The Monstrous Master Plan Of The Mandarin

Avengers Annual #1

Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciller: Don Heck
Inker: George Bell
Letterer: Art Simek

Featured Issue: Avengers Annual #1

Plot Summary

As Tony Stark is at a local prison to show off some new peacekeeping technology, the Living Laser, housed at the same prison, makes a surprising escape only to vanish into thin air. Little does Iron Man know that Living Laser has been recruited by the Mandarin, along with Enchantress, Executioner,  Swordsman and Power Man. With the full Avengers membership assembled, the heroes begin their search for Living Laser before he is able to take his revenge. Just as they are about to depart, the Avengers are contacted by Nick Fury, who warns that there are attacks underway in Asia, Africa and South America. With that new information, the Avengers are off. The Avengers manage to defeat all of the various plots supported by the Mandarin and his assembled villains, but the Mandarin himself seemed to be out of reach until Cap and Quicksilver discover transmissions beaming out into space. With that, the duo rush to a government space craft and head into orbit to confront the Mandarin. As the rest of the team arrive to reinforce their teammates, the Mandarin uses his latest invention to turn the heroes against one another. Unfortunately for him, his weapon also causes Wasp to attack him and the in the resulting chaos, Mandarin is sucked out into space. Although they now have control of his advanced space station, the Avengers realize that they can’t allow it to continue to exist. As the station explodes behind them, the Avengers decide that they should assemble their full membership more frequently.

Avengers

Captain America
Goliath
Hawkeye
Hercules
Iron Man
Quicksilver
Scarlet Witch
Thor
Wasp

Villains

Enchantress
Executioner
Living Laser
Mandarin
Power Man
Swordsman
Ultimo

Color Him…The Red Guardian

Avengers #46

Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciller: John Buscema
Inker: George Bell
Letterer: Jerry Man

Featured Issue: Avengers #43

Plot Summary

As Quicksilver demonstrates a newly discovered ability, Captain America and Hercules finally meet. Although both men attempt to gain the measure of one another, they eventually come to a pleasant understanding. Meanwhile, a lawyer arrives to inform Wasp that she has come into the inheritance from her late father, making her exceedingly wealthy. Unfortunately, things are not as rosy for Hawkeye as he searches for information about the location of Black Widow. Hawkeye is eventually successful and the bowman drafts Hercules to aid him in his efforts. Behind the Bamboo Curtain, Black Widow’s captors introduce their latest creation, the Red Guardian, a communist counterpart to Captain America. When Hawkeye and Hercules arrive at the secret communist base, they make short work of the henchmen lying in wait, but soon the pair face off against the Red Guardian. With Hawkeye quickly out of the picture, Red Guardian tricks Hercules into entering the dreaded Psychotron, where he is forced to unsuccessfully relive the fights against his greatest foes. Red Guardian’s minor detour allowed Hawkeye enough time to rejoin the fight, but he is unfortunately no match for the communist stooge. After falling before his foe, Hawkeye is captured and adding insult to injury, the Red Guardian is revealed to be the husband of Hawkeye’s love, Black Widow.

Avengers

Captain America
Goliath
Hawkeye
Hercules
Quicksilver
Scarlet Witch
Wasp

Villains

Colonel Ling
General Brushov
Red Guardian