Three Cows Shot Me Down! Avengers #95

Avengers #95 (January 1972)
"Something Inhuman This Way Comes!"
Roy Thomas-Neal Adams/Tom Palmer (cover by J. Buscema/Palmer)

Doug: If you notice, I made special mention of today's cover, as rendered by Big John Buscema and Tom Palmer. I thought that was a significant detail, given JB's stint as penciller in the middle chapter of last week's installment.

Karen: I couldn't help but think that some of those Inhumans Big John had attacking the Avengers would have fit in well in a Thor comic -they look like trolls and such!

Doug: I've read so many times that it's those creepy, creature-types that Buscema truly loved to doodle. He really poured his love into the weird characters and monsters.

Doug: This plot started getting a whole lot thicker at the end of our last issue. If you'll recall, Triton emerged from the New York City sewers as the Avengers were engaged in mortal combat against the Mandroids -- human controlled machines built by Tony Stark but under the authority of resident megalomaniac H. Warren Craddock. We actually backtrack as this issue begins, seeing Triton emerge from the sea and begin to make his way across Manhattan. Of course some of the hot-headed locals just can't take a scaly green humanoid in purple trunks, so they grab meat hooks, or icepicks, or some other sort of the object the TSA doesn't smile upon and take after our hero. Hey, did you know Triton knew how to drive? No way -- too weird for me. Anyway, a cop wings him in the left shoulder and it's then that our amphibious Inhuman took to the sewers.

Karen: I've always liked Triton. Part of the reason for that has to be his design -I love non-human characters. But over the years he was also imbued with intelligence and nobility, which we see demonstrated here. But yeah -driving the van seemed a stretch!

Doug: Emerging right in front of Avengers mansion, Triton witnesses the end of the scrap, as Iron Man removed the pods from his hips and emptied their energy into the Mandroids. Kaput. We get a look-see at Craddock in his control room, again in contact with a reluctant Col. Nick Fury. Fury's none-too-happy about helping Craddock and his alien commission. Rick Jones helps Triton to a bench, where the wounded Inhuman explains that it was the FF he'd come to for help, but as time is of the essence, the Avengers will have to do. Triton explains that Maximus the Mad is in control of the Hidden Land, while Black Bolt is somewhere in San Francisco, amnesiac. Cap and Thor move immediately to set plans to head to California; the Vision protests loudly. Iron Man takes issue, and the Vision explains that finding their lost teammates, as well as Captain Marvel, is of the utmost importance given the pending Kree/Skrull War. Of all people, Clint makes peace and offers a simple solution -- split the team.

Karen: Although it was an awfully quick end to that fight, the shot of Shellhead holding his power pods high, zapping the Mandroids, was a delight. He always had the right tool for the job. It's funny to see him still having to hide his secret identity too -everyone always wondered how he knew so much, how he seemed nearly as adept with machines and electronics as his employer. Makes you think that maybe the Avengers were not the brightest guys! I did enjoy the way Roy tied this story in to the Inhumans story he was doing in Amazing Adventures, although when this came out, I didn't have those comics. Still, he gives us enough information here to get the gist of it. One nitpick: Goliath says he recognized Triton from an appearance at the U.N., but a page later, Triton tells us that Black Bolt was exploring human cities in order to figure out how to "apprise the human race of our existence." The Vision's reaction to Triton's news gives us a brief glimpse of the fire that would come to the surface in the next issue. Seeing him and Iron Man close to blows was a big surprise.

Doug: The whole secret identity thing among heroes was always rather contrived. What? Tony Stark didn't want Dr. Don Blake to be in-the-know? He'd rather just flop dead of a heart attack? I'm speaking of course of the time prior to them actually sharing those secrets. Matt Murdock and Peter Parker eventually knew, right? Anyway... I'm thinking Iron Man would have been thrashed by the Vision, much like Thor kicked his butt in issue #130.

