Avengers Vol 1 44

Avengers Vol 1 #44 September, 1967 Issue Details Pages 32 Original Price 12c US Editor-in-Chief Stan Lee Cover Artist John Buscema Vince Colletta Stan Goldberg Artie Simek "The Valiant Also Die!" Writer Roy Thomas Penciler John Buscema Inker Vince Colletta Letterer Sam Rosen Editor Stan Lee Previous Issue Next Issue Avengers #43 Avengers Annual #1 (Story) Avengers #45 (Title)

Red Guardian (Alexi Shostakov)	Hah! To think that one of the accursed Avengers should be captured in my very stronghold ... lured here by his love for the Black Widow! What could better prove how superior to all Americans is the one they call... the Red Guardian!!
Hawkeye	And a hotsky-trotsky to you, you long-winded creep!

Appearing in "The Valiant Also Die!"

Featured Characters:

• Avengers
  •  Hawkeye 
  •  Captain America (Steve Rogers) 
  •  Goliath 
  •  Wasp 
  •  Quicksilver 
  •  Scarlet Witch 

Supporting Characters:

•  Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)  (Main story and flashback)
•  Hercules 

Antagonists:

• Red Guardian (Alexi Shostakov) (Main story and flashback) (Apparent death)
•  Colonel Ling (Death)
•  General Brushov

Other Characters:

• The Hydra (Illusion)
• S.H.I.E.L.D.
  • Nick Fury (Mentioned)
• Joseph Stalin

Races and Species:

• Humans (Main story and flashback)
• Human-Olympian Hybrids
• Hydras (Illusion)

Locations:

• Earth
  • Asia
  • United States of America
    • Hawaii (First appearance)

Items:

• Hawkeye's Suit
• Black Widow's Suit
• Captain America's Shield
• Captain America's Uniform
• Hawkeye's Bow
  • Trick Arrows
• Psychotron
• Para-sonic thermo-ray
• Stun-ray

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "The Valiant Also Die!"

The Black Widow passes a lie-detector test and is set free. Meanwhile, the other Avengers attack the base. They gradually make headway, and Captain America is trapped and made to fight one-on-one with the Red Guardian. Hawkeye manages to escape and joins in the fighting. Captain America loses his shield but gains the upper hand, and Colonel Ling electrocutes him. The Red Guardian is unhappy that Captain America was defeated so dishonorably. Black Widow tries to disable the Psychotron, but is shot at by the Colonel. The Red Guardian leaps in the way and takes the shot and the Black Widow completes her task. She is then shot just as Hawkeye runs in and catches her. With the Psychotron disabled Hercules is free again and breaks out the base, with Hawkeye and Captain America following. Colonel Ling tries to kill Cap one last time with a rocket launcher but is stopped again by the Red Guardian. The rocket blows up the base, and the Avengers barely escape. Back in America, the Black Widow is rushed to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Notes

• This story continues in part in Avengers Annual #1.
• Although Alexi Shostakov (Earth-616) dies in this issue, other individuals had previously and will later assume the role Red Guardian. The next will be Tania Belinskaya in Defenders #35.
• Credits:
  • E Pluribus Marvel! Be It Hereby Known To All True Believers That The Titanic Team Of Stan Lee (editor), Roy Thomas (writer), and John Buscema (artist) Have Co-Created Yet Another Mind-Bending Modern Masterpiece! -Signed- Vince Colletta (Inker) Sam Rosen (Letterer)
  • Okay, So We Signed The Thing Already! Now Can We Have Our Paychecks? ... Vince and Sam
• References: Avengers #42

See Also

• Write your own review of this comic!
• Discuss Avengers Vol 1 44 on the forums
• Images from Avengers Vol 1 44

Footnotes