Slugfest!

What an ambitious yet convoluted mess of a story. Unfortunately, even the central story does little to save this series. Why not? Well, IvX builds upon the superb mini-series, Death of X, written by the same creative team responsible for IvX, Jeff Lemire (who also writes Extraordinary X-Men) and Charles Soule (who also writes Uncanny Inhumans.)

In Death of X, the X-Men visit Muir Island and discover Jaime Madrox (Multiple Man and all his duplicates) have died as a result of exposure to the Terrigen clouds circling the earth, which causes the M-Pox, a virus deadly to most mutants. When the X-Men set about destroying one of the Terrigen clouds, which are considered sacred to the Inhumans, it leads to a battle in Madrid, Spain between the two factions that seemingly results in the death of Scott Summers (who by all appearances is killed by Black Bolt.) This is a secondary catalyst that propels the X-Men to wage war upon the Inhumans. The twist is Scott had actually succumbed to the M-Pox virus upon arrival on Muir Island and Emma Frost was manipulating reality to make it appear as though Scott were still alive, so Black Bolt was blameless for Scott's death. Why is this so important to IvX? This fact is completely ignored throughout the IvX storyline! As if the readers of these comics are clueless, the synopses provided at the beginning of each issue (with the exception of #0) insist that Black Bolt killed Scott.

So the primary premise for the war between the Inhumans and the X-Men is based upon the Dr. Hank McCoy's discovery that a second (and final) Terrigen cloud has begun to dissipate and will soon permeate Earth's atmosphere creating an environment that is toxic to the the X-Men, which will result in the death of many mutants.

Another problem with these expansive mini-series is whether or not to read the crossovers. How essential the tie-ins are to the main story, frustratingly, varies from editor to editor, so the role of the group editor is critical. Readers know that most of the time crossovers are used to bulk up sales on other books in the editor's group. But if the stories actually provide in-depth detail to the central story, then those books certainly are worth reading. So who edits these books? Are the editors actually communicating with each other so crossovers are released on time and provide seamless transition from the central mini-series? In this case, no. The main problem wasn't because crossovers were not interesting reads; it was because Marvel kept changing the reading order of the books and some books were released late. For example, Extraordinary X-Men #18 was released after IvX #3 and clearly the story (written by Jeff Lemire) belongs in continuity before IvX #3. Even if readers are supposed to imagine the story is supposed to be told in flashback, since Lemire is the writer for both books (IvX and Extraordinary X-Men) it is clearly an editorial problem.

Yes, I realize it is very tricky for two co-writers to try and overlap the stories running concurrently in other titles with the central story, but it appears as though X-Men group editor Mark Paniccia did not coordinate things well enough to pull off this much hyped Marvel Event, primarily with the major continuity gaff (the circumstances surrounding the death of Scott Summers.)

But the writers are not entirely without fault, as IvX #6 resolves the fight with the arrival of Ahura (Medusa's and Black Bolt's son) who had played such a very minor role in the series that he was only mentioned in one of the previous issues. His inclusion in the resolution of this series seems like an afterthought, despite the importance of the destruction of the Ennilux airship. I would have thought that Prince Maximus the Mad, Black Bolt's brother who was featured prominently in the Uncanny Inhumans crossover issues, would have been included in the resolution since we learn he is able to synthesize Terrigen crystals, thus making the destruction of the final Terrigen cloud a moot plot point. And, it is Young Scott Summers who reveals Emma's deception to the X-Men and the Inhumans (even though the readers already know this.) It would have made more sense if Marvel had left this as the big reveal at the end of the IvX rather than at the end of Death of X.

So the war ends with the Inhumans confused as to why the X-Men simply didn't communicate the problem with the dissipation of the Terrigen cloud and it's lethal effects upon the X-Men, rather than start the war. Hmmm...a communication problem, seems like an ongoing theme in this debacle. This conclusion renders the entire series as a disappointingly cheap puff piece of miscommunication, leaving readers feeling cheated by such a simplistic resolution.