Doug: So Cap, Rick, and Goliath accompany Triton to the Left Coast, while Vizh, Iron Man, and Thor set about making plans to head into space -- using the power of Thor's hammer. We cut right away to San Fran, where Black Bolt and his young charge (as Karen just said, you'll have to check out Amazing Adventures #'s 5-8 to get the backstory -- like everything else full of Bronze love, these issues are on our to-do list!) are being menaced by some toughs. Cap and the boys arrive just in time, and after a brief dust-up Triton's appearance brings Black Bolt's memory back. But just as suddenly, Black Bolt gestures that they must return to the Hidden Land immediately. So, away we go (again)!

Karen: When Cap asks the Vision to select the teams because of his logical computer mind, and the Vision takes the two most powerful Avengers, I almost had to laugh. Sure, Thor and Iron Man are the best suited for a space excursion. But as the android recognizes, there's a degree of selfishness in that act.

Doug: He's more human than he ever gives himself credit for. Roy Thomas then gives us a partial origin story for Black Bolt and Maximus, specifically detailing the time when Maximus made a deal with the Kree. Black Bolt heard of it, and rushed in to interrupt. Maximus punched his brother (earlier in the story, they'd been reported as being cousins -- which is correct?) and allowed the Kree emissary to escape. With only one option to stop the Kree ship, Black Bolt unleashed a scream toward the vessel -- it worked, disabling and sending it plummeting back toward Earth. But in a cruel twist of fate, that Kree ship crashed into the royal palace -- killing their parents! And that is what drove Maximus mad.

Karen: I really like this segment artistically. It's all in blue tones, and there's a framing device of Black Bolt's head in profile. On the first page of the flashback, Black Bolt is looking up, with a sad, wistful expression. His head is in the upper-lefthand corner. On the final page of the sequence, his head is in the lower righthand corner, his head is tilted down, and his eyes are closed. I just thought this was a really innovative and powerful way of showing what could have been a very standard flashback in another artist's hands.

Doug: Alex Ross has of course made a living with monochromatic pages. This may be the first time (temporally speaking) I can recall this being used -- of course I say that, and I remember that some of Kirby's FF covers were like that. Hmmm...

Doug: Back in Manhattan, the power trio was just polishing off the last of the Mandroids, who were now being remotely-controlled. With breathing room, Thor was able to open a portal. Strangely enough, it was not toward the intergalactic war but toward the Hidden Land. Of all people, the Vision made the suggestion. Emerging at the base of the huge black dome covering the Hidden Land, the Avengers were unable to penetrate the surface. As they make several futile attempts, the ship bearing the other group arrives. With but a whisper, Black Bolt shattered the dome. But what happens? His subjects attack! But with another whisper, he breaks the spell Maximus had put over the population of the Great Refuge. It's now Maximus who is the object of their aggression. Did you think that Black Bolt used his voice more in this issue than you've ever seen him use it before?

Karen: Black Bolt's always been more of a threat than an active player but with all of his other powers most of the time it seemed like he never needed to use his voice. The panel where he brings his people out from Maximus' control was well done. I have to say, the Mandroids were never much of a threat; each time we see their defeat, everything happens off panel! I really enjoyed the way Thor was depicted in the Kree-Skrull War; he's clearly the team's Superman. He rather effortlessly opens a portal to the Inhumans' city -although even his magical hammer can't shatter the barrier. The Vision's change of heart just lets us know he's a true hero. As much as he's dying to go get Wanda, he feels he has to help the Inhumans.

Doug: To conclude, a Kree diplomat is also in the Hidden Land and scoops up Rick Jones, whisking him into a departing spaceship. Now the Avengers must count four among those in need of rescue. Maximus was beaten, returned to madness by his defeat. And what of the Kree? We get a quick look at the Supreme Intelligence, gloating over Wanda, Pietro, and Mar-Vell and stating that "the players are all in place". Our heroes, fully aware of the severity of the situation, cry toward the sky that they are indeed coming. Game on!