Avengers: The Serpent Crown Affair, part 7

Avengers #149 (July 1976)
"The Gods and the Gang!"
Steve Englehart-George Perez/Sam Grainger

Doug: When we began this series, it was November in the year 2010. I remarked at the time that seven issues was a lot, but that it would be exciting. I would declare that it has been nothing but.

Doug: Slugfest? You want a little of that? Characterization? You want some of that? Well, this one has it all. Just a great Bronze Age yarn and a fitting end (although we don't see the end of the Serpent Crown until issue #154, and that's after the Living Laser got 'hold of it in Avengers Annual #6!) to what was actually two epics in one. This one starts off with the main part of the team journeying back from the Earth of the Squadron Supreme while Thor and Moondragon land at Avengers Mansion after their voyage over 100 years and 2500 miles. Englehart reminds us that during much of that trip the thunder god and the wanna-be goddess had been arguing about whether or not Thor was qualified to be an Avenger -- that he was playing below his league. Thor had not taken kindly to her criticisms and chastisement.

Karen: I really liked that split page for the splash, with the bulk of the team returning from the Squadron's reality, and Thor and Moony returning from the trip across time and space.
Doug: As Thor and Moondragon enter the mansion they are greeted by Jarvis, who informs them that the rest of the team went missing from the Brand Corporation. Thor assures Jarvis that he will investigate, and of course Moondragon tags along to continue her rant. This whole scene was very well-written, as Moondragon was played up as just despicable and Thor's brashness and single-mindedness was at the fore.

Karen: It was fun seeing someone get under Thor's skin. I also liked the comment Moondragon makes about not being Mantis -as much as Mantis' speech-patterns and star turns might have annoyed me at times, she was nothing compared to Moondragon, who just came across as a flat-out arrogant b*tch.
Doug: The Avengers arrive at Brand just ahead of Thor and Moondragon. Trouble is, they arrive right in the middle of a platoon of Brand soldiers! Despite insurmountable odds, the good guys do surmount -- until the "big gun" arrives. Now, in spite of this month's super-baddie being splashed all over the cover of this mag, Englehart writes this scene as if we "don't know what hit them". Well, duh. But as the Avengers are carted off, what should crush through the wall but the hammer of Thor! Man, it was good to see Thor back with the team after several months away battling Kang (and ol' Baldy).

Karen: I loved Thor's dramatic entrance. There are a couple of nice little character bits here: Patsy kicking a guard in the face and thinking, "Oh boy! That was just like Spider-Man!", and Wanda blasting the wall down on the Brand tank and noting to herself that in the 'old days' she would've been out of hex power by now. Girl power!
Doug: It's somewhat ironic that it's Moondragon who really socks it to Orka the Killer Whale, attacking blubber-butt right through his noggin. However, being a bear of very little brain, her attack only stings him for a moment. Then he dusts her. Furious, the thunder god now unleashes a ferocious attack, knocking Orka clean through a wall, and then some. Meanwhile, in typical bad-guy-clown fashion, Hugh Jones and Buzz Baxter have chained the Avengers to some electric gonna-shock-ya-to-tomorrow device. Won't these guys ever learn?

Karen: Am I the only one here that thinks Orka is about the dumbest looking villain we've seen in ages? Sure, he's really big, but he's got that big old Charlie Brown style noggin, and come on, he's covered in blubber! I did however like how Thor reacts to Moondragon's mental assault on Charlie - I mean Orka: he finds it ignoble! "Permit me to battle him fairly" he shouts. Englehart understood Thor's personality perfectly.
Doug: As if pounding Orka through a wall wasn't enough, the next blow literally sends him through the roof! Then comes the thunder. And rain. And lightning. But this is a new and improved Orka, one enhanced by Brand science. He's not quitting, and rips off a concrete column and hurls it at Thor. Thor barely flinches, as he destroys the projectile and continues his supernatural attack. Cut back to the Avengers, where Baxter muses about his life with Patsy Walker. Little does he know that a) he's talking out loud, and b) she's loosed herself. Patsy attacks Buzz, they tussle, and rather than have his eyes cut out he agrees to free the rest of the team.

Karen: Perez did a great job drawing that thunder storm; it looks so menacing. It also conveys the fact that Thor's power does far exceed that of his comrades. The fight between Hellcat and her ex-husband was sort of startling at the time, as you really didn't see men hitting women back then.
Doug: Back outside, Thor has made short (relatively speaking) work of Orka, but in the heat of battle has said a thing or two that ends up proving Moondragon's point about him. Thor bespoke, "Not all of those my size be humans, Orka! Thor is one of the immortals, from far-off, fabled Asgard -- and most unlike Prince Namor or any other!" He added, "The other Avengers are mortal, as thou sayest -- but I am far, far more!" Of course Moondragon calls him on it, and... but we'll have to wait until our review of issue #151 to discuss that.