Overall, this series had a lot of good ideas that ultimately wound up being rather poorly executed (groan.) In the final issue, Moon Girl one ups Forge and create a miniaturized version of his machine that eventually destroys the rogue Terrigen cloud. During the pivotal final confrontation between Medusa and Emma Frost, Alex Summers ends up teleporting Emma Frost away from the ire of the all parties, which makes for an interesting developing plot line (Havok and Emma Frost as enemies of the X-Men.) I like seeing Emma Frost resume the role of villain and her new costume looks foreboding.

Also, Medusa abdicates the throne with Iso (Xiaoyi Chen) assuming leadership of New Attilan. Perhaps the writers are looking to create a relationship between Iso and Ahura as the NuHuman royals? And Medusa ends her controversial relationship with Johnny Storm and reunites with Black Bolt.

One other thing that irked me, were typos found on the synopsis pages (one of them can be seen in Uncanny X-Men #17.) I know it is a small thing, but if the editors cannot be bothered to proof-read the work before publication, what does that say about their concern of the books they publish? Plus, the font used on the synopsis page makes the word "WAR" look like the word "WAA". (But, hey, maybe they were trying to fit Howard the Duck into this story!)

On a positive note, Lenil Yu's artwork looked good, even though he did not illustrate every issue of the mini-series (Javier Garron completed issues #3-5.) Here, Yu's artwork is reminiscent of Bill Sienkiewicz's mid-1980s work on the New Mutants. I don't think that was necessarily intentional, but it helps contextualize how the entire series primarily serves as a lead into X-Men ResurrXion (which sound so much like Rebirth) which is attempting to reestablish more traditional X-Men and establish a return to the status quo. Let's see where those books lead us.

Clone Conspiracy Omega presents three stories as a bridge between the Dead No More storyline and the next stage of the Spider-verse. Don Slott's and Christos Gage's first story entitled "Collateral Damage" deals with survivors coming to terms with the Jackal's (Ben Reilly) megalomaniacal decisions and the aftermath of the Carrion Virus, the plague that affects the inhabitants of Marvel's alternate earths and turns them into zombies.

Dr. Rita Clarkson leads Spider-man, Kaine Parker (Earth-616), Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy of Earth-65), and Anna Maria Marconi (Earth-616) to a vault as terminally ill New U patients awaken from their cold sleep chambers. When Anna Maria tells Spider-man not blame himself since there was no way of knowing what could have been done to prevent the tragic loss of lives, Spider-man turns on Kaine and questions why he wouldn't reveal what he knew would happen. Max Modell and S.H.I.E.L.D. arrive on the scene to assess the biohazard risk and transfer everyone to Horizon Labs for medical aid. Dr. Clarkson cooperates by relinquishing a list of New U clients and explains that she thought New U was doing something good.

Meanwhile, Kaine confronts Spider-man in an effort to find Ben Reilly and is angered when he learns that Spider-man believes that the Jackal's cloned body disintegrated. Spider-Woman reminds Kaine that he is still dying from the Carrion Virus and suggests they go back to Loomworld to find a cure among the billions of universes. Kaine explains his decision to remain behind and search for Ben Reilly. Gwen opens a portal to return to Loomworld.

Spider-man leads S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to the room where the Jackal kept the remains of dead people he cloned and takes time to reflect upon Reilly's offer to clone Uncle Ben. Peter's attention turns to the Rhino, who goes on a rampage dealing with the death of his wife's clone. Spider-man manages to talk Rhino down by reminding him that even though people we love are gone, we move forward and honor their memory by remaining true to the person they would want you to be.

Later, at Horizon University, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents escort a shackled Rhino to a secured location and Max tells Spider-man that tests reveal that nobody is contagious. Meanwhile, beneath San Francisco, Dr. Kurt Conners has managed to sequester his cloned family who have received the Connor reptile treatment to save their cloned lives!

