Avengers Vol 1 18

Avengers Vol 1 #18 Published 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

I thought our purpose was to battle crime! Why need we concern ourselves with international affairs?

-- Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff)

Appearing in "When The Commissar Commands!"

Featured Characters:

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

Supporting Characters:

• Edwin Jarvis (Unnamed)

Antagonists:

• Commissar (First appearance) (Apparent death)
• Major Hoy (First appearance)
• Sin-Cong Army (First appearance)

Other Characters:

• Iron Man (Tony Stark) (Referenced)
• Thor (Odinson) (Referenced)
• Giant-Man (Hank Pym) (Referenced)
• Numerous unnamed New Yorkers
• Mario (Circus Acrobat) (First appearance)
• Numerous unnamed Sin-Cong citizens
• Nick Fury (Vision) (Cameo)
• S.H.I.E.L.D. (Referenced)
• Reed Richards (Mentioned)
• X-Men (Mentioned)

Races and Species:

• Androids
• Humans
• Asgardians (Mentioned)
• Mutants (Mentioned)
• Horses (Mentioned)

Locations:

• Earth
  • Asia
    • The State of Sin-Cong (First appearance)
      • Sin-Cong Airdome (First appearance)
    • Peking, China (Referenced)
  • North America
    • United States of America
      • New York
        • New York City
          • Manhattan
            • Midtown
              • Fifth Avenue
                • Avengers Mansion
            • Theater
            • Circus

Items:

• Hawkeye's Suit, Bow and Trick Arrows
• Scarlet Witch's Suit
• Captain America's Uniform and Shield
• Quicksilver's Suit

Vehicles:

• Jet-Stream Cruiser
  
  

Synopsis for "When The Commissar Commands!"

The Avengers receive a distress call from the communist state of Sin-Cong, which is being ruled by the cruel Commissar. They 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. The Scarlet Witch then insists that the Avengers aren't defeated as she hasn't fought him yet. Using her hex power, she reveals that the Commissar is a robot and 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.
• Major Hoy's name is Spanish for "today", which is ironic considering he's Chinese.

See Also

• 6 Image(s) from Avengers Vol 1 18
• 3 Reprints of Avengers Vol 1 18

Footnotes

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