Avengers #111 (May 1973) starts off with Magneto forcing a mind-controlled Wanda to dance for him. I'm not up on modern comics, but I think it's been established that Magneto is not Wanda's dad, which was Canon for a number of years. That would be a good thing, because otherwise this scene would be even creepier than it already is.
Steve Englehart is the writer, while Don Heck does the art. As I mentioned last week, I'm not a huge fan of Heck's art, but this issue is still fun to read and look at.
Anyway, we find out how Magneto is mind-controlling the various X-Men and Avengers he captured last issue. He's figured out how to use the iron in blood to slow the flow of blood to the brain and make sure "my victims have the only the consciousness I allow them!"
In early issues of the X-Men, Magneto occasionally showed telepathic powers, but this soon stopped being mentioned. As for this magnetism-based mind-control power, I don't remember it ever being mentioned again. I may be wrong about that, though. In any case, that power is very much in play for this short story arc.
Meanwhile, the non-captured Avengers (Thor, Vision and Black Panther) have teamed up with Daredevil and Black Widow to rescue the captives. Unfortunately, they don't know where the captives are. But Daredevil theorizes that a nearby meeting of the Atomic Energy Commision might be a target. DD's logic is pure Comic Book Science, but makes sense in that context. Atomics cause mutations, which would interest Magneto.
Magneto and the mind-controlled heroes do indeed attack the conference and kidnap the attendees. The good guys arrive and a well-choreographed fight ensues. But Magneto makes a getaway with his hostages.
That leaves the good guys stumped once again, until Black Panther remembers that Magneto had sicced dinosaurs on the Avengers in the previous issue. They must have come from somewhere nearby. T'Challa will just back-track their scent. So, in the end, the villain will lose because T-Rexes are stinky.
Magneto is mind-controlling the Commission members he kidnapped to get access to atomic installations. But the good guys find his underground base. We get another pretty cool fight scene, but then Magneto steps in to mind-control everyone.
The issue ends with a nice twist. Vision had used his intangibility to inhabit the body of the Piper, Magneto's current minion. He karate-chops Magneto unconscious and thus wins the day.
Comic Book Science reigns again here--he keeps himself intangible enough to avoid damaging Piper's organs, but solidifies his brain just enough to take over Piper's body. I'm completely okay with that.
Vision also explains that the trick is very dangerous to both himself and the person he takes over, so it's not something he would commonly try. That's a perfectly good explanation for why we don't see the Android Avenger doing that trick more often.
I'm still not sure if there's a reason why Magneto didn't keep using mind-control as a common tactic. It would be awfully handy. If anyone knows of if an in-universe explanation was ever given, please comment on it.
Avengers #110 and #111 is an entertaining two-parter. As I stated last week, I'm annoyed that it claims to be a three-parter by inserting an unnecessary crossover with Daredevil #99, which you don't even need to read to follow the story. But, well, it's been a half-century now since this came out. I suppose one should learn to forgive and forget.
Next week, we'll return to the pages of Dell's Indian Chief.
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