It is surprising to find that so many characters actually are supportive of what the Jackal was doing. It is an exploration of the ambivalence and transitory nature of whether characters are purely good or bad, most recently reminiscent of themes in Civil War. If the clone has all the memories up to original person's death, is the clone still the same person? As they begin their new life in a cloned body, should they be viewed as an inferior version of the original person, and should contempt for the violation of ethics and morals surrounding death translate to a rationale and justification for discrimination?

This special issue's second story, "Give Us a Wink" is written by Peter David with art by Mark Bagley and inks by John Dell. In a set-up for the upcoming Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider series, Ben meets with Dr. Rita Clarkson at a pub and explains how he made his escape. They debate the ethics of New U's endeavor as Rita contends they were playing god, while Ben counters that god is inhumane too. As they speak, Dr. Clarkson is approached by two hostile men who lost a loved one in the New U fiasco. Ben steps up and puts a quick stop to their malicious intentions, and when they hear Ben's voice they realize he was the Jackal. The story ends with Rita giving Ben money, presumably to start his new career as the Scarlet Spider. The creative team seems well suited for the upcoming series, with both PAD and Bagley closely connected to the 1990s comics that brought about the initial Scarlet Spider storyline. I'm curious to find out how prominently Kaine Parker will figure into the new series.

Finally, the last story, "King's Favor" by Don Slott and new Amazing Spider-man artist Stuart Immonen is a prelude to to next issue of Amazing Spider-man with Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, tantalizing Spider-man with a thumb drive containing information about Spidey's greatest enemy.

The new storyline, The Osborn Identity (with apologies to Robert Ludlum) kicks off with a 96 page issue!

In a project that has developed out of the Justice League vs. Suicide Squad mini-series, DC was very thorough in setting up the new Justice League of America (Vol. 5) releasing a series of one-shot issues featuring each of the supporting characters: Black Canary (Dinah Drake-Lance), Vixen (Mari McCabe), The Ray (Ray Terrill), The Atom (Ryan Choi), Lobo (The Last Czarnian), and Killer Frost (Caitlin Snow). They also published a Rebirth issue to establish how Batman personally recruits each team member with the exception of Lobo, who was recruited by Black Canary. It's a series somewhat reminiscent of the original Batman and the Outsiders, with its varied assortment of metahumans.

Steve Orlando does his best to create the internal dynamics of the fledgling team, and Brazilian artist Ivan Reis and a team of inkers (Joe Prado, Oclair Albert and Julio Ferreira) bring the book together visually.

The issue opens with everyone in various locations: Batman and Vixen prowl through Gotham City, The Ray and Black Canary are in the city of Vanity helping to evacuate people from a burning building, Lobo is somewhere over the Pacific Ocean dealing with baddies, and Atom and Frost are in The Sanctuary in Happy Harbor, Rhode Island working together to fix the Troubalert, a program which will alert the team so they will know where they are needed.

Meanwhile, in Saratoga, New York, Lord Havok and the Extremists cross "the weakened universal membrane" in an energy bubble. Luckily, Caitlin and Ryan get the Troubalert working in time to see Havok and company beginning their assault. Batman is immediately alerted and contacts each member of the team as they prepare for the transmitter surge to transport them to the site.

As the destruction of Saratoga begins, Lord Havok espouses that since governmental structures cannot be trusted to protect its citizens and unchecked freedom only lead to disaster, only authoritarian, despotic leadership can offer people protection.

The JLA arrive just in time to counter Havok's claims! The battle erupts and when the Atom attempts to infiltrate Havok's armor, he is repelled by an electric shock. Havok then grabs Atom by the throat and when he is about to use his axe to kill Atom, Batman offers himself as the sacrifice...to be continued!

