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{{Marvel Database:Comic Template |
{{Marvel Database:Comic Template |
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| Image = Avengers Annual Vol 1 1.jpg |
| Image = Avengers Annual Vol 1 1.jpg |
||
− | | Month = September |
+ | | Month = September |
| Year = 1967 |
| Year = 1967 |
||
| ReleaseDate = 7-11-1967 |
| ReleaseDate = 7-11-1967 |
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Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
| StoryTitle1 = The Monstrous Master Plan of the Mandarin! |
| StoryTitle1 = The Monstrous Master Plan of the Mandarin! |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | | Synopsis1 = Living Laser attempts to escape prison, but Iron Man is about to stop him when he vanishes suddenly. Iron Man calls a meeting of all Avengers. Living Laser had been teleported by the Mandarin, as well as the Swordsman, Power Man, the Executioner and the Enchantress. They are told to attack places all over the world. The Avengers are informed about this by Nick Fury. |
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⚫ | |||
− | |||
| Writer1_1 = Roy Thomas |
| Writer1_1 = Roy Thomas |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| Penciler1_1 = Don Heck |
| Penciler1_1 = Don Heck |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| Inker1_1 = George Bell |
| Inker1_1 = George Bell |
||
| Colourist1_1 = |
| Colourist1_1 = |
||
| Letterer1_1 = Artie Simek |
| Letterer1_1 = Artie Simek |
||
| Editor1_1 = Stan Lee |
| Editor1_1 = Stan Lee |
||
+ | | Synopsis1 = '''PART ONE: THE MONSTROUS PLAN OF THE MANDARIN''' |
||
+ | <br> |
||
+ | The Living Laser attempts to escape from prison but Iron Man (who, in his civilian identity as Tony Stark has been inspecting security tech that Stark supplied to the prison) stops him. But then, the Living Laser vanishes suddenly. Concerned that other past Avengers foes may be "escaping" in such a manner, Iron Man calls a meeting of all Avengers -- much to the surprise of his team mates since he is not an active member of the team at the time. |
||
+ | |||
+ | It is revealed that the Living Laser had been teleported away by the Mandarin. He has gathered together the Swordsman, Power Man, the Executioner and the Enchantress. They are instructed to aid his master plan by attacking a variety of locations all over the world. To ensure his lackies stay in line, the Mandarin pretends to teleport the Sub-Mariner to his base as well. When Namor refuses to obey orders, the Mandarin summarily destroys him. It's all an illusion meant to frighten the villains into behaving, but it works; they all fall in line. |
||
+ | |||
+ | When Iron-Man arrives at Avengers Mansion, he's attacked by Hercules who doesn't know him and mistakes him for a villain. Their brief skirmish is halted by Thor's arrival, who introduces the two heroes and assures them both that they are all on the same side. Nick Fury contacts the Avengers and relates how several of their past opponents are staging attacks around the world in what appears to be a concerted effort. The Avengers break up into teams to confront the villains. |
||
+ | |||
+ | '''PART TWO: TO PERISH BY THE SWORD''' |
||
+ | <br> |
||
+ | Iron Man, Goliath and the Wasp deal with Power Man and the Swordsman. Iron-Man prevents the Swordsman from crushing a city with a colossal sword. |
||
+ | |||
+ | '''PART THREE: STRUGGLE IN A STRANGE LAND''' |
||
+ | <br> |
||
