds the boy, revealed as an Adaptoid and the island's guardian.

The Avengers work to evacuate Boca Caliente's civilian population. Falcon arrives to join Black Widow and Giant-Man in searching for Captain America. Meanwhile, Superia finds Cap and offers him more of her antidote in exchange for his services. While the Avengers continue their evacuation, they are joined by Snapdragon. Cap refuses Superia's bargain, but the Red Skull arrives and takes her serum instead, then blasts her. The Skull leaves, while Cap and the boy/Adaptoid move toward the heart of the demolished complex. Black Widow, Falcon, and Giant-Man find the Skull's agent, who directs them after Cap. At that moment, Cap and the Adaptoid reach the source of the Cosmic Cube energy. The Adaptoid sacrifices itself to contain the energy and stop the island's destruction. Falcon, Giant-Man, and Black Widow find Captain America as the sun rises over the metal island of Boca Caliente.

AVENGERS #387 & CAPTAIN AMERICA #440

"ISLAND OF SPIRITS"
Story: Bob Harras & Terry Kavanagh | Writer: Bob Harras
Breakdowns: Mike Deodato | Finishes: Tom Palmer
Colorist: John Kalisz | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Mark Gruenwald

The Plot: CAPTAIN AMERICA #440: "Dawn's Early Light" by Mark Gruenwald, Dave Hoover, and Marie Severin, Dan Bulandi, & Don Hudson: Captain America tries to recruit his old friend, Demolition Man, for a mission to the island of Boca Caliente, but D-Man is unable to attend. Later, Cap meets up with his team -- his trainees, Jack Flag and Free Spirit, his former partner, the Falcon, his pilot, Zack Moonhunter, and his tech expert, Fabian Stankowicz. The group receives a briefing from Nick Fury on an energy surge from Boca Caliente which read to SHIELD as similar to the Cosmic Cube. Then Fury departs, and Cap's team heads out. On Boca Caliente, A.I.M. operative MODAM enters a chamber bathed with energy. Meanwhile, Cap's enemy Superia and her right hand, Snapdragon, observe Boca Caliente from a boat offshore.

Captain America, Falcon, Jack Flag, and Free Spirit swim to Boca Caliente and split up. At Avengers Mansion, Black Widow says that the readings Captain America recently went to investigate on Boca Caliente are identical to those she recently tracked in Canada, and the heroes depart to catch up with Cap. On the island, Jack Flag and Free Spirit witness the arrival of the Red Skull, who takes out two guards and enters A.I.M.'s complex. A moment later, the guards rise and metamorph, revealing themselves to be A.I.M. Adaptoids, and attack Jack and Free Spirit. On the island's beach, Fabian activates a small army of robots and sends them out to create a diversion. Meanwhile, Cap and Falcon find a deep crater, and Cap jumps toward it just as an energy flare emerges, separating him from Falcon. As Falcon searches for Cap, he is attacked by another Adaptoid. Meanwhile, Cap lays paralyzed until Superia finds him and injects something into his cheek.

AVENGERS #440: A young boy on Boca Caliente finds Captain America, out of his armor, laying on the ground. Cap gets up, and Bucky appears to greet him. Meanwhile, the Avengers have arrived on the island and engaged with A.I.M. troops. They rout the villains, and Black Widow reveals the readings she's been tracking recently are those of a Cosmic Cube. A moment later, Quicksilver's thoughts come to life thanks to the Cube energy, and the Avengers find themselves in the camp where he grew up, with his foster father, Django Maximoff, welcoming them. Meanwhile, Bucky helps Captain America fight off some A.I.M. agents. Inside the A.I.M. complex, the Red Skull stalks the agent in command, Brannex. Outside, two Adaptoids battle and defeat Jack Flag and Free Spirit. Elswehwere, the Avengers sit around a campfire with Django. Meanwhile, Cap, Bucky, and the boy find Falcon and his Adaptoid foe both unconscious. Cap suddenly weakens, and then a moment later A.I.M. operative MODOK arrives.