I was a little skeptical when I read that Lobo would have a place on this team, but he adds levity to an otherwise very serious team of characters. The Extremists are interesting choice for the initial issue and similar to Marvel's Squadron Sinister (who mimicked DC's Justice League....see Slugfest reviews of Avengers #69-71...heh), as each member is patterned after Marvel counterparts: Lord Havok (Doctor Doom), Doctor Diehard (Magneto), Dreamslayer (Dormammu), Gorgon (Doctor Octopus), Tracer (Sabertooth) and Brute (Hulk).

DC's measured Rebirth has slowly expanded to larger proportions with Steve Orlando now handling the task of writing Supergirl and this book. It's great to see Ivan Reis on a regular gig instead of the one-off Rebirth issue (Batman #6 and Superman #14) and Rebirth covers. I'm curious to find out if where the Extremists energy bubble came from will be fully explained. Also, what exactly does Havok mean by "the weakened universal membrane" and is it connected to a larger story in DC's Rebirth? It will be interesting to see where this series takes us.

Greg Rucka opens his story of immortal warriors by quoting General Douglas MacArthur ("Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.") and sets the tone for his new series from Image Comics. The Old Guard is lushly illustrated by Leandro Fernandez, who shares a wonderful visual style and vocabulary similar to his Argentine compatriot, Eduardo Risso.

The story centers around Andromache of Scythia ("Andy"), who is phenomenally exhausted with the repetition of events and scenarios she has experienced as an immortal; nothing seems new or different. While in Barcelona, Andy and her team of mercenaries (Nicky, Joe and Booker) receive a tip for a job from Copley, an independent contractor working security and intelligence for different clients. The team has worked for Copley before when he was with "The Company", and they debate the danger of working for the same client. Ultimately, the lure of money decides their course of action.

When Andy and Nicky go to Paris to meet Copley, he tells them of a situation in North Africa in which seventeen girls were abducted from a school and time is critical. Andy reluctantly accepts the job and relays the information to the rest of the team.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, a squad of Marines is searching a town looking for a specific target. After entering a home, a gunfight erupts as the target is acquired. One of the marines named Nile becomes a casualty of the operation.

Andy and the team are geared up when they arrive in South Sudan. As they enter the bunker to rescue the hostages, it initially appears to be empty, but suddenly they are assaulted by a company of soldiers who hit them hard with a rain of bullets. After the smoke clears, we see Andy and her team's wounds heal immediately and set about evening the score. Andy "gets medieval" when she breaks out an axe to finish the job. Afterwards, they search the bunker only to find it truly empty. They realize they have been duped when the only thing they can find is a digital camera which has been transmitting the entire battle to reveal the team of immortals secret.

The issue ends as we return to Afghanistan and find that Nile has completely recovered from her seemingly fatal wound.

All in all, a very satisfying issue of a new promising series. This issue raises many questions: Is Copley responsible for the assault on the team and the recording, or is Copley being played by one of his clients? What is Nile's connection to the team? In what seem to be a sly tip of the hat to Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's series, 100 Bullets, one of the characters (the Marine who holds Nile as she bleeds out) is named Dizzy (like Isabelle "Dizzy" Cordova..."The Girl".) Looking forward to the next issue!

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.

Back when Stan Lee was still editor at Marvel, writer Roy Thomas and artist Sal Buscema, along with inker Sam Grainger, put together the first Squadron Sinister story from November 1969 titled "When Strikes the Squadron Sinister!" But it was only the second part of a 3 part story that began with previous issue (Avengers # 69: "Let the Game Begin"; Oct. 1969) and ended with the following issue (Avengers #71: "Endgame!"; Dec. 1969) The story featured Kang the Conqueror, the Grandmaster, the Growing Man, the Black Knight, the first appearance of the Invaders with the golden-age Captain America, Namor, and the original android Human Torch, as well as the Avengers: Captain America, Iron Man, Wasp (Janet Pym), Goliath (Clint Barton), Yellowjacket (Henry Pym), Black Panther, Thor, and the Vision. The Squadron Sinister actually made a one-panel appearance in issue # 69, but issue # 70 is the real Slugfest! What follows is a complete review of the first two parts of the story.

