We played your deranged game -- but we played by OUR rules, not yours -- and the Avengers' rules have always been about saving lives -- whatever it takes. 
Appearing in "To Challenge a Champion!"
Featured Characters:
- ⏴ Giant-Man (Hank Pym) ⏵
- ⏴ Squadron Supreme ⏵
- Moonglow (Arcanna Jones)
- Hyperion (Zhib-Ran)
- Power Princess (Zarda)
- Dr. Spectrum (Joseph Ledger)
- Whizzer (Stanley Stewart)
- Skylark (Linda Lewis)
- Shape (Raleigh Lund)
- Haywire (Harold Danforth)
- Amphibian (Only in flashback)
- Cap'n Hawk (Only in flashback)
- Golden Archer (Only in flashback)
- Nighthawk (Only in flashback)
- Nuke (Only in flashback)
- Tom Thumb (Only in flashback)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Locations:
Items:
- Mjolnir
- Iron Man Armor Model 16
- Hawkeye's Bow & Trick Arrows
- Captain America's triangular shield
- Captain America's Uniform
- Swordsman's Sword
- Magdelene's Staff
- Porcupine Armor
- 2 Ultron heads
- Wand of Watoomb
- Wonder Glove
- Eternal Brain-Mine
- Seth's staff
- Anti-gravity disk
- Doctor Spectrum's Power Prism
- Zodiac Star-Blaster
- Ant-Man's Helmet
- Nth Projector
Vehicles:
- Avenger's Quinjet
- Project: Pegasus Shuttle
Synopsis for "To Challenge a Champion!"
Justice is still awe-struck that he's an Avenger now, while Firestar is less than enthusiastic. Justice is admiring Hank Pym in particular, but Firestar doesn't think he's that cool. The two arrive late to a training session with the Swordsman and Magdalene, which Justice breaks by not following the rules he wasn't around to hear. The Avengers then get a message from Moonglow of the Squadron Supreme, who is requesting their help.
The Avengers meet up with the Squadron Supreme, who have been tracking a mysterious energy source that tried to mind control them again. The Avengers and the Squadron Supreme track the energy source down to a forest, where the villainous mastermind Imus Champion has set up a device that will kill thousands of people if he isn't stopped.
Imus challenges the two hero teams to stop him before that happens, with an electromagnetic barrier preventing anyone from leaving. Imus then heads off, and the Avengers and Squadron Supreme split into teams to track him. The Avengers learn more about the human side of the Squadron Supreme, and Firestar gets some advice to make sure that her needs are also met in her relationship with Justice. Unfortunately, none of that helps as Imus is able to use stolen artifacts to effortlessly beat every Avenger and Squadron Supreme member.
However, when Imus arrives at his tower to kill everyone, he finds that all of the computers have been destroyed by Hank Pym, as Firestar used one of his ants to reach out and contact him. The other heroes arrive and arrest Imus, although he promises to return. The Avengers then combine some of Imus' stolen tech with Magdalene's powers to send the Squadron Supreme back to their own universe, although Haywire decides to stay behind. Magdalene and Swordsman head out as well to find their own path, leaving the Avengers to carry on saving the world.
Notes
- Wraparound cover.
- Reprinted in the "Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe" collection.
- Squadron Supreme are sent back to their universe.
- The Squadron Supreme next appear in Squadron Supreme: New World Order #1.
See Also
- 7 image(s) from Avengers / Squadron Supreme '98 Vol 1 1
- 6 reprint(s) of Avengers / Squadron Supreme '98 Vol 1 1