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Avengers Forever #3 of 12
Title: “City at the Heart of Forever”
Plot: Kurt Busiek and Roger Stern
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Carlos Pacheco
Inker: Jesus Merino
Colors: Steve Oliff
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Captain America says that this isn’t what Libra said that they would find. Hawkeye says that is a big surprise. Yellowjacket asks them if they are scared. Marv says that the energy fields are overwhelming his senses. Libra says that they have been spotted. Giant-Man tells Cap to get Rick to safety and that he needs to fight with both hands. The Avengers start to fight. Captain Marvel says that the good thing is that these ships are drones and that they don’t need to worry about holding back. Songbird says that cosmic awareness is handy stuff, and that now she can cut loose. Giant-Man says that Kang’s chronal defense must be holding back Immortus’ full power. Hawkeye says that he can’t even reach the ships with his puny bow, but that he just has to do his best. The team battles against the ships.
Captain America is hiding with Rick Jones. He says that he can’t do much, but that he can keep Rick safe. Rick tells Cap that it is okay for him to go off and fight. Cap says that Rick is right and that he wasn’t thinking. Rick shakes his head as he watches Cap go off. Rick knew that Cap had a crisis of faith, but that seeing him now… Rick says that he has all the power in the universe, but that he is being carted around like a gimp. He says that he has to try and tap into the power, but finds that he can’t even get a tingle of it.
Yellowjacket is trying to blast the ships, but he finds that his sting can’t get through the tempered steel. Wasp tells Yellowjacket to get off the ship. She says that her sting has been improved over the years. She blasts the ship and blows it to pieces. Yellowjacket asks what happened to the “dizzy little Bloomingdale’s commando” that he is engaged to. The rest of the ships fly away, and Yellowjacket says that they ran them off with no casualties for the home team. Hawkeye says that they don’t yet, but that if he doesn’t move eight inches to the left that they will. Hawkeye’s arrow goes buzzing by Yellowjacket’s head. He asks Hawkeye what he is doing. Hawkeye’s arrow hits another arrow coming at Yellowjacket from the other direction. Hawkeye runs up to the shadowed shooter of the arrow. He wallops him with his bow and then looks down to see that his opponent is Red Wolf. Hawkeye tells the others to get over there and that this is getting too screwy for words. Hawkeye realizes that this isn’t Red Wolf, or if it is that it isn’t the Red Wolf that he knows.
The Avengers gather around and Hawkeye says that this guy says that he is an ancestor of Will Talltrees, and that he is on Kang’s side. Wildrun says that he can’t trust strangers. Libra comes forward. He tells Wildrun that he has nothing to fear from those around him. Libra says that the Avengers and Chronopolis share a common enemy. Hawkeye says that he didn’t see Libra helping out. He says that it seems to him that all he did was duck into one of his hideouts. Wildrun apologizes to “Lord Libra”. He says that Lady Termanatrix has fallen and that the Anarchonauts were slaughtered. Wildrun says that he attacked instinctively. Hawkeye asks what Anarchonauts are. Wildrun explains that they are Kang’s elite guard… the greatest warriors of all time. He says that they were hit by some kind of time twisting explosion. Wildrun says that he was thrown clear, but that the others died leaving behind nothing but temporal shadows that are now fading. Rick says that they have to get Wildrun to medical attention before he joins his friends. Wildrun says that there is no time for that, and that they must find the master.
