In Battle Joined

Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciller: John Buscema
Inker: George Tuska
Letterer: Art Simek

Featured Issue: Avengers #53

Plot Summary

Picking up from the events of X-Men #45, the Avengers find themselves confronting Cyclops, who having attempted to reason with Quicksilver was instead forced to knock him unconscious. The Avengers attack the young mutant who, realizing he is out matched, makes a break for safety. In flashback, the winged mutant Angel makes his way safely to the Avengers after a long journey and informs them where their wayward teammates are. With this new information, the Avengers and Angel head back to Magneto’s secret Atlantic island base. As they approach, the Avengers realize that there is a strange transmission being sent from the aircraft and they discover a tracking device hidden among Angel’s feathers. With this, the Avengers tie up the youth and investigate the island. As Magneto observes the situation developing on his island, he once again takes out his frustrations on Toad. Turning his attention back to the Avengers, Magneto witnesses the team breakdown into infighting and takes this moment to manipulate the weakened X-Men into attacking the Avengers. As the dueling heroes are about to finish one another off, Magneto’s loses control as Angel smashes his way into the control room, followed by the Avengers, who left Angel loosely tied up so that he might escape and aid them. Realizing that he can’t win against the combined might of the Avengers and X-Men, Magneto sets the self-destruct on his island base. As Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver escape with Toad, Magneto attempts to board the craft, but is stopped by Toad who has had enough abuse. Stomping on Magneto’s hand as he clings to the edge of the open door, Toad causes his former master to plummet to the rocks below, presumably killed in the ensuing explosion.

Avengers

Black Panther
Goliath
Hawkeye
Quicksilver
Scarlet Witch
Wasp

Villains

Magneto
Toad