+ | Hercules and the Scarlet Witch stop the Executioner and Enchantress. |
||
+ | |||
+ | '''PART FOUR: AND A MONSTER SHALL STALK THE LAND''' |
||
+ | <br> |
||
+ | Thor and Hawkeye deal with Living Laser who is aided by Mandarin's giant robot Ultimo. But they defeat him as well. |
||
+ | |||
+ | '''PART FIVE: SHOWDOWN IN SPACE''' |
||
+ | <br> |
||
⚫ | Captain America and Quicksilver confront the Mandarin in his space station. Soon enough, they are joined by the rest of the Avengers. The Mandarin uses a hate ray on them, causing them to fight whoever they are closest to. The Wasp, however, is closer to the Mandarin. She attacks him and the hate ray is deactivated. The Mandarin tries again to defeat them with another ray, but it blows a hole in the wall and sucks him out into space. The Avengers plant a bomb and destroy the base after leaving. |
||
+ | |||
+ | As the team returns to Earth in a shuttle, Iron-Man remarks on how the entire team of Avengers ought to assemble more often. The Scarlet Witch chimes in that she hopes it doesn't have to take a villain such as the Mandarin to unite them all in the future. |
||
| Appearing1 = |
| Appearing1 = |
||
Line 48: | Line 54: | ||
* {{a|[[Avengers (Earth-616)|Avengers]]}} |
* {{a|[[Avengers (Earth-616)|Avengers]]}} |
||
** {{apn|[[Steven Rogers (Earth-616)|Captain America (Steve Rogers)]]|Tales of Suspense #94|Avengers #45}} |
** {{apn|[[Steven Rogers (Earth-616)|Captain America (Steve Rogers)]]|Tales of Suspense #94|Avengers #45}} |
||
− | ** {{apn|[[Anthony Stark (Earth-616)|Iron Man]]|Tales of Suspense #91|Avengers #45}} {{joins}} |
+ | ** {{apn|[[Anthony Stark (Earth-616)|Iron Man (Tony Stark)]]|Tales of Suspense #91|Avengers #45}} {{joins}} |
− | ** {{apn|[[Thor Odinson (Earth-616)|Thor]]|Thor |
+ | ** {{apn|[[Thor Odinson (Earth-616)|Thor]]|Thor #600|Avengers #45}}{{joins}} |
− | ** {{apn|[[Henry Pym (Earth-616)|Goliath]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
+ | ** {{apn|[[Henry Pym (Earth-616)|Goliath (Henry Pym)]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
− | ** {{apn|[[Janet van Dyne (Earth-616)|Wasp]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
+ | ** {{apn|[[Janet van Dyne (Earth-616)|Wasp (Janet van Dyne)]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
− | ** {{apn|[[Clinton Barton (Earth-616)|Hawkeye]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
+ | ** {{apn|[[Clinton Barton (Earth-616)|Hawkeye (Clint Barton)]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
− | ** {{apn|[[Pietro Maximoff (Earth-616)|Quicksilver]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
+ | ** {{apn|[[Pietro Maximoff (Earth-616)|Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff)]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
− | ** {{apn|[[Wanda Maximoff (Earth-616)|Scarlet Witch]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
+ | ** {{apn|[[Wanda Maximoff (Earth-616)|Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff)]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
'''Supporting Characters:''' |
'''Supporting Characters:''' |
||
* {{apn|[[Hercules (Earth-616)|Hercules]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
* {{apn|[[Hercules (Earth-616)|Hercules]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Avengers #45}} |
||
− | ''' |
+ | '''Antagonists:''' |
− | * {{apn|[[Mandarin (Earth-616)| |
+ | * {{apn|[[Mandarin (Earth-616)|Mandarin]]|Tales of Suspense #86|Incredible Hulk #107}} {{ApDeath}} |
