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

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

Antagonists:

• Commissar
• Major Hoy (First appearance)

Other Characters:

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

Races and Species:

• Humans
• Robots
• Asgardians (Mentioned)
• Mutants (Mentioned)

Locations:

• Earth
  • Asia
    • The State of Sin-Cong (First appearance)
      • Sin-Cong Airdome (First appearance)
  • North America
    • United States of America
      • New York
        • New York City
          • Manhattan
            • Avengers Mansion
            • Theater
            • Circus

Items:

• Hawkeye's Suit, Bow and Trick Arrows
  • Sonic Arrow
  • Explosive-Tip Arrow
  • Flare Arrow
• Scarlet Witch's Suit
• Captain America's Uniform and Shield
• Quicksilver's Suit
  
  

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.

• 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

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

Footnotes