Avengers Annual #1 (Part 2)

 

cover art by John Buscema

(with alterations by John Romita)

Last week, we looked at the first chapter of Avengers Annual #1 (1967), written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Don Heck. In it, we saw the Mandarin gather together a team of supervillains. He sends them out to attack three different locations, one each in Africa, Asia and South America.

For this chapter, the action moves to South America, where Power Man and Swordman lead an army of mercenaries to capture a diamond-rich city. The two villains speed past the defending army in an air car and confront the city officials with an ultimatum. Either they give up or THE HUGE SWORD HOVERING OVER THE CITY will drop down and destroy everything.

The city officials are cowed and about to surrender when Wasp and Goliath show up. What follows is a cool fight scene, with Goliath and Power Man beating down on each other, while Wasp tries to snatch the activation device for the sword away from Swordsman.

Goliath takes more hits than he gives, but then uses his size-shifting abilities to confuse the villain and get in a knockout blow. Wasp is temporarily stunned by Swordsman, but recovers quickly enough to save her husband's life later in the fight.

But Swordsman does have time to use the device and send the sword dropping down towards the city. This, in turn, gives Iron Man a chance to save the city, using every drop of energy in his suit to stop the sword from falling and eventually throw it off into the jungle.

I have always been a little critical of Don Heck's work. I've always thought his figure work was a little stiff. But looking at this issue is making me re-evaluate my opinion. His art is dynamic and strong throughout, with the above Iron Man splash page being a highlight.

The writing is strong as well. We have a unique threat, a well-choreographed and fun fight scene and a moment of epic heroism. 

So this chapter ends with one of the Mandarin's three attacks being thwarted, though the Master Villain once again reminds us that only one of the three needs to succeed for his Master Plan (whatever that may be) to also succeed.  Next week, we'll see how things go for his team in Asia.