− | * {{apn|[[Amora (Earth-616)|Enchantress]]|Avengers #38|Incredible Hulk #102}} |
+ | * {{apn|[[Amora (Earth-616)|Enchantress (Amora)]]|Avengers #38|Incredible Hulk #102}} |
− | * {{apn|[[Skurge (Earth-616)|Executioner]]|Fantastic Four Annual #3|Journey into Mystery #116}} |
+ | * {{apn|[[Skurge (Earth-616)|Executioner (Skurge)]]|Fantastic Four Annual #3|Journey into Mystery #116}} |
− | * {{apn|[[Arthur Parks (Earth-616)| |
+ | * {{apn|[[Arthur Parks (Earth-616)|Living Laser (Arthur Parks)]]|Avengers #35|Captain America #105}} |
− | * {{apn|[[Erik Josten (Earth-616)|Power Man]]| |
+ | * {{apn|[[Erik Josten (Earth-616)|Power Man (Erik Josten)]]|Alpha Flight Special Vol 2 1|Avengers #78}} |
− | * {{apn|[[Jacques Duquesne (Earth-616)| |
+ | * {{apn|[[Jacques Duquesne (Earth-616)|Swordsman]]|Alpha Flight Special Vol 2 1|Captain America #105}} |
− | * {{a|[[Frost Giants| |
+ | * Artificial {{a|[[Frost Giants|Frost Giant]]}} |
* {{apn|[[Ultimo (Earth-616)|Ultimo]]|Tales of Suspense #78|Iron Man #69}} |
* {{apn|[[Ultimo (Earth-616)|Ultimo]]|Tales of Suspense #78|Iron Man #69}} |
||
'''Other Characters:''' |
'''Other Characters:''' |
||
− | * {{ |
+ | * {{BTS|[[Natalia Romanova (Earth-616)|Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)]]}} |
− | * {{a|[[New York Police Department (Earth-616)|New York Police Department]]}} |
+ | * {{a|[[New York City Police Department (Earth-616)|New York City Police Department]]}} |
− | ** |
+ | ** [[New York City Police Department (Earth-616)/Members#Charlie|Charlie]] {{1st}} |
− | * {{ |
+ | * {{apn|[[Edwin Jarvis (Earth-616)|Edwin Jarvis]]|Avengers #38|Avengers #48}} |
− | * {{a|[[Strategic |
+ | * {{a|[[Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division (Earth-616)|S.H.I.E.L.D.]]}} |
** {{apn|[[Nicholas Fury (Earth-616)|Nick Fury]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Tales of Suspense #95}} |
** {{apn|[[Nicholas Fury (Earth-616)|Nick Fury]]|Tales of Suspense #92|Tales of Suspense #95}} |
||
− | * {{illusion|[[Namor McKenzie (Earth-616)|Sub-Mariner]]}} |
+ | * {{illusion|[[Namor McKenzie (Earth-616)|Sub-Mariner (Namor)]]}} |
* Señor Presidente (president of unnamed South American country) |
* Señor Presidente (president of unnamed South American country) |
||
− | * {{a|[[Rock Trolls|Trolls of Asgard]]}} |
+ | * {{a|[[Rock Trolls (Orange-Skinned)|Trolls of Asgard]]}} |
− | * |
+ | * [[Character Index/S#Smith|Warden Smith]] {{1st}} |
− | * {{ |
+ | * {{mentioned|[[Zeus Panhellenios (Earth-616)|Zeus]]}} |
− | * {{ |
+ | * {{mentioned|[[Odin Borson (Earth-616)|Odin]]}} |
+ | '''Races and Species:''' |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | * {{a|[[Asgardians]]}} |
||
+ | * {{a|[[Human-Olympian Hybrids]]}} |
||
+ | * {{a|[[Asgardian-Storm Giant Hybrids]]}} |
||
+ | * {{a|[[Frost Giants]]}} |
||
+ | * {{a|[[Robots]]}} |
||
+ | * {{Illusion|[[Atlantean-Human Hybrids]]}} |
||
+ | * {{a|[[Rock Trolls (Orange-Skinned)|Rock Trolls]]}} |
||
'''Locations:''' |
'''Locations:''' |
||
* {{1st|[[Citadel of Silence]]}} |
* {{1st|[[Citadel of Silence]]}} |
||
− | * {{a|[[ |
+ | * {{a|[[Earth]]}} |
− | ** {{a|[[ |
+ | ** {{a|[[North America]]}} |
− | *** {{a| |
+ | *** {{a|[[United States of America]]}} |
− | **** {{a|[[ |
+ | **** {{a|[[New York State|New York]]}} |
− | ** {{a|[[ |
+ | ***** {{a|[[New York City]]}} |
+ | ****** {{a|[[Manhattan]]}} |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | ******* {{a|[[Avengers Mansion]]}} |
||
+ | ******* {{a|[[Baxter Building]]}} |
||
