Avengers Vol 1 79

	Published
	August, 1970
"Lo! The Lethal Legion!"
	Writer Roy Thomas; Penciler John Buscema; Inker Tom Palmer; Letterer Artie Simek; Editor Stan Lee;

You can lord it over the others if you want, Reaper... but do not play high-and-mighty with the Swordsman!

-- Swordsman

Appearing in "Lo! The Lethal Legion!"

Featured Characters:

Avengers

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Lethal Legion

Other Characters:

Monica Lynne
Bessie Hotchkiss (First appearance) (a school teacher)

Locations:

New York City
- Manhattan
  - Avengers Mansion
- Andrew Jackson High School

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "Lo! The Lethal Legion!"

The Avengers are joined once more by Thor and Iron Man, as they begin their search for Black Panther. While the Vision puts on a human disguise and seeks to question the Panther's various civilian contacts, the Avengers begin their quest to learn who are the other villains aiding the Man-Ape against the Avengers.

Meanwhile, the Lethal Legion plot the next phase of their plan. The Grim Reaper sends Swordsman and Power Man to strike at the water main beneath Avengers Mansion, and the Man-Ape and the Living Laser to attack the nearby power station. When the other villains leave, Black Panther manages to break free and warn the Avengers of the villains plots before battling the Grim Reaper on his own.

While the Vision continues to search for clues to the Panther's location, Goliath and the Scarlet Witch enter the sewers to tackle Swordsman and Power Man, while at the power station Captain America and Quicksilver battle Man-Ape and the Living Laser. All the heroes manage to be defeated and are put into a giant hour glass that will bury them in sand forever. Soon Power Man arrives with a defeated Vision who is tossed into the mix as well, and hands the Grim Reaper a file containing detailed information on the Avengers. Reading the Visions file the Grim Reaper freaks out and smashes the glass open, freeing all inside, before realizing it was a trick and the Vision had switched costumes with Power Man.

The Avengers then make short work of the villains, and the Vision reveals that since the Grim Reaper was the brother of Simon Williams, whose brain patterns were used as a template for the Visions personality, that triggered the Reaper's sudden urge to free the Avengers.

Solicit Synopsis

The Grim Reaper—Power Man—the Living Laser—Man-Ape—the sinister Swordsman! Put 'em all together and they spell—the Lethal Legion!

Notes

This issue contains a letters section called "Avengers Assemble!". It comprises one letter from a Philip Mallory Jones, printed in its entirety (except for one deleted expletive). In it, Jones picks apart issue #74 and accuses its creators of furthering prejudices. Due to lack of Space, Roy Thomas's reply is printed next issue.

The splash page for this comic is clearly illustrated by Don Heck and not John Buscema.

Trivia

There is a visual error with the artist's cover, The Grim Reaper has no right hand (as depicted).

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