Soon near the central citadel of Chronopolis, Kang tells the slavemaster to be careful. Kang says that they are moving an exact replica of the time machine that he first used to travel to ancient Egypt, and that he didn’t have it taken from the battle lines just so it could be damaged by his clumsy men. The slavemaster says that it will be carried as if it were an eggshell. Kang tells him to do it faster as well because the slaves must be back on the wall before the next assault comes. Without turning Kang tells the Avengers to state their business. Giant-Man asks if he knew they were there. Kang says that of course he knew and that they are in Chronopolis. Wildrun says that he must report to Kang. Kang takes a sip of his drink and tells Wildrun to calm himself. He says that he already knows the outcome of the battle. Kang says that Wildrun has served him bravely and well. Kang tells the Avengers that the safest place for Jones is outside the time stream. Wasp says that it was Rick’s decision to come there. Hawkeye says that Rick isn’t the type to run and hide. Kang says that is why he considers the Avengers worthy foes. He says that they never surrender or flee. He says that no matter what the odds that they know that combat means something and honor more. Wasp tells Kang to save it and asks what is going on there. She asks how Immortus is attacking Chronopolis or how he is even mobile. She says that the last she remembers Immortus was a living statue kept in place by the Time Keepers. Kang says that he doesn’t know why Immortus tolerates the Time Keepers. He explains that what she saw was temporary or one of Immortus’ compulsive falsehoods. Kang says that as for why Immortus is attacking Chronopolis that Immortus is seeking to consolidate his control over all the time-lines, but to do that he needs the Heart of Forever. Wasp asks what that is. Kang explains that going back in time does not actually change the past. Kang says that if the past is altered that it simply creates an alternate timeline. Kang says that if one wants to truly change time that one must do it through a construct such as Chronopolis because it touches all time at once. Kang says that he is not interested in such games as he prefers to win his victories through conquest instead of guile. Kang says that Immortus, because he failed to stop Rick Jones before his power manifested itself again, that Immortus wants to erase those events from time. Kang says that he needs the Heart of Forever, a trans-chronal engine that allows Chronopolis to exist in every branch of the time stream at once. Kang says that Immortus will never have it. Kang says that Immortus calls himself the “Master of Time”, but that he is more like the “Gardener of Time”. Kang says that he prunes away chronal branches that others deem too dangerous. Kang says that is not the way of warriors and men. Kang says that the mark of the strong is to fight against that which needs to be conquered. Kang says that they must defend the Heart of Forever. He says that they have been glorious enemies in the past, and that he hopes they will be again, but that they must stand together against Immortus. Wasp agrees for now. Kang is pleased and tells his guards to get Wildrun some medical attention. He also tells them to make the Avengers comfortable and that Immortus’ forces will be back soon.
Rick turns to Giant-Man and says that he may not be the right guy to say this, but that he doesn’t trust Kang. He wonders if Immortus is right and that maybe they are on the wrong side. Giant-Man says that maybe they are on the wrong side, but that they can’t take Immortus’ word for it since he has lied to them so often. He says that they won’t follow Kang blindly either, but that right now he is the lesser of two evils. Wasp flies over and says that is right and that they will just keep their ears and eyes open, and that she will get some answers from Kang. Yellowjacket mumbles to himself that he thought he killed the “big oaf” and that the dead ought to stay dead. Yellowjacket tells Wasp that it looks like they will have some downtime and suggests that the two of them find some place to get cozy. Jan stammers for a bit, but then says that right now they have too many problems to deal with and that the time travel isn’t making it easier. She says that she is declaring personal lives off-limits. She asks Yellowjacket if he has got it. Yellowjacket mumbles that at that volume how could he not. He mumbles that she grew into a witch, but that there are other fish in the sea.
Kang’s men give Rick Jones a new wheel chair. Songbird dissolves the solid-sound carrying chair. Hawkeye asks her if that solid sound is like Klaw’s. Songbird says that it is so weird that the last time she saw him that he knew her powers inside out, but that the last time she saw him was his future, and her past. Hawkeye says that of course it was, but says that his head hurts.
Captain Marvel stands trying to use his
cosmic awareness to feel things, but that the barriers around
Kang’s citadel makes it difficult to sense anything. He does
however feel Rick Jones watching him. 
Genis knows
that he is thinking about his father Mar-Vell. Genis never got to
meet his father, but that Rick knew Mar-Vell like a son should,
and he has never felt that the son truly measured up. Rick asks
Genis if he thinks Kang’s men gave him a good chair. Genis
says that he is sure that it is quite impressive. Rick says that
Genis is supposedly from the future and asks him what is going to
happen. Marv says that he didn’t join the Avengers until
long after the Destiny War was over and that he has never been
that familiar with it. He says that he also doesn’t know if
they come from the same timeline or if Rick’s future is just
“some alternate path, diverged from the timeline before you
die”. Rick thanks the “substitute” for nothing and
rolls away. Genis says, “But no… I couldn’t be
that lucky…”
Captain America asks Wasp if she got any new information from Kang. Wasp says that she couldn’t even get close to him. She says that his attendants told her that he was “girding his loins” and that no outsiders were allowed. Wasp tells Cap that she knows how he feels and what he has been through, but that she needs him to be alert and battle ready. Cap says that it is some solace to know that the Avengers have continued on, but that he is starting to wonder if he hasn’t outlived his usefulness as he has in his own era. Wasp tells Cap not to say that, and that they need him now more than ever.
Hawkeye is talking with Giant-Man as they watch Wasp talking to Cap. Hawkeye says that it doesn’t look like it is going too well, but that he has never known the old war-horse not to step up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. Hawkeye remarks at the incredible bow Kang’s men have given him. Giant-Man says that Cap’s problems go a little deeper than that, but that things will get better for him and that he has watched it happen.
