Appearing in "Let the Game Begin"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
Growing Man - Kang (Main story and flashback)
- Grandmaster (First appearance) (Main story and flashback)
- Squadron Sinister (First appearance)
- Doctor Spectrum (First appearance)
- Hyperion (First appearance)
- Nighthawk (First appearance)
- Whizzer (First appearance as Whizzer)
- Doctor Spectrum
Other Characters:
- Numerous unnamed New Yorkers
- Tony Stark
- S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Tony (First appearance)
- Dr. Jose Santini
- Dr. Don Blake (Mentioned)
- Kong (Mentioned)
- Ravonna
- Odin (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
- Humans (Main story and flashback)
- Synthezoids
- Asgardians
- Robots
- Unidentified alien species (Main story and flashback)
- Cats (Invoked)
- Skrulls
Locations:
- Prime Marvel Universe
- Earth
- North America
- United States
- New York
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Unidentified Hospital
- Avengers Mansion (Mentioned)
- Manhattan
- New York City
- New York
- United States
- Africa (Mentioned)
- North America
- Earth
- Earth-6311 (Main story and flashback)
- Earth (Main story and flashback)
- Kang's Castle (Main story and flashback)
- Earth (Main story and flashback)
Items:
- Goliath's Suit
- Yellowjacket's Suit
- Wasp's Suit
- Mjolnir
- Dr Santini's Ultra Rejuvinator
- Captain America's Uniform and Shield
- Kang Armor
- Panther Habit
- Dr. Spectrum's Power Prism (First appearance)
- Power Prism (First appearance)
- Grandmasters Tri-Sphere
- Kang's Light of the Centuries Sphere (First appearance)
Synopsis for "Let the Game Begin"
The Avengers have made a special visit to Tony Stark, who is in the hospital near death (Following the events of Iron Man #18) they are soon joined by fellow Avengers, Captain America and Thor. During their visit, the Wasp comes across a tiny figurine, which is actually one of Kang's Growing Men. The creature grows in size and battles the Avengers, capturing Tony Stark and transporting all involved away to a distant place. They soon find themselves in the 4000 A.D. throne room of Kang the Conqueror.
After a brief battle against Kang's guards, the Avengers are informed that Kang has enlisted their aid in helping him best a cosmic being known as the Grandmaster. Kang explains that he was visited by the Grandmaster who offers him the opportunity to restore his comatose lover, Ravonna, if he were to win a "chess" game which pits champions of Kang's choosing against those selected by the Grandmaster. However, should Kang loose, not only will Ravonna not be awakened, but the Earth would be doomed to oblivion.
The Avengers agree to helping Kang, on the condition that Tony Stark is returned to Earth, upon Stark's return (Whose story continues in Iron Man #19) the Grandmaster appears and selects Captain America, Goliath and Thor, who are to be joined by a fourth comrade on Earth to battle his champions: Hyperion, Nighthawk, Dr. Spectrum and the Whizzer.
Solicit Synopsis
Kang the Conqueror plays a game — with a world as the stakes! A must!
Notes
- The Squadron Sinister are a homage/pastiche of DC Comic's Justice League of America, each member bearing similarities of that teams popular members: Hyperion for Superman, Dr. Spectrum for Green Lantern, Nighthawk for Batman, and Whizzer for the Flash.
- This cover is signed by artist Sal Buscema and Sam Grainger.
- Portions of this story pick up from Iron Man #18 and continue in #19.
