Mayhem Over Manhattan!

The Avengers have been captured by the Masters of Evil. With the team secured aboard their scout ship, the Masters then head back to the underground headquarters of their leader, the Crimson Cowl. They are still surprised to learn that their leader was the Avengers butler, Jarvis.

When they arrive, Goliath tries to break free but is taken down by a stun blast from the Crimson Cowl. He then scolds Klaw for not properly securing their prisoners. When Klaw takes offense and hits the Crimson Cowl with a sonic blast. However, the Cowl proves to be immune to this attack. Luckily, his employer is in a forgiving mood and spares Klaw when he pleads for his life.

Soon the Avengers are sealed in a room with a hydrogen bomb that the Crimson Cowl intends to use to hold New York City hostage. When the Avengers wake up, the Crimson Cowl reveals his plans to them. He also reveals that he wasn’t Jarvis after all. In fact, he hypnotized Jarvis to pose as the Crimson Cowl.[1] Removing his mask, the Crimson Cowl reveals to everyone that he was actually the robot that was “posing” as the Cowl when Jarvis appeared to reveal he was the Crimson Cowl. Calling himself Ultron-5, the robot decides that Jarvis has outlived his usefulness and orders the Melter to dispose of him. On their way outside, Jarvis tries to make a run for it. The Melter blasts his weapon at a nearby wall causing it to collapse on the butler.

Left for dead, Jarvis pulls himself from the rubble and tries to get some help. Unfortunately, the people on the street think he’s just a crazy bum. When he reaches Avengers Mansion he is found by the Black Knight, who the Masters of the Evil seem to have forgotten about after they gave him a beating.[2] Learning of Ultron’s plans, the Black Knight uses his winged horse Aragorn to catch up with the Master of Evil’s ship which is now over the Empire State Building. Blasting his way into the ship with his weaponized lance, the Black Knight frees the Avengers. In the ensuing battle, Ultron escapes while his Masters of Evil fall one-by-one at the hands of the Avengers. When the battle is over, the Black Knight tells Earth’s mightiest heroes that they can thank Jarvis for the rescue and then departs.

The Avengers return to Avengers Mansion where Jarvis apologizes for betraying them. He tells them the reason why he betrayed them because he needed money to pay for an operation for his sick mother and he thought his employers would win the ensuing battle. The Avengers decide to forgive Jarvis for betraying them and he’s allowed to continue working for them. Meanwhile, from his hideout, Ultron-5 vows to destroy the Avengers once and for all.[3]

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Goliath, Wasp, Hawkeye, Black Panther), Black Knight, Masters of Evil (Crimson Cowl/Ultron, Klaw, Whirlwind, Melter, Radioactive Man), Edwin Jarvis, Aragorn

Continuity Notes

1. Avengers #280 also clarifies that Jarvis was brainwashed into betraying the Avengers to begin with.

2. The Black Kinight, aka Dane Whitman, infiltrated the Masters of Evil and attempted to warn the Avengers of their impending attack last issue. He was recruited because they mistook him for the previous Black Knight, who was Dane’s uncle Nathan Garrett. See Tales of Suspense #73 and Avengers #47-48.

3. Ultron’s motivations are unexplained here. He is later revealed to have been created by Hank Pym. After covering up his existence he then began plotting to kill his creator and the Avengers. This will all be explained in Avengers #58.