Avengers #41
Let Sleeping Dragons Lie!
The Avengers are in a training session, but it quickly ends when the absent-minded behavior of Hercules puts them all at risk. Hercules then decides to teach Hawkeye a thing or two about archery but ends up breaking his brand new imported bow. Hawkeye is furious over this and is ready to get into a fight with the demigod when he is pulled away by Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. Hawkeye admits that he let his temper get away from him because he is still upset over the Black Widow seemingly committing treason.[1] As both Hawkeye and Hercules storm off, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch realize it is up to them to keep the team together with Captain America on a leave of absence and Goliath and the Wasp busy down at Hank Pym’s lab.[2]
Meanwhile, the Black Widow arrives at a Chinese military base in a stolen American fighter plane. When she lands, she demands that the soldiers bring their commanding officer, Colonel Ling. The Colonel soon arrives and admits that he is surprised to see her since she failed her mission to destroy the Avengers.[3] She insists that she is still loyal to her communist master by providing Colonel Ling with the atomic submarine plans that she stole before her arrival. Impress, Ling takes her back to his base where he shows off their latest invention, the Psychotron. She is then introduced to Doctor Yen, the scientist who previously brainwashed her. While her guard is down, the Black Widow is then shoved into the Psychotron chamber where the weapon creates powerful and horrific hallucinations in order to try and break her will.[4] As it turns out, they were tipped off that the Widow is a double agent working for SHIELD by one of her own moles.
Back in the United States, the Goliath has finally been granted permission to examine the android known as the Dragon Man. As he receives it at the pier, he tells the Wasp and his assistant, Bill Foster, how the creature was once brought to life by the alchemist Diablo and had many battles against the Fantastic Four.[5] Diablo is believed to have died in a whirlpool after he first brought Dragon Man alive, however, Diablo has survived and tracked down the Dragon Man. In order to create a distraction, the alchemist uses his auric gun to turn a nearby building into gold. As a crowd forms around the golden building, Goliath and the Wasp go to investigate this strange occurrence. Suspecting that this is the sign of some greater danger, Goliath calls the other Avengers. Everyone back at the mansion quickly mobilizes except for Hercules, who is not interested in getting involved and chooses to stay behind and lament over his exile on Earth.[6]
While the Avengers are distracted, Diablo uses his dyna-disc to stun Bill Foster and then reactivates the Dragon Man android. That’s when Goliath and the Wasp return to their lab. Soon, Goliath finds himself trading blows with the Dragon Man. Although he puts up a good fight, Pym is no match for the tireless android and is eventually knocked out. That’s when Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch arrive to rescue their teammates. However, they are no match for the Dragon Man. Eventually, Diablo uses his auric gun to turn the ceiling above the three Avengers into gold and it collapses under its own weight, burying the Avengers under the rubble. Diablo then has the Dragon Man take the unconscious Goliath and Wasp and they flee the scene. Although the other Avengers survive the cave-in they are too late to stop Diablo from leaving with their captured comrades.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Goliath, Wasp, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch), Hercules, Diablo, Dragon Man, Black Widow, Bill Foster, Wai Ling, Chao Yen
Continuity Notes
Unknown to Hawkeye at this time, the Widow is actually operating as a double agent for SHIELD as per Avengers #38.
Captain America has been away from the team since being lured into a trap by the Red Skull. See Tales of Suspense #88-91.
The Black Widow was brainwashed and sent to destroy the Avengers. Ultimately, she broke free of the brainwashing. See Avengers #29-30.
The full names of Colonel Ling and Doctor Yen are not stated here. The China entry in Marvel Atlas #1 reveals that their full names are Wai Ling and Chao Yen respectively.
The Fantastic Four’s battles against the Dragon Man from Fantastic Four #35 and 47 are referenced here.
Hercules was banished to Earth in Avengers #38
Topical References
Dated pop-culture references: Huckleberry Hound, Speedy Gonzales
Dated Cold War references: Red, Bamboo Curtain
