Avengers vol. 3 #44Avengers vol. 3 #44
Title: "Down Among the Dead Men!”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Manuel Garcia
Inker: Bob Layton
Colors: Tom Smith
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Stingray swims northeast from Rollo Bay looking for Attuma’s forces and finds them. Stingray waits for a group of them to attack and grab him when he lets loose an electrical charge knocking them unconscious. A few soldiers that remained behind start taking shots at Stingray, but he flattens them with a few electro-bolts. Stingray discovers that they were guarding a pre-fab blockhouse that holds a processing plant that keeps Attuma’s forces’ breathing helmets oxygenated and functional. Stingray collects the soldiers’ power packs from their guns. He clears the base of all enemy personnel and then rewires the power packs to explode and destroy the plant. Stingray emerges from the water and reports to acting leader Scarlet Witch that his mission was a success. Scarlet Witch says that’s great, but says that she, Jack, and Hercules could use his help back there once he has caught his breath.
In China, She-Hulk says that this is not good. She says that they are on their ground now, and though numbers don’t mean much that they sure seem to be happy about something. Warbird says that they probably have some ordinance that can outpower them. Warbird says that she has been reading in US Intel Files about the Deviants and she wants to try something. Warbird calls out the leader of this group of Deviants. She calls him weak, cowardly, and unfit to lead. She says that by their own rules she challenges him to single combat for leadership of his army. The leader, Dulpus, steps forward and says that he is the leader, but that neither a woman nor a human can challenge for leadership. Warbird asks if he is afraid of women and humans. The Deviants around Dulpus start muttering. Dulpus says that Warbird will challenge his champion as is his right as leader. He says that when she falls she will become his body slave. Vision asks if this is wise, but Warbird says that she knows what she is doing. Vision asks if Warbird is just doing this because she is disoriented from Centurion’s appearance. Warbird says that it doesn’t matter now. A giant purple sludge monster steps forward and introduces himself as Glomm.
In Khystym, the glowing skeletons have been spreading across the landscape. Snezhogorsk, Norilsk, and Agata have already been infected. Thor and Firebird battle alone against them all. Firebird says that the others are counting on them to see them whole and hale again. Thor says that even if it means beating them senseless to do it. Thor throws his hammer. Quicksilver runs up and punches Thor in the face. Thor says that Quicksilver’s strength is amplified, and that his touch now burns. Thor creates a whirlwind with his hammer and blows many of the skeletons away. Firebird warns Thor to look behind him. Thor catches the edge of Cap’s shield as Cap tries to hit him with it. Thor tells Captain America to fight the control. Cap says that Thor will be absorbed and brought into the collective mind and essence of the Presence. Firebird tells Thor that he has to forget Captain America because he is dead. Thor says, “Forget? Never!” Thor freaks and starts wildly swinging his hammer. Thor says that this is wrong. He says that long ago he accepted the fact that the mortals he walked with would die before him, but Captain America is more that just a man. He says that Cap “is the best of his people, the best of mankind, and he deserves better than this!” Thor summons a lightning bolt that crashes behind him. He says that Cap should not have died like this, and Thor says that by his hammer he will be avenged.
On Damocles Base, Kang continues to watch his handiwork on screens. One of the screens has Wonder Man punching out Piledriver of the Wrecking Crew. Centurion arrives with a group of applicants. Kang asks if there was resistance from the authorities. Centurion says that there was, but that it was easily handled. Kang rides his seat into the room with the applicants. He points to one and asks what makes him worthy of a place in his army. As the man gives his credits there is a big commotion. Whirlwind spins to the front of the group and says that he doesn’t wait behind bums and losers. He says that he has more power than all of the put together and he figures that he is just what Kang is looking for. Whirlwind says that he demands to be a general. Kang tells his “general” that his first assignment is to tell his “fellows on the mudball below that Kang already has power!” Kang pushes a button a Whirlwind is gone. Kang says that he will not tolerate anything less than obedience, ability, and discipline.
In China, Warbird and Glomm circle each other sizing each other up. Warbird tries to blast Glomm, but the hole from the blast heals up. Glomm says that he can’t be hurt that way. He says that he has no bones and only one organ. Glomm grabs Warbird in a bearhug. Warbird starts to pass into Glomm’s body suffocating her.
