Avengers #48

Issue Details

Synopsis

WAR PLAN "A" A mysterious object of unbelievable size and the power of a sun enters the solar system. The war with Kang continues. The Triune Understanding powers up their spiritual ship and send it up against the "triple evil". Captain America and his team fail to breach Kang's Damocles base so the U.S. government decides to launch the Sentinels. Unfortunately, Kang foresaw this and used his time traveling influence to override the Sentinels' controls and sent them back against their creators. Meanwhile, Warbird and her team defeat the Master and take control of his bases and weapons. LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR! Back on Earth after their involvement in the Kree-Skrull War, the Avengers begin a search for their missing teammate, Goliath. The search is preempted, however, when the team hears news of a group calling themselves the Warhawks, led by Mr. Tallon, who is responsible for a riot where all involved seemed compelled to act out violently.  Investigating the riot, the Avengers themselves become the victims of the epidemic of violence, which they realize is being caused by Mr. Tallon's flute-playing minions. When Thor arrives, he reveals that "Mr. Tallon" is actually Ares, the ancient Greek god of war. With the help of the Avengers, the flute-playing minions (real satyrs from Olympus) are taken out and everybody reverts back to normal. Ares escapes, however.  The Avengers wonder about an arrow that was shot that aided them in defeating their opponents. they soon find it was shot by their missing teammate who has taken on the role of Hawkeye once more, albeit in a new, more revealing costume. Hawkeye explains how he defeated the Skrull ship, but was hurled via space/time warp back to Earth, landing in Europe several months ago. After spending a few months working for a traveling carnival, he only just managed to make his way back to the States.   Hawkeye has also brought along with him an amnesiac Hercules whom he found working at the carnival. The dazed demigod rants about the coming of impending doom. --THEY FIRST MAKE MAD! While the Avengers attempt to restore the amnesiac Hercules’ memories, Hawkeye fills the Avengers in on how he returned to Earth, why he resumed his Hawkeye identity, and how he found Hercules.  During the climax of the Kree-Skrull War, Goliath (Hawkeye) was ordered to stop a Skrull ship that was sent to destroy the Earth. Boarding the ship, he realized that he was out of growth tablets and had to resort to his old archery skills in order to battle the Skrull warriors.   After destroying the alien ship, he crash-landed an escape pod in Yugoslavia where he was found by a circus troupe. He joined them as payment for transportation and supplies until he could get to the nearest town and arrange to travel back to the United States. During his time with the circus, he realized that the strong man was really the former Avenger Hercules. Hawkeye eventually convinced him to join him on his trip back to America.   With his story finished, the Avengers consult their scientist members (the Black Panther and Ant-Man) for solutions to restore Hercules' memories, to no avail.   While all this is transpiring, Hawkeye (who is unaware of the romance that has been fomenting between Wanda and the Vision) professes his love to a surprised Scarlet Witch. The Vision happens to witness the archer’s declaration from afar but departs without either Clint or Wanda seeing.   Just then, Avengers Mansion is attacked by Kratos and Bia, Olympian warriors seeking to reclaim Hercules for Ares. During the battle, the Scarlet Witch is injured. The Vision and Hawkeye almost come to blows over who will aid their injured teammate.   Ultimately, the Avengers fight off the Olympian warriors who do manage flee the battle with Hercules as their prisoner. Afterward, the Avengers vow to go to Olympus in order to prevent Hercules’ prophecy of doom from coming true. WHATEVER GODS THERE BE! After bringing the Avengers a warning of impending doom, an amnesiac Hercules has been captured by Ares. Thus the current team of Avengers calls out to all their members, past and present. Traveling to the Black Knight's castle for aid, everyone who’s ever been an Avenger arrives, including even the Hulk who is convinced to join the fight.  The group enters the Black Knight's castle. In the basement, Dane summons the spirit of his ancestor, the original Black Knight, who reveals to them the chain of events that brought all of them together.   He explains that after the Knight relinquished his ebony blade (in Avengers #84), it had materialized in the realm of Olympus and became embedded in a tree where it was found and retrieved by Ares. Shortly afterward, Ares was joined by the Enchantress who arrived in Olympus and told him of the power that the sword wielded. Ares used it to snuff out the Promethean flame, turning all the Olympians (save himself and Hercules) into crystals.   Believing in an ancient prophecy that foretold of a war god with a sword crafted by a wizard who would one day rule all worlds, Ares gathered up a horde of mythical beings native to the Olympian realm as his private army in order to capture Hercules and expel him. When Hercules finally landed on Earth, the traumatic trip had caused his amnesia.   The original Black Knight’s spirit goes on to recap the events of the past few issues. With the story finished, the Avengers plan to travel to Olympus to fight Ares. They are joined by the Swordsman who has been watching the whole time. The Swordsman, a one-time Avenger in the past, offers his aid which the Avengers reluctantly accept.   The group splits in two, one group remaining on Earth to battle any Olympian invaders and the other to travel to Olympus to free Hercules and stop Ares.   A battle erupts in Olympus against the Avengers. Meanwhile, the other group fends off the first wave of invaders who have begun appearing in England. As both battles rage on, the Black Knight tackles Ares alone and the Hulk is attracted to the portal to Earth by the flute-playing satyrs gathered there.   The Avengers defeat Ares and the Black Knight reclaims his ebony blade. Fearing impending defeat, the Enchantress calls back the invading army back to Olympus through the portal to fight off the Avengers in Olympus. But their return disturbs the Hulk enough to goad him into attacking them.   In the aftermath, the Avengers gather at the portal. They leave Hercules to mete out punishment to Ares and the Enchantress while the rest return home. Hercules and Thor then use their combined might to close the portal.   With their mission accomplished, the remaining Avengers on Earth are questioned by the police about what was going on. Thor merely responds "Don't ask!"