Avengers vol. 3 #54Avengers vol. 3 #54
Title: “A Good Day to Die”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Kieron Dwyer
Inker: Rick Remender
Colors: Tom Smith
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Kang reflects on how hw has crushed all resistance on a thousand thousand worlds. How he has conquered worlds and centuries. He says that he is Kang and that he is a legend.
In Maryland, Vision, Jack of Hearts, Warbird, Firebird, Captain America, Triathlon, and Thor fly towards the ground. Vision says that the target held together for much of re-entry, but that it started breaking up. Vision says that Wonder Man and Iron Man have diverted many of the fragments into the ocean. Vision says that anti-grav technology managed to slow the speed of impact down a bit. Vision adds that most of the residents were given sufficient warning to evacuate. Cap says that most, but not all of them. He says that they are more deaths and blood on their consciences and on Kang’s. They descend on the burning remnants of Damocles Base. A hatch blows open and Kang staggers out of the ship holding a sword. He thinks to himself that his personal force field and weapons have failed after protecting him from the fall. Kang says that he is alone and surrounded by his enemies. Kang says that this will be a glorious end. Kang raises his sword into the air and says, “Well? Come, then! Come and take me if you can! Kang surrenders to no man… and if he falls, then Kang falls fighting!” Captain America strides forward. Jack and Warbird start to walk forward, but Thor tells them to hold on. He tells Vision and Firebird to look for survivors. He tells Jack and Warbird to put out the fires, and that this is Captain America’s battle. Warbird asks if this is some sort of Asgardian honor thing. She says that Kang is a monster and deserves to be taken down hard. She asks Thor if he thinks that Kang deserves a fair fight. Thor says that they misunderstand and that it isn’t Cap’s battle out of respect for Kang, but that Cap is all that will be needed.
Kang leaps
through the air at Captain America with his sword in hand. Cap
blocks the swing with his shield. Kang hauls back with an elbow
into Cap’s face/Cap rolls back and flips Kang over with his
legs. Cap throws his shield at Kang, but Kang ducks. Kang leaps
into the air and hits Captain America in the back of the head
with the handle of his sword. Kang raises his sword into the air,
but before he can deliver the killing blow Cap’s shield
returns and knocks the sword from Kang’s hand. Cap leaps
into the air and kicks Kang in the face. Cap catches his shield
and tells Kang that he isn’t going to win this. He tells him
to surrender now and make it easier on himself. Kang says that he
doesn’t think so. Kang says, “I have done all I set out
to do. I have carved a swath through the galaxies as the greatest
conqueror ever… ruled like a god, humbled my enemies, seen
even the Avengers surrender to my might, raised a… worthy
son and heir. A man like me should not die in bed, but in battle
against my greatest foes. And that honor falls to you.” Cap
shouts, “Honor? You’ve killed millions, devastated a
world… and you say it’s an honor to defeat you?!”
Cap strikes Kang across the face with his shield. 
He strikes again
with his other hand and blows most of Kang’s blue facemask
off. Cap says that the honor is making the world a better place,
building a better future so that there will never be men like
Kang again. Kang says, “W-well struck, Captain. You are
truly… truly worthy of… worthy of this
great…” Kang collapses at Captain America’s feet.
The other Avengers return to the scene. Vision says that the worst of the fires are out and that medical assistance is on the way for the survivors. Jack says, “So, is that it? We won, right?" Cap says, “Look around you, Jack. Nobody won here. Nobody.” Cap tells Vision to send for a quinjet and he has Triathlon contain Kang in a field. Firebird asks where Thor is. She says that she saw him a moment ago and asks if he has left them. Wonder Man tells Firebird that there is a lot left to do, but that it is mostly clean up. He says that Kang has been defeated and the war is over. He says that they can all be glad of that. Firebird says that she hopes that Wonder Man is right. Vision says that the quinjet will be there soon. He says that he has sent out word of their victory and that the President is returning to US soil. He says that they will be told where to take Kang. Triathlon interrupts and says that he isn’t going to go back with them to New York right away. He says that he has to go back to the pyramid and dissolve it. He says that he also needs to figure out some things about the Triune Understanding and about what he has become. He says that he will be back as soon as he can. Cap says that he understands and that he will see hi when he sees him. Triathlon flies away.
On the flight home, Cap says that they still have work to do. He says that most of Kang’s armies are surrendering. Iron Man says that they will have to root out the others and that will be lots of fun. He adds that they will have to find a way to “repatriate them to their proper time period”. He suggests that Reed Richards might be able to help with that. Cap says that they will put all this behind him eventually. Warbird says that there is something else as well. She says that she killed the Master by gutting him with a shard of metal. She says that blowing up Kang’s ship felt like the right thing to do even though Kang’s men died inside, but that she isn’t sure that killing the Master was the right thing to do. She says that if she hadn’t maybe Washington DC might still be whole. Iron Man says that it could have been worse as well since they wouldn’t have had his technology. Warbird says that she knows. Cap says that they will get into it at their earliest opportunity. Vision says that they don’t have to do this, but Warbird says that they aren’t sweeping this under the rug.
