Avengers #276Avengers #276
Title: “Revenge”
Writer: Roger Stern
Breakdowns: John Buscema
Finished Art: Tom Palmer
Colors: Julianna Ferriter
Editor: Mark Gruenwald
At the hospital, Wasp and Ant-Man are recounting the tale of the Masters of Evil for the police. Ant-Man says that it is too bad that they just got there because they could have used the back up. Wasp tells Ant-Man that the police did all that they could. The doctor tells Wasp that Hercules is still critical, but that he seems to be stabilizing. He says that he has never seen anyone take this kind of injuries and recover. He says that it almost makes him believe that he is the Hercules of mythology. Wasp says that he is. She excuses herself and says that she has pressing business. Ant-Man shrinks down with her. He says that he isn’t an Avenger, but asks if she minds if he tags along. Wasp says that the Avengers need all the help they can get.
Captain America and Black Knight watch in horror as Hyde continues beating Jarvis. Hyde laughs as Jarvis continues to scream in pain. Hyde tells Jarvis not to pass out on him yet and that he wants the heroes to know what is awaiting them. Black Knight says that Hyde will kill Jarvis if he doesn’t stop him. He says that he keeps trying to summon his sword and wonders why it isn’t coming.
Black Knight’s sword and Captain America’s shield are still being held in an energy field.
Outside the mansion, the military says that they couldn’t even scratch the darkforce with a bazooka and that he has heard talk of an air strike. Another questions an air strike in Manhattan.
Inside Central Park at a hastily constructed command post, Wasp is meeting with Colonel Jordan. Jordan says that it will take hours for an armored division to get there and that an air strike in such a populated area is unthinkable. Wasp tells Jordan that he should let the Avengers deal with this. She says that they have experience with this sort of threat and that it is their facility that has been seized. Jordan says that he is responsible for the operation. Wasp says that his men aren’t trained to deal with super terrorists and that all she is asking for is a chance and some logistic support. Jordan concedes and asks Wasp what she needs.
Moments later, Ant-Man is hooking up the military’s satellite comm.-link.
Inside the tent, Wasp gets Sigurd Jarlson’s answering machine. Wasp tells Thor that they need his help. Wasp thinks that she needs everyone’s help and that she wishes that she knew what happened to Captain Marvel.
Captain Marvel continues flying through the darkforce dimension. She thinks to herself that she will never get out of there, but then decides that she can’t give up. She remembers there was a trap inside Avengers mansion. She recalls hearing Blackout’s voice and then being encased in darkforce which brought her to the strange dimension. Marvel recalls the time Moonstone tried to get Blackout to exile the Avengers to another reality, but because of Blackout’s mentally unbalanced state he sent himself and Moonstone there instead. She realizes that Moonstone must have gotten better control, but wonders how they got into the mansion. Suddenly Marvel spots another flash of light. She reasons that since this place is so dark that any light has to be from some place else. She says that she must reach it to get out.
On the California waterfront, the Shroud has cornered a criminal named Montoya. Shroud tells Montoya that no one can escape him. Darkness starts to seep out of the Shroud. He asks Montoya if he dares fire his gun now since the bullet might ricochet and hit him. Suddenly there is a bright light bursting from Shroud’s chest. Suddenly Captain Marvel bursts out of Shroud. Shroud quickly punches out Montoya and then goes to help Captain Marvel up. He asks her if she is all right, Marvel asks where they are. Shroud says that they are in San Francisco, but that he isn’t sure how she got there. He says that she exploded out of his darkness. Marvel says that she was trapped in a dimension of darkness, but that isn’t important right now. She says that something terrible has happened at Avengers mansion.
In New York’s Plaza Hotel, Doctor Druid’s publicist Henshaw is breaking down his itinerary for him. Druid is also watching the news regarding Avengers mansion. Druid says that he has had a strange buzzing in his head for the last half hour and that he can’t shake the feeling that the Avengers are in some way connected. He decides to concentrate on it. Druid sees Black Knight bound and gagged trying to summon his sword. Druid stands up and starts taking off his jacket. Henshaw asks him what he is doing. Druid says that he is changing as he leaves the room. Henshaw says that all his appearances call for formal attire. Druid walks back into the room in a red suit with a purple cloak. He says that his appointments will have to be rescheduled as something more important than promoting a book has come up/ He says that he has an old debt to pay.
Ant-Man says that he still can’t reach the West Coast Avengers and that sunspot activity is stopping him from reaching Black Panther. Wasp says that all her luck is bad too. She says that the FF are still out of town, Vision and Scarlet Witch are off vacationing somewhere, and that the Falcon has the flu. Ant-Man asks what is next. Wasp says that they scour the city looking for Spider-Man, Daredevil, and anyone else that might be able to help. Ant-Man asks what if they can’t find them. Wasp says that they are on their own then. Suddenly a flash of light appears and Captain Marvel appears. After she explains to Wasp what happened to her, Marvel says that Shroud apparently taps into the same dimension Blackout put her in. Marvel says that they should go teach the Masters a lesson. Wasp says that she knows Marvel is furious, but that she can’t let her anger cloud her judgment as Hercules did. She says that they must be careful as well as quick. Thor steps forward and says that was well said and that one has to guard against the warrior madness. Thor says that he is Wasp’s to command. Thor greets and shakes hands with an astounded Ant-Man. Thor says that Pym spoke highly of him.