⚫ | |||
* {{a|[[Asia]]}} |
* {{a|[[Asia]]}} |
||
** {{a|[[China]]}} |
** {{a|[[China]]}} |
||
* {{a|[[South America]]}} |
* {{a|[[South America]]}} |
||
* {{a|[[Africa]]}} |
* {{a|[[Africa]]}} |
||
+ | * {{a|[[Mandarin's Space Station]]}} {{g|Only appearance; destruction}} |
||
− | * Space |
||
'''Items:''' |
'''Items:''' |
||
* Stun-Ulator |
* Stun-Ulator |
||
* {{a|[[Captain America's Shield]]}} |
* {{a|[[Captain America's Shield]]}} |
||
+ | * {{a|[[Captain America's Uniform]]}} |
||
* {{a|[[Mjolnir]]}} |
* {{a|[[Mjolnir]]}} |
||
− | * {{a|[[Hawkeye's Bow]]}} |
+ | * {{a|[[Hawkeye's Bow]]}} and {{a|[[Trick Arrows]]}} |
− | + | * {{a|[[Iron Man Armor Model 1]]}} |
|
⚫ | |||
* {{a|[[Golden Mace|Hercules Golden Mace]]}} |
* {{a|[[Golden Mace|Hercules Golden Mace]]}} |
||
* {{a|[[Swordsman's Sword]]}} |
* {{a|[[Swordsman's Sword]]}} |
||
* {{a|[[Bloodaxe (Enchanted Axe)|Executioner's Axe]]}} |
* {{a|[[Bloodaxe (Enchanted Axe)|Executioner's Axe]]}} |
||
− | '''Vehicles:''' |
+ | <!--'''Vehicles:''' |
− | * <br/> |
+ | * <br/>--> |
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| Appearing2 = |
| Appearing2 = |
||
'''Featured Characters:''' |
'''Featured Characters:''' |
||
* {{a|[[Hercules (Earth-616)|Hercules]]}} |
* {{a|[[Hercules (Earth-616)|Hercules]]}} |
||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| Appearing3 = |
| Appearing3 = |
||
'''Featured Characters:''' |
'''Featured Characters:''' |
||
* {{a|[[Avengers Mansion]]}} |
* {{a|[[Avengers Mansion]]}} |
||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| Appearing4 = |
| Appearing4 = |
||
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* {{a|[[Janet van Dyne (Earth-616)|Wasp]]}} |
* {{a|[[Janet van Dyne (Earth-616)|Wasp]]}} |
||
* {{a|[[Natalia Romanova (Earth-616)|Black Widow]]}} |
* {{a|[[Natalia Romanova (Earth-616)|Black Widow]]}} |
||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| Appearing5 = |
| Appearing5 = |
||
'''Featured Characters:''' |
'''Featured Characters:''' |
||
* {{a|[[Avengers (Earth-616)|Original Avengers]]}} |
* {{a|[[Avengers (Earth-616)|Original Avengers]]}} |
||
− | ** {{a|[[ |
+ | ** {{a|[[Bruce Banner (Earth-616)|Hulk]]}} |
** {{a|[[Thor Odinson (Earth-616)|Thor]]}} |
** {{a|[[Thor Odinson (Earth-616)|Thor]]}} |
||
** {{a|[[Henry Pym (Earth-616)|Ant-Man (Henry Pym]]}} |
** {{a|[[Henry Pym (Earth-616)|Ant-Man (Henry Pym]]}} |
||
Line 136: | Line 174: | ||
* {{a|[[Mjolnir]]}} |
* {{a|[[Mjolnir]]}} |
||
* {{a|[[Captain America's Shield]]}} |
* {{a|[[Captain America's Shield]]}} |
||
− | * {{a|[[Iron Man Armor MK IV]]}} |
+ | * {{a|[[Iron Man Armor Model 3|Iron Man Armor MK IV]]}} |
* {{a|[[Hawkeye's Bow]]}} |
* {{a|[[Hawkeye's Bow]]}} |
||
| Notes = |
| Notes = |
||
* Cover art: modifications by Romita. |
* Cover art: modifications by Romita. |
||
+ | * The main story depicts Thor and Iron-Man's first return engagement with the Avengers since their initial departure in ''Avengers #16''. For the next several years, both heroes will make frequent guest star appearances (often just minor cameos) before rejoining the team on a full-time basis. |
||
+ | * In fact, with the exception of the Hulk, all officially inducted members of the Avengers up until this point appear in this story, even the traitorous Swordsman whose tenure on the team up to now has lasted less than one whole issue. |
||