AVENGERS #386

"SHADOW HUNT"
Plot: Bob Harras & Terry Kavanagh | Script: Bob Harras
Guest Penciler: Angel Medina | Guest Inker: Scott Koblish
Colorist: John Kalisz | Letterers: Bill Oakley & NJQ
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Mark Gruenwald

The Plot: In a complex deep beneath the ground in Canada, the Red Skull escapes from the Avengers, leaving the Black Widow's beaten mentor, Ivan, behind. As the heroes tend to Ivan, Hercules climbs back out of the complex to get a medical kit from their Quinjet. Meanwhile, on the island of Boca Caliente in the Caribbean, a mystery man inflitrates another hidden complex. Back in Canada, Hercules emerges from the ground to find an injured Captain America waiting. But Cap stuns Hercules and reveals himself as the Red Skull in disguise.

Down in the complex, the Skull appears and knocks out Crystal, leavng Quicksilver and Black Widow the only Avengers standing. The Skull is about to kill Quicksilver when Black Widow rescues him. Back in the complex on on Boca Caliente, the mystery figure attempts a power drain on the computer, but instead the structure self-destructs. In Canada, Black Widow fights the Red Skull one-on-one. He gains the upper hand, but she uses her Widow's Bite to overlaod his powered suit -- however, the Skull still stands. But before he can finish the Widow off, he receives a transmission from Boca Caliente and aburptly teleports away.

The Avengers return with Ivan to their mansion, where they are greeted by Captain America, wearing a suit of battle armor.

AVENGERS #385

Stan Lee presents a new threar for the mighty Avengers...
"EVIL IN A COLD AND LONELY PLACE"
Story: Bob Harras & Terry Kavanagh | Script: Bob Harras
Breakdowns: Mike Deodato & John Buscema | Finishes: Tom Palmer
Colorist: John Kalisz | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Mark Gruenwald

The Plot: Black Widow meets with her mentor and father figure, Ivan, in Manhattan. Ivan tells her that he recently learned of a massive energy surge in Canada. The Widow leaves to assemble the Avengers, warning Ivan to watch his back. But as he drives home, Ivan is ambushed and captured by a mystery figure.

At Avengers Mansion, Deathcry is injured when the strange door in the basement emits a blast of flame. The Avengers depart for Canada, leaving Deathcry behind on monitor duty. Nick Fury learns of the group's course for Canada, and is none too pleased. When the Avengers reach their destination, they find a massive crater in the ground. The group descends, but they are ambushed at the bottom by the Red Skull, standing over Ivan's body.

Continuity Notes: It is revealed that Ivan is who the Black Widow spoke with on the phone in the prior issue.

As described above, the Avengers' mystery door shoots fire at Quicksilver, Crystal, and Deathcry as they scan it. However, though she is hit by the flames, Deathcry is not burned. Quicksilver speculates that a temporal paradox is involved, though how he arrives at that conclusion is beyond me. (I mean, yes, the Avengers scanned temporal energy behind the door when they first discovered it, but what would that have to do with flames not burning someone?) As the trio walks away from the door, they fail to hear someone or something inside tapping on it.

AVENGERS #384

Stan Lee presents a tale of losses and lies
"DREAM LOVER"
Story: Bob Harras & Terry Kavanagh | Dialogue: Bob Harras
Pencils: Mike Deodato | Inks: Tom Palmer | Colors: John Kalisz
Letters: Bill Oakley | Editor: Ralph Macchio | Boss: Mark Gruenwald

The Plot: In Manhattan, two mysterious men visit the apartment of Taylor Madison and Augustine Jones, but find the women aren't there. Meanwhile, Augustine leads Taylor to Avengers Mansion. At the same time, Hercules and Quicksilver visit the Schuyler Hill Memorial Daycare Center, where Taylor works -- but Hercules is told that she resigned weeks ago. Back at Avengers Mansion, Augustine ensnares the Avengers with magic. When Hercules and Quicksilver return home, Augustine reveals herself as Hera. She knocks out Quicksilver, then Hercules attacks. But their battle is interrupted by the arrival of the two men: Zeus and Ares.

Ares reveals that, in order to get back into his father's favor, he told Zeus about his wager with Hera way back when they first made it. Zeus then explains that in order to draw Hera out, he created Taylor Madison -- a construct with all the qualities to become Hercules' soulmate. Zeus tells Hercules that with Hera's defeat, Taylor will now vanish. She and Hercules share a kiss as she fades away. Enraged, Hercules attacks his father, and Zeus punishes his impertinence by stripping him of his immortality and banishing him from Olympus forever. Zeus then vanishes with Hera and Ares, while Hercules weeps for Madison.

