A Quiet Half-House in Saigon!

The Avengers are continuing their investigation into the true origins of Mantis. As they search the streets of Saigon for clues, a mugger makes the poor decision of trying to rob Mantis and is quickly beaten into submission by the master martial artist. Following the fight, she admits her growing frustrations since everything seems to be pointing to the fact that her childhood memories were a lie and that she was indeed trained by the Priests of Pama to become the Celestial Madonna.[1] That’s when they are visited by Nomad — formerly Captain America — who has come to visit with his teammates during a lull in his battle against the Serpent Squad on the Pacific.[2] Seeing how things have changed since he left the Avengers leaves Hawkeye to feel like he’s really behind of the times.[3]

At that moment, Kang the Conqueror and Rama-Tut are still locked in battle in the middle of the time stream.[4] Kang continues to fight his future self as he refuses to surrender his goals of total conquest across history. This seemingly endless battle is stopped when they find themselves transported to the domain of yet another time traveler, Immortus.[5] Immortus offers Kang his assistance and uses his devices to imprison Rama-Tut. Once again refusing to accept the future where he becomes the peaceful Rama-Tut, Kang vows to use the devices Immortus has at his command to destroy the Avengers and claim the Celestial Madonna as his bride.

Back in Saigon, the Avengers are contacted by Jarvis, who tells them that Captain Marvel has still not answered their summons. He also notes that the Scarlet Witch and Agatha Harkness have locked themselves in the old crone’s room and asked not to be disturbed as Wanda’s training continues. During this downtime, Mantis takes the opportunity to apologize to the Vision for trying to put herself between him and the Scarlet Witch. The Vision tells her that there is no reason to apologize, but Mantis feels she needs to as her life is on the cusp of a major change one that may not make her happy as she used to be. Meanwhile, Normad is filling the others in on his adventures and assures them that he will be returning to active duty with the Avengers as soon as he wraps things up with the Serpent Squad.[6] Little do they know that a strange hooded stranger watches them from a nearby rooftop.[7] That’s when Mantis is shocked by someone else who has appeared before her.

Meanwhile, in Limbo, Kang uses the machines provided by Immortus to gather warriors to fight the Avengers for him. He opts to select those who have died in the past to be his minions. First, from the year 1898, he summons the Franeknstein’s Monster.[8] From a few years in the past, Kang also summons Wonder Man, who was created to destroy the original Avengers.[9] From the year 1954, he summons forth the original android Human Torch.[10][11] From a few months ago, he calls up the martial artist known as Midnight.[12] This is followed by the Flying Dutchman, aka the Ghost.[13] Lastly, he summons one of Captain America’s greatest foes, the Nazi scientist known as Baron Zemo.[14] Kang then dubs his new army as the Legion of the Unliving.

Back on Earth, the Vision seeks Iron Man’s advice on his conflicting emotions between the Scarlet Witch and Mantis. Surprisingly, Iron Man is pretty bashful about speaking on matters of love. Meanwhile, Mantis is shocked to see an apparent separation of the Swordsman standing before her. Although he is glowing with green energy, Mantis can hardly believe that this is her former lover because they just buried him the day before.[15] The entity suddenly vanishes as quickly as it arrived, leaving Mantis to wonder if she is losing her mind.

At that same moment, Kang has decided that Immortus has outlived his usefulness. Having figured out how the machines work, Kang then uses the same device that was used to trap Rama-Tut to imprison Immortus as well. He then prepares to bring the Avengers directly to him. In all this time, only 30 minutes have passed on Earth and after the Avengers bid farewell to Nomad they suddenly find themselves teleported into the endless catacombs beneath the castle of Immortus. The team has been split up within these tunnels by Kang who then orders his Legion of the Unliving to go out and destroy the Avengers and bring back Mantis alive.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, the Vision, Mantis), Nomad, Rama-Tut, Immortus, Kang the Conqueror, the Legion of the Unliving (Baron Zemo, Frankenstein’s Monster, Wonder Man, Human Torch, Midnight, the Flying Dutchman), Edwin Jarvis, Libra (unidentified), Swordsman (unidentified Cotati)

Continuity Notes

1. Mantis believed that she was nothing more than a homeless orphan until Libra showed up claiming to be her father and revealing that she was trained by the Priests of Pama in Avengers #123. She was later outed as the Celestial Madonna in Giant-Size Avengers #2. She will learn that this is all true in Avengers #134-135.

2. After discovering the President of the United States was the leader of the Secret Empire in Captain America #175, Steve Rogers decided to abandon being Captain America and took on the Nomad identity in issue #180 of that series. He just finished his battle with the Serpent Squad in issue #181 of Captain America.

