Podcasting – Some Assembly Required

Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Don Heck
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: Sam Rosen

Plot Summary

As his teammates look on, Quicksilver works feverishly to restore Goliath to consciousness with his thermo-reviver discs. Unfortunately his efforts have little effect and the Avengers are forced to look for outside help. Their first options, Dr. Donald Blake, is unavailable (due to his duties as Thor, God of Thunder), so the Captain America suggests a former Army Medical Corps doctor, Major Carlson. After examining Goliath, Dr. Carlson proclaims that while he will recover, Goliath cannot change size again or else he may die from the strain. While the doctor is unsure of the permanency of this condition, he is certain of it’s immediate consequences. Being stuck in his oversized form drives Goliath into alternating rages and depressions and while Cap attempts to talk his friend down, he is unsuccessful. Having failed in his task, Cap asks Wasp to see if she can get through to her paramour, only to discover that Goliath has left.

In the Far East, Hu Chen addresses the Black Widow. After having betrayed her masters and being grievously wounded, Black Widow was taken back to those same masters. As punishment, Black Widow was brainwashed into compliance and now stands ready to return to America to destroy the Avengers. After arriving in country, Black Widow seeks out Swordsman, who has returned to his life as a circus performer. When offered the chance to take his vengeance on the Avengers, Swordsman immediate takes Black Widow up on her offer. The villains now leave to seek out the final member of their new alliance.

As Hawkeye stops by while Cap is in the middle of a workout, Cap informs his teammate that Black Widow is back in the country. Still madly in love with her, Hawkeye is overjoyed, but Cap warns that Black Widow has almost certainly been brainwashed. Unfortunately, because of his feelings towards her, Hawkeye can’t help but go find Black Widow, regardless of the risk involved. Although Cap lets Hawkeye go, he asks Wasp to follow him and report back if Hawkeye gets into trouble.

When he arrives at Black Widow’s Long Island mansion, Hawkeye discovers, much to his delight, that she has in fact returned. Hawkeye immediately begins to make romantic advances towards her, only to be turned away and informed they have company. To his shock, Hawkeye turns around to find Swordsman and Power Man standing in the doorway. When he incorrectly assumes that she is being held captive, Black Widow informs Hawkeye that she is not a captive and that the three of them intend to have their revenge on the Avengers. Although Hawkeye is torn between his love for Black Widow and his duty to his teammates, he decides to attack Swordsman and Power Man. His efforts are in vain and he is quickly disabled. After seeing this, Wasp tries to bring a warning to the rest of the Avengers. But instead of delivering her message Wasp must evade a swallow and when she returns to normal size in a tree, the branch gives way and she is knocked out.

Because the Avengers never received Wasp’s warning, Captain America is caught off guard by Swordsman and Power Man. Cap initially fights well but in the end he is unable to deal with the combined might and skill of his opponents and his knocked out and taken captive. When he wakes up, Cap finds himself in a dungeon. Thankfully the villains failed to check Cap thoroughly and he is able to use his hidden communicator to contact Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch who immediately mount a rescue. Before leaving however, the Maximoff siblings leave a message for Wasp so that she can follow when she returns to Avengers Mansion. Knowing that her own power wouldn’t be enough to turn the tide, she attempts to contact Goliath, hoping his sense of duty will override his current melancholy.

Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch arrive at Black Widow’s mansion and Quicksilver uses his super speed to quickly search the home for Cap. In mere moments, Quicksilver has located the team leader, only to be trapped in the dungeon along with Cap. Similarly, Scarlet Witch is attacked by Swordsman and taken captive.

As Black Widow begins to tell her allies about her master’s plan, Goliath smashes through a solid oak door, quickly engaging Swordsman and Power Man. The duo are almost immediately driven back and are forced to fight frantically just to keep Goliath at bay. Meanwhile, Wasp slips in the mansion and prevents Black Widow from turning the mansion’s technology against Goliath as well as freeing the rest of her Avengers’ teammates. In mere moments the Avengers have pushed their foes against a wall. The villainous duo are saved by the quick action of Black Widow who opens a hidden door behind them, allowing the trio to escape. While the attempt to make their escape, Hawkeye draws on the villains, but is unable to follow through due to his feelings towards Black Widow. Dejected, Hawkeye presents himself for rebuke by his teammates. Surprisingly, Captain America says that he has done nothing wrong, only acted to the best of his abilities. While the mood is lightened, Goliath still wanders off alone, struggling to deal with his affliction in spite of the team’s recent victory.