Following a battle with an android imposter Iron Man created by Midas and Madame Masque (Iron Man # 17 & 18), Tony Stark is at death's door and is recovering at the city hospital with SHIELD agents holding close watch in a restricted area of intensive care. When the Avengers arrive on the scene, Vision wonders aloud why Tony Stark's bodyguard, Iron Man, wasn't around to protect him. (I have no idea in which issue Tony finally revealed his identity to his fellow Avengers, but you would think the Vision, with his super-android brain would simply put two and two together!) Meanwhile, Thor has managed to locate Dr. Santini, Stark's best hope for recovery.

While Cap and Vision discuss medical issues with the doctor, Janet notices what apppears to be a little glowing doll under a cabinet. She picks it up and examines it until Yellowjacket chides saying, "If that child's toy fascinates you so much, bring it along to the waiting area!" Feeling a little embarrased, she drops it into a garbage tin and fails to notice it suddenly growing! But the ever-vigilant SHIELD agents do take notice as it climbs out of the garbage can, and thinking it might be a walking bomb, they reach to grab it.

The Growing Man pulls a judo move on one agent while another fires a blaster right between the eyes. Of course, since the Growing Man is a stimuloid android whose artificial cells multiply each time it is struck, it only results the increasing the size of the Growing Man, whose single objective is to kidnap Tony Stark.

The Avengers are alerted by the ruckus, and when the Growing Man crashes through the wall of Tony's hospital room, swats away Dr. Santini, and gathers up Stark's nearly lifeless body, Cap's shield strikes Growing Man upside its face! Then the rest of the Avengers join in the fray until they notice that each time they strike him, it grows. Thor calls for everyone to halt the attack when he finally recognizes Kang's emissary. (I guess even a god of thunder has memory lapses once in awhile.)

With Stark firmly in his grasp, the Growing Man crashes through the exterior wall of the hospital to the streets. Goliath increases his size to match Growing Man and challenges him to a face off. But the Growing Man will not be detered from his mission, and it doesn't matter anyway because suddenly Clint becomes dizzy from growing too quickly. Growing Man takes advantage of Goliath's sudden lapse and delivers a crushing blow!

Then he calls upon Kang to send "the Light of the Centuries" and becomes enveloped in a blinding fiery light which causes him to shrink down to human size as he is drawn skyward toward a dazzling sphere. Captain America and Thor fearlessly step into the Light and are swept up in the chase, and the rest of the Avengers follow as they are transported through a whirling void of time and space.
The Avengers find themselves in a palace throne room with Kang sitting upon a dais and his beloved Princess Ravonna held in a suspended state in a nearby cylinder. Also floating beside Kang is a pulsating tri-sphere, and at his side, a glowing sphere that contains both Tony Stark and Kang's stimuloid. The Avengers realize they are in 4000 A.D., the 41st century!Kang is in no mood to entertain their questions and tells them, "You are here to serve me!" Thor's pride is offended and he responds by saying, "Thor..and the Avengers...serve no man!!" Suddenly, Kang's legions appear and the room erupts into a melee! After vanquishing nearly every last one of his guards, the Avengers prepare to close ranks on Kang when they are suprised by the sudden appearance of one of their own, the Black Panther, who intervenes on behalf of Kang imploring the Avengers to join forces with him for the survival of Earth.

Kang recounts his tale of how a year earlier the Grandmaster appeared and offered him the power of life and death to save Princess Ravonna if Kang would only defeat him at the Game of the Galaxies, a game similar to chess. Kang has chosen the Avengers to serve as his chess pieces. But if he loses, Kang consigns himself and Earth to oblivion....to vanish as if they never existed. Captain America agrees to participate only if Kang will only return Tony Stark to the 20th century. Kang agrees and informs the Avengers that Stark was simply a pawn in his game.

