Featuring: Avengers
Release: November 11, 1965
Cover: January 1966
12 cents
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Don Heck
Inker: Dick Ayers
Letterer: Artie Simek
20 pages
| Previous | #440 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Avengers #23 | Reading order | Sgt. Fury #25 |
| Avengers #23 | Avengers | Avengers #25 |
Let us each meet our fate with valor– and heaven bless you all!
When we left off, Ravonna had rejected Kang’s offer of marriage, so he’s now sending his armies to invade her kingdom.
This treatment of Kang makes more sense to me than his previous appearances, and it better conveys his title of “…the Conqueror”. That he commands a legion of troops ready to invade kingdoms. His last attempt to conquer the 20th century involved sending a robot Spider-Man against the Avengers. Invading with an army just makes more sense to me.
Kang escapes from Quicksilver. I really have no idea how he escaped from a super speedster or how people get away from Quicksilver as often as they do.
Ravonna’s Chief of Staff advises surrender. So she fires him. I like her.
“I have not yet abdicated my position as leader of this team!” says Captain America. Yes, you did. It was two issues ago. You just returned. Not even sure you’re officially an Avenger again.
Since she rejected his proposal, he conquered her kingdom and now claims her as his bride by right of conquest. I am not sure that’s the best way to a woman’s heart.
But then come Kang’s generals, who insist that he execute her. When he refuses, they decide he’s gone soft and is no longer fit to lead.
So now Kang must fight against his own generals. Kang, Ravonna, and the Avengers form an uneasy alliance to save Ravonna’s kingdom. Because Kang really is in love.
Ravonna has a change of heart. She comes to realize she does love Kang. (Really?)
In the end, Kang is about to die, and Ravonna sacrifices herself to save him.
The last we see of them, Kang is holding an injured and perhaps dying Ravonna in his arms.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 57/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in The Avengers Epic Collection vol. 2: Once an Avenger.
Characters:
- Kang
- Captain America
- Scarlet Witch
- Hawkeye
- Quicksilver
- Ravonna
- Ravonna’s father
- Baltag
Story notes:
- Defense shield (plasto-shield/protecto-shield) surrounds kingdom, but won’t hold long.
- Delta-ray launcher can penetrate plasto-shields. Delta rays are solid yet interdimensional.
- Quicksilver injured saving woman and baby; she takes him in.
- Avengers against an endless army.
- Kang’s general Baltag insists all captured monarchs be slain. Kang’s legions turn on him for his weakness and mercy.
- Kang and Captain America strike a bargain. They will aid him against his legions to protect Ravonna; Kang will return them home and set the kingdom free.
- Ravonna comes to realize she does love Kang and sacrifices herself to save him from Baltag.
- Baltag killed.
- Ravonna injured, perhaps dead.
| Previous | #440 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Avengers #23 | Reading order | Sgt. Fury #25 |
| Avengers #23 | Avengers | Avengers #25 |
