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thebibliomancer · 6 months

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Essential Avengers: Avengers #303: RECKONING!

May, 1989

Featuring... Quasar! Firelord! The Fantastic Four! And the West Coast Avengers!

When is so many guest stars too many guest stars? If not here then near here.

So, last times in Avengers: due to editorial meddling, the writer of Avengers went from Roger Stern to Walter Simonson. Simonson wanted to shake the book up with a hot new roster, including Mr Fantastic and Invisible Woman. He got editorial permission to use these Fantastic Four characters in Avengers but then the permission got withdrawn right after he'd already committed to it in the book. So he quit.

Now Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio are writing the book until the new permanent writer comes on, trying to smoothly write out the Richardses. So we get this three-parter about Super-Nova, coming to Earth to look for Nebula who blew up his home planet Xandar off-panel in an earlier story.

The Avengers flew up to Super-Nova's ship, at which point he blew it up and just flew to Earth on his own. The Avengers survived the explosion, thanks to Invisible Woman, and have made their way back to Earth. In the meantime, the West Coast Avengers and Quasar have tried - very high emphasis on tried - to stop Super-Nova.

Hawkeye tried to buy time by talking to the guy. But one page of talking to Hawkeye is enough for Super-Nova to want to squish the archer.

Which is a valid reaction to Clint Barton.

Super-Nova recaps why he's here and gives Hawkeye one more chance to tell him what he wants to know.

Super-Nova: "My homeworld, Xandar, was destroyed by a she-pirate named Nebula! She fled to Earth and has taken refuge as a member of the Avengers. I am the sole survivor of Xandar -- Super-Nova... And I have come here seeking her in the name of vengeance. You are the self-proclaimed leader of this group. You will reveal her whereabouts now -- or I will crush you and this puny world as well.

Meanwhile, at ground level, Tigra casually chats how she wants to slit Super-Nova's throat to get at his blood.

ARE YOU A VAMPIRE NOW?

Hank Pym tells her not to try anything foolish while Hawkeye is in Super-Nova's grasp.

Some police nearby decide now is a good time to start shooting at the giant man. Hank tells them to not start shit.

Hawkeye has apparently just hemmed and hawed and not said anything and Super-Nova runs out of patience.

He bemoans that a planet full of dumbos like Earth survives while Xandar had to die.

Hawkeye accuses that of being Super-Nova's real motive. He doesn't really care about Nebula, he just wants to take out his grief and frustration by destroying an innocent world.

In response, Super-Nova disintegrates Hawkeye.

Can't tell if that means Hawkeye's motive read was right or whether Super-Nova is just sick of his shit.

Super-Nova is also sick of Nebula not being brought to him and he blows up a building about it.

As it happens, Hawkeye did not die. It may surprise you to learn that he did not die while guest starring in another book and while his own book is in the middle of a story. But its true.

When he stops flinching from being about to die, he realizes he's being carried away by pink energy.

Yup, Quasar reappeared in the story.

After he failed to restrain Super-Nova, he shrugged and decided to focus on evacuating people instead of fighting the big, angry dude. In fairness, Super-Nova has been remarkably chill so far so Quasar probably saw no reason to rile him up further.

Despite being a rookie hero, Quasar is very not impressed with professional hero Hawkeye.

Quasar: "Exactly what strategy were you employing back there?" Hawkeye "Oh, that. Ahh -- special Avengers emergency tactic #1108 for dealing with giant aliens. Say, how about a lift back to the street?" Quasar: "Fine. I've more folks to rescue anyway."

You can just about feel the disillusionment wafting off Quasar.

And its not like he's full of himself. Half of what I've read of his solo so far is him kicking himself over what an incompetent goober he feels he is.

So for him to look at Hawkeye and go 'wow, you make me feel competent.'

Oof.

At ground level, Hank is having a breakdown that they just stood by while Hawkeye was killed and Tigra is trying to comfort him.

Hawkeye: "Save those tears, people! Your unflappable leader-man's back on the job!"