Continuity Notes: Black Widow has a phone conversation with an unknown party, promising him (or her, but my money's on him as I'm pretty sure I know who it is) that she will meet him tomorrow.

In the same scene, Widow asks Giant-Man about the mystery chamber in the mansion's sub-basement, which the group discovered in issue 382.

VISION #1 - #4

"DREAMS AND MADMEN" | "IMPAIRED VISION"
"VISIONARY DREAMS" | "CHANGING VISIONS"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Manny Clark | Inker: Mike Machlan
Additional Inkers: Al Vey, Steve Alexandrov, Charles Barnett,
Johnny Greene, & Rich Perrotta | Plot Assist: Ben Raab
Letterer: Bill Oakley w/NJQ & Jeff Powell | Colorist: Linda Gilmore
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Mark Gruenwald

The Plot: (Issue 1) Vision dreams of his wife and children, then stops a mugging on a pier. Deathcry finds him there and the two speak of dreams before returning to Avengers Mansion. There, Vision confides in Jarvis that he started dreaming a week ago. The next morning, Vision undergoes tests conducted by Giant-Man, but abruptly leaves when his fellow Avenger raises the subject of his dreams. Homing in on a mysterious beacon, Vision arrives in New Orleans, where he finds Ultron drunk inside a local bar. Ultron tells Vision that he started dreaming as well, and then a skirmish breaks out between the two. Ultron defeats Vision and leaves. Later, Vision awakens in a motel room with the Gatherer version of Jocasta. She calls Vision Simon, and then the two embrace and kiss.

(Issue 2) Four weeks later, Crystal and Deathcry arrive in Chicago in search of the Vision. They enter the office of "Simon Williams, Private Detective", to find Vision playing the role of a 1930s P.I., with Jocasta as his gal Friday. A fight soon breaks out, but Vision falls unconscious. Briefly, he dreams again of his wife and sons, then awakens, back to normal. Vision tells Crystal that he believes someone has "infected" various synthetic beings with dreams and emotions. A moment later, Vision and Jocasta detect the same beacon that drew Vision to New Orleans, and then the Gatherer android, Tabula Rasa, arrives with Ultron his prisoner. Tabula kidnaps Deathcry and Jocasta and departs, while Vision flies into a rage and turns on Crystal.

(Issue 3) Laurie Lipton arrives at her beachhouse on Long Island, where Vision, in the persona of her late husband, Alex, is waiting. But Crystal and Giant-Man show up a moment later and try to convince Vision of who he is. Giant-Man stuns Vision with a stasis ray. Elsewhere, Deathcry, Ultron, and Jocasta sit in a cell. They are confronted by Tabula and his master -- the Anti-Vision; the Vision who once served Proctor and who now resides in the real Vision's white body. Meanwhile, Vision dreams again of his wife, an amalgamation of Wanda Maximoff and Laurie Lipton. He awakens and battles Crystal and Giant-Man. Back in the cell, Tabula changes to resemble the Kree warrior Dylon Cyr, and then begins to crush Deathcry. On Long Island, Vision takes out Giant-Man and then fights Crystal. But suddenly, he is called away by a signal from the Anti-Vision. Elsewhere, Tabula abruptly lets Deathcry go. She tries to convince Ultron and Jocasta to attempt escape, but suddenly Vision arrives, now apparently in the service of the Anti-Vision.

(Issue 4) Vision again dreams of his wife, while Anti-Vision brags to Deathcry, Jocasta, and Ultron that the "wife" is actually a Trojan Horse he planted in Vision's brain to erase his memories and personality, freeing up space for Anti-Vison to move in. Anti-Vision tested the program on Ultron, Jocasta, and Tabula, and has now placed the perfected version inside Vision. Meanwhile, Giant-Man, Crystal, and Laurie are searching for Vision when they detect Deathcry's life readings and set course toward her. In his hideout, Anti-Vision prepares to kill Deathcry. In his dream, Vision is confronted by the personifications of the two men who make up his mind -- Simon Williams and Alex Lipton -- and they convince him to turn away from his "wife" and save Deathcry. Vision reactivates, the Trojan Horse program disabled, and attacks Anti-Vison. Meanwhile, Ultron and Jocasta battle Tabula. Vision reveals that his emotions have returned, and nearly kills Anti-Vision until Giant-Man, Crystal, and Laurie arrive and stop him.

Vision leaves Anti-Vision and Tabula with the Avengers, then resigns from the team, taking Ultron and Jocasta with him so they can explore their newfound emotions together.