Karen: I'd love to find out where Englehart was going with all this. Of course, it's the same sort of problem a writer has when Superman is on the JLA, or the Spectre is on the JSA, or Dr. Strange in the Defenders: these heroes are all so incredibly powerful individually, they make the rest of the team seem unneeded. Perhaps that's another reason they used to always split the JLA up into smaller teams to fight their enemies.
Doug: As the Assemblers are reassembled, they speak their own epilogue to what has been a long day (or century, as the case may be). Iron Man remarks how before this adventure began, they had set out to make a new line-up; and who would have suspected the changes they would undergo. The next two issues are also fun, the intrusion of the dreaded deadline doom notwithstanding. But that's for another time. But suffice it to say, this is one of my favorite Avengers arcs -- the action sequences are outstanding, the characterization top-notch. And the privilege of watching the young George Perez grow up literally before our eyes was a real treat. These seven issues are fond, special memories of my childhood, and still a blast to return to.

Karen: I had a great time reviewing these issues as well, my friend. A solid story all the way around. In some ways, I actually prefer it to the Celestial Madonna saga. These Avengers really felt like a team, something sadly lacking, IMO, from the title now. It's unfortunate that Englehart did not continue on the title; I wonder what he might have done with Hellcat, for instance. But regardless, this a great, fun story, and I enjoyed the opportunity to look at it again.

Avengers: The Serpent Crown Affair, part 6

Avengers #148 (June 1976)
"20,000 Leagues Under Justice!"
Steve Englehart-George Perez/Sam Grainger

Doug: How awesome is that roll call up and down the sides of the splash page? This story hearkens back to the best days of the Silver and Bronze Age JLA/JSA team-ups, which is fitting since Englehart and Perez offer us their version (OK, partly Roy Thomas' version) of the Justice League of America. And to further pay homage to those fun tales, this yarn is told with both teams splitting up for combat purposes. Shall we see?

Karen: The roll call was absolutely awesome! About the only issues of Justice League that I had purchased to this point were the ones featuring the JLA-JSA crossovers, so I loved those little floating heads. I'm also happy to see inker Sam Grainger back on this issue.

Doug: This story really has nothing but DC hallmarks -- the take on the JLA satellite, the alternate Earths -- one like ours, the other with silly city names, the division of team members, and a morality play that concludes the action. We begin on the "Rocket Center" and are introduced to Aquaman, Hawkman, er... I meant Amphibian, Cap'n Hawk (what a dumb name), and Tom Thumb (who I guess is standing in for the Atom, although he really bears no resemblance in looks or powers). They are on monitor duty, eagerly awaiting the return of Hyperion, Lady Lark, and the Golden Archer -- who surely beat up on the Avengers and will restore President Rockefeller's Serpent Crown. But alas, as we saw last ish, the Vision was having none of that bunk.

Karen: I love the little throwaway bits here, like calling the Squadron "the world's greatest super-heroes!" That was the banner above the JLA logo for many years. The Squadron has a satellite HQ too. It's a great parody, and if there's some snarkiness here, well, it's not surprising, given the long rivalry between the two companies.

Doug: So as we go on, Cap'n Hawk notes that the rest of the Avengers are split into two groups; the Vision and Scarlet Witch are nowhere to be found. Cap'n Hawk, Amphibian, and Tom Thumb decide to attack the Beast and Hellcat. It's not even close. In some nifty action sequences, along with typical Marvel banter, Hank and Patsy dispatch their adversaries. The prize scene is the square-off between the Beast and Tom -- funny stuff. At the conclusion of this scene we get a 3-panel vignette with Thor and Moondragon, making their way across the United States (hey, is it just me, or can Thor use that Uru hammer to teleport? 'twould seem a lot easier than flying -- gotta be hard to talk with all that wind in one's face). Moondragon, who has been hinting at wanting to have a tete a tete with Thor, finally gets the opportunity to drop the bomb -- why, Thor, when you live among immortals, do you insist on spending time with beings far inferior? Thor's put off by that mess, however, and lets Baldy know it. To be continued.

Karen: The fight between the Squadron and our two newest soon-to-be Avengers was flat-out fun. The Squadron is bursting with over-confidence and it bites them in the you-know-what. I loved the exchange between Tom Thumb and Beast: "You probably don't see the advantage I have in being small-" "You're right, I don't" -and Beast bonks the tiny Thumb on the top of the head, knocking him out.

