Enchantress – Some Assembly Required

Avengers #84

Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciller: John Buscema
Inker: Tom Palmer
Letterer: Mike Stevens

Featured Issue: Avengers #84

Plot Summary

Racing through the air of an alien world, Black Knight urges his winged horse, Aragorn, onward ever faster. With palpable urgency the pair make their way to a roiling cauldron in the ground known as the Well at the Center of Time. Black Knight is determined to hurl his enchanted sword, the Ebony Blade, into the Well and rid himself of its vile influence once and for all. But when the moment comes, he cannot bring himself to part with the malevolent weapon. No sooner does he abandon his attempt than he is attacked by a swarm of warriors native to this world. Black Knight makes a valiant stand but is eventually struck down by the leader of his attackers, Arkon the Magnificent.

As Black Knight plummets towards the ground, a vision of his fate intrudes upon the mind of the sleeping Scarlet Witch. Though safe in Avengers Mansion, she is startled awake by the dream. When her fellow Avengers rush in to see what is wrong, Scarlet Witch insists that something is wrong with Black Knight and the Avengers vow to look into the matter. Taking the obvious first step, Quicksilver and Black Panther place a call to Dane Whitman’s English manor, only to be told by his butler that Whitman is not home and that his current whereabouts are unknown. Believing that Arkon is involved with the disappearance of Black Knight, based on Scarlet Witch’s vision, the Avengers rush to summon Thor and his magical hammer, Mjolnir. With this, the heroes hope to open a portal into Arkon’s dimension and rescue their friend.

Back in Arkon’s throne room, Black Knight is brought before the warlord who, believing Black Knight a spy, demands to know the details of his mission. Black Knight insists that he is on a personal quest and refuses to speak of it further, only serving to further enrage his host. Enchantress offers to unlock the secret of his mission and kisses the Black Knight deeply. Now under her spell, Black Knight begins to tell the tale of how he came to Arkon’s dimension. After having stopped a pair of jewel thieves in an overzealous manner, Black Knight is forced to confront the fact that the Ebony Blade’s maligned influence over him is growing. Seeking guidance from his ancestor, Sir Percy, the hero is sent to Stonehenge on a quest to destroy the Ebony Blade and rid himself of its poison. Upon arriving Black Knight is greeted by a mysterious ancient figure who sends him to Arkon’s dimension in order to find the Well at the Center of Time. From there, Arkon knows the rest of the story. Arkon is unconvinced and decides that he must take the attack to the Avengers.

Just as Thor and Black Panther approach Avengers Mansion they are confronted by a wall of magical energy engulfing the mansion, causing it to vanish before their eyes. As the energy clears, Thor clearly sees the face of Enchantress and is warned to stay on Earth if he knows what is best for him. Meanwhile, within Avengers Mansion, the rest of the team find themselves roughly transported to Arkon’s world. This time, Arkon’s guards are waiting for them and although the Avengers spring into action, they are quickly subdued by the guards. Scarlet Witch is the last to fall, after being overpowered by Enchantress’ magic. Encased in Perma-Blast, the Avengers are brought before Arkon, Enchantress and a bewitched Black Knight. After Scarlet Witch once again spurns Arkon’s advances, the entire team is sent to the tower.

Luckily for the Avengers, Thor and Black Panther refused to heed Enchantress’ warning and arrive in the alternate dimension. While Thor engages with the guards, Black Panther secretly makes his way to the tower where the Avengers are being held. When he finds his teammates, they are in a magically induced dejected state. Only Black Panther’s regal commands manage to break through to Vision. Once Vision is free, his fellow Avengers find courage in his actions and soon free themselves as well. The Avengers join Thor in his assault on Arkon and his minions, though they are fighting an uphill battle. The tide finally turns when Scarlet Witch attempts to use her hex magic on Arkon, forcing Enchantress to concentrate even harder on Arkon and lose her grip on Black Knight. Freed from the spell, Black Knight confronts Arkon and in the resulting skirmish, the Ebony Blade disappears into the Well at the Center of Time. With Enchantress’ spell broken, Arkon ceases his fight with the Avengers, admits his error and is then forced to confront the resulting damage to his world as the Avengers return to their home.

