Death-Stars of the Zodiac!

Joshua Link has a visitor while serving out his sentence in prison.[1] The man who has come to visit him knows that Link is Gemini of the Zodiac crime cartel and reveals that he is Taurus. He has come to Link because the Zodiac is working on a scheme to make every one born under the Gemini zodiac sign in New York will die and he is making preparations to have Josh freed so he doesn’t fall victim of this scheme himself.

Link points out an unforeseen hitch in this plan: Prior to his arrest, Joshua clashed with his twin brother, Damian, an officer in the NYPD. During their fight, both men were jolted with energy from an experimental electron chamber. Now the pair are mentally linked, with Josh having the ability to mentally take control of his brother. The problem with this is if Damian is exposed to whatever will kill all the Gemini’s, it will kill them both unless they protect his brother as well. Intrigued with this turn of events, Taurus quickly formulates a plan to put Josh’s brother to good use.

Across town, Damian Link has been sent over to Avengers Mansion where he informs the team that Captain America is being held for murder.[2] The officer suddenly cries out in pain as his brother takes hold of his body. Mantis is able to detect this sudden shift and tells the Swordsman to keep an eye on their visitor while he is shown around the Avengers headquarters. Sure enough, the Swordsman catches Officer Link trying to steal the Avengers security plans. With his cover blown, Josh forces his brother to change into the Gemini costume he is wearing under his police uniform and fight the Avengers. Unfortunately, Damian is easily defeated in battle. Watching this from a telescope across the street, Taurus changes into his costume and summons the rest of the Zodiac.

Back in the mansion, the Swordsman suddenly collapses as his he as not fully recovered from the injuries he suffered during the team’s battle with the Defenders.[3] He reveals that he was never given proper medical attention by the Bolivian authorities but didn’t say anything as he did not want to be sidelined.[4] Meanwhile, Damian Link regains control of his body and is unaware of what just transpired.[5] That’s when the rest of the Zodiac comes crashing in through one of the walls. Taurus, wielding a powerful star-blaster, announces that he has taken over the Zodiac over their late leader, the original Aries.[6][7] With superior numbers, the Zodiac overpowers the Avengers and beats them into unconsciousness. When Jarvis, the Avengers butler, returns from a shopping trip he revives the Avengers. They find a recording left behind by Taurus that details the Zodiac’s plot to murder every Gemini in the city of New York with a giant version of the star blaster which they intend to fire off the top of the tallest building in the city, the World Trade Center.

Meanwhile, the Zodiac are on the top floor of the WTC. There Gemini is wired with a device that will protect him from the star-blaster device. It’s here that Aries challenges Taurus for leadership of the Zodiac. However, neither man gets to settle their difference as the Avengers launch a surprise attack. In the ensuing battle, Taurus tests his star-blaster on Mantis. The force of the blow knocks her out and sends her out onto the edge of the building. The leader of the Zodiac then orders the Avengers to surrender or his next blast will send Mantis falling to her death.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Iron Man, Thor, Scarlet Witch, Swordsman, the Vision, Mantis), Zodiac (Taurus, Aries, Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, Scorpio, Virgo, Cancer, Leo, Capricorn, Pisces, Sagittarius), Edwin Jarvis, Damian Link

Continuity Notes

1. Link was arrested following the events of Astonishing Tales #17-20. The link with his brother was established in issue #8 of that series.

2. Captain America was framed for the murder of the Tumbler in Captain America #169. This is all part of a larger scheme by the Secret Empire that will be resolved in issue #175 of that series.

3. The Swordsman was shot while battling Valkyrie in Avengers #117.

4. The Bolivians arrested the Swordsman instead of sending him to a hospital due to his previous attack on the country in Avengers Annual #1.

5. The Vision wishes the Black Panther were present. A footnote tells readers to check out Captain America #170. In that story, the Black Panther builds the first set of wings worn by the Falcon.

6. Aries died after a failed attempt to hold the island of Manhattan hostage in Avengers #82. Starting this issue he has been replaced by Grover Raymond, whose real name is not revealed until the Zodiac entry in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #12.

7. It should also be noted that this is the first appearance of a new Scorpio. The original is believed to have been Jacob Fury who seemingly died in Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #5. In reality, this is a Life Model Decoy per Secret Warriors #25-26, the real Jacob Fury is actually posing as the leader of Leviathan. The LMD of Fury will resurface in Defenders #48-50. This new Scorpio is identified as Jacques LaPoint in the above-mentioned issue of Official Handbook.

Topical References

• The recording the Avengers receive from Taurus is depicted as being on a tape player. This should be considered a topical reference since this technology is considered obsolete.

• The original twin towers are depicted at the site of the World Trade Center. This should be considered topical since the towers were destroyed in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, and the new Freedom Tower has since been built in its place. Likewise, references to the WTC being 110 stories tall should also be topical as the Freedom Tower is slightly shorter than the original twin towers, coming in at a height of 94 stories.