Outside there is no change in the cube.
Inside on the roof, Moonstone says that they trust him to protect them. She asks Blackout if he trusts her. Blackout says that he does. Moonstone asks if he trusts her more than Zemo. Blackout says that he trusts Zemo. Moonstone curses to herself and says that if she could regain Blackout’s control that the Masters would be hers to control.
Two floors below, the Wrecking Crew and Goliath are running out of things to steal and destroy. Thunderball says that the Avengers lived more simply than he imagined. He says that their furniture was nice. Bulldozer laughs that it isn’t anymore.
Far underground, Hyde mocks the two of “Earth’s mightiest heroes”. Hyde says that Zemo was right and that they fell to their superior numbers. He says that they couldn’t even save the old fool. Hyde holds up the limp body of Jarvis. He says that they too will die now.
Chambers away, Zemo watches Fixer and Yellowjacket removing the Avengers’ memory-disk canisters. Zemo tells Fixer to be careful. Fixer says that his middle name is careful. Suddenly the lights go out. Yellowjacket says, “Way to go, Fixer!” Fixer says that this isn’t his fault and that he wasn’t doing anything that could have caused this. Zemo says that he doesn’t want excuses and tells Fixer to find the problem and correct it. Fixer uses his flashlight and says that he will. Yellowjacket has her own flashlight and draws Zemo’s attention to something. She points out the containment energy field went down with the power and that though Cap’s shield is still there that Black Knight’s sword is gone.
Black Knight is unbound and has his sword.
He says that if only he can find Cap in the dark. Hyde asks what
idiot turned out the lights. He says that it doesn’t matter
and that darkness will not spare them. He says that he will find
them, but instead Cap’s fist finds Hyde’s face. Cap
says that they can find him with that bellow of his. Hyde says
that he will grind Cap’s bones. Black Knight’s fist
hits Hyde too and says that Cap isn’t the only one free. Cap
punches Hyde again and swears that Hyde will pay for what he did
to Jarvis. Black Knight hits him and says that he hasn’t
forgotten about the beating he gave him either. 
Hyde says that
their feeble blows won’t stop him and that he has the
strength of a dozen men. Black Knight trips Hyde with his sword
and says that he probably falls as hard as a dozen men too. Hyde
says that they are insects to him. He says that they are just
annoying him. Hyde tells them to run and hide in the darkness. He
says that he will find them and destroy them. Hyde smashes a
machine and says that he will level the place if he has to.
Captain Marvel flies through the floor and tells him to forget
it. She says that he won’t get the chance. Wasp flies
through the hole Marvel burned through. She flies up to
Hyde’s face and zaps him in the eyes. Hyde freaks and starts
smashing everything. Hyde spins and says, “Do not… mock
me! I am Hyde… Hyde!” Hyde’s face smashes right
into Thor’s chest. Hyde falls to the ground unconscious.
Ant-Man is standing on Thor’s shoulder and asks if he is all
right. Thor says, “I… am fine.” Ant-Man thinks to
himself that it would have been more convincing if Thor
hadn’t been gritting his teeth when he said that. Captain
America holds Jarvis’ limp body. Wasp asks if he is dead.
Cap says that he is alive, but that he has taken a terrible
beating. Thor asks if Hyde did this. Cap said he did under
Zemo’s orders. Thor says that both will pay dearly.
Yellowjacket is hiding and sees the recent arrivals.
Yellowjacket sneaks back to Zemo and tells her what she has seen. Zemo asks how Captain Marvel escaped their trap. He says that the recent arrivals puts all of them in jeopardy. He says that they must depart without delay. Yellowjacket asks, “What about the Fixer?” Zemo says that Fixer can fend for himself. Yellowjacket thinks that she won’t miss Fixer at all, but that he did serve Zemo faithfully and that since Zemo abandoned him so easily that he would probably do the same to any of them.
Doctor Druid’s mind cloaks his arrival from the military. He thinks how he must repay the Avengers for having used them to eliminate a threat from the past. Druid touches the darkforce and senses that it is from another world. He also discovers that it is being controlled by someone’s mind. Druid uses his power to contact Blackout. Druid tells Blackout not to resist him and that the barrier must fall. The dark force starts to fade away.
In the mansion’s subbasement, Fixer discovers that the generator was shut down manually. He turns around to get punched in the face by Ant-Man. Ant-Man drags Fixer to the others and asks how Jarvis is. Cap says that he isn’t good. Thor is looking at Jarvis and says that he needs expert medical attention. He says that care must be used in moving him and that it would be too risky to use Marvel’s underground tunnel. Ant-Man says that the only other way is through the mansion and a gauntlet of super-strong muscle men. Wasp tells Ant-Man and Dane to make a stretcher for Jarvis. She whispers to Captain America and Thor that Dane needs medical attention too and that when Captain Marvel gets back from scouting that she wants the two of them to take the lead. Marvel returns. She says that the underground levels are clear, but that there is trouble on the first floor.