+ | * Conveniently, the mini-team of Avengers who confront Power Man and Swordsman consists of Iron-Man, Goliath and Wasp -- none of whom were active team members when the Swordsman was an Avenger. The villain's past Avengers membership therefore goes completely unmentioned. |
||
* This story continues in part from {{c|Avengers #44}} and will continue in part in {{c|Avengers #45}}. |
* This story continues in part from {{c|Avengers #44}} and will continue in part in {{c|Avengers #45}}. |
||
− | * This issue is reprinted in {{c|Giant- |
+ | * This issue is reprinted in {{c|Giant-Size Avengers #5}} minus the pin-ups from Sequences II through V. |
− | * |
+ | * The main story is broken into five parts/chapters: |
− | ** Part One: |
+ | ** Part One: The Monstrous Plan of the Mandarin |
− | ** Part Two: |
+ | ** Part Two: To Perish by the Sword |
− | ** Part Three: |
+ | ** Part Three: Struggle in a Strange Land |
** Part Four: And a Monster Shall Stalk the Land |
** Part Four: And a Monster Shall Stalk the Land |
||
− | ** Part Five: |
+ | ** Part Five: Showdown in Space |
− | * [[Don Heck]] took time off from the regular Avengers title to work on this issue. |
+ | * [[Don Heck]] took time off from the regular Avengers title to work on this issue. His replacement, {{a|[[John Buscema]]}}, wound up replacing Heck as the series artist permanently. [[Don Heck]] does the interior art for {{c|Avengers #45}} and {{c|Avengers Annual #2}} but otherwise did not return to pencil Avengers again until {{c|Avengers #108}}. |
* credits: |
* credits: |
||
** Stan Lee Lovingly Lords It Over A Roy Thomas - Don Heck Landmark Of Literary Luminescence! |
** Stan Lee Lovingly Lords It Over A Roy Thomas - Don Heck Landmark Of Literary Luminescence! |
||
Line 156: | Line 197: | ||
* references: {{c|Avengers Vol 1 34}}, {{c|Avengers Vol 1 35}}, {{c|Avengers Vol 1 44}}, {{c|Amazing Spider-Man Annual Vol 1 3}}, {{c|Avengers Vol 1 20}}, {{c|Tales of Suspense Vol 1 76}}, {{c|Tales of Suspense Vol 1 77}}, {{c|Tales of Suspense Vol 1 78}} |
* references: {{c|Avengers Vol 1 34}}, {{c|Avengers Vol 1 35}}, {{c|Avengers Vol 1 44}}, {{c|Amazing Spider-Man Annual Vol 1 3}}, {{c|Avengers Vol 1 20}}, {{c|Tales of Suspense Vol 1 76}}, {{c|Tales of Suspense Vol 1 77}}, {{c|Tales of Suspense Vol 1 78}} |
||
| Trivia = |
| Trivia = |
||
− | * Avengers regular artist [[Don Heck]] took time off from the regular title to pen this issue. |
+ | * Avengers regular artist [[Don Heck]] took time off from the regular title to pen this issue. However, Marvel liked his replacement, [[John Buscema]], so much that Buscema became the regular artist for the title. Buscema would pen 50+ Avengers issues over his career. Heck pencilled only a few more over the years. |
* On Page 10, Panel 6, Nick Fury is incorrectly shown with having Hercules' headband. |
* On Page 10, Panel 6, Nick Fury is incorrectly shown with having Hercules' headband. |
||
* On Page 48, Panel 3, it looks like someone photocopied the Avengers from the cover of {{c|Avengers Vol 1 25}} and made some alterations. |
* On Page 48, Panel 3, it looks like someone photocopied the Avengers from the cover of {{c|Avengers Vol 1 25}} and made some alterations. |
||
+ | * The title for Part Three, "Struggle in a Strange Land", is an homage to the popular 1960s science-fiction novel "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert Heinlein. |
||
+ | * Reprinted in {{c|Giant-Size Avengers Vol 1 5}}. |
||
| Recommended = |
| Recommended = |
||
| Links = |
| Links = |
Revision as of 16:50, 19 July 2019
Appearing in "The Monstrous Master Plan of the Mandarin!"
