Death Calls for the Arch-Heroes!

The Black Panther arrives outside of Avengers Mansion, having been recommended for membership on the team by Captain America. Gaining access through an access hatch, the Black Panther finds himself dodging the mansion’s defenses.[1][2] Getting into the Avengers command center he is shocked to discover the Avengers are apparently dead. That’s when Jasper Sitwell, an agent of SHIELD, arrives. He believes that the Black Panther is responsible for the death of the Avengers and calls the authorities. He doesn’t put up a fight because he believes that he can prove himself innocent and tries to prove that he was invited into the ranks of the Avengers. When he can’t open the door to their meeting room, this convinces the authorities that he killed the Avengers and he is arrested.

That’s when Natasha, Hawkeye’s girlfriend, returns from her vacation and she is deeply upset that Hawkeye was apparently killed before they could make amends. Sitwell assures her that they captured the person responsible and that the Avengers will get justice.

The Avengers apparent deaths becomes national news and reaches former members. Tony Stark can hardly believe the others dead since he recently helped Goliath restore his powers. Captain America hears the news as he is busting up crooks and can’t believe the Black Panther was responsible. When Thor reads about the tragedy in the newspaper he mourns the loss of his teammates.

However, there is one person who is celebrating the apparent demise of the Avengers, a new menace called the Grim Reaper. He is actually the one responsible and he thinks about how he set up the Black Panther to take the fall. Earlier that evening, the Grim Reaper broke into Avengers Mansion and ambushed Goliath, the Wasp, and Hawkeye. The Avengers have no idea why they are being attacked and as the Grim Reaper uses energy blasts from his scythe to put the team into death-like trances, he explains that he has come to avenge the death of his brother, Simon Williams, aka Wonder Man. Although he died because of the process Baron Zemo put him through to give him his powers, the Grim Reaper blames the Avengers for his death.[3][4]

By this time, the Black Panther has been brought to a police station for booking. Realizing that he will not be able to convince the authorities of his innocence, the Panther breaks free and flees the scene. Knowing he was framed, the Panther returns to Avengers Mansion to look for clues. There he catches the Grim Reaper and in the ensuing battle he learns that the Avengers are actually in a death-like trance and unless he can restore them to life in the next three hours their death will become permanent. Overpowering the Grim Reaper, the Black Panther takes his scythe and races to the hospital where the Avengers bodies are being kept. Fighting pass security, the Black Panther restores Hawkeye, the Wasp, and Goliath to life and they quickly confirm the Black Panther’s innocence to the authorities.

Returning to Avengers Mansion, the Avengers catch the Black Panther up on their current membership woes.[5] With the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver having apparently rejoined the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, the Panther agrees to help track them down to learn the truth.

… This story is continued in X-Men #45.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Goliath, Wasp, Hawkeye, Black Panther), Grim Reaper, Jasper Sitwell, Natasha Romanoff,

Continuity Notes

1. T’Challa recounts how he recently helped Captain America stop a Baron Zemo impostor. See Tales of Suspense #97-99 and Captain America #100.

2. It’s later revealed in Black Panther (vol. 3) #8 that T’Challa’s motivation for joining the Avengers was to spy on them.

3. For the dope on Wonder Man see Avengers #9. However, Simon Williams is not dead but in a death-like trance (it was going around during this era of Marvel) and will come back to life in Avengers #131.

4. It’s later revealed in Avengers #161 that the Grim Reaper was outfitted with his gear by Ultron, who will later attack the Avengers in issues #54-55. Avengers (vol. 3) #21 reveals that the Grim Reaper’s obsession for revenge will also inspire Ultron to use Simon William’s brain engrams to create the Vision, as seen in Avengers #57-58.

5. There is a collage of the different Avengers who have recently left the ranks. They are:

   • Captain America left the Avengers in Avengers #47, this was because he wanted to retire as Captain America to focus on his civilian identity. This proved short lived, however he has yet to return to the Avengers. See Tales of Suspense #95-96.

   • Hercules left the group in Avengers #50 after freeing the Olympian gods from limbo. Hercules was slumming it with the Avengers after getting exiled on Earth in issue #38. He was given official membership in Avengers #45.

   • Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch were convinced to leave the Avengers and rejoin the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in Avengers #49. The pair were founding members of the Brotherhood were from X-Men #4 through 11. They later joined the Avengers in Avengers #16 to try and make up for their past crimes.