When the Grandmaster originally appeared, he promised he would be back in one year, which happens to be within an hour. (Talk about procrastination! Kang waited until now to make plans to stop the Earth from being relegated to oblivion?!?) And so the Grandmaster arrives...and the game begins! Things proceed quickly as the Grandmaster directs his hand toward Captain America, Thor, and Goliath, causing them to fade and shrink and appear on one of the platforms of the tri-sphere, with other figures resembling chesssmen on the other two platforms. Then the tri-sphere transforms until it becomes one with the Earth itself. Then the heroes find themselves on that version of Earth facing the chessmen the Grandmaster has created by telepathically sending data to the living computers on his far-off home planet. Enter the grandmaster's chessman: Dr. Spectrum, Hyperion, Nighthawk, and the Whizzer.....the Squadron Sinister.
Meanwhile at a dining table in the 41st century, Kang directs his guards to remove the food from his dinner table because he hungers for the main course....battle! He heads over to a room where the Grandmaster and the remaining Avengers, Vision, Yellowjacket, Black Panther, and the Wasp, await the coming Game of the Galaxies. The Grandmaster directs their attention to a device called a Time-Scanner which has a viewscreen to watch Thor, Goliath, and Captain America witness the approach of the fourth and final member of their team, Iron Man. Cap quickly explains the situation and what is at stake: Earth will be relegated to oblivion!

The Avengers turn their attention to astral images of the Squadron who explains how the Grandmaster altered four Earthmen into super-villains for the sole purpose of besting them in the cosmic game. Their images fade and are replaced by images of four of Earth's most famous monuments: The Statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal, Big Ben, and the Sphinx. Iron Man flies off first to the Taj Mahal, and Thor swings his enchanted hammer to transport the others to the fields of battle.
Captain America finds himself on Liberty Island where the statue has become the prize in the deadly game. As Cap moves in closer, his feet become ensnared in a rope that pull him upside down and slam his body against the base of the statue. When he regains consciousness, Cap finds himself aboard Nighthawk's plane which is carrying Lady Liberty by magnetic grapples. In his hand, Nighthawk holds a detonator which is wired to destroy the Statue of Liberty. Cap flings his shield and slices the device in two, rendering it useless. Nighthawk makes his escape through a hatch in the floor to try and manually disconnect the statue from the grapples. Cap dives down and delivers a powerful blow but Nighthawk quickly recovers and swings around one of the spikes on the statue's crown, connecting with a double-kick that sends Cap flying. With Cap off balance, Nighthawk throws an explosive pellet toward Cap, who reacts quickly and blocks the blast with his shield. The backlash of the blast knocks Nighthawk unconscious and Cap wins the battle!

Back in the room where the rest of the Avengers and the Grandmaster watch the viewscreen on the Time-Scanner, Kang exults over Cap's victory. But the Grandmaster quickly reminds him that one isolated skirmish is only part of the final outcome.

Next, Iron Man arrives at the Taj Mahal and recognizes the glowing figure on the roof as Dr. Spectrum, who is listening to his sentient power prism's voice directing him to strike the golden Avenger. When the blast strikes Iron Man squarely on his breastplate, he is knocked down. Spectrum comes around from behind to deliver the final blow in the form of a image construct of a hammer, but Iron Man hears the prism's voice and evades Spectrum's attack. Iron Man counters by firing his repulsor rays, but Doctor Spectrum is unfazed and gloats by saying, "The Grandmaster designed the prism to protect me from all harm. Nothing gets thru its poly-chromatic shield!" Iron Man uses the information Spectrum has shared to devise a plan, but before he can put it into action, Spectrum uses the prism to sideline shellhead.

Once again as Spectrum is about to deliver the decisive blow, Iron Man reaches for a stud on his chestplate that activates an ultra-violet beam, exploiting Spectrum's one weakness: color above the prism's power spectrum! And although Iron Man takes heart in his triumph, he's left to wonder the outcome of the other battles.