Featured Characters:
- Avengers
- ⏴ Captain America (Steve Rogers) ⏵
- ⏴ Iron Man (Tony Stark) ⏵ (Joins)
- ⏴ Thor ⏵ (Joins)
- ⏴ Goliath (Henry Pym) ⏵
- ⏴ Wasp (Janet van Dyne) ⏵
- ⏴ Hawkeye (Clint Barton) ⏵
- ⏴ Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff) ⏵
- ⏴ Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) ⏵
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- ⏴ Mandarin ⏵ (Apparent death)
- ⏴ Enchantress (Amora) ⏵
- ⏴ Executioner (Skurge) ⏵
- ⏴ Living Laser (Arthur Parks) ⏵
- ⏴ Power Man (Erik Josten) ⏵
- ⏴ Swordsman ⏵
- Artificial Frost Giant
- ⏴ Ultimo ⏵
Other Characters:
- Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) (Behind the scenes)
- New York City Police Department
- Charlie (First appearance)
- ⏴ Edwin Jarvis ⏵
- S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Sub-Mariner (Namor) (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Señor Presidente (president of unnamed South American country)
- Trolls of Asgard
- Warden Smith (First appearance)
- Zeus (Mentioned)
- Odin (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Asgardians
- Human-Olympian Hybrids
- Asgardian-Storm Giant Hybrids
- Frost Giants
- Robots
- Atlantean-Human Hybrids (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Rock Trolls
Locations:
- Citadel of Silence (First appearance)
- Earth
- Asia
- South America
- Africa
- Mandarin's Space Station (Only appearance; destruction)
Items:
- Stun-Ulator
- Captain America's Shield
- Captain America's Uniform
- Mjolnir
- Hawkeye's Bow and Trick Arrows
- Iron Man Armor Model 1
- Hercules Golden Mace
- Swordsman's Sword
- Executioner's Axe
Synopsis for "The Monstrous Master Plan of the Mandarin!"
PART ONE: THE MONSTROUS PLAN OF THE MANDARIN
The Living Laser attempts to escape from prison but Iron Man (who, in his civilian identity as Tony Stark has been inspecting security tech that Stark supplied to the prison) stops him. But then, the Living Laser vanishes suddenly. Concerned that other past Avengers foes may be "escaping" in such a manner, Iron Man calls a meeting of all Avengers -- much to the surprise of his team mates since he is not an active member of the team at the time.
It is revealed that the Living Laser had been teleported away by the Mandarin. He has gathered together the Swordsman, Power Man, the Executioner and the Enchantress. They are instructed to aid his master plan by attacking a variety of locations all over the world. To ensure his lackies stay in line, the Mandarin pretends to teleport the Sub-Mariner to his base as well. When Namor refuses to obey orders, the Mandarin summarily destroys him. It's all an illusion meant to frighten the villains into behaving, but it works; they all fall in line.
When Iron-Man arrives at Avengers Mansion, he's attacked by Hercules who doesn't know him and mistakes him for a villain. Their brief skirmish is halted by Thor's arrival, who introduces the two heroes and assures them both that they are all on the same side. Nick Fury contacts the Avengers and relates how several of their past opponents are staging attacks around the world in what appears to be a concerted effort. The Avengers break up into teams to confront the villains.
PART TWO: TO PERISH BY THE SWORD
Iron Man, Goliath and the Wasp deal with Power Man and the Swordsman. Iron-Man prevents the Swordsman from crushing a city with a colossal sword.
PART THREE: STRUGGLE IN A STRANGE LAND
Hercules and the Scarlet Witch stop the Executioner and Enchantress.
PART FOUR: AND A MONSTER SHALL STALK THE LAND
Thor and Hawkeye deal with Living Laser who is aided by Mandarin's giant robot Ultimo. But they defeat him as well.
