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 #367

"VOYEURISTIC VISIONS"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Jim Hall | Inker: Don Hudson
Letterers: Bill Oakley & John Babcock | Colorist: Chris Matthys
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: Vision drifts around Avengers Mansion, wrestling with his (lack of) emotions. First, distracted, he is nearly hit by training missles in the Avengers workout room. Then he eavesdrops on a conversation between Hercules and Taylor Madison outside. He next travels to the medical lab, where he witnesses the Swordsman awaken, much to the relief of Magdalene. Vision goes to tell Hank Pym about Swordsman's recovery, and then speaks with him about their familial bond and dissolutions of their respective marriages. Afterward, Vision speaks with Crystal about his children, who no longer exist. Finally, he returns outside, where Deathcry flirts with and kisses him. But when she observes that he is holding back his emotions out of far, he furiously smashes the mansion wall after she walks away.

Later, in Crystal's quarters, Fabian Cortez appears and abducts Luna.

Continuity Notes: Hercules suggests that he hasn't seen Taylor Madison in some time; that she has been avoiding him. Of course, the annual we looked at just a few weeks ago (not written by Bob Harras) showed Taylor visiting the mansion and acting as if she'd been there multiple times since the dinner party some time back -- but I suspect Harras's intention is that the two haven't seen each other since that night.

Taylor also explains why she's been avoiding Hercules -- she doesn't want to become involved with an immortal, since she knows she will grow old and die while Hercules remains as vital as ever.

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 ANNUAL #22

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

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

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

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

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.