Avengers #265
Eve of Destruction
This story takes place during the events of Secret Wars II #8…[1]
Following their encounter with the Beyonder; Captain Marvel, Black Knight, Namor, and Hercules have been flung across the countryside in an energy tornado. As the group struggles to free themselves, Captain Marvel transforms into her energy form and combined with Hercules clapping his hands together, the pair manage to disrupt the tornado.
Crashing through a barn, the Avengers recover and apologize to the farmer who's property they smashed. Realizing that Captain America is a prisoner of the Beyonder, Namor and Hercules argue over leadership they almost come to blows when Captain Marvel steps in and breaks the two apart and shames both of them over their behavior during a crisis. Taking command herself, Captain Marvel has the team recover their Quinjet so they