Avengers

Black Knight
Black Panther
Goliath
Quicksilver
Scarlet Witch
Thor
Vision

Villains

Arkon
Enchantress

Plot Summary

While in town to visit an ailing aunt, Janet Van Dyne, formerly known as the Avenger Wasp, decides to pay her old teammates a visit. Little does she know that there has been a change in management at Avengers Mansion. Upon entering the meeting room where the team would hold council, Wasp is greeted by several of her fellow female heroes. Black Widow and Scarlet Witch are old allies, while Madame Medusa is at least known to the Avenger. The groups leader however is new, and introduces herself as Valkyrie. When Wasp questions why they are in Avengers Mansion, Scarlet Witch informs her that the building is now under the control of the Liberators, a new, all female group. Black Widow then ask Wasp to join them for a moment and hear what they have to say.

With that Valkyrie begins to tell her story. Working in a lab for Dr. Erwin, Valkyrie found herself pushed aside and looked down upon by the men she worked with. Determined to prove that she was even better than they were, Valkyrie worked late into the night and fell asleep while still clutching a smoking test tube. When she awoke, she found that she had gained super human abilities. After that she vows to use her powers to in pursuit of female dominance and begins to call herself Valkyrie.

Although her story is compelling, the assembled women don’t immediately see how the Avengers and other male heroes are to blame for the slights they have suffered. Valkyrie then begins to make the case that in every instance the male heroes have taken the credit and glory for themselves while simultaneously belittling the contributions of the women. Valkyrie points to headlines that refer to “Quicksilver and sister” as well as the fact that Black Widow was repeatedly turned down for membership in the Avengers as evidence to support her argument. One after another, the heroes fall silent as they are unable to refute Valkyrie’s claims. With all of the other women on her side, Valkyrie and the heroes take to the skies in Valkyrie’s chariot in order to attend to their urgent business.

Meanwhile in Rutland, Vermont, the Avengers find themselves the guests of honor of Mr. Tom Fagan, local comics creator and co-founder of the town’s Halloween parade. Little do the Avengers realize that lurking nearby are the Masters of Evil, have recently escaped from prison. Having lead their escape, Klaw now takes control of the team and directs them to kidnap renowned mathematician and expert on parallel time, Dr. T.W. Erwin. As the Masters approach Dr Erwin, Vision notices that they may not be simple revelers in costume, but the real Masters of Evil. With this the Avengers spring into action. Soon the small town of Rutland is engulfed in a vicious life and death struggle between the Avengers and the Masters of Evil with the tide of battle swinging back and forth between the two teams.

It is only with the timely arrival of Valkyrie and her Liberators that victory lies firmly with the Avengers. Unfortunately their victory is short lived as the Liberators quickly turn on the Avengers and take Dr. Erwin into their custody.

Returning to Dr. Erwin’s lab, the Liberators behold the parallel time projector. Having what she truly desires, Valkyrie can no longer keep up her façade and reveals herself to be the mighty sorceress Enchantress. After having been banished along with Executioner, Enchantress is abandoned by her companion when he is seduced by Queen Casiolena. Seeking vengeance at having been spurned, Enchantress swears to take out her rage on all men, everywhere. To further this end Enchantress sought Dr. Erwin’s device in order to return her to Asgard and her full powers.

Just as she is attacked by Scarlet Witch, Enchantress disappears by a means obviously not of her own devising. With that, the device explodes, leaving a smoking crater in the lab. Although the immediate threat is over and the remaining Liberators have been freed from Enchantress’ spell, Scarlet Witch and Wasp still have some choice words for their male counterparts regarding their equal treatment.

Tag: Enchantress

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