Karen: Thor had all sorts of tricks tied up in Mjolnir, and I'm pretty sure he could've opened a gateway to Avengers Mansion...so...why carry that awful Moondragon all the way there? Hmmm....his response to her questioning was classic thunder god, though: "Silence, woman!"
Doug: Our next little brouhaha involved Dr. Spectrum and the Whizzer attacking Iron Man and Captain America. This battle was a bit more in doubt, as it started off advantage: Squadron. Oh, before I get to more of the details -- there was a great bit of camaraderie between Cap and Iron Man, as IM tells Cap, "I feel really good, actually -- Avengering with you again! We make a good team!" The battle itself has all the best elements of Green Lantern and Flash, and of course IM's technology and Cap's savvy. As I said, it's a bit more two-sided, and fun. Perez continues to improve, and the pacing and camera angles are varied and fun.

Karen: Honestly, our Avengering duo are out-powered in this match-up, but again, the overconfidence on the part of Whizzer and Spectrum, and a nice helping of righteous indignation from Cap, helps turn the tide. The situation on the Squadron's world particularly gets to Cap, as he makes clear after defeating the Whizzer. Cap had just gone through the whole Secret Empire/Nomad period and had realized that he owed his allegiance to the ideals of his country, not to any one administration or president. The idea of blindly working for the government was appalling to him. As he says, "You have your definition of a hero, and I have mine -and mine includes being a lot more aware!"

Karen: Like you, I enjoy seeing Cap and Shellhead working together. The two old guard guys leading the team through to victory despite all the odds being against them -what's not to like?

Doug: The good guys are finally reunited, with Wanda and the Vision joining them. Wanda explains how she'd been taken over by the influence of the Serpent Crown, and the Vision offers a plot idea. We then get a quick look back at the hospital in Manhattan, where the Pyms have received the news that they are being released. But trouble festers immediately as Hank says he's not certain he wants to play hero anymore. Jan snaps that she's willing to go back to the Avengers, even if alone!

Karen: Jan sure came off pretty harsh, didn't she?

Doug: Cut to the White House, where the Squadron has gathered to apologize to the President for their ineptitude in getting the Crown back. Rockefeller then gives a very strange soliloquy about duping the Squadron, lying, obtaining power and more power, etc. Hyperion gets a strong case of "what the?!?" and as he reaches toward Rockefeller we find that it's not ol' Nelson at all, but the bouncing blue Beast in disguise! Bounding off down the hall, Hank slips into a side chamber where the rest of the Avengers are assembled (natch) around some sort of portal or stargate. Iron Man has figured it out, and sends the team back to Earth. Hyperion rushes to follow them, but is called back by the Golden Archer and Dr. Spectrum. Seems what the Beast said bears further consideration, and they're willing to chew on it for awhile.

Karen: Beast served as a mouthpiece for Englehart to make some social commentary. It would probably be considered heavy-handed now but considering where the national psyche was at in 1976, I think it fit in perfectly. "We commit the most outrageous acts...and you go right along, pretending not to notice!" Actually, much of that speech still resonates today.

Karen: I thought the resolution of the story seemed a bit rushed -the Avengers guess rightly that the portal to their dimension is at the White House? I guess it makes sense but seems to come out of nowhere. And where'd Beast get his Rockefeller mask? Hey Doug, this is another example of those incredibly life-like masks we see all the time in comics! Remember when we discussed this back in the Two Girls, A Guy, and Some Comics blog?

Doug: Cracks me up how his little Beasty-hair tucked under that mask perfectly smooth!

Karen: The Squadron actually does decide to consider what Beast said, and years later they would screw things up royally in the Squadron Supreme 12-issue maxi-series. That was a very interesting series. We might have to review it some time.
Doug: This has been a great story, and we're not done yet! Next month promises the resolution of the Serpent Crown Affair, the return of Thor and Moondragon, and a big, fat, super-villain!

Avengers: The Serpent Crown Affair, part 5

Avengers #147 (May 1976)
"Crisis on Other-Earth!"
Steve Englehart-George Perez/Vince Colletta

Doug: Words cannot express the disappointment I felt on Christmas morning, 1975, when under the tree I spied the latest issue of The Avengers. It was #145, and I couldn't wait to crack it open and find out what happened when the Avengers and the Squadron Supreme landed on the Squadron's Earth. There had been quite a bit of build-up for this showdown, and I couldn't take it anymore. And then I saw it. Right there. Don Heck art. Nope -- not George Perez. Don Heck. Tony Isabella words. Not Steve Englehart. Sort of took the luster off of my copy of Son of Origins of Marvel Comics, I'll be honest; and off the nifty transistor radio with the earpiece. But by late winter, I'd put my crabbiness away and was ready for this mag we're discussing today. Marvel even poked fun at itself at the top of the splash page, stating that they were now returning us to our regularly scheduled monthly Squadron Supreme saga.

Karen: I shared your frustration. Not one, but TWO months of fill-ins, right in the middle of an incredible super-team showdown! That was sheer hell.

