Avengers #255
The Legacy of Thanos!
Captain Marvel finally arrives at Sanctuary II, the long abandoned space ship of Thanos, located near Pluto.[1] Marvel had been sent out here by the Vision, unaware that he had sent her on a fool’s errand.[2] To get past the ships shields, Monica transforms into radio waves and succeeds in getting inside. After checking that the life support systems are still operational, Captain Marvel resumes human form and begins looking around to make sure the massive structure is still deserted.
Back on Earth, General Peabody meets with Raymond Sikorski of the NSA. He is furious after learning that — for some reason — the Avengers briefly usurped control of the computer systems at NORAD, compromising the nation’s missile defense system. While Sikorski tries to defend the Avengers, a message comes in from the Vision taking responsibility for the mishap.[3] He informs the government that he is resigning from his post as Avengers chairman and will be coming to Washington for a debriefing on the incident.
At Avengers Mansion, the Vision prepares to leave, reiterating to the others that he will take the fall after his failed bid to take over Earth’s computer systems. The Avengers protest this, particularly Starfox who insists that the only reason the Vision went down this path was because he had connected the android to ISAAC the world computer that runs his home on Titan.[4] While deliberations continue, the Black Knight has trouble keeping track of all the changes that have happened to the team while he has been absent.[5] That’s when they receive a call from Captain Marvel, who tells them that Sanctuary II is still secure. The Vision informs her that she had been misled and Captain America orders her to return to Earth so they can figure out the team’s next move now that the Vision and the Scarlet Witch are leaving. As Captain Marvel ends communication she is unaware that one of the computer displays is signaling that a ship has just docked.
Captain Marvel heads to the hanger bay of Sanctuary II, trying to make sense of the Vision’s mad scheme. There she is ambushed by two alien creatures: the diminuitive Skunge and the massive Taurian known as Kehl. Although they have the element of surprise, Captain Marvel is able to fend off her attackers with her energy powers. This is until their superiors, a Regilian named Gunthar, and blue skinned man named Levan.[6] Levan apologizes for his men and after a round of introductions they explain that they had come to Sanctuary II to make repairs to their own ship. Asking for her help, Monica reluctantly accepts because something about their story doesn’t add up.[7]
Back on Earth, the Janet Van Dyne is returning to Avengers Mansion after a vacation. After paying for her cab she is confronted by two government agents who are waiting for the Vision and the Scarlet Witch to leave with them to Washington. Realizing something big happened, Janet changes into the Wasp and flies into the mansion. There she is brought up to speed on what happened and how the Vision had manipulated her into giving up her chairmanship of the Avengers to hatch his insane scheme.[8] The Vision apologizes for what he had done, but Janet isn’t sure how she should feel about learning all of this. The Avengers then all agree that they should keep the fact that the Vision took control of Earth’s computers a secret to mitigate blowback from the government. With that, he and the Scarlet Witch are bid farewell and sent on their way.[9] As the Vision and the Scarlet Witch leave in a limo, the Wasp notes that the Vision sounds more human than ever before. Captain America figures that the Vision has finally come of age.
While back aboard Sanctuary II, the aliens create a distraction for Captain Marvel, allowing Levan to activate the ship’s hyper-drive. This takes them millions of light years away from Earth’s solar system. Levan then tells the Captain that she will do what he says if she ever wants to return to Earth ever again.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Wasp, Hercules, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Starfox, Captain Marvel, Black Knight), Wonder Man, Skunge, Levan, Kehl, Gunthar Raymond Sikorski,
Continuity Notes
Thanos is referred to as deceased here. Thanos was killed following the events of Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2. He will be resurrected in Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #34.
The Vision sent Captain Marvel on this mission to keep her away from the mansion while he tried to take over the world’s computers. See Avengers #252-254.
Sikorski mentions how his predecessor tried to over regulate the Avengers. He is referring to Henry Gyrich who was a liaison to the team from Avengers #168 until Sikorski took over in issue #235.
When the Vision was knocked into a coma in Avengers #233, Starfox later hooked him up to ISAAC in issue #238.
Dane is surprised to hear that the Vision and the Scarlet Witch had gotten married. The couple tied the knot in Giant-Size Avengers #4. This was while Dane’s spirit was possessing the body of his 12th Century ancestor circa Defenders #4. At the time of this story he had just recently returned to the present day following the events of Avengers #225-226.
Monica states here that she heard about the Rigelians from Thor. The thunder god first encountered these aliens back in Thor #129.
Gunthar recounts how the Avengers put an end to the Kree/Skrull War. That happened in the pages of Avengers #89-97.
When many of the Avengers (including the Wasp) were spirited away to Battleworld by the Beyonder, the Vision took reigns of things on Earth and used emotional manipulation to get the Wasp to stand down after she and the rest of the team returned to Earth. See Avengers #242-243 and Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1-12.
Despite the Avengers efforts to keep things a secret, the government will learn the truth and dismantle the Vision to try and prevent him from doing the same thing again. See West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #42-45.
Topical References
The Vision’s message to the government is depicted as coming via a fax machine in this story. Fax machines are basically obsolete these days, so its use here should be considered topical.
The Wasp’s cab fare to Avengers Mansion is stated as being $9.70. This should be considered a topical reference due to inflation. $9.70 in 2021 money would be $22.86. Also cab fare is metered much differently now than it was back when this story was first published in 1985.