In Siberia, Thor and Firebird fly to the
center of the Forbidden Zone where they find Starlight and the
Presence. The Presence is surrounded by a “personal
guard” of glowing skeletons. Thor calls down lightning and
knocks them all to the ground. Thor lands before the Presence and
says that he would speak to their master undisturbed. Presence
says that Thor has great power as a pretender to godhood, but
that he is power personified. Presence says that is Thor
won’t be transformed that he will die. Presence starts to
release energy at Thor. Thor says that he is Thor, and that
Presence will be able to judge for himself if he is pretending.
Thor’s hammer starts to soak up Presence’s power. Thor
increases the strength of the wind around them. Firebird watches
in awe. Her faith tells her that there is only one god, but
this… Starlight asks what is happening. Presence says that
Thor is using his hammer, but that soon he will overload it. Thor
tells Presence to do his worst. He says that he has used his
power badly, and will not use it anymore. Presence suddenly finds
that he cannot turn his power off as Thor’s hammer continues
to suck it in. 
Thor says,
“Hear now the judgement of Thor, creature! Thou hast caused
the death of a man finer than thou shalt ever know! And thou
shalt pay for that crime… with thy life!” Starlight
calls to Presence, but he cannot respond.
China, inside Glomm Warbird’s ability to absorb energy leads her to a source within Glomm. Nearly passing out from lack of oxygen Warbird reaches out for it and squeezes. Glomm is blown open releasing Warbird. Warbird is breathing heavy, but she rises to her feet. She asks Dulpus if he surrenders or betrays their code of honor in front of his men.
Siberia, Thor asks Presence how it feels to have his last spark of power fading in retribution. Starlight begs Thor to stop. She says that she shares the same power as Presence and says that she might be able to drain it from Thor’s comrades. Thor says that she will restore all who have fallen and then they will have a bargain. Thor asks her why she saves this monster’s life. Starlight says that the global unity was Presence’s dream and that she loses nothing by reversing it, but that in addition to sharing his power she shares his curse. Their power prevents them from associating with others, and that without him she would be alone. Thor says that she might be better off that way. Starlight cradles Presence’s body and says, “Yes… perhaps”.
Later, the Russian authorities are there to help those changed back to normal as they are left very weak. Presence is arrested and will be confined. Starlight offers no resistance and goes with him. Thor shakes his head at her choice. Firebird says that she is glad it worked out, but that this is the second time she should have died. She says that she believes her reward will come in heaven, but wonders what will happen if she can never die to go there. Firebird asks if Thor really meant it when he said that he has accepted that his friends will die before him. Thor says that he has seen many die. He says that he has great respect for the Avengers, but that in a century he may still be an Avenger but most of those he knows will not. Thor warns Firebird that if she is immortal to be careful making close bonds with mortals because it brings great pain. Thor says that he had thought himself aloof, but now he sees that he is not. Thor says that he has to consider this.
She-Hulk says that it seems these Deviants go on forever. Warbird says that it is good to be king, but then reports in to the Wasp. After she relates what happened Wasp says that they will have to figure out what to do with a surrendered Deviant army. She says that Black Panther has diplomatic relations with Deviant Lemuria, and that maybe he can take them off her hands. Wasp gets another call from the Scarlet Witch. Wanda says that it is nice to see Hank up and about. She asks what the problem was, but Wasp says that it was complicated. Wanda says that everything there is fine since Stingray cut the supply lines. Wanda says that she thinks the Atlanteans retreated back to the North Atlantic. Wasp says that she will try to contact Namor and find out what is going on in Atlantis. Wasp gets an emergency interruption call from Duane Freeman and Valerie Cooper. Duane says that the Avengers are needed in Washington urgently. Wasp says that they will be there as soon as they can. Duane turns off his monitor. He turns to Valerie and says that he hopes they can come up with a way to defeat Kang quickly because he doesn’t like the alternative. Scientists are constructing the Sentinels.
Avengers Files rating: 8 out of 10
The writing gets a perfect score. This issue is intense. Action and drama. The scenes with Thor are fantastic, and I suspect that they will lead to Thor’s departure from the team as, in his own book, Thor has accepted the leadership of Asgard with Odin’s passing. The artwork is good, but nothing to really write home about.