Avengers Vol 1 18

Avengers Vol 1 #18 July, 1965 Editor-in-Chief Stan Lee Cover Artist Jack Kirby Dick Ayers "When The Commissar Commands!" Writer Stan Lee Penciler Don Heck Inker Dick Ayers Colourist Stan Goldberg Letterer Artie Simek Editor Stan Lee Previous Issue Next Issue Avengers #17 Avengers #19

Appearing in "When The Commissar Commands!"

Featured Characters:

• Avengers
  •  Captain America (Steve Rogers) 
  •  Hawkeye (Clint Barton) 
  •  Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff) 
  •  Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) 

Supporting Characters:

• Edwin Jarvis

Antagonists:

• Commissar (Only appearance)^[1]
• Major Hoy (First appearance)

Other Characters:

• Mario (First appearance)
• Nick Fury (Vision) (Cameo)
• Iron Man (Anthony Stark) (Mentioned)
• Giant-Man (Henry Pym) (Mentioned)
• Thor (Mentioned)
• Reed Richards (Mentioned)

Races and Species:

• Humans
• Robots
• Asgardians (Mentioned)

Locations:

• New York City
  • Manhattan
    • Avengers Headquarters
  • The Theater
  • The Circus
• The State of Sin-Cong (First appearance)
  • Sin-Cong Airdome (First appearance)

Items:

• Captain America's Shield
• Captain America's Uniform
• Hawkeye's Bow
  • Trick Arrows
    
    

Synopsis for "When The Commissar Commands!"

The Avengers receive a distress call from the communist state of Sin-Cong, where they are being ruled by the cruel Commissar. The Avengers leave to help but are attacked by the Commissar's troops on arrival. The troops are defeated, but the Scarlet Witch falls into a trap and is taken captive.

The other Avengers have to fight one-on-one with the Commissar to save her. Captain America, Hawkeye and Quicksilver are all bested. Scarlet Witch insists that the Avengers aren't defeated as she hasn't fought him yet. Using her hex power she shows that the Commissar is a robot and she short-circuits him. Sin-Cong is then liberated.

Notes

• All the Avengers were previously seen in Avengers #17, where their search for the Hulk led them into a trap set by the Mole Man.

• Although there is a Captain America story in Tales of Suspense #67, it is a flashback story from World War II.

• This is the only appearance of the Commissar.

• The Avengers are seen again in Avengers #19 where they meet the Swordsman.

• This cover is subtly signed by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. You probably can't see it in this scan. Its on the vase by Captain America's left shoulder.

• This story is reprinted in Marvel Triple Action #12 and Essential Avengers Vol 1.

• Major Hoy's name is Spanish for "today", which is ironic considering he's Chinese.

• Credits:
  • Slyly Written by Stan Lee
  • Smoothly Drawn by Don Heck
  • Suavely Inked by Dick Ayers
  • Superbly Lettered by Artie Simek
  • Stoically Read by You (If you'll ever turn the page...!)

See Also

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• Images from Avengers Vol 1 18

Footnotes