Tigra runs over to hug Hawkeye out of relief. And Hank shows his relief by berating his leader.

Dr Pym: "Well, I suppose you expect us to be grateful you're in one piece! What exactly was that little stunt you pulled that gave me fifty new gray hairs? And who was that guy who brought you down?" Hawkeye: "Gimme a break, Hank. Y'know, it seemed like such a good idea at the time -- teleporting, that is. I've been learning the technique in my yoga class. Heh, heh."

Okay. That's pretty funny. And halfway plausible in a comic universe.

(Is Hawkeye a Street Fighter fan? And a Dhalsim main?)

Tigra interrupts the Hank and Hawk Laff Zone to point out that the Fantastic Four have arrived. Yup, all three of them.

They never actually replaced Crystal when she left during Evolutionary War. It's almost been a year, guys. You can't have a gap on the roster for that long when the team name has a specific number in it.

Anyway, Thing and She-Thing jump out of the Fantasti-Car to pummel Super-Nova!

Annnnnnnnnnnnd.

Immediately get grabbed in his big, strong hands and bonked together like cymbals.

Super-Nova: "Thus are two more inconveniences dispensed with."

Good contribution, Fantastic Three.

Johnny Storm flames on and flies out of the Fantasti-Car (does that have auto-pilot?) and threatens to do Super-Nova a fire.

Super-Nova points out that he can survive the extreme temperatures of space pretty easily so some little flame blasts aren't going to do a lot.

And they don't. Human Torch splashes some flame off Super-Nova's shoulder and the guy doesn't even turn to look.

Johnny wants to hit him with nova flame, see how he holds up to that heat, but that would burn down Chicago and Chicago doesn't need that again. So he'll have to think of something else.

Quasar finds Thing and She-Thing in the crater they made of the street and goes to say hi.

He knows Ben from his Project Pegasus days! From Quasar's Project Pegasus days.

But he was only saying hi and making sure Ben and friend were okay. Because he then flies off to go help the Human Torch.

Human Torch also recognizes Quasar. From an issue that hasn't been printed yet. But I've read it so teal deer, Quasar is renting an office in the Baxter Building and he saw someone break into the Fantastic Four's floors. He went to stop the guy, had a little altercation with the Human Torch, and then teamed up with him.

Your standard Marvel meet-cute.

Anyway, Torch and Quasar pool their powers to blast at Super-Nova, who ineffectually swats at them like annoying flies.

The Avengers shortly arrive, in the extra Quinjet they borrowed from the West Coast Avengers Compound. But Cap decides not to jump right into things.

He knows that the West Coast Avengers are on the scene and wants to touch base with them, find out why they're not doing anything. So he calls him on the radio.

Captain America: "This is Captain America, Hawkeye! What in blazes is going on down there, mister?" Hawkeye: "Blazes is the word for it, Winghead! Welcome to the weenie roast! I hear you gents already ran into tall and gruesome in space. Glad to see you're still among the living. This dude's already downed Wonder Man and the Thing -- and the Torch and this Quasar guy don't seem to be having much luck!"

So Cap calls General Akord and tells him to absolutely evacuate the city. Super-Nova can explode with nuclear level force if he gets agitated and he's probably getting agitated, what with all the people trying to set him on fire.

General Akord tells Captain America that evacuating an entire city on short notice is basically impossible. So if the superheroes can't stop Super-Nova, the military is going to do what the military do and shoot guns at him.

So that puts a time-crunch on things. Save the city from the military being dumb.

Cap asks Thor, Firelord, and Gilgamesh to go into the fray and talk the Human Torch and Quasar into disengaging. He needs Invisible Woman to take up a good vantage point and be ready to put an invisible force field around Super-Nova should he go supernova again.

Invisible Sue says she doesn't know if she's up to it. After all the strain of surviving the explosion in space and having to keep a bubble up until they could get back to Earth... she might be tapped.

Mr Fantastic offers to go with her... to provide moral support I guess? Tell her when to use her powers, like he tends to do? I don't know but he wants to be by her side which is probably sweet.

