Avengers #18
When the Commissar Commands!
Captain America is sitting down to a meal in Avengers Mansion. He is once again thinking about how he still feels like a man out of time in this era.[1] He also hopes that Nick Fury will answer his letter asking to join SHIELD, as it will give Cap a job and make him self-sufficient as he doesn’t like being supported by Tony Stark’s fortune.[2] Until then, he is committed to leading the new group of Avengers, a job entrusted to him when Iron Man, Giant-Man, and Thor went on a leave of absence.[3]
Meanwhile, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch have plans for the evening that they have been looking forward to for some time. While Wanda goes to see “Twelfth Night” at the theater, Pietro has tickets to the circus. Watching the acrobats, Pietro wishes he can join the circus but his super-speed would out him as a mutant and make him a victim of prejudice.[4] However, when one of the trapeze artists falls, Quicksilver uses his super-speed to pull a net out to save his life. Luckily, nobody panics as they believe this is all part of the show. While back at the mansion, Hawkeye tests out a new arrow.
On the other side of the world, in the communist-ruled nation of Sin-Cong, Major Hoy tells the people that he is increasing their taxes as they have not paid enough for the communist party’s “protection” from western democracies. When the locals try to protest this, Major Hoy’s commander the massive Commissar gives a show of strength by tossing a boulder out of the village with his bare hands. When the Commissar threatens the villagers with violence they quick bow to him.
Hours later, Captain America receives a call from a group calling themselves Radio Free Sin-Cong. They claim to be a resistance movement fighting the communist government in the region and have asked for the Avengers’ help liberating their country. Captain America agrees to offer aid, thinking that this will attract the attention of Nick Fury. What he doesn’t know is that this distress call was made by Major Hoy and he and the Commissaire are actually setting a trap for Earth’s mightiest heroes.
When Captain America summons the rest of the Avengers, Hawkeye questions why they are getting involved in the political affairs of another country. Cap reminds him that the Avengers fight to avenge injustice, especially when liberty is threatened. This is enough to convince Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. Soon the four Avengers arrive in Sin-Cong and find the military waiting for them. They are then escorted to the Commissar’s palace. Inside, they are trapped in a room. After the Scarlet Witch falls through a trap door, the other Avengers fight off the soldiers who come to battle them. Quicksilver quickly finds a grate into the room where the Scarlet Witch has been tied up.[5] Hawkeye tries melting through the bars with one of his flare arrows. Unfortunately, the three male members of the team are gassed. When they wake up they find themselves in a room with the Commissar himself. There, the massive military leader has taken the Scarlet Witch prisoner in order to force the other three Avengers to battle him one-on-one. These battles are to be spectated by the people of Sin-Cong, as the Commissar intends to show them that he is more powerful than the heroes from a democratic nation.
Captain America is the first one to fight the Commissar. Although he is easily defeated, the Star-Spangled Avenger finds something off about his opponent. Hawkeye and Quicksilver also don’t fare any better. By this time, Captain America has noticed that Major Hoy hides behind a curtain between each fight. He then insists that the Commisar fight the Scarlet Witch next. This time, the Scarlet Witch uses her hex powers to burn away the curtain revealing that Major Hoy is working a control panel. A second hex bolt is then used against the Commisar causing him suddenly fall apart, revealing that he was actually a robot controlled by Major Hoy. With his deception revealed, Major Hoy then flees for his life. In the aftermath of the battle, the people of Sin-Cong tank the Avengers for liberating them.[6]
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch), Edwin Jarvis
Continuity Notes
Per Avengers #4, Since 1945 Captain America spent decades in suspended animation until he was revived in the Modern Age by the Avengers.
Captain America sent a letter to Nick Fury asking to join SHIELD in Avengers #15. Fury won’t get in touch with him until Tales of Suspense #78.
The Avengers roster had recently changed in Avengers #16, with the founding members taking a leave of absence.
Quicksilver refers to himself as a mutant here. However, he’s not a mutant and doesn’t know it. It’s later revealed in Uncanny Avengers (vol. 2) #4-5 that Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch were experimented upon by the High Evolutionary while they were children. In order to cover up his work, he made it so the pair would register as mutants in case anyone tested their genetics.
Quicksilver mentions that he and his sister have survived many battles with the X-Men. The pair were forced into Magneto’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants leading to clashes with the heroic mutants from X-Men #4 through 11.
Although unexplained here, Major Hoy was a representative of the Chinese government and the Commissar robot was built by the Mandarin. This is all revealed in the Sin-Cong entry in Marvel Atlas #1. This is not the last we see of the Commissar robot as it will become a host for the Inhuman known as the Living Dream in All-New Inhumans #2 & 4. Also, the situation in Sin-Cong is a lot more vital than played out here. History of the Marvel Universe #2 expands upon the conflict in this story saying it is part of a greater war, later referred to as the Sin-Cong Conflict, this fictional war will be used to replace all Modern Age references to the Vietnam War in Modern Age stories, and some World War II references (such as in the case of Reed Richard’s military service).