Songbird shouts for everybody to hurry and that the invaders are back. At first there are thousands, and then millions, of Immortus’ forces. They are driven back momentarily, but each time they are defeated they regroup and attack again. Kang’s army and the Avengers never flinch or falter. Yellowjacket smacks around the soldiers and says that he is sure they are terrors where they come from, but that they are going against him and that he doesn’t like to lose. Songbird tries erecting giant sound walls to try and give Kang’s men more space. Immortus’ soldiers freak out when they see Giant-Man grow before them. Hawkeye discovers that Kang’s arrows are too powerful for regular combat. He says that war or no war that he is not willing to kill. Wasp tells Immortus’ soldiers that she doesn’t like Kang anymore than they do, but that she isn’t letting them near the gun-emplacement. Captain Marvel is amazed at the bravery he is seeing despite the fact that the battle is hopeless. He says that even the despaired Captain America is fighting on auto-pilot, but that they can’t lay a hand on him. Rick’s new chair is hit by some stray fire. The chair falls over. Rick says that he can’t stand and that he isn’t going to have much luck crawling away. One of Immortus’ men starts to charge Rick with his axe ready to strike. Rick tries to activate his power again, but this time it doesn’t come. Rick says that he did feel a tingle for a second, and that if he isn’t mistaken that he can feel his legs again. Rick kicks Immortus’ soldier in the stomach and says that now he is facing a honorary Avenger that was trained by Captain America instead of a cripple. Giant-Man notices that Kang’s men are drawing back. Captain America says that they have faced the reality that they cannot win. Kang says that his men are only following his orders. He says that they cannot hold this position any longer and that they have to fall back in order to protect the boy.
They begin to withdraw, but they make Immortus’ men earn every inch they gain. Finally Kang has to accept the truth and tells the Avengers to leave with Rick Jones. He says that he will hold the Heart of Forever for as long as he can, and that it has been an honor to fight at their side. Wasp says that they can’t leave since it would doom all of Kang’s men. Kang says that the boy is too important and that they must take him away. Kang says that Libra will show them the way. Captain Marvel says that he is afraid that Kang is right and that his cosmic senses tell him so. Wasp gives the order and the Avengers start following Libra. Libra warns them to watch for Immortus’ scouts. Rick says that he is glad to be able to walk again, but that running away is getting tiresome. Hawkeye says that Rick is right, but Captain America tells them that no one likes it but that they have no choice.
Libra takes the Avengers to Kang’s sphinx. Hank says that there is no point since Immortus’ men will just tear through that like they have everything else. Songbird says that something tells her that they won’t be there when they arrive. Libra says that Songbird is right and that the entire structure is a time-vehicle. He says that they have to work fast before time runs out.
Kang takes his last few shots and then
withdraws behind a giant slab that he hopes will give him enough
time to destroy the Heart of Forever. Kang says that to be
defeated there on his own terrain makes him feel old. Suddenly
Kang is struck down by Tempus. Tempus pins Kang to the ground
with his club and says that what Kang feels is nothing to the
torment that he feels. Kang starts to object, but Immortus stands
before him and says that there is nothing that he can do.
Immortus says that no one would know better because he remembers
eons ago when he was the helpless Kang. Immortus opens wide the
doors and looks in on the Heart of Forever. Immortus says that he
had forgotten how beautiful it was, and that he was a fool then
not to appreciate its true power. Immortus says that he is a fool
no longer. He thrusts his hands into the Heart of Forever and
Chronopolis starts to shatter. All of the city crumbles around
Immortus. Matter and energy swirl tighter and tighter until
Chronopolis is no more. Immortus says that it is done and that
Chronopolis, and all that lived within it, are no more. 
He says that
their chronal essences have fused with the Heart changing it, and
converting it into the Forever Crystal. Immortus says that with
this crystal he can change history and have those changes reflect
throughout history. Immortus notices that the Avengers’
essences are not within the Forever Crystal, but he decides that
it doesn’t matter because no matter wherever, or whenever,
they go he will find them and that they cannot escape their fate.
Avengers Files rating: 9 out of 10
While the plot is very exciting the best part of this story is the interaction with the Avengers Forever team. Captain Marvel and Rick Jones in particular, along with Wasp and the two Hanks. The destruction of Chronopolis and the war between Immortus and Kang has that epic feeling. This is Avengers’ history. Pacheco does such a good job that it is hard to criticize at all.