The Wrecking Crew waits around a corner
for any of the Avengers to walk by. Piledriver says that someone
is coming. Cap is running and thinks that this would be a perfect
spot for an ambush as Marvel reported. Cap leaps over
Piledriver’s swing. Wrecker says, “Jerk! Ya can’t
hit one lone Avenger?” Thor says that Captain America is not
alone and strikes Piledriver with his hammer. Piledriver says
that Zemo didn’t tell them about Thor. Thor says that there
is probably much Zemo didn’t tell them since they are pawns.
Thor says that they are mortal pawns that have possessed the
powers of gods for too long. He says that they shall possess it
no more. The Wrecking Crew are all zapped by Thor’s hammer.
Cap asked Thor what he did. Thor says that he drained the
strength from the Wrecking Crew back into the Wrecker and that it
must be purged from him as well. Thor says that they live, but
that they are mere mortals. Cap says that is a relief. He shouts
a warning to Thor, but before Thor can dodge Goliath grabs him
from behind. 
Goliath says
that Thor doesn’t seem “too impressed with us
‘mere mortals”. Goliath says that he will teach Thor
some respect. Goliath slams Thor against the ground. He says that
he bets that Thor will go down just as easily as Hercules did.
Goliath tells Cap that when he is done with Thor that they will
see how tough his shield is.
Druid senses Blackout on the roof. He says that Blackout’s mind is strangely clouded and that he had better check it out. Druid levitates up to the roof. Moonstone is asking Blackout why he dropped the barrier. Suddenly, Captain Marvel is there. Moonstone throws Blackout into Moonstone and wonders if he let her out too. Moonstone starts flying away as fast as she can. She thinks that if Marvel gets her hands on her that she will be finished. Captain Marvel hits Blackout in the back of the neck. She says that he may not be in his right mind, but that he is too dangerous to leave alone and conscious. Druid is impressed with Captain Marvel as she flies off after Moonstone. Moonstone sees Marvel coming after her. Marvel tells her to surrender or she will be sorry. Moonstone realizes that Marvel is too fast for her, but that she can’t touch her when she is made out of light. She says that there must be some way she can take advantage when Marvel becomes physical to touch her. Marvel starts flying around and around Moonstone but instead of as light she has become flame. Moonstone freaks out realizing that Marvel could kill her at any time and that she might be angry enough to try. Moonstone veers away and accidentally slams headfirst into a cliff.
Zemo heads to the roof. He tells Yellowjacket to prepare their flier for immediate launch. He says that he is going to collect Moonstone and Blackout. Yellowjacket says that the two of them must be useful to him still and that she wants to stay that way as well. Zemo walks out onto the roof and sees Druid and that the barrier is down. He wonders where Moonstone is, but decides that it doesn’t matter. He says that he had a needler ready to use on Moonstone if she was being difficult, but that it will work as well on him. Zemo shoots Druid in the back. Zemo helps Blackout up. He says that there are enemies all around them. He says that one must have struck him down, but that he is in good hands now.
Marvel calls out to Moonstone. Moonstone calls to her and says that she gives up. Marvel says that Moonstone must have hit the cliffs at 100 miles per hour. Marvel tells Moonstone not to move and that she might have broken her neck. Moonstone is surprised that Marvel is worried about her and that she thought that she was going to kill her. Moonstone says that is just perfect. She says that not only did she lose control of Blackout, but that she lost control of herself as well. Captain Marvel asks what she means about losing control. She asks if Moonstone isn’t the one that sent her off into the other world. Moonstone says that it was Zemo that did that. She says that Zemo dominates Blackout now, and that he just made her supervise him to rub it in. Marvel says, “Zemo! Oh, Lord… if he should get to Blackout…!”
Zemo stands
behind Blackout with his hand on Blackout’s shoulder. Zemo
says, “Yes, Blackout, you can save the day for us! You can
defeat our enemies! You can send them away, mansion and all…
into the darkforce dimension!” Blackout says,
“Yes?!”
Avengers Files rating: 9.5 out of 10
The story continues to be amazing, but again I have a problem with the relative ease that the villains are going down. With Hyde at least Thor was involved, but he didn’t even attack him. With the Wrecking Crew, Thor just points his hammer like a magic wand and “Dues ex machina” the Wrecking Crew. The whole point of Zemo’s Masters of Evil is that they were supposed to be dominating by numbers. Zemo’s victories came through subterfuge and the Avengers’ seem to as well. The entire story would have gone from amazing to unbelievable if they would have thrown some more actual fighting going on. The Avengers should still win… I’m not that far gone in my love for the villains… but certainly the battle itself should have been much more epic. The art gets another 5 for 5.