Featuring: Avengers
Release: July 8, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Wham-Type script by Stan Lee
Pow-type pencilling by Don Heck
Zowie-type inking by Wallace Wood
Rather nice lettering by Artie Simek
20 pages
| Previous | #411 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Avengers #19 | Reading order | Strange Tales #130, Story B |
| Avengers #19 | Avengers | Avengers #21 |
There’s something about being an Avenger… that seems to get into your blood and never let go!
The creative team is almost never mentioned on the cover of these (or any) comics. This is certainly the first time we’ve seen the inker advertised. Stan knows he’s lucky to have Wally Wood, and perhaps already knows he won’t have him much longer.
We saw Wood inking Heck in Tales of Suspense #71, which comes out one month after this one. So this is properly their first collaboration.
The cover is a rare Kirby/Wood collaboration, and pretty awesome. A team I think many would like to have seen more work by.
We see a rare feat of teamwork for these new Avengers. They seem to be defeating the Swordsman when he disappears.
He finds himself in the lair of the Mandarin. Who wishes to destroy the Avengers, though he’s never met them*. His foe is Iron Man, who used to be an Avenger. And it follows that he must destroy these Avengers, which don’t include Iron Man. Because Iron Man is his foe. And… the Mandarin’s plans may just be too crafty for my little brain.
Wood can’t improve Heck’s renditions of the Mandarin, which seem to still be traced from all his previous renditions of the Mandarin. He has like one expression for the guy. Compare this panel with Mandarin’s first appearance.
Mandarin has been defeated by Iron Man numerous times, but prefers to act like they were all stalemates.
The question of who should lead the Avengers continues. Quicksilver outraces Hawkeye’s arrow, this apparently being an important criterion for determining leadership qualities. Should we elect Usain Bolt president?
We get the other piece of our continuity puzzle. We know Happy was injured during the battle with Titanium Man, so presumably attended the wedding prior to the battle. When Mandarin sends a fake image of Iron Man to the Avengers, Cap notes the battle is currently going on. The fake Iron Man pretends they are between rounds. So this Avengers story must also be after the wedding, or at least the wedding must occur during a gap before this scene.
Anyways, even though this guy just tried to kill Cap, they agree to let him join because “Iron Man” said to.
Swordsman doesn’t seem to recognize Hawkeye. “You’re a pretty good archer. Reminds me of this archer I once trained…”
Swordsman places a bomb to destroy the Avengers, but repents because he has a crush on Wanda, and so betrays the Mandarin.
Again, we see this notion that the Avengers are an organization of grand tradition it’s an honor to be a part of. Swordsman was briefly a member of the team through deceit, but feels that sense of pride to have called himself an Avenger.
* When we refer to who has and hasn’t met, we won’t count the villains who appeared in Fantastic Four Annual 3, as the Watcher and Mr. Fantastic made sure everybody forgot that ever happened.
Next up. You’ve been more than patient, waiting for a story I’ve been promising for years. The beginning of a 17-part saga, one of the greatest Marvel stories ever told.
Rating: ★★½, 49/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers vol. 2.
Characters:
- Swordsman
- Captain America
- Hawkeye
- Quicksilver
- Scarlet Witch
- Mandarin
Story notes:
- Mandarin uses Delta Energy source to transport Swordsman through molecular projection; Leader has similar technology.
- Mandarin wishes to destroy the Avengers because Iron Man is loosely affiliated with them.
- Hawkeye challenges Cap’s leadership.
- Swordsman reluctantly agrees to serve Mandarin.
- Swordsman makes Fu Manchu reference.
- Mandarin adds new gizmos to Swordsman’s sword, including lightning bolts, flame, and disintegrator ray.
- Mandarin’s matter recreator makes image of Iron Man.
- Cap notes Iron Man is in Europe battling Titanium Man; fake image of Iron Man claims he’s sending this message between rounds.
- Cap agrees to let Swordsman join, but is suspicious. Hawkeye is vocally displeased. Swordsman doesn’t recognize Hawkeye.
- Swordsman places nitro-bomb in headquarters.
- Swordsman betrays Mandarin because he doesn’t want Wanda to die, and he’s too honorable for assassination.
- Mandarin swears to destroy Swordsman.
| Previous | #411 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Avengers #19 | Reading order | Strange Tales #130, Story B |
| Avengers #19 | Avengers | Avengers #21 |
