Appearing in "Beyond a Shadow..."
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Shadow Lord (First appearance)
- Rachel Palmer (First appearance)
- ⏴ Jocasta ⏵
- Edwin Jarvis
Antagonists:
- Berserker (First appearance) (Main story and flashback)
Other Characters:
- Fundler
- Cranshaw
- Bertolini
- Earth-Lords (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- U.S. Navy
- Roman Empire (Only in flashback)
- Ayshera (Referenced)
- Stark Industries (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
- Humans (Main story and flashback)
- Mutants
- Synthezoids
- Robots
Locations:
- Earth (Main story and flashback)
- Mediterranean Sea
- Near the coast of Majorca
- Europe (Main story and flashback)
- Italy (Main story and flashback)
- Campania
- Mount Vesuvius (Main story and flashback)
- Pompeii (Only in flashback)
- Campania
- Italy (Main story and flashback)
- North America
- Mediterranean Sea
- Shadow Realm
Items:
Vehicles:
- US aircraft carrier Poseidon
- Avenger's Quinjet
- Sky-Cycle
- Stark International Jet
Events:
Synopsis for "Beyond a Shadow..."
The Beast is visiting Wonder Man, who is shooting a movie in Italy when a mysterious city materializes in the Mediterranean Sea. Investigating, they discover a man called the Shadow Lord and witness his capture of publicity agent Rachel Palmer. The Shadow Lord reveals to Rachel how his ancient people once abused their powers over the forces of nature in an attempt to stop an immortal human agent of destruction, called the Berserker, unintentionally killing thousands.
They then dispersed from their island sanctuary into the outside world, leaving him to await the Berserker's return. Unaware of this, the Avengers attack the Shadow Lord, who mistakes them for enemies. When the heroes deduce that their adversary's power is imbued in the city itself, they destroy it, and the Shadow Lord perishes. With his last breath, he bequeaths the Avengers the responsibility of stopping the Berserker, unaware that his undying foe has already arisen.