AVENGERS #383

"SHATTERED VOWS!"
Writers: Tom Brevoort & Mike Kanterovich | Artist: Mike Gustovich
Letterer: Bill Oakley | Colorists: Kevin Somers & Marie Javins
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Mark Gruenwald

The Plot: At the former site of the Inhuman city, Attilan, in the Himalayas, a being of energy appears, startling the local Alpha Primitives. Seeing that Attilan is gone, he leaves and next appears at Avengers Mansion, where he attacks and kidnaps Crystal, who recognizes him as an old enemy of the Inhumans; a Kree warrior named Shatterstar. Shatterstar next travels with the unconscious Crystal to the headquarters of the Fantastic Force in SoHo. Shatterstar kidnaps a member of the Force, an Inhuman named Devlor. The Avengers -- Giant-Man, Vision, Thunderstrike, and Deathcry -- arrive a moment later and team up with Fantastic Force leader, Psi-Lord, to search for Shatterstar.

Elsewhere, at an abandoned Kree facility in Florida, Shatterstar attempts to contact the Kree Empire but receives no response. The Avengers and Psi-Lord arrive and attack, but Shatterstar seem sto have the upper hand until Deathcry informs him that the Kree Empire was conquered and annexed by the Shi'ar. Vision furthers Shatterstar's distraction by informing the warrior that he is permanently trapped in his energy form. When Shatterstar tries to prove Vision wrong, he finds that he cannot revert to normal. Enraged, he flies off into space toward the Kree homeworld.

Continuity Notes: Narration informs us that the Inhumans emancipated the Alpha Primitives "years ago," though I have no idea when it actually happened.

Per Crystal, the Inhumans last battled Shatterstar in issues 4 - 6 of their 1970s comic. Shatterstar tells her that he's not worthy to use that name at the moment, which is quite prescient of him, since while he was out of circulation, a much more popular character named Shatterstar joined X-Force.

GIANT-MAN #1 - #4

Note: AVENGERS #379 - 382 were published as "Double Features" with a GIANT-MAN limited series included as a "flipbook" within those issues. Here now is that GIANT-MAN saga...

"IT'S THEM AGAIN!!" | "THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING GIANT-MAN"
"ATTACK OF THE 50 FT JAN" | HANK THE GIANT KILLER"
Story by: George Pérez | Pencils by: Jeffrey Moore | Inks by : Tim Dzon
Colors by: Maryanne Lightle | Lettering by: Ellie deVille
Editor: Richard Ashford | Group Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: (Issue 1) Ant-Man arrives in Arizona to battle a group of gigantic rampaging ants. One of them is an ant he knows, named Nash. When his control helmet proves useless against the ants, Ant-Man grows to become Giant-Man and is forced to kill Nash. Meanwhile, Hank Pym's ex-wife, Janet van Dyne, speaks with her therapist about what she's been doing since she and Hank both left the West Coast Avengers. However as she describes Hank crashing a party to celebrate her return to the fashion industry, Jan passes out. Meanwhile, at a laboratory in Nevada called Project B.I.G., Hank is informed by his lab partner, Bill Foster, that more renegade insects are on the loose in New Mexico. Giant-Man heads out to battle them. He calls off a squadron of Air Force jets and engages the ants hand-to-hand. Bill sees this on a video monitor and leaves the lab to go help his friend. After Bill leaves the lab, Jan's therapist, Doctor Rossin, calls for Hank to tell him about Jan's condition.

(Issue 2) As Bill prepares to depart Project B.I.G., he is ambushed. Meanwhile, Giant-Man fights the monster insects in New Mexico. Despite Pym's warnings, the Air Force jets remain in the area and one pilot is killed by a huge grasshopper. Giant-Man defeats all the insects and passes out. Elsewhere, Bill awakens, in his Goliath costume, miniaturized in a spider web. Nearby, a miniaturized Captain Atlas and Doctor Minerva, accompanied by some Shi'ar troops, search for him. But Goliath is rescued by Scott Lang -- Ant-Man -- and then a moment later, Atlas and Minvera escape. Goliath explains to Ant-Man that Project B.I.G. is a habitat created by Hank Pym and himself to study the effects of Pym Particles on enlarged insects. The duo exits the habitat, but Bill is unable to return himself to normal size. Meanwhile, Hank is incarcerated by the Air Force -- while in California, Jan's therapist tries again to reach Hank, to report that Jan has spontaneously started growing.