But Cap tells Reed he needs his help talking with the authorities.

Mr Fantastic: "Couldn't you handle that yourself, Cap?" Captain America: "No! Reed, you're an Avenger now -- and I give the orders! Clear?" Mr Fantastic: "Yes. Clear."

I don't want to accuse Cap of being petty but I sorta wonder if he really does need Reed to talk to the authorities. Or if he's just trying to reign in Reed and chose this moment.

I don't want to tell Cap how to run a team but if you have a Mr Fantastic on call, his role in a fight should be 'hey smart guy, think of a smart guy solution!'

Invisible Woman jumps out of the Quinjet and makes an invisible slide to slide safely down to a rooftop.

God, Sue's cool.

But just in case Thor pops in and is like hey do you need a hand or? She tells him she's good so he goes righto, drops Gilgamesh to the ground, and goes to talk to Team Beat-Up Super-Nova.

Firelord asks Human Torch to stop attacking the big guy that could explode and Johnny says hey fuck you, you're just a copy of me.

Stay classy, Johnny.

Cap and Reed land by General Akord. While Cap explains the situation vis a vis Super-Nova looking for Nebula on Earth but actually she fell into a time hole, Reed gets that far-away genius plot resolving epiphany face and fucks off.

Just jump stretches away.

Right when Cap is asking him to explain the situation fully to the general.

Captain America: "Reed, where the --" Hawkeye: "Sure you're still in charge, ol' buddy?" Captain America: "Of the number one Avengers team? You bet! Reed -- blast it! Will you come down?" Hawkeye: "Heh, heh. How's that class on leadership lessons comin', Cap?" Captain America: "What's he doing? I didn't authorize him getting involved in this battle!"

Stay classy, Clint.

Mr Fantastic stretches over to the battle where Firelord is still trying to stop Human Torch from attacking Super-Nova. And where Thor seemingly forgot his mission briefing because he's taunting the big guy by saying he's fought bigger.

Reed forms himself into the shape of a Q or kind of a Q practically almost a Q to get Quasar's attention.

Mr Fantastic asks Quasar to fly him to the Baxter Building in New York as fast as possible.

This clearly needed to be done by Quasar and Reed couldn't just use the Quinjet he flew here in, clearly.

Captain America watches Reed and Quasar take off and is like '???'

Meanwhile, Thor forgot his mission assignment so hard that he's aggroed Super-Nova into blowing up.

One job, Thor.

You had one job.

But when Super-Nova builds his firey power up to explode, Firelord and Human Torch just absorb it all away before it does explode.

Human Torch talks a big game when Firelord asks him if he can handle half the energy burst but is secretly worried that he's never had to absorb this much before.

And just when Johnny feels like he's going to explode, the two firey heroes succeed in taking all of the energy from Super-Nova.

It's a LOT of energy though so they immediately have to fly off into the upper atmosphere to vent it where it won't do any harm.

The strain of containing so much energy makes Human Torch go all woozy so Firelord grabs him to carry him back to Earth.

Johnny apologizes for being such an argumentative dick to him and Firelord says hey its cool, we're fire bros.

Sometimes I'm being tongue in cheek when I paraphrase but not this time.

Firelord: "No apologies necessary, for we are one with the flame that transcends worlds."

They're fire bros.

With all of his built-up energy dissipating in space now, Super-Nova is just a really big dude.

Now even Gilgamesh is getting in on the 'I've fought bigger' boasting.

Thing and She-Thing have recovered from being bonked together and they start trying to trip up Super-Nova by lifting his foot.

She-Thing (Sharon Ventura, btw) tries to make this story arc seem big and epic by talking about all these different heroes coming together to face a threat none could challenge alone.

But Ben Thing Grimm tells her hey, c'mon, time and place and when we're trying to knock this guy over before he notices is not the time.

Wonder Man wanders up, finally recovered from the smack down he received. Sure took his time.

(Apparently his belt jets broke and that's why he took so long.)