Doug: As promised, we start with a bang. Both teams, jettisoned from the Brand Corporation by the machinations of Hugh Jones, arrive on the Squadron's world. With mutual dislike having already festered, it's game on! pretty quickly. Dr. Spectrum launches the first salvo, although Iron Man absorbs the blast for his teammates. But it's Patsy Walker who does the major butt-kicking in this scene as she leaps at Hyperion, knocking him back. The Avengers move quickly and for once act as a team -- how many times have we discussed recently these guys, the FF, and the X-Men operating as individuals? This was refreshing to see.

Karen: This was what we had been waiting for! As the Vision says, it's a chance to see "which team is truly the most powerful" -and with the Squadron ably standing in for the Justice League, readers were getting a fight many had wished for. We had Hyperion standing in for Superman, Dr. Spectrum as Green Lantern's counterpart, Lady Lark and the Golden Archer in place of Black Canary and Green Arrow, and of course, the laughably-named Whizzer as the poor man's Flash. Later we'd see Englehart's takes on Aquaman, the Atom, and Hawkman. Conspicuously absent was Nighthawk, the Squadron's Batman clone. I wonder if there was some concern over confusing the fans, since the "regular" Earth's Nighthawk was appearing in The Defenders at the time? Of course, Marvel kept mucking things up themselves by putting "Squadron Sinister" on the covers of these issues!

Karen: The irony of it all is that in a short period of time, Englehart would leave Marvel and go over to DC, where he would 'Marvelize' the Justice League!

Doug: But even as things appear to be going swimmingly, army helicopters show up. Cap picks one out as the presidential chopper. It lands, and who should step out? No, not Gerald Ford, but Nelson Rockefeller! Yep, things on the Squadron's world are just a bit off. And on his dome? The Serpent Crown. Now, contrary to some detraction we've heard during this run of posts, Steve Englehart does, through Captain America and later the Scarlet Witch, tell us a bit of history on the Serpent Crown and just what the crazy thing does to its bearer/wearer. And as Mr. Rockefeller is obviously off his, er, rocker, he needs to be separated from that crown. The Vision does the honors, removing that crazy chapeau. Tossing it to Wanda, the Avengers are able to flee.

Karen: Even today seeing that funky serpent crown atop the head of Nelson Rockefeller is both amusing and creepy. The Vision once again steps up and gets the team rolling. Man I miss him!

Doug: What follows is a bit odd, as the Avengers commence to wandering the streets of Cosmopolis. Above, Iron Man and the Vision are keeping vigil. On the streets, Cap, the Beast, Hellcat and Wanda follow. Wanda was given charge of the crown, and as she's carried it, she has garnered some information from it (through empathy, I guess). But suddenly she collapses and only the Vision sees it. Swooping down, he is instead greeted with hostility from his wife. Englehart does a typically-great job of characterization in two scenes in this book between Wanda and her husband. Wanda breaks away here, and the Vision follows as non-threateningly as he can.

Karen: Wanda's explanation of the Crown's power, that all the heads of the major corporations have fallen under the influence of the Crown, is so reflective of the loss of trust people had placed in authority symbols after Vietnam and Watergate. Eisenhower had warned of the dangers of "the military-industrial complex" - the Squadron's world was living in it, full-on.

Karen: I agree with you completely about the scene between the Crown-possessed Wanda and the Vision. Her line, "God forgive me for ever cheapening myself with you!" still made me wince. Nice work by Engelhart.
Doug: As Wanda tries to pull away, she rounds a corner -- straight into the arms of Hyperion, Lady Lark, and the Golden Archer. What follows is a display of the Vision as a one-man wrecking crew! I would dare say that it's in this sequence that young George Perez "arrived". The camera angles, the panel lay-outs, and the individualizing of his facial interpretations of the various characters are all evident (and Vinnie Colletta's pretty good, too -- love the way he textured the Beast, and Lady Lark's costume). And what an action sequence this is! The Vision uses his entire arsenal of abilities and single-handedly defeats the Squadron's trio. Oh, at the end with an assist from his lovely bride, newly freed (but not without extreme effort) from the Crown, which had sought to take over her psyche.

Karen: The last five pages of this issue were an outstanding showcase for both the young Perez and the Vision. We get such amazing action here, as you said. I also enjoyed the exchange between Hyperion and the Vision, as Hyperion wraps a lamp post around Vizh, stating, "I used this technique against my arch-foe Burbank the first time I came to Cosmopolis, creature! I've always thought it one of my best." The Vision dryly responds, "How wonderful" as he phases through the post!

Karen: But the very best thing about this story is the ending, with Wanda and Vision coming together, convinced that their love will allow them to overcome any obstacle. Call me a softy, but that one really hit me hard. Perez did some beautiful work on their faces, and I'll even throw old Vinnie a compliment, as his delicate lines here worked perfectly. A very strong issue all the way around.