AVENGERS #382

"OFFERINGS"
Writer: Bob Harras | Breakdowns: Mike Deodato | Finishes & Colors: Tom Palmer
Letterer: Bill Oakley | Editor: Ralph Macchio | Chiefs: Tom DeFalco/Mark Gruenwald

Note: AVENGERS #379 - 382 were published as "Double Features" with a GIANT-MAN limited series included as a "flipbook" within those issues. I will cover the GIANT-MAN serial in one post after issue 382.

The Plot: Crystal, Quicksilver, Bova, and the High Evolutionary emerge from the wreckage of Bova's cabin as some of the Evolutionary's New Men approach. But the mutated Fydor, now calling himself Rakkus, kills the New Men. The Avengers and the Evolutionary battle Rakkus, who continues to evolve. Bova tries to reason with the beast, but it grabs her -- so the Evolutionary blasts its chest, killing it. Rakkus, who was actually a mutant inhabiting and changing Fydor's body, retreats, and Fydor reverts to normal, dying in Bova's arms.

Continuity Notes: At Avengers Mansion, Black Widow finds Captain America asleep in an easy chair and notes how unusual that is for him. She recalls meeting him during World War II in Madripoor (and note the little jab Ralph Macchio takes at the UNCANNY X-MEN issue which featured that meeting in his editorial note, indirectly calling out the fact that Widow was presented as a child in that story, which circa 1994 -- or even 1990, when the UNCANNY issue was published, would've been pretty hard to reconcile.

The Widow also suddenly finds herself attracted to Cap and reaches out to touch him as he sleeps, but is interrupted when Jarvis wanders into the room. In the aftermath of this moment, the Widow thinks to herself that she's entertaining some "very dangerous thoughts" about Cap. (Notably, in the backup story, covered below, when Cap radios the Widow at one point, she replies by calling him "Handsome.")

AVENGERS #381

"SACRED GROUND"
Writer: Bob Harras | Plot Assist: Terry Kavanagh
Breakdowns: Mike Deodato, Jr. | Finishes & Colors: Tom Palmer
Calligraphy: Bill Oakley | Editor: Ralph Macchio | Chief: Tom DeFalco

Note: AVENGERS #379 - 382 were published as "Double Features" with a GIANT-MAN limited series included as a "flipbook" within those issues. I will cover the GIANT-MAN serial in one post after issue 382.

The Plot: In her cabin, Bova worries over Quicksilver and Crystal, but Fydor calms her. Meanwhile, the two Avengers are brought before the High Evolutionary, who accuses them of trespassing on Wundagore. He explains that a beam of energy recently pierced his citadel, and brought with it a message from the Acolytes of Magneto, who ordered him away from the mountain. The Evolutionary believes Quicksilver is involved, but Quicksilver retorts that he visited the mountain only to help Bova. This gets the Evolutionary's attention, and he, Quicksilver, Crystal, and the New Men head for Bova's cabin. There, the Evolutionary deduces that Bova is being slowly poisoned. Just as he reveals this, an image of Exodus appears and reveals that he had Bova poisoned to draw the High Evolutionary out of his citadel. Then, as Exodus's projection vanishes, Fydor mutates into a monster and the cabin explodes.

Continuity Notes: The Acolyte who appears in the message to the High Evolutionary identifies herself as Scanner, but she looks nothing like the character's standard appearance in the X-books -- indeed, she's drawn as a totally nondescript female with no distinguishing features; nor is she even wearing an Acolyte uniform! Exodus, however, is drawn to look like himself when he appears.

Quicksilver says that his injuries (sustained in AVENGERS #369) occurred "months ago." Personally, I might've called it "weeks", but I don't think there's any timeline issue to explcitly prevent it from being months.

As noted a couple weeks back, Exodus is (I'm pretty sure) the third most recurring villain in Bob Harras's AVENGERS run, between the "Bloodties" event and this story -- though sadly, he appears only as a holographic or psychic projection here, despite the cover's depiction to the contrary. (And by the way, note that departed penciler Steve Epting is still around, providing covers for all three installments of this Wundagore trilogy!)

AVENGERS #380

"ERRAND OF MERCY"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Mike Deodato Jr.
Inker & Colorist: Tom Palmer | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Note: AVENGERS #379 - 382 were published as "Double Features" with a GIANT-MAN limited series included as a "flipbook" within those issues. I will cover the GIANT-MAN serial in one post after issue 382.