Over in the land of the pyramids, Thor approaches the Sphinx and feels the earth quake beneath his feet. Hyperion explodes from beneath the ground catching Thor unaware. Then he grabs a giant boulder and flings it toward the immortal one, but Thor manages to sidestep the attack. Hyperion takes time to explain his origin and tells Thor he comes from the first atom split by a man-made cycltron. The Grandmaster rescued him and imbued him with enough power "to obliterate your puny planet."

Thor flings the uru hammer at Hyperion, but when it strikes his chest, it bounces off leaving him unharmed.Thor tries to reason with Hyperion and tells him that his vengeance will be his undoing. But Hyperion flys toward him, knocks him down, then turns the burning glare of his atomic vision on Thor. The thunder god uses Mjolnir to absorb the searing bursts and calls for Odin's aid. Hyperion boasts that he will allow the mallet to strike him before he seals Thor's doom. But when the hammer whirls around him, it creates a vortex that shrinks him and forms a bubble of glazed sand that traps him. (Basically, Thor puts Hyperion in time-out!)

Once again, back in the room where Kang, the Grandmaster, and the rest of the Avengers (Vision, Yellowjacket, and Black Panther) watch the outcome of the battle on viewscreen on the Time-Scanner, Yellowjacket figures out how Thor beat Hyperion. He says, "His hammer duplicated...and reversed...the atomic process that gave Hyperion his powers!" But the Vision reminds them to temper their optimism until all the battles are fought.

Then the scene on the viewscreen changes they see Goliath near Big Ben in Britain. Unexpectedly the Black Knight arrives. Not wanting any interference, Goliath tells him to "flake off". The Black Knight is angered by the rebuff, but before he leaves both Goliath and the Knight witness a disturbance in the distance; the clock face appears to be obscure in such a way that it almost seems to disappear! Goliath realizes this is his cue for battle, and as the Black Knight follows him, he once again tries to get him to leave telling him, "This's gotta be strictly an Avengers show!"

But of course, Goliath is going to need all the help he can get because the final member of the Squadron Sinister, the Whizzer, is the cause of the disturbance and wastes no time in trying to sideline the giant. The Whizzer attacks Goliath by speeding around him, creating a tornado that envelops the Avenger. The Whizzer then stands back to enjoy his victory, but the Black Knight attacks him from behind, striking him with the flat of the Ebony Blade! Then Goliath snatches the blade from the Knight's hand angrily explaining he had simply been "playing possum" and had shrunk down to normal size.
But the damage has been done. The Grandmaster appears in the sky and intervenes by tearing through the fabric of time and space and telling the Black Knight, "You have interfered in the game! And in doing so...you have prevented a clearcut victory!" The Grandmaster gathers up all the "chessmen" and begins preparation for the second and final phase of the game, leaving behind a very confused Black Knight.

Dane Whitman realizes they have taken the Ebony Blade with them. Now he must somehow find a way to journey to the future and retrieve his enchanted sword. (But notice the big artistic continuity gaff in the picture below: He still has the Ebony Blade sheathed at his side! Oops!)

Man, did some of these 70s storylines get convoluted! But Marvel did a great job of coordinating the storylines with the Avengers and Iron Man. Members of the Squadron Sinister would later be incorporated into the Squadron Supreme. Of course, its apparent to any comics' fan that the members of the Squadron are thinly-veiled replicas of their DC counterparts: Hyperion= Superman; Nighthawk=Batman; Doctor Spectrum=Green Lantern; Whizzer=Flash. The whole idea is also similar to JLA vs. the Earth 3 counterparts (see Justice League of America #29 and #30); in fact, the cover to issue #70 is like one of the battles between the multiple-earth heroes featured annually in the pages of Justice League of America.

Next, I'll get around to a comprehensive review of Avengers # 71, which not only concluded this three-part story, but also featured the first appearance of the Invaders.