Avengers: The Serpent Crown Affair, part 4

Avengers #144 (February 1976)
"Claws!"
Steve Englehart-George Perez/Mike Esposito

Doug: Did we say action-packed? Yeah, I think we did. Well, this one isn't exactly that, but I'll say that during my re-read I couldn't wait to turn each page. Steve Englehart really did a great job on this particular story, and it's no wonder that this title was my favorite as a kid. This is just good stuff! Three-dimensional characters, a desperate situation, some Marvel history... and how about that George Perez art? The arrival of veteran inker Mike Esposito is welcome; it's a shame that this will be his only credit in this seven-issue arc. I believe the next time we visit our Assemblers, Vinnie Colletta will be behind the India inks (or felt-tip pen, depending on his mood!).

Karen: I wouldn't say Esposito is an ideal inker for Perez, but he's certainly preferable to Colletta.
Doug: With our tour of Tombstone, AZ (c. 1873) over, it's time to turn our full attention to the main team of Avengers. Last ish we saw them bust out of the Dr. Spectrum engineered prison, largely through the ingenuity of Captain America and the powers of the Vision. Now free, our heroes seek a way out of the labyrinthine Brand Corporation.

Doug: As we get under way, Patsy Walker is again the focus. And as she takes center stage, it's actually the Vision who upstages her in this reader's mind! Englehart gives us a recap of the previous three issues, but it's told from Vizh's perspective, and is actually quite humorous! For a surly guy, he has a few zingers flying around in his computer brain! I really liked this scene.

Karen: It was a nice way of handling the recap. Vision certainly shows a sense of irony.
Doug: Then we get the all-out action we've come to love with this cast. As our Assemblers plot their next move, the wall opens up -- guided missiles! Wanda is the first line of defense, dropping the platform on which the team stands as the first missile sails overhead. As another missile takes aim, Iron Man calls it as his. Landing on it like a horse, IM rips open a control panel and quickly disables the pre-programming function. Trouble is, he's thrown backwards off the bird and straight at his teammates! Landing with a tremendous impact, the team is scattered. The Beast manages to halt his own drop and snag Wanda shortly after; Cap grabs Patsy and pulls off a somewhat unbelievable maneuver that spares them from becoming paste.

Karen: These pages amply demonstrate Perez' ability to tell a story and maintain tempo. His artwork was still rough, but you could tell the guy had true talent.
Doug: In the excitement, the team is split in two, with Patsy, IM, and Cap making a break for a hallway. Entering a warehouse/storage area, Cap is on the verge of re-upping for full-time membership when suddenly a surprise greets them -- the costume of Greer Nelson: the Cat! All three reminisce about the Cat's short-lived exploits, with Iron Man narrating what he knew of her. As he finishes, Cap coyly looks his way, holding the Cat's mask and wonders aloud if Patsy would...

Doug: Of course she says "YES!" But as we feel that tension build within her, we also get a view into her mind. Englehart does a fantastic job of recapping the life of Patsy Walker. As I'd said earlier, when I first read this story arc, I had no idea who Patsy Walker was. I came to this after the Silver Age, sure, but let's face it -- even if I was 10 years older, I don't think I'd have been buying Patsy Walker comics! So the "origin", if you will, was welcome, and quite well done. I especially liked the parts with the Beast's backstory as a furry guy, because I'd not seen any of the Amazing Adventures where he'd gone solo in recent years. By the way, the lettercol is positioned in the midst of this part of the book -- future pros Peter B. Gillis and Jo Duffy were heard from this month!

Karen: Did you find it odd that the Cat costume was sitting, laid out, on top of a crate? Maybe they explain this later, but it sure seems weird that everything else is in a box and this costume is sitting in plain sight. In any case, the little flashback of Patsy's life was certainly helpful, as I had no idea who she was! I know Englehart has said he read everything Marvel put out before he became a writer for them, and that he wanted to incorporate Patsy into the Marvel Universe. It still seems rather odd! But ultimately, it worked.
Doug: It was laid out almost as if the Avengers were supposed to find it; otherwise, it was a heckuva screw-up on some janitor's part! Of course Cap thinks better of his idea, reflecting on the deaths of Bucky and Roscoe (recently deceased in Cap's own book). However, you can bet that by this time Patsy wasn't taking "no" for an answer. Snatching the costume (and asking our two gents to turn their backs), she slips into the Cat costume, only to emerge as the Hellcat! And let me throw in another two cents on the art -- great splash page!