The Plot: Quicksilver and Crystal arrive at Wundagore Mountain in Transia, where Bova, the evolved cow who nursed Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch as children, is dying. Bova's friend, a human named Fydor, confides in Quicksilver that the cow-woman's creator, the high Evolutionary, has returned to his lab atop the mountain, and that he might be able to save Bova. Quicksilver and Crystal head up the mountain, where they find a shrine to Quicksilver's late mother, Magda. Present at the shrine is a young Acolyte, recently cast out of Avalon by Exodus. The boy reveals that the Acolytes never visit the shrine anymore, as the High Evolutionary has forbidden anyone to trespass on the mountain.

At that moment, two of the Evolutionary's brutish evolved creatures appear and attack, while the Acolyte boy teleports away. Crystal is taken out first, but Quicksilver holds his own until the High evolutionary appers and blasts him. Meanwhile, at the base of the mountain, Fydor lies to Bova, telling her that Quicksilver and Crystal went into the village. With a sinister smile, he tells her that everything is fine.

Continuity Notes: You'll note above that the series logo has changed. This has to be one of my least favorite Avengers logos. It's just so ugly and... pointy. You could put an eye out with that thing. Sadly, it will stick with the series until its final issue, #403.

Quicksilver collapses upon raching Wundagore, prompting Crystal to remind him that he still hasn't fully recovered from injuries sustained in AVENGERS #369 (when Exodus zapped him in the "Bloodties" finale).

AVENGERS #379

"THE LEGENDS AND THE LOST"
Writer: Bob Harras | Pencilers: Stewart Johnson & Tom Grindberg
Inkers: Tom Palmer & Rich Rankin | Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorists: Karl Bollers, John Kalisz, & Mike Marts Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Note: AVENGERS #379 - 382 were published as "Double Features" with a GIANT-MAN limited series included as a "flipbook" within those issues. I will cover the GIANT-MAN serial in one post after issue 382.

The Plot: Deathcry and Alabar watch as a Kree ship arrives at the Isle of Crail. Admiral Galen Kor and two of his troops disembark, revealing to the Butcher that they brought his ship to Earth and freed him. Meanwhile, Black Widow, Thunderstrike, Hercules, and Crystal race toward Crail aboard a Quinjet. Deathcry and Alabar are found by Dylon Cir, one of Kor's men. Meanwhile, Kor and the Butcher speak with Vision, who is under the guard of the enthralled Swordsman and Magdalene. Alabar stops Deathcry from killing Cir, instead using the contents of a vial to ensnare Cir's will. Moments later, the Shi'ar duo is escorted by Cir to the Butcher's base, a pub in town. The Butcher is away with Kor, so the group enters the pub, knocks out Swordsman and Magdalene, and frees Vision.

The Butcher and Kor arrive and attack, but Alabar refuses to fight. He reveals that during the war between the Shi'ar and Mephistoids, he and his men were taken in by a Mephistoid abbey run by several females of the species. There, Alabar learned of the Mephisitoids' phermonal powers. He and his men killed all the women in the abbey and Alabar distilled their pheromones into a potion he used to control his men and win the war. The Butcher then kills Alabar, leading Deathrcy to grab Magdalene's weapon and kill the Butcher. Galen Kor and his people escape. Soon, the Avengers arrive and verify the town is back to normal, while Deathcry stands by herself under the full moon.

AVENGERS #378

"ECHOES OF HISTORY"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Stewart Johnson | Inker: Tom Palmer
Letterer: Bill Oakley | Colorist: John Kalisz
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: Vision, Deathcry, Swordsman, and Magdalene arrive at the Avengers tracking station on the Isle of Crail off the coast of Scotland. There, Vision finds the station has been sabotaged. As soon he says so, the group is shot at by the station's caretaker, who abruptly dies when Vision tries to question him. Deathcry discovers a Shi'ar spaceship crashed nearby, and a legendary Shi'ar warrior named T'kyll Alabar reveals himself to the group. Meanwhile, in the nearby village of Ailsa, a young man reports to an alien warrior that the Avengers have arrived, with a Shi'ar among them. The mystery alien kills his informant.