PART FIVE: SHOWDOWN IN SPACE
Captain America and Quicksilver confront the Mandarin in his space station. Soon enough, they are joined by the rest of the Avengers. The Mandarin uses a hate ray on them, causing them to fight whoever they are closest to. The Wasp, however, is closer to the Mandarin. She attacks him and the hate ray is deactivated. The Mandarin tries again to defeat them with another ray, but it blows a hole in the wall and sucks him out into space. The Avengers plant a bomb and destroy the base after leaving.
As the team returns to Earth in a shuttle, Iron-Man remarks on how the entire team of Avengers ought to assemble more often. The Scarlet Witch chimes in that she hopes it doesn't have to take a villain such as the Mandarin to unite them all in the future.
Appearing in "Preeeesenting the Unconquerable Hercules!"
Featured Characters:
- Hercules
Synopsis for "Preeeesenting the Unconquerable Hercules!"
A one page Pin-Up
Appearing in "More Than Meets the Eye"
Featured Characters:
Synopsis for "More Than Meets the Eye"
A two page diagram of Avengers Mansion
Appearing in "Pulsatin' Panoramic Pulchtrudinous Pin-Up Dept."
- Scarlet Witch
- Wasp
- Black Widow
Synopsis for "Pulsatin' Panoramic Pulchtrudinous Pin-Up Dept."
A one-page pin-up of the female Avengers: Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and the Wasp.
Appearing in "The Orginal Avengers and the New Avengers"
Featured Characters:
Items:
Synopsis for "The Orginal Avengers and the New Avengers"
A one-page pin-up
Notes
- Cover art: modifications by Romita.
- The main story depicts Thor and Iron-Man's first return engagement with the Avengers since their initial departure in Avengers #16. For the next several years, both heroes will make frequent guest star appearances (often just minor cameos) before rejoining the team on a full-time basis.
- In fact, with the exception of the Hulk, all officially inducted members of the Avengers up until this point appear in this story, even the traitorous Swordsman whose tenure on the team up to now has lasted less than one whole issue.
- Conveniently, the mini-team of Avengers who confront Power Man and Swordsman consists of Iron-Man, Goliath and Wasp -- none of whom were active team members when the Swordsman was an Avenger. The villain's past Avengers membership therefore goes completely unmentioned.
- This story continues in part from Avengers #44 and will continue in part in Avengers #45.
- This issue is reprinted in Giant-Size Avengers #5 minus the pin-ups from Sequences II through V.
- The main story is broken into five parts/chapters:
- Part One: The Monstrous Plan of the Mandarin
- Part Two: To Perish by the Sword
- Part Three: Struggle in a Strange Land
- Part Four: And a Monster Shall Stalk the Land
- Part Five: Showdown in Space
- Don Heck took time off from the regular Avengers title to work on this issue. His replacement, John Buscema, wound up replacing Heck as the series artist permanently. Don Heck does the interior art for Avengers #45 and Avengers Annual #2 but otherwise did not return to pencil Avengers again until Avengers #108.
- credits:
- Stan Lee Lovingly Lords It Over A Roy Thomas - Don Heck Landmark Of Literary Luminescence!
- Inked By George Bell!
- Lettered By Artie Simek!
- references: Avengers #34, Avengers #35, Avengers #44, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #3, Avengers #20, Tales of Suspense #76, Tales of Suspense #77, Tales of Suspense #78
Trivia
- Avengers regular artist Don Heck took time off from the regular title to pen this issue. However, Marvel liked his replacement, John Buscema, so much that Buscema became the regular artist for the title. Buscema would pen 50+ Avengers issues over his career. Heck pencilled only a few more over the years.
- On Page 10, Panel 6, Nick Fury is incorrectly shown with having Hercules' headband.
- On Page 48, Panel 3, it looks like someone photocopied the Avengers from the cover of Avengers #25 and made some alterations.
- The title for Part Three, "Struggle in a Strange Land", is an homage to the popular 1960s science-fiction novel "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert Heinlein.
- Reprinted in Giant-Size Avengers #5.