Avengers #177
The Hope… and the Slaughter!
Having been discovered by the Avengers, Michael Korvac and his wife Carina are prepared to destroy them all in order to carry on their plan to allegedly save the future. In using his powers in such a visible display, Korvac knows that there is no turning back. This is because his presence is detected by Heimdall in Asgard, as well as Uatu, Earth’s Watcher. He predicts that after destroying the Avengers he will have to face the combined might of Asgard, Olympus, and even the hordes of Mephisto as they unite against him. But first, he must deal with the defenders.
Before the battle can begin, Moondragon sends out a telepathic summons bringing the remaining Guardians of the Galaxy to Korvac’s home. In a display of power, Korvac demonstrates the futility of the hero’s mission by destroying Drydock, the Guaridan’s space station, with a simple wave of the hand — killing their leader Vance Astro in the process.[1] Horrified by Vance’s murder, Nikki lunges at Korvac and he strikes her down dead. This is followed by an attack from Quicksilver of the Avengers who is also slain with ease. Moondragon mentally probes Korvac and realizes that realizes he wished to do good and watches on in horror as the others begin piling on and are cut down one by one. Not even the godly might of Hercules can stand up to Korvac’s cosmic power.
Yellowjacket quickly deduces that Korvac’s weakness is in his wife, Karina and tries to subdue her. This threat sends Korvac over the edge and after slaying Yellowjacket he begins killing Avengers and Guardians in earnest.[2] Captain America manages to get close enough to land a few blows but Michael quickly throws him through a doorway. Next comes Wonder Man, who has finally overcome his fear of death and lays into their foe.[3] Unfortunately, Simon Williams does fares as well as the others and is killed as well. That’s when Thor, the Vision, Starhawk, and Iron Man unleash a powerful torrent of energy blasts that actually stagger Korvac. Growing tired from the constant battle, Korvac looks to Carina for inner strength. Instead, he sees nothing but doubt in her eyes and it is her hesitation that convinces Korvac that his mission will end in failure and suddenly wills himself to die.[4]
Seeing Michael die anger Carina, who begins slaying the remaining Avengers until only Thor remains standing. He warns her to stand down and when she continues to fight the thunder god is forced to slay her with Mjolnir. Dying as she falls to the ground, Carina tells Michael to wait for her as they will soon be reunited. She reaches out for his hand as she hits the ground but misses it by inches.
In the aftermath of the battle, Thor discovers that Moondragon is also still alive. She tells him that, prior to dying, Korvac restored those who were killed but all of the Avengers and Guardians are mortally wounded and need immediate medical aid if they are to survive this night. Since Moondragon knows about Thor’s mortal guise, the thunder god quickly transforms into Doctor Don Blake and begins treating them. Moondragon, shedding a tear for the death of Korvac, then uses her mental powers to make the Avengers forget Korvac’s mission so they will only remember that they stopped a great threat and not the savior of the universe so that she will be the only one who remembers this tragedy.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Yellowjacket, the Wasp, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Hercules, Black Panther, the Vision, Black Widow, Moondragon, Wonder Man, Jacosta, Ms. Marvel), Captain Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy (Vance Astro, Charlie-27, Martinex, Nikki, Starhawk), Korvac, Carina Walters, Heimdall, the Watcher, Eternity
Continuity Notes
The Guardians had come to Earth to stop Korvac from killing Vance’s younger self in Avengers #167. At the time of this story, the Guaridan’s future of the 30th Century was to be the future of Earth-616. However, the timeline will diverge following the events of Marvel Two-In-One #69 and making the Guardian’s future an alternate timeline. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Realities 2005 #1 classifies it as existing in Reality-691.
When destroying Jacosta, Korvac mentions how she was created to be the bride of Ultron. See Avengers #162.
Wonder Man seemingly died in Avengers #9 as a side-effect to his powers. However, he miraculously returned to life in issue #151. Issue #164 explains that Simon actually underwent a metamorphosis into a being of pure ionic energy. Since his return, Simon has struggled with a fear of dying a second time despite being the most powerful Avenger next to Thor.
That’s not exactly true, but that’s what we’re lead to believe in this story. It’s revealed during the Korvac Quest reveals that Galactus became aware of Korvac’s power and attempted to slay him with the Ultimate Nullifier. To escape this fate, Korvc then escaped through time transferring his essence into his ancestors until he could be reborn in the 30th Century with all of his god-like powers. See Fantastic Four Annual #24, Thor Annual #16, Silver Surfer Annual #4, and Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1.
Topical References
Any reference to the Modern Age taking place in the present day should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale which has pushed it forward so that it does not begin until after the start of the 21st Century.
Epilogue
Note: This Epilogue was not included in the original publication of the Korvac saga but as an addition to the Avengers: Korvac Saga Trade Paperback that was published in 1991. I have included a summary of it here for easier reference.
A few days later, the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy have gathered in Forest Hills Cemetery to pay their vinal respects to Michael and Carina Korvac. Hawkeye interrupts the silence to demand answers as all he remembers is being taken down by Korvac and then waking up in the Avengers medical bay. Thor tells them that Moondragon explained the pair willed themselves to death because they viewed their cause as pointless and preferred death to failure. While Thor calls it a tragedy, Captain America can’t help but compare Korvac’s scheme for universal domination to that of Hitler’s Third Reich.
This is an opinion shared by both Captain Marvel and Starhawk, who believe that no matter how benevolent Korvac’s intentions it would still amount to a form of tyranny because, despite his talk of love, he still sought conquest. Hercules also points out that Korvac was daft for trying to create order in the universe as life can only thrive in chaos. Still, Captain America reminds his allies that they have come to pay their respect. Soon the two teams depart, and Nikki wonders where someone as powerful as Korvac would go when he dies. Nobody can really answer that.
Once the others have gone, Moondragon returns to the graves one final time. She hopes Michael is at peace because, after probing his mind, she knows he was doing the right thing even though her fellow Avengers cannot see it that way and will always live with the tragic events even though the others won’t.
While in the afterlife, the personification of Death holds both Korvac and Carina in its skeletal hands as Master Order and Lord Chaos watch over its shoulder. Korvac now realizes his ignorance of the universal order of things and will now spend all eternity contemplating their implications.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Yellowjacket, the Wasp, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Hercules, Black Panther, the Vision, Black Widow, Moondragon, Wonder Man, Jacosta, Ms. Marvel), Captain Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy (Charlie-27, Martinex, Nikki, Starhawk, Yondu), Master Order, Lord Chaos, Death