Back at the crash site, Deathcry explains the story of Admiral Alabar to the rest of the group -- twelve hundred years earlier, he was a hero of the Shi'ar war against the Mephisitoids. When the Shi'ar captured their leader, a man known to the Shi'ar only as the Butcher, they exiled him into deep space aboard a stasis ship, with Alabar in stasis as well to guard him. At Avengers Mansion, the rest of the team tries to make contact with Vision's group, but is unable to do so. On the Isle of Crail, the Butcher arrives with the entire town in his thrall, and then takes control of Swordsman and Magdalene as well. Vision is defeated, while Alabar takes Deathcry and retreats. He reveals to her that some force brought the stasis ship to Earth, and says that he and Deathcry must learn who wanted the Butcher to live again.

AVENGERS #376 & #377

"THE INHUMAN CONDITION" | "OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME"
Writer: Joey Cavalieri | Artist: Grant Meihm
Letterers: Susan Crespi (#376) & Bill Oakley (#377) | Colorist: Ovi Hondru
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: (Issue 376) On a rainy night, Crystal reflects on the departure of the Black Knight, then recalls an adventure she had wherein an Inhuman named Sporr was captured by an armored fighter called the Janissary. But Sporr used his power to separate into multiple beings, and sent another version of himself to Avengers Mansion for Crystal's help. He led Crystal to his other self in the Andes, where the Janissary turned his captive Sporr over to a woman who sapped Sporr's power for herself. Meanwhile, Crystal entered the woman's facility and defeated the Janissary, then found the woman had transformed herself into a super-powered being called Terrigene. Crystal and Terrigene fought and Crystal won, then Terrigene revealed that she had studied Inhumans her entire life and wanted to create her own Inhuman family, after being disowned by her human parents. Crystal left with Sporr, and the two Sporrs reunited into one. In the present, Crystal wonders if she should return to the Inhumans' Great Refuge as Sporr did.

(Issue 377) Walking through Central Park, Quicksilver finds a teen boy under attack by several gang members. Quicksilver saves the boy and takes out his assailants, then catches a taxi to Manhattan's Transian District. There, Quicksilver finds the same young man attacked by another gang. But this time, the boy saves himself with an electrical power, then leaves. Quicksilver goes searching for him and finds himself accosted by several angry men in a nearby pub. Quicksilver takes these men out and continues searching for the boy. Eventually he finds him, along with his brother and sister, nearby. The teens take Quicksilver to their home, a building resembling the Transian opera house. There, the siblings' father, Pavane, introduces himself to Quicksilver, telling him they grew up in Transia together, where the man was smitten with Quicksilver's sister, Wanda. But Quicksilver wouldn't let her near him, so now Pavane wants revenge. He and his children use their mutant powers to gang up on Quicksilver, but when one of the boys is injured in the fight, Quicksilver rushes him to the hospital. There, Pavane and Quicksilver make peace.

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 #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 STRIKEFILE

"GALACTIC MOURNING"
Writers: Bob Harras & Cefn Ridout | Penciler: Jeff Moore | Inker: Mike Sellers
Letterer: Michael Higgins | Colorist: Nel Yomtov | Editor: Richard Ashford
Group Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: In their hidden compound on the moon, Galen Kor and his troops monitor the nearby crash-landing of a capsule from Kree space. The warriors retrieve and activate the device, which is revealed as the final recording of a Kree historian. He recaps the events of the Kree/Shi'ar war for Galen Kor and his followers, explaining to them the Avengers' complicity in the detonation of the nega-bomb, as well as their assassination of the Supreme Intelligence. Kor vows to make the Avengers pay. Meanwhile, on Earth, Vision monitors the arrival of the capsule as well, and wonders what it could mean.

Continuity Notes: This is apparently a hard issue to place in continuity, though I can't figure out why it should be. The AVENGERS: THE GATHERING OMNIBUS places it before AVENGERS ANNUAL #22, and thus directly between AVENGERS #364 and 365 -- so it's set just prior to the Avengers' battle with Galen Kor. But the AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION: THE GATHERERS STRIKE! volume has it at the very end, after all the issues in the book -- therefore putting it between AVENGERS nos. 366 and 367, after the encounter with Kor but before "Bloodties". And the good people at the Marvel Chronology Project list Galen Kor as appearing here after his last appearance in AVENGERS #366 as well, but there's no way to know exactly where they would stick it, since his next appearance is a year later in the upcoming in issue 378 (spolier alert).

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.