As they are landing on Avengers mansion, Jack says that he doesn’t want to interrupt them but he thought they should see something. On the street below Avengers mansion a crowd of people have gathered to cheer and celebrate the Avengers.
In Los Angeles, people thank the Scarlet Witch. She is crying and just says that she is glad that it is over.
In Paris, they hoist She-Hulk and Hercules onto their shoulders.
In Moscow, they sing and hold candles.
In Northern Canada, the Master’s technology pops. Inside the base, Wasp is toasting Stingray, Black Knight, Yellowjacket, and the others. Yellowjacket says that he has something to add to that. He kisses Wasp on the lips. An alarm suddenly starts to sound. Black Knight says that as near as he can tell the computer is asking for some sort of override code. Hank asks, “To override what?”
In Montana, Kang awakens in an otherwise empty prison. He is deep within a mountain. Kang figures that is a sign of respect, or at least fear. He is content with that. He thinks about all the things that he has accomplished and the heir whose name will ring across the cosmos. Kang says that they will kill him. He will be executed by the only foes that have ever beaten him, He thinks that he would have preferred to die in battle, but his death will be one that befits a king. He thinks how his legend will never be equaled and that his name will be immortal. “My only regret… no Marcus will do well. He is the best of them, and he will learn, to do that, he must make mistakes.” He says that Marcus’ legend has only begun. A flash of light brightens the room and Marcus is standing next to Kang. He asks Kang if they should go. He says, “We’ve projected a null-time field around this mountain, and are extracting you between heartbeats. We used a protonic arc to carve our way in to your cell. I apologize for not alerting you, b7t you were in the null-field as well, until I arrived and extended the exception zone around you.” Kang looks down at the hole the protonic arc made. He sees the men that the arc has left in pieces. He says that Marcus should not have come. He says that he was willing to let events play out. Marcus says that a wise man once told him that “when conditions are inevitable, they must be endured… but that only a fool delivers himself willingly into the hands of his enemies.” He points to the open door and asks if they should go.
Back in the future, Kang thinks to himself, “only a fool, hmm?” Marcus asks Kang if he doesn’t feel better now. He says that he has two million troops waiting in the timestream to go and destroy their planet. He suggests resuming conquests elsewhere. Kang tells Marcus again that he should not have rescued him. Kang says that he would have died, but that his legend would have been eternal. Kang says that Marcus does not understand what he values, but that he would have made his own legend. Marcus says that he could not leave him to be slain by inferiors. He says that he is a dutiful son that loves his father. He says that he wants to stay by his side for years to come. Kang forces himself to smile and says, “Come with me, son.”
Kang takes Marcus inside his private
chambers. Marcus says that he was never allowed in there before.
Kang says that today he will learn why. Marcus sees that the
chambers are a mausoleum and that all the coffins are filled with
men that are him. Kang says, “Conquering this Earth was
never the true aim, my son. It was my gift to you. To my heir.
The finale to my legend, the dawn of yours, as we triumphed over
my greatest foes. I thought it would be glorious, because
you… you were the best of them.” Marcus asks what he
means. Kang says, “You were not the first, Marcus. Nor even
the tenth. But before you, each of the sons I bred proved
unsuitable. Unable to master the skills they needed. Cowardly.
Sickly. There was always a fault. And then there was you…
and I thought… but you betrayed me. You became infatuated
with the Avenger Warbird, and sought to help her, to prove
yourself to her. You saved her life… helped her infiltrate
the so-called Master’s base unseen. And you thought it was
nothing. It was the key, however… the one piece that gave
the Avengers their ultimate victory. And still, I would have
forgiven you… if you had come to me. Admitted to your
actions. I gave you chances. But you lied.” Marcus shakes
and says that he didn’t mean to and that it was all an
error. Kang says that what is done is done. He says that all that
remains is to look forward. Kang stands next to Marcus with his
arm around his shoulder. He says, “I was content to die. To
let you go on, become your own man, your own ruler, your own
legend. It wouldn’t have mattered, then. Many a great man
began by betraying his father. But now… now I am
here…” Kang draws a knife out of his boot with his
other hand and sticks it into Marcus’ side. Kang finishes,
“… and Kang the conqueror cannot tolerate a traitor in
his camp. Not if he is to go on.” Marcus drops to the floor.
Kang stands over him and thinks that he should not have come back
for him. He says that he was willing to die to avoid this, but
that he cannot tolerate a traitor in his camp. 
Kang kneels
beside his dying son and says, “You were the best of them,
my son.” The computer tells Kang that Marcus XXIII has died.
It asks if it should initiate Marcus XXIV. Kang thinks to himself
that all that matters is going forward, but he still says,
“No, not yet. Not… yet.” He thinks, “I am
Kang. I had victory, a glorious end to my legend. A son and heir
whose name would ring across the cosmos. Now I have nothing.
Nothing… but time.”
Avengers Files rating: 9 out of 10
What a great ending to the Kang storyline. It was touching in his own demented way that Kang was willing to die to avoid having to kill his 23rd son. The fight between Cap and Kang was epic. The summary between was a little stock, but I’m still giving it a perfect 5 out of 5. The 4 out of 5 is probably the highest score you will ever see me give Dwyer, but he did a very good job storytelling with his lousy style.