Avengers

Captain America
Goliath
Hawkeye
Quicksilver
Scarlet Witch
Wasp

Villains

Black Widow
Power Man
Swordsman

Plot Summary

Upon their return to Avengers Mansion, the team finds a message waiting for them from Hank Pym. As the good doctor reveals, Wasp was overdue returning to their ship and he is worried that something has happened to her. In order to get the Avengers to pick him up, Pym is forced to reveal his identity as Giant Man. Cap sends Hawkeye to pick up Pym.

Meanwhile, it is revealed that Wasp has been taken captive by the Beetle who subsequently brought her to the Collector who is interested in acquiring a complete set of Avengers. When Beetle offers to go attack the Avengers, Collector instead decides to make the Avengers come to them.

Although the Avengers welcome Pym back to the team, they also insist that he prove his claim of being Giant Man. Before Pym has a chance to demonstrate his powers, a mysterious voice contacts the Avengers and claims to be holding Wasp hostage. If the Avengers want to rescue her, they must come to the coordinates provided. Pym then swallows his doubts and concerns and clothed in the new costume provided by Scarlet Witch, he steps into an abandoned alley to change size. At first nothing happens and Hawkeye begins to doubt the doctor’s claim. But almost without warning, Giant Man grows to a height of 25 ft tall and Hawkeye is forced to eat his words. Cap comments that he is truly a goliath which Pym likes and decides to change his name to Goliath. Although he is able to grow much taller than previously able, Goliath must stay at that height for 15 minutes before changing size again. To do otherwise would cause his body too much strain and could prove very dangerous.

After waiting the allotted time, the Avengers board the their jet and head off to the location provided by the mysterious voice. On arriving, the Avengers make their way through the mountains until a rock wall slides open before them, revealing the Collectors castle. Leaving Hawkeye outside on guard duty, the rest of the team heads inside, only to become isolated from one another and gassed into unconsciousness. When the team awakens, they have all been captured, including Hawkeye and their captor introduces himself. Though happy to have the Avengers, the Collector is angry because he must have Giant Man for his complete set, and he doesn’t recognize Giant Man in his new guise as Goliath. Letting his anger show, Goliath grows to his full height, demands to know where Wasp is and then attacks the Collector. Collector manages to make his escape using several of the items in his collection, including a cape made from a flying carpet and roman catapult. Given Goliath’s size, he is unable to give chase, but the rest of the team follow after the Collector.

While Quicksilver gets ahead, the rest of the team is attacked by the Beetle who is waiting in ambush. The Beetle hopes that if he performs well then the Collector will give him the antidote to the obedience potion he gave him. Although the Avengers initially perform well against the Beetle, the villain manages to separate them and knock out Captain America.

As Beetle keeps Cap, Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch busy, Quicksilver and Goliath confront the Collector. Diving even deeper into his arsenal, the Collector manages to disable Quicksilver, but Goliath puts up more of a fight, going so far as to destroy the Collector’s crystal ball. The Collector’s final gambit is to use beans to summon giants to combat Goliath. Though outnumber, Goliath makes quick work of his new foes. Meanwhile the rest of the Avengers regroup and regain consciousness, once again pressing the fight. While the Avengers certainly have the upper hand, Collector threatens to kill Wasp unless the Avengers surrender. Fortunately Quicksilver is able to rescue the tiny Avenger and things are forced to a standoff until Collector reaches for his time machine and vanishes into else-time. With the love of his life now safe, Goliath attempts to return to normal size, only to stop at ten feet tall and collapse, his teammates rushing to his side.

Tag: Podcasting

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