3. Hawkeye rage-quit the Avengers in issue #109 because he got cock-blocked by the Vision. He just recently returned on the team in Giant-Size Avengers #2.

4. Kang and Rama-Tut ended up lost in the time-stream while fighting each other in Giant-Size Avengers #2.

5. Mention is made here that Immortus has not been seen since Avengers #10. A battle which few, save for Kang, knows happened because the Enchantress used a spell to create a divergent timeline in which the Masters of Evil do not accept help from Immortal. Neither Kang nor Rama-Tut know that Immortus is actually the future version of themselves, something that does not get revealed until Giant-Size Avengers #4. Also, unrevealed here is that this is all part of a larger scheme by Immortus to alter the fate of the Avengers to his whims, which is explored in full detail in Avengers Forever #1-12.

6. Except he doesn’t, at least not right away, Steve remains away from the team until issue #141 long after he has returned to the role of Captain America which he reclaims in Captain America #183.

7. This is Libra, as we’ll learn in Giant-Size Avengers #3.

8. The Monster of Frankenstein is pulled out of time from the moment he was frozen in ice circa 1898. Chronologically, Franky appears here between the pages of Monster of Frankenstein #12, when he was freed from his block of ice in the present day.

9. Wonder Man appears here just moments prior to his “death” in Avengers #9. What the Avengers don’t know is that Wonder Man did not really die, but instead entered a death-like trance. He will be revived in Avengers #151.

10. The Human Torch was pulled from time circa 1954 when his powers burned him out and his body was lost in the desert. This was all detailed in Avengers #134-135. This was prior to the Torch being found and revived by the Mad Thinker circa Fantastic Four Annual #5.

11. While unspecified here, Wonder Man and the android Torch are chosen because of their connections to the Vision. The Vision’s body was built out of the remains of the Torch and his mind was based on engrams taken of Wonder Man’s mind before his “death”. See Avengers #57-58 and 134-135.

12. Midnight was plucked moments before his death during his battle with Shang Chi. This story cites Master of Kung Fu #16. However, it was actually Special Marvel Edition #16, the series the title was changed to Master of Kung Fu and used the same numbering the following issue.

13. The Flying Dutchman appears here following his defeat at the hands of the Silver Surfer in Silver Surfer #8-9.

14. Lastly, Baron Zemo appears here just moments before he was killed in an avalanche of his own making in Avengers #15.

15. The Swordsman died saving the life of Mantis in Giant-Size Avengers #2 and was buried at the temple of the Priests of Pama last issue. It’s later revealed in Giant-Size Avengers #4 that this apparition is actually a mental projection created by one of the Cotati who is to mate with the Celestial Madonna. He took on the form of the Swordsman as this was the man she loved before his death. It’s all pretty fucked up if you think about it too much.

Topical References

• This story pre-dates the establishment of the Sliding Timescale and, as such, a lot of the dates referenced in this story should be considered topical references as they denote dates of publication and not the passage of time in the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe. The details:

  • References to the Modern Age taking place in the 20th Century should be considered topical. The Sliding Timescale has pushed the Modern Age forward so that it now does not begin until the 21st Century.

  • Likewise, should any reference to the present day in this story taking place in 1974 should also be considered topical. Per the Sliding Timescale these events take place during “year four” of the Modern Age.

  • It is stated that the Frankenstein’s Monster was plucked out of the year 1898. This is a factual reference, as the creature’s timeline follows that of Mary Shelly’s novel and as an undead creature he does have a finite lifespan.

  • On the other hand, references to Wonder Man being taken from the year 1964 should be considered topical because that was the year Avengers #9 was published. To modern readers Wonder Man’s death happened during “year one” of the Modern Age, or three years prior to the present day in this story.

  • The Human Torch being taken from the year 1954 is also a factual reference. The character’s origins are rooted in the 1940s and as an android, he is practically immortal. As such, all references to the Torch being active in the 1940s and 1950s should be considered factual.

  • Midnight is stated as being taken from the year 1973. This is another topical reference denoting the year in which his death was published in Special Marvel Edition #16. His death actually happened in the same “year” of this story, having been published in February 1974, about a year before this story. Based on the 4:1 ratio of the Sliding Timescale his death happened roughly four months prior to this one.

  • Lastly, the Flying Dutchman is said to have been pulled from the year 1969. Like with the others, this is a topical reference. Silver Surfer #8-9 were published in September and October of 1969, the end of “year two” of the Modern Age, placing it as happening just a little over “two years” prior to this story.