Appearing in "The Taking of the Avengers!"
Featured Characters:
- Avengers (Main story and recap)
- ⏴ Vision ⏵ (Main story and recap)
- ⏴ Thor (Odinson) ⏵ (Main story and recap)
- ⏴ Iron Man (Tony Stark) ⏵ (Main story and recap)
- ⏴ Scarlet Witch (Wanda Frank) ⏵ (Main story and recap)
- ⏴ Captain America (Steve Rogers) ⏵ (Main story and recap)
- Hawkeye (Clint Barton) (Main story and recap)
- ⏴ Beast (Henry "Hank" McCoy) ⏵ (Avengers applicant)
Antagonists:
- Assassin ⏵ (First appearance)
- Unidentified contract giver (First appearance)
- Various unnamed agents
- Agent 7-A (First appearance)
- Agent 5-B (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Zodiac (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Taurus (Cornelius van Lunt) (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Leo (Daniel Radford) (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Pisces (Noah Perricone) (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Ares (Grover Raymond) (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Black Panther (T'Challa) (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Hydra (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Grim Reaper (Williams) (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Destroyer (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Moonstone (Lloyd Boch) (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Doctor Spectrum (Kinji Obatu) (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Magneto (Max Eisenhardt) (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Zzzax (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Unidentified old woman
- Several unnamed medical personnel
- Nazis (Referenced)
- Lord (Yahweh) (Referenced)
- NYPD (Mentioned)
- Dr. Don Blake (Mentioned)
- Swordsman (Jacques DuQuesne) (Referenced)
- Yellowjacket (Hank Pym) (Referenced)
- Wasp (Janet Van Dyne) (Referenced)
- Pietro Frank (Referenced)
- Sons of the Serpent (Only in recap)
- Space Phantom (Only in recap)
Races and Species:
- Synthezoids (Main story and recap)
- Asgardians (Main story and recap)
- Humans (Main story and recap)
- Mutants (Main story and recap)
- Sabretooth (Mentioned)
- Space Phantoms (Only in recap)
Locations:
- Earth (Main story and recap)
- North America (Main story and recap)
- United States (Main story and recap)
- New York (Main story and recap)
- New York City (Main story and recap)
- Manhattan (Main story and recap)
- Financial District (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- World Trade Center (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Lower East Side (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Unnamed Hospital
- Midtown (Only in recap)
- Fifth Avenue (Only in recap)
- Avengers Mansion (Only in recap)
- Fifth Avenue (Only in recap)
- Financial District (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Upper New York Bay (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Long Island (Mentioned)
- Stark Enterprises Main Plant, Flushing, Queens (Mentioned)
- Manhattan (Main story and recap)
- New York City (Main story and recap)
- Washington, D.C. (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Michigan (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Detroit (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Stark Industries Aerospace Division (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Detroit (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Jersey (Referenced)
- New York (Main story and recap)
- United States (Main story and recap)
- North America (Main story and recap)
Items:
- Mjolnir (Main story and recap)
- Iron Man Armor Model 3 (Main story and recap)
- Captain America's Uniform and Shield (Main story and recap)
- Panther Habit (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Grim Reaper's Scythe (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Magneto's Helmet (Only on screen as a static image or video record) (Only in recap)
- Hawkeye's Suit, Bow and Trick Arrows (Main story and recap)
Events:
- World War II (Mentioned)
Synopsis for "The Taking of the Avengers!"
The mysterious masked Assassin has been hired by a man who is a representative for many of the Avengers' former foes. After showing the Assassin a series of recordings of various Avengers in action as a team, or in their solo careers he asks the Assassin if the masked killer will take the job. After some consideration, the Assassin takes the job and vows that the Avengers will all be dead in a year.
A year later, Captain America happens upon a group of thieves robbing a store, all wearing Captain America masks. The Star-Spangled Avenger battles these common thugs were completely unaware that they are in the employ of the Assassin, and this is all part of the killer's plan. Captain America makes short work of most of the crooks, but one flees down the street, luring Captain America into firing range of the Assassin's special weapon. The blast seemingly kills Captain America, and the Assassin then calls one of the local residents whose window overlooks where Captain America has fallen and ask her to call the police.
As planned, Captain America is taken to the hospital which brings in the rest of the Avengers. Thor and Iron Man arrive at the hospital first to learn that Captain America's life is slowly dwindling away, when the two contemplate if Thor should try to aid the doctors as Donald Blake, Iron Man decides it's better for them to go to his Long Island research lab. Hawkeye, having heard the news as well rushes into the hospital and toward Captain America's room. There he finds two strange creatures about to enter the Captain's room. Hawkeye fights them off however they manage to escape when they fill the hallway with gas. When he arrives outside Cap's room he finds Beast, Scarlet Witch and Vision all waiting for him. Hawkeye relieves them from watch duty, however, the Vision stays behind with Hawkeye to continue to watch forward. As the night carries on both Hawkeye and Vision reflect on their relationships with Captain America.
The Avengers are completely unaware that even now the Assassin is watching their every move and is going to strike again very soon.
Notes
- The cover art is homaged on the cover of New Mutants #87 (March 1990).
- This is a fill-in story that was supposed to be printed in Giant-Size Avengers #5 as explained in the letters page of Giant-Size Avengers #4. It takes place prior to Avengers #141.
- This issue is divided into three chapters:
- Chapter I: The Assassin Never Fails
- Chapter II: Target: Captain America
- Chapter III: The Small Hours