Let Slip the Dogs of War!

The Vision has called to order a meeting of the Vision. The first order of business is to find out what happened to Clint Barton, who has been missing in action since the end of the Kree/Skrull War.[1] While the Avengers divide their resources to deal with the search, both Iron Man and Thor leave to use their resources to find Clint.[2]

With the other senior members gone, Captain America turns on the television to see if there is any new about Clint there. He instead comes upon coverage of a protest outside a hotel where Chinese dignitaries are staying while visiting the United Nations. Warhawk is leading a group of rabble-rousers wearing Nazi-Esque uniforms. Inside, the press interview the Chinese delegates who believe this proves that America has no interest in world peace. With the protest reaching boiling point, Captain America rallies the Avengers to go and break things up before they get violent. What they don’t see is that Warhawk has two hooded individuals working up the crowd with pan flute music. When the Avengers arrive on the scene, they try to disburse the mob but they are in a frenzy. When Rick Jones is injured by a projectile, he points out that the strange flute players with Warhawk seem to be influencing people. However, when the Avengers become aware of the music all of them become enthralled as well.

Watching this from Avengers Mansion is the Vision who stayed behind to wait for news about Clint Barton. That’s when Thor returns and tells him that some force is preventing him from crossing the dimensional gulf to Asgard.[3] When they attempt to contact Iron Man, they discover he too is under Warhawk’s spell and is helping gather weapons from Stark Industries. They race to the munitions factory where they are attacked by Iron Man. The battle abruptly ends when the Vision is knocked into one of the flute players. With the music stopped, Iron Man and the Warhawk’s minions have snapped out of it. Thor then races ahead to the scene of the riot and instantly recognizes Warhawk’s true identity: He’s actually Ares the Olympian god of war.[4]

The thunder god is instantly attacked by his fellow Avengers. When the Vision and Iron Man arrive on the scene, Iron Man falls under the spell again and attacks his android ally. Soon, the Scarlet Witch traps Mjolnir in a hex sphere causing Thor to fall into the crowd where he is swarmed. Suddenly, an explosive arrow soars across the air and strikes the hex sphere, freeing Thor’s hammer in the resulting explosion. While Thor fights back the mob, the Vision realizes that it is the flute players that are enthralling the people (finally) and knocks them out. He is shocked to discover that they aren’t men but satyrs. With his scheme foiled, Ares teleports away as everyone shakes off the effects of the pan music. Regrouping, the Avengers are left wondering who freed Thor’s hammer. That’s when Clint Barton appears and takes ownership. He has reclaimed his Hawkeye identity but is wearing a brand new costume.

When the other Avengers ask what happened to him in space, Hawkeye tells them that the story can wait and points their attention that he has come with Hercules. However, everyone is shocked to discover that the demi-god does not remember who he is because he is stricken with amnesia. The only thing Hercules can remember of the past is an ominous portent of the future, “When opens the gates which once was lofty peak — When slays the sword which wizard form to save — Then worlds shall quake to the war-god speak — And Earth and Asgard evermore be — Slave!”

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Hercules, the Vision), Ares

Continuity Notes

1. Clint was sent to stop a Skrull ship from blowing up the Earth in Avengers #96.

2. Iron Man mentions how he used to clash with Clint back when he was Hawkeye. When Barton first appeared on the scene in Tales of Suspense #57 he was manipulated into helping the Black Widow, a Russian spy at the time. Barton later reformed and joined the Avengers in Avengers #16. More recently he gave up his bow and arrow to become the new Goliath in Avengers #63.

3. A footnote here states that this story takes place before Thor #198. That’s an understatement as there was a long-running story arc in Thor happening at the time this story was published that featured the return of Mangog and his attempt at triggering Ragnarok again. Per the Marvel Chronology Project, Thor’s appearance in the last few issues of Avengers (issue #84 through 100) takes place between Thor #181 and 182.

4. A footnote asks readers if they remember when Ares last appeared in issues of both the Avengers and Thor. He previously appeared in Thor #129, 131 and Avengers #38 and 50. Chronologically, Thor met Ares for the first time centuries ago, as detailed in Thor Annual #5.