Avengers #38
In Our Midst… An Immortal!
Having returned from Transia, the Avengers find themselves company to yet another squabble between Hawkeye and Goliath over giving the Black Widow membership in the Avengers. Goliath’s main reason why he doesn’t want the Black Widow on the team is due to the fact that she was recently brainwashed by one of their enemies.[1] When the pair are about to come to blows, Captain America and Quicksilver step in the middle to prevent a brawl from breaking out. They decide to resolve the issue with the Black Widow right away, but Goliath points out that the Widow isn’t even present to speak on her own behalf. The Black Widow is actually on her way to Avengers Mansion and looks forward to gaining membership with Earth’s mightiest heroes. However, along the way she is gassed by a group of men who take her prisoner.
Meanwhile, high on Mount Olympus, Hercules clashes with Ares over the war god’s inaction when Pluto attempted to force Hercules to rule over Hades. Although he was rescued from this fate by Thor, Hercules remembered that Ares did nothing to fight on his behalf and seeks revenge.[2] The brawl is soon interrupted by the arrival of the Enchantress who has come offering the two combatants a drink from some goblets she brought for them.[3] Although Hercules is suspicious of the stranger, Ares drinks from his cup without question. Since the god of war did not suffer any ill effects, Hercules drinks from his cup. As it turned out, the water in the cup came from the fountain of Eros, and soon the prince of power is enthralled by the Enchantress. As it turns out, the Enchantress and Ares were working together. While Ares goes to tell Zeus that Hercules is fraternizing with an Asgardian, the Enchantress sets her sights on Earth and revenge against the Avengers.
Back at Avengers Mansion, the Avengers have heard back from Iron Man and Thor. While they will not be in attendance for the vote, they will accept however the other Avengers vote when it comes to enlisting the Black Widow. Hawkeye looks forward to getting this all sorted out, but the others want to grab a bite to eat first since nobody has eaten yet. While Hawkeye grudgingly joins the others to go get burgers, Captain America is left behind on monitor duty.
At that same moment, the Black Widow wakes up and discovers that she is aboard the SHIELD helicarrier. She has been brought there by Nick Fury who wishes to enlist her into the spy agency. The Widow gladly accepts and her first mission into China. However, Fury says this mission is of the utmost secrecy and she is forbidden from telling anyone, especially Hawkeye. By this time, the Avengers have returned from getting food and discover that Captain America abruptly left after receiving a message. He leaves a recording telling them that he has a personal matter to sort out. The Avengers, unaware that Captain America has been lured into a battle with the Swordsman and Power Man, continue the business of deciding if the Widow should be allowed into the Avengers.[4] That’s when the Black Widow arrives to tell them that she no longer wishes to join the Avengers after all. All she will tell them is that she has to go to China, but can’t tell them why. This only confirms what Goliath was trying to warn the rest of the team about. Furious over this, Hawkeye abruptly quits and storms out. He’s followed out by the Wasp, who has grown annoyed with Goliath’s attitude.
That’s when the Enchantress and Hercules teleport into the mansion and attack Goliath, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch. At first, they can hardly believe they are fighting the real Hercules. However, when Hercules is able to shrug off their most powerful attacks and shows nearly limitless strength, it’s not so easy to disbelieve. With the battle going poorly, the Scarlet Witch tries to contact the Wasp and Hawkeye for help. By this time, the pair have settled down for a meal at a Chinese restaurant when Hawkeye’s signal ring begins buzzing. The pair try to convince themselves that whatever the Avengers want it can’t be that serious. However, when all seems lost, the Wasp and Hawkeye return to help their friends. During the battle, Hawkeye fires a sulfur arrow to try and blind Hercules. As it turns out, sulfur is the antidote for the water of Eros and Hercules is freed from the Enchantress’ control. With the tide of battle suddenly turned, the Enchantress realizes she can’t win against the Avengers and Hercules and teleports away.
No sooner is the Enchantress gone does Zeus contact Hercules. The king of the Olympian gods is furious that Hercules has gone to Earth without his permission and is not willing to listen to excuses. Zeus then banishes Hercules to Earth for the next year.[5] With Hercules stranded on Earth, the Avengers all agree to let him stay in the mansion, giving him Thor’s old room.[6] As the Enchantress finds herself dealing with the possibility that she has fallen in love with Hercules, the prince of power settles into his new home and wonders what new challenges he will face during his exile on Earth.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Goliath, Wasp, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch), Hercules, Enchantress, Ares, SHIELD (Nick Fury, Black Widow, Dum Dum Dugan, Japer Sitwell), Edwin Jarvis, Zeus
Continuity Notes
The Black Widow was brainwashed by her handlers to attack the Avengers with the Swordsman and Power Man. See Avengers #29-30.
Hercules was tricked into taking over as ruler of Hades and had to have Thor save his ass in Thor #129.
The narration states here that the Enchantress appears here following her last appearance in Avengers #22.
Cap was tricked by the Red Skull into thinking Bucky was alive. This is all part of a scheme to force him to help steal an experimental submarine. See Tales of Suspense #88-91.
Although Zeus banishes Hercules to Earth for a year, he ends up getting the exile lifted after he saves Zeus and the other Olympians from Typhon in Avengers #50.
Thor was one of the founding members of the Avengers who has been on a leave of absence since Avengers #16.
Topical References
Dated pop-culture references: Steve Reeves
Dated Cold War references: Reds, Bamboo Curtain
