Slugfest!

Continuing the third part of the Squadron Sinister story from the previous post, Avengers # 71 featured the first appearance of the Invaders with the original Human Torch, Sub-Mariner, and Captain America using the original shield. The story is titled "Endgame!" (December 1969) and was written by Roy Thomas with artwork by the team of Sal Buscema and Sam Grainger, with letterwork done by Sam Rosen. Much of the first part of the issue is spent recapping the previous two issues, and the art team uses many large, "widescreen" type panels to illustrate the action.

Still more than a little confused as to exactly what has transpired, Dane Whitman returns to Garrett Castle to light the Brazier of Truth and awaken Sir Percy of Scandia, the original Black Knight. When Sir Percy appears amidst the flames, he reveals a series of visions which explains the agreement Kang made with the Grandmaster and the subsequent Game of the Galaxies involving the Avengers.

Dane finally understands how he has interferred and realizes the Avengers have been returned to the future to finish the deadly game. The flames of the Brazier of Truth also looks in on Kang as he paces thru the his sanctuary, cursing the day he accepted the fatal challenge of the Grandmaster.And Dane Whitman comes to understand that Kang has risked the fate of Earth in the hope that the Grandmaster will revive his beloved Princess Ravonna so that she can rule at his side.

Dane continues to gaze into the flames and view the events as they transpire. The second and final phase of the game begins as Kang once again sits before the Time-Scanner to watch his three remaining Avengers (Black Panther, Vision, and Yellowjacket) as they are sent to Nazi-occupied Paris of the Second World-War. The Avengers are attacked by a garrison of goose-steppers, but the real trouble happens when the Grand Master's proxies, Captain America, Sub-Mariner, and the original android Human Torch, a.k.a. the Invaders, appear and mistake the Avengers for the enemyThe flames of the Brazier of Truth abate and Dane Whitman knows he cannot assist the Avengers in the past and risk interferring again. Since he is mystically connected to his Ebony Blade, he begins to concentrate intently in order to form astral contact with the sword and reunite himself with his weapon. He is transported across time and space to the era of Kang.
The Black Knight finds he is in a room where Captain America, Goliath, Thor, and Iron Man are imprisoned, each with their head enveloped in the mind-numbing Spheres of Solitude. Dane quickly retrieves his Ebony Blade which lies on the floor in front of Goliath. Suddenly, in true Slugfest! action, he is attacked by two of Kang's guards, one who wields a Ray-Spear which he fires at the Black Knight. But when it strikes the blade which was forged by Merlin, the ray rebounds and strikes the guard rendering him unconscious.

The Knight's attention is drawn to a faint cry for help from the Wasp. After breaking through a wall to find her, Jan Pym prevails upon him to free the Avengers. Meanwhile, back in occupied Paris, the battle between the Avengers and the Invaders rages on! The Black Panther attacks Captain Amercia, but Cap raises his shield and the Panther runs headlong into it. The Panther rolls with the punch and manages to use both hands to grab Cap in choke-hold!

Nearby, in an attempt to get Namor to listen, Yellowjacket stings Sub-Mariner with an energy blast. As Namor strikes back, Yellowjacket shrinks to avoid the blow and sends a swarm of bees to attack the Sub-Mariner. At the same time, the Vision emits occular heat-blasts in an attempt to subdue the Torch, who counters by flying through a transparent Vision as the android manipulates his density to zero. While the Torch begins to wonder how they arrived, the golden-age Cap uses his original shield to whack the T'Challa. The Panther realizes the Avengers have been holding back, fighting a defensive battle, and only a decisive victory can save Earth.When the Invaders renew their attack, the Panther puts his plan into action as he and Yellowjacket fall back onto a side street in an effort to get their foes to chase them. Once the Vision learns what he has to do to end the battle, the android becomes partly solid as he flies through the bodies of the Invaders and wins the battle!

Kang gloats, and the Grand-Master explains that since the first phase of the game ended in stalemate, Kang will not be allowed to completely claim his prize. Rather than winning the power of life and death, he must chose between giving life or taking it. As he transports the Vision, T'Challa, and Yellowjacket back to 4000 A.D., Kang remembers his pledge to save the Princess Ravonna and is about to choose the power of life when Thor, Captain America, Goliath, Iron Man, the Wasp and the Black Knight burst into the room and interrupt the decision.

The Avengers explain that they are willing to overlook Kang's manipulations if he will simply return them to the 20th century. Kang scoffs and once again prevails upon the Grand-Master to have the power of death to slay his enemies and life to restore his beloved Ravonna. But when the Grand-Master forces him to choose, Kang elects the power of Death!

Kang is immediately infused with lethal, limitless power which Captain America believes is even greater than the power of the Cosmic Cube. T'Challa urges Captain America to attack, but Thor flings Mjolnir directly at Kang, who makes his body permeable. As the hammer flies through, Kang unleashes a fury of energy and attacks the Avengers!

But unknowingly, the Black Knight has escaped the initial barrage. (You would think with limitless power you wouldn't miss much.) The Knight attacks Kang and downs the murderous villain!He wonders aloud how he was able to defeat Kang. As the Grand-Master fades away, he explain that Kang was given supreme power to defeat the Avengers, and since the Knight is not one of their serried ranks, the Knight was able to exploit his weakness and win!! As the Grand-Master fades away, he returns the Avengers to their mansion in the 20th century.

The Avengers recover, and upon their return, their first order of business is to welcome the Black Knight into the ranks of the Avengers.