Karen: Yes, it's a really nice full-page shot of our new heroine. I find the costume itself rather boring, but the mask is cool, and Perez gives her a nice dramatic pose, so it works. I enjoyed the banter between Cap and Iron Man as they have their backs turned to Patsy. Both with this relationship, and the Iron Man-Thor relationship, Englehart is convincing in making us believe that these men have known each other a long time and are comfortable with each other.

Doug: Englehart does offer to tie up the Wild West loose end, with a quick visit to the departure of Thor, Moondragon, and Hawkeye. But when the Two-Gun Kid requests to tag along, Moondragon tells him that it's not possible -- no man may know his future. Hawkeye protests, says to the Kid that he will mentor him in the 20th Century, and then promptly announces his resignation from the Avengers upon their return. Whoo-boy, that Hawkeye...

Karen: Hawkeye still hasn't quite transitioned over to being that solid responsible Avenger he finally will be! And bringing the Two-Gun Kid to the future -that's got to violate every law of time travel possible! What are they thinking?
Doug: To close this one out, as the remaining half of the Vision, Scarlet Witch, and the Beast hook up with Cap, IM, and Hellcat, the Squadron Supreme is suddenly teleported right into their personal space! As the teams engage, they are just as suddenly flashed away! A quick trip to the control room and we see security chief Buzz Baxter informing Brand honcho Hugh Jones that the cops want to know why missiles were flying out of the Brand Corporation. Jones, not wanting anyone to know what's transpired, raps a button on the panel, and it's off to the next ish -- the DC-swiped title "Crisis on Other-Earth!

Doug: I have to add a little post-script to this one. Several months ago Karen ran a series of posts about Marvel house ads. I just had to laugh when I saw one of them in this issue. I recalled it quite vividly from the time I originally read this story after publication. Problem (or not) was, I was not quite as worldly as a 9 1/2-year old as I am now. In Stan's hype box for what the critics are saying about his Origins of Marvel Comics series, check out the first quote -- it's from the notorious '70's skin magazine Gallery! I'm sort of glad that that went over my head way back when!

Avengers: The Serpent Crown Affair, part 3

Avengers #143 (January 1976)
"Right Between the Eons!"
Steve Englehart-George Perez/Sam Grainger

Doug: What's up with that cover? Do you think Gil Kane didn't get the memo on what was going on inside? The copy is correct, but Gil got his sub-teams mixed up. But at any rate, this is another fun issue -- shoot, in this series it seems like every issue is funner than the last!

Karen: You're absolutely right about the cover - you see a lot of covers that may exaggerate something from the story inside but this just mixes it all up!
Doug: As long as we're on the art here to begin, I guess we should comment on the addition of Sam Grainger to the pictures staff in this ish. I'd remarked earlier that Vinnie Colletta was pretty hit-and-miss in the first two issues. While his Thor was familiar and the Beast looked pretty good, overall his light line wasn't serving the young Perez very well. Here, though, Grainger brings a heavier line, but I have to say -- at times the art seems to give off an air of Rich Buckler under the influence of Joe Sinnott. Now, that's not a totally bad thing, as there were many fine Fantastic Fours produced by those two around this time. But Grainger seems to do more outlining and less texturing like Vinnie did. I'd said that Grainger had been solid over Cockrum in our X-Men reviews, and I know I liked him back in the late '60's over Sal Buscema in the Avengers. What do you think, partner?

Karen: I thought Grainger's work was a huge step up from Colletta's. It's far more polished and suits Perez much better, in my opinion.
Doug: Kid Colt interrogates "Ace" the bad guy, Old West-style! However, the Thunder God rebukes the Kid, having said in an earlier issue that he detests firearms. Hawkeye actually chastises Thor for objecting, saying that before he and Moondragon arrived, Hawk and the Kids had things under control. With the information they'd gathered, four horsemen ride off to combat the Conqueror.

Karen: Thor demands that they "work with honor!" In that sense, he is very much like Captain America. I know I've said it before, but Thor's personality has always been less viking raider and more Arthurian knight -he's got a very strict code of behavior, and never fails to let the Avengers know when they are not living up to it! Heck, this is the guy who let Sub-Mariner escape in issue 3 because he respected him!
Doug: OK, I have to get to an issue I raised a long time ago back on the Two Girls... blog. I asked, during our review of Avengers 21-24, just what color Kang's skin is? I had read the story we're presently discussing before I ever saw reprints of the Kang story with the Kooky Quartet. In this issue, Kang's skin is clearly blue, and Hawkeye refers to it as such. However, if you link to the reviews I'm referencing, you'll see an art sample that Karen included where Kang's skin is as Caucasian-looking as my own. So what's up?

Karen: It's confusing, but I still think he's Caucasian. I think the colorists just got a bit sloppy at times.
Doug: Once inside the citadel, Perez and Englehart really outdo themselves in a 2-splash, text-laden, character-driven tour de force. Perez does some nice panel lay-outs and Englehart really gets at the heart of what drives Kang.

