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.