He asks what Ben is up to and Ben jokes he's sizing Super-Nova up for a new pair of shoes. Then Ben asks where Wonder Man has been.

Wonder Man: "Oh, I was part of the underground effort here for a while."

HAH.

Cause he was knocked underground.

You're funny, Simon.

Thing: "I don't know whut yer talkin' about -- but grab a handful here, willya?"

Simon is funny but its really 'you had to be there' humor.

So Thing 1 and Thing 2 grab one foot, Wonder Man pushes the other, and Thor shoves the back of his knee and timberrrrrrr.

Super-Nova falls flat on his face.

Thor: "At last you see that e'en one such as thee may be toppled -- may fall before the righteous wrath of those you belittled!"

Super-Nova really does just stand around and let things happen to him, huh?

I guess it's hard to choreograph a fight involving a giant guy but he does just kind of stand around.

The Thing advises everyone should pile on him while before he can get back up and nearly everybody does rush in to kick the guy while he's down.

TEAMWORK!

Over at Manhattan, Quasar and Mr Fantastic have arrived at the Baxter Building. Which is technically called Four Freedoms Plaza at this point.

Reed runs into one of the small labs he used when he was with the Fantastic Four. He hasn't been back in months, since he and Sue quit the team, but what luck! The very specific non-descript thing he's looking for is in a crate, right where he left it! And also, an oversized adapter unit that he needs, right nearby!

Thank goodness for convenience, the comic is nearly out of pages!

On the topic, you may be wondering why Reed even needs to hurry back and save the day with his leftover scientific marvels when the other heroes have Super-Nova on his ass and kicking his face?

Well, he gets back up.

A big punch scatters the heroes and Super-Nova's power starts building up again. His body starts heating up too hot for even the rock-skinnned Thing and She-Thing to hold on.

Uh oh, he might be building up to an explosion again!

Well, can Firelord and Human Torch absorb the blast like last time?

No, Johnny is still woozy from last time.

Okay but Cap prepared for this by putting Invisible Woman in a good vantage point, ready to encase Super-Nova in a bubble, right?

Lol. Sue abandoned her post to go fret over Johnny.

One job.

You had one job, Sue.

He's not even hurt! Head in the game!

Firelord finally tries appealing to Super-Nova as a fellow Xandarian. I mean, doesn't it make him feel better that he's not the last of his kind?

But Super-Nova isn't in a listening mood.

Super-Nova: "No more talk -- DEATH!"

Captain America, strategic genius of the Avengers, comes up with an 11th hour strategy!

Hit him again! Just keep hitting him until the problem stops being a problem!

Good plan, Cap!

Thankfully, Reed arrives with a b- well, with a plan.

Hee has Quasar drop him right in front of Super-Nova.

Mr Fantastic: "Super-Nova -- this is Reed Richards! I have been known to your homeworld! I have met those in the Nova Corps and knew them to be honorable men! You are of them -- listen to me! Listen! Nebula is outside this timestream... She is not on Earth! But she can be sought with this time machine I have brought from New York!"

Super-Nova asks why he should trust Reed isn't just trying to get rid of him, Reed says Super-Nova has his word.

Super-Nova: "Reed Richards -- you were known on Xandar. I have heard you are a man of your word. Proceed."

Well, okay.

Its funny that this whole story could have been prevented if Super-Nova had trusted Reed to tell him what happened back on the spaceship.

I mean, this whole story has happened because people kept telling Super-Nova what happened to Nebula and every time he went 'nuh uh!'

Also, I guess it disproves Hawkeye's read that Super-Nova was just lashing out at Earth.

Anyway.

Mr Fantastic sets the (really big) time platform up and Super-Nova gets on it. The platform sends Super-Nova into the timestream, to be the timestream's problem if he gets mad again.

Thanks, Reed!

Super-Nova: "Your planet owes you a vast debt, Richards. For in my anger, I surely would have destroyed it. But in the end... reason has prevailed." Mr Fantastic: "May your search bear fruit. Farewell.