Karen: I hate to say it, but by this point I was ready to never see Kang again! I thought Englehart handled him well, but he was like the thing that wouldn't leave! Still, this last hurrah (at that time) was pretty exciting. His hatred of the Avengers is as strong as Ultron's.
Doug: Englehart gives us a look at the other storyline running through this epic. Back at the Brand Corporation, a subsidiary of Roxxon Oil, we learn of the plan Captain America had conceived in the previous issue. Captured and imprisoned in a construct of Dr. Spectrum, none of our heroes could figure out a way to break out. That is, until Cap surmised that although the Vision could not pass through the cage, but he could go through Cap's shield if Cap put it in the energy field. Of course it works, and the team is able to break out. But what's really putting me off about this scene is the way the Beast is treated. The Vision questions whether or not he has a brain, and Cap further insults him by questioning why the Beast is being considered for membership. Now I know Hank McCoy was being written as obnoxious, having developed a defense mechanism for his furry transformation. But c'mon -- didn't these heroes respect him from his X-Men days?

Karen: Actually those were two of my favorite parts! Two of the most humorless guys on the team, the Vision and Cap, are messing around with the new recruit. I loved Cap's line: "You're really considering this guy for membership, huh?" I thought it was good-natured ribbing and refreshing.
Doug: See, I didn't take it that way then, and I guess on my multiple re-reads of this story I'm still taken aback by Cap's coldness. I think Englehart, from Cap's re-introduction to the team in #141, had him as the tough-as-nails, no-nonsense drill sergeant -- I'll agree with your "humorless" comment, but to be honest I thought Steve Rogers was coming off a bit too pompous here. Maybe I'm just missing the tongue-in-cheek... I really hope I am, because that's not how I "hear" Cap speaking to anyone in this era.

Doug: Back to the West, Kang unleashes a monster ("a mix of 41st Century science and... a coyote!") against Hawkeye, Two-Gun, and Moondragon. The fourth member of the party, however, is absent. As the monster takes out the Avengers, Kang gloats in his control room. But he looks for and cannot find the fourth person. As we watch Kang question himself, we see the stranger emerge behind him and begin stripping away a disguise. When the gnarled walking stick is brought out, it's clear that the fourth Avenger was not Thor, but Dr. Donald Blake!

Karen: That's some wacky science they got in the 41st century.
Doug: What follows is one of the best knockdown dragouts involving Thor I've ever seen in the pages of the Avengers. Thor had declared earlier that this would be the last battle with Kang. The ferocity of his attack seems to bear this out. As Thor engages Kang, he does one of the coolest things -- he holsters his hammer. Mano a mano, baby!

Karen: It was never much of a fight, as Kang seemed on defense the whole time! But still, very exciting. I saw Thor's decision to fight hand to hand as another example of his noble personality. Even so, he goes after Kang with a real fury.
Doug: Kang eventually does himself in by overtaxing his power systems in a futile effort to defeat Thor (or was it self-preservation?). As the battle ends, Kang fades away into nothingness, his atoms allegedly scattered throughout time. Our story closes with an interesting soliloquy from Immortus. What did you make of all that?

Karen: That almost seemed too easy...but then, Kang seemed to have crossed over from megalomania to complete insanity. His self-destruction was very feasible. Time travel is always confusing though. Since Rama Tut and Immortus would no longer come into being, does that mean the stories they appeared in didn't happen? Stuff like that makes me crazy. Well, next time we'll only have to deal with the present, and Squadron Supreme!

Avengers: The Serpent Crown Affair, part 2

Avengers #142 (December 1975)
"Go West, Young Gods!"
Steve Englehart-George Perez/Vince Colletta

Doug: If you thought our first installment contained a lot of energy, this one's even more exciting! Thinking of Peaches & Herb, last week we saw Captain America reunited with the Avengers, the Beast reunited with Patsy Walker, Iron Man and Moondragon reunited with the rest of the team, and all of the above reunited with the Squadron Sinister and Kang -- although not all at the same time! Whoo-boy! And I say this one's more exciting? Let's see...

Doug: We open right where we left off, with a show of surprise on the faces of Thor, Moondragon, and their guide across the eons, Immortus. The subject of that astonishment is revealed in the persons of five of the Wild West's heroes: the Two-Gun Kid, Kid Colt, the Rawhide Kid, the Ringo Kid, and the Night Rider (formerly known as the Ghost Rider -- but of course, there was a certain flame-headed motorcycle rider by that moniker in the MU in 1975!). The Western heroes quickly divulge that these new arrivals are even nuttier than Hawkeye -- it's Thor's quickly come/quickly go thunderstorm that riles up the locals. After enticing the cowboys to take them to see Hawkeye, the entire group rides off to the town of Tombstone, Arizona.

Karen: Just a quick comment here: Moondragon looked gigantic on the back of the Rawhide Kid's horse! Intentional or not?
Doug: She did, didn't she? And her straight-backed posture only added to her haughtiness.

Doug: Once in the law office of Matt Hawk (aka Two-Gun), the Avengers are excited to see the once-lost Hawkeye. Clint reveals how he became lost in the timestream on his way to the 12th Century, and encountered Kang. After a tussle, the two of them fell out of time travel and landed in the middle of a desert. Hawkeye, alone, set off on a trek toward any civilization he could find. Walking into Tombstone, he encountered two major threats: Kang's citadel, and some ornery locals. Losing the bad guys, Hawkeye located the office of Matt Hawk, and soon joined up with the heroes of yesterday. At the conclusion of his tale, Immortus pipes up to tell the assemblage of Kang's master plan: in order to conquer the 20th Century, he will first conquer the 19th!

Karen: Hawkeye has ditched his mask and shirt to "blend in". This is thankfully not as horrific a look as his mini-skirt costume from a few years prior, but it's certainly not appealing. As for Kang's plan, I guess he decided to take the easy way out. It does make one wonder though; if he's the master of time, he could choose any era to exert his will. I always assumed he chose the modern one because it was most challenging. After the constant defeats though, I could see taking the path of least resistance.
Doug: Speaking of the 20th Century, Englehart and Perez give us a look in on the rest of the Avengers, captured at the end of the previous issue by the Squadron Supreme -- now in the employ of Roxxon Oil. Encased in a cage of Dr. Spectrum's making, all the Avengers can do is hurl a few challenges down to the gloating Buzz Baxter and Hugh Jones, as well as the Squadron. At the end of this little vignette, Captain America announces that he has a plan... that we'll have to wait until next week to discover!

Karen: I liked the perspective in that opening shot. Perez would perfect such things eventually. Even after all these years though, I still don't like a nose on Iron Man! From what I understand, the Kang/Old West story was originally slated for the next Giant Size before it got canceled. I do think that it might have worked better that way. Although I enjoyed both stories, I was frustrated by jumping back and forth between them.

Doug: I wonder if the Old West story would have "worked" as a standalone? With only three Avengers (and do we count Moondragon as a team member at this time?), I think they'd have had to concoct some other backstory to get IM, Vision, and the Scarlet Witch involved to some degree. It's interesting that you bring that up, as G-S Avengers #5 was a reprint of Avengers Annual #1, and Avengers Annual #6 was originally advertised as Giant-Size Avengers #6! Could the Dreaded Deadline Doom have reared its ugly head in the midst of the production of this tale?

Doug: Back to the West, Hawkeye tells his team that Kang will probably move against a coming train, a train loaded with uranium. While the "old-timers" don't know of it's importance, Clint assures them that Kang does. So, formulating a plan of both attack and defense, the six (Hawkeye included) cowboys mount up and take their places. There's a funny scene here where it looks like Clint is going to ban Thor and Moondragon from the mission. You can just feel the tension rise as Thor's hackles get all up. But ol' Hawk assures him that with a few minor changes, the God of Thunder will surely play an important role.

Karen: How goofy is it to see Moondragon all prim and proper in a dress and bonnet?

Doug: Just as they suspected, some bad guys ambush the train; they certainly didn't plan on being met by the most notorious lawmen of the 1800's! This part of the book is really, really fun. The young Perez shows that he's as comfortable drawing cowboys and horses as he is the longjohn crowd. There's some gunplay, some great moments (Rawhide in the coal bin is a favorite), and a chance for Hawkeye to shine. All this takes place while Thor and Moondragon are disguised as passengers aboard the train (Thor's long blond hair and hulking body draw a sideways glance from the passenger across the aisle), the insurance policy against Kang taking the train should the cowboys fail. They don't fail, though, and once all of the baddies are rounded up, Hawkeye begins his interrogation and announces that the assault on Castle Kang is about to begin!

Karen: That last section was pretty rousing adventure. You're right, Perez handles the western action as easily as he handles the modern. It was a great fun, even though I never read any western comics growing up (although I do enjoy western movies). The sub-plot with Two-Gun and his fascination with our Avengers was a nice idea.

Doug: I'd seen some Western reprints when I was a kid, but I guess the Dick Ayers or Larry Lieber art put me off a bit. But here -- this Perez guy could really draw and he made the Western heroes quite exciting. I think some of the same issues with Vinnie Colletta's inks are present again, but overall I can't really complain -- there are times when the inks are OK. And, in the midst of what will become a great super-team slugfest across two worlds, Englehart manages to work in his epilogue to his epic "Celestial Madonna" story. And it works!