Avengers #49
Mine is the Power!
Hercule has returned to Olympus to find it deserted. The gods have been banished to limbo as someone has smothered the Promethean Flame. The demigod now searches for find clues that will reveal the identity of the one responsible.[1] Suddenly, he is ambushed by Typhon, who claims responsibility for banishing the gods. Typhon had done this to get revenge for his own banishment by Zeus centuries ago. A few days ago, Typhon returned to Olympus and destroyed the eternal flame. When Typhon boasts that there is nothing Hercules can do to restore the gods, Hercules is inclined to believe him.
While at Avengers Mansion, the rest of the team find themselves divided between finding Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, or giving up since there are only three active members left now that Captain America is gone and Hercules has run off to points unknown.[2] The Wasp chastises both Goliath and Hawkeye for giving up, reminding them that their friends are prisoners of Magneto, the most dangerous mutant in the world. This knocks some sense in Goliath, who thanks Janet for reminding them what’s important. He then begins getting to work on a brand new cybernetic control helmet that will give him greater control over ants. What he doesn’t tell anyone is that he is focusing on his Ant-Man powers because he fears that he won’t be able to become Goliath any longer.
Meanwhile, Magneto has taken the Toad, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch to an island that he has raised from the ocean floor and converted into his headquarters. Magneto tells them that he intends to make this a refuge for mutants to forge their own destinies away from humanity.[3] Magneto pretends that he has gained a new altruism and that he has abandoned his plans for global conquest in order to create a refuge for mutants. Both he and the Toad note that they are getting through to Quicksilver but the Scarlet Witch remains his voice of reason. To “prove” their alleged altruism, Magneto takes the twins with him to the United Nations in New York where he intends to petition for a place for his new nation on the council. When they arrive at the United Nations, it gets instant media attention. The other Avengers see this on live television and head that way to save their friends.
As Magneto expected, their arrival is received with hostility from security. Magneto insists that he has come in peace and forces his way into the UN council chambers. The master of magnetism says that he has come to create peace between humans and mutants by demanding they recognize his island as a sovereign nation with his own representation in the UN. He warns them that denying this request would be seen as an act of war. As he expected, the members of the UN are not willing to give in to his demands. However, before he can harm anyone, the Avengers arrive on the scene. Magneto sees an opportunity here and uses his magnetic power to throw off the aim of one of the guards when he tries to shoot his gun. The bullet ends up creasing the Scarlet Witch’s brow, knocking her out. This is all it takes to send Quicksilver over the edge.[4] Realizing that Magneto has been right about humans all along, he angrily attacks Goliath and Hawkeye.
Then, gathering up his sister, Quicksilver goes to leave with Magneto. The Wasp tries to talk sense to Pietro, but he is too angry to listen and Magneto swats her away by magnetically hurling a pen at the diminutive heroine. As they leave in their ship, the Scarlet Witch wakes up but has no memory of what happened. As they head back to the island, Magneto assures Pietro that he will do everything in his power to care for Wanda. The Avengers then return to their headquarters where morale is even lower than before. While Goliath worries about how his growing power is negatively affecting his health, Hawkeye worries the Avengers are washed up without Captain America.
Back in Olympus, Hercules stops despairing over the loss of his people and attacks Typhon directly. Not wishing to sully his hands, Typhon summons a massive creature called Tartaro to slay the demigod. Hercules easily slays the beast and follows after Typhon. He finds his foe using Zeus’ looking glass to observe the modern world. Typhon is impressed and decides that once he is rid of Hercules, he’ll conquer the world of mortals next. When Hercules attempts to ambush him, Typhon whirls around and banishes Hercules to the Land of Mist and Shadows, the same place his fellow Olympians have been banished. With Hercules out of the way, Typhon then sets his sights on Earth.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Goliath, Wasp, Hawkeye, Hercules), Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (Magneto, Toad, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch), Typhon, Zeus (flashback)
Continuity Notes
Hercules returned to Olympus in Avengers #47 to petition Zeus to suspend his banishment that has been in effect since issue #38.
This story takes place during the brief period where Steve Rogers attempted to retire as Captain America. See Tales of Suspense #95-96.
Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are also referred to as mutants here. However, it’s later revealed that they are not. They were experimented upon by the High Evolutionary as infants and to cover up his work he made it so they would register as mutants if anyone examined their genetics. See Uncanny Avengers (vol. 2) #4-5.
When it is later discovered that Wanda lost her powers, the bullet is blamed for her current condition. However, it is later revealed in Avengers #185-187, that this was the work of the demon Chthon who is attempting to lure Wanda bake to Transia and Mount Wundagore so he can take over her body.
Topical References
The television equipment used by reporters are the UN are all 60s era and are obsolete.