Yup, Reed Richards sure is cool. Too cool for the Avengers, probably.

Definitely too cool for the Fantastic Three, who seem to have shown up just to get shown up.

Zing.

But while everyone congratulates Reed on how cool he is, Captain America is grim in the corner of the panel.

Captain America: And you did it without clearing the plan with me. That's not how we play ball on the Avengers, mister. Not at all.

'Hmph hmph hmph most unorthodox!'

Anyway, this is the end of Mr Fantastic and Invisible Woman with the Avengers.

It's not made explicit in this issue. Next issue, Reed and Sue are gone and the team is just Captain America, Thor, and Gilgamesh.

In order to know why Reed and Sue quit, you'd have to read Fantastic Four #326.

At the beginning of that issue, the two are still with the Avengers. And start the issue hanging out on Avengers Island.

Reed suddenly announces that he's bored of being with the Avengers. Sue says she can tell he wants to go back to the Fantastic Four again and makes him promise not to take the team back when he goes to visit just to see how Manhattan is recovering from Inferno.

When Reed visits the Baxter building, he finds that his entry card doesn't open the rooftop door. And when he opens the door by turning his finger into a key, he finds the automatic defenses have activated and targeted him.

Because Ben hasn't been maintaining the security systems with the procedures that Reed left behind.

Reed swears up and down that he's definitely not here to take over.

Then the Wizard attacks with a new Frightful Four.

In the confusion, Ben gets tossed into a new cosmic ray gadget Reed whipped up to cure Johnny of being too hot. And the device turned Ben back into a squishy human.

Reed decides, well, Ben can't lead the Fantastic Four like this! It's not like he has some kind of robotic Thing suit he can wear. That'd be silly. So Reed needs to come back and take over.

It's not like Johnny or Sharon could do it!

Sue says she just wants to live as normal parents with Franklin but Reed asks her if she's really going to leave the FF in their hour of need? And she says no.

HA HA EVERYTHING BACK TO NORMAL. This will make the book start to sell, surely.

Fun fact, Steve Englehart was so disgruntled about editorial forcing Mr Fantastic and Invisible Woman back into the book that he used a pseudonym for his writing credit.

He Alan Smithee'd it.

Its funny that to shuffle Reed and Sue off the Avengers and back over to the Fantastic Four, everybody needs to look like incompetent idiots.

The West Coast and East Coast Avengers and Fantastic Three all try to stop Super-Nova and just wind up looking like chumps.

It's only Reed's enormous brain and reputation that saves the day.

And then when he goes to check on the Fantastic Four, Reed finds everything is falling apart because Ben doesn't have what it takes.

Englehart had enough respect for the characters that instead of undermining Ben further than that, he had him turn into a human again again again. Making the matter moot and having Ben give his blessing for Reed to be the leader again again again.

Having gotten through this little three issue filler, I again see why it's called the Worst Roster.

The first issue had great interactions between everyone. I could see how this team would work and different directions it could go, character wise.

And then issues 2 and 3, the team is pretty sidelined. Everything basically becomes an issue of Fantastic Four with tons of guest stars.

Reed brains up a solution from the scientific void while everyone else keeps the baddie busy.

The so-called Worst Roster can work. But in parts 2 and 3 of the story, there's not a focus on making it work. There's focus on demonstrating that Reed could warp the Avengers in his own image as an excuse for him to leave.

It's not entirely convincing. And I'm not convinced that Reed going off against orders to fix everything in his own Reedy way is final proof that he couldn't work on the Avengers.

It's still a good character dynamic between him and Cap.

Anyway.

Convincing or not, Gruenwald and Macchio did the mission brief. Transition Reed and Sue back to the Fantastic Four.

I can't say I give it a high score just in that regard because they don't even leave the team by the end. I'd have to read another book for that.

Next issue is another fill-in by a different creative team. And then Byrne takes over.

Both Avengers books under his pen! Wow. I know how that goes for the West Coast Avengers but I haven't heard a lot about his East Coast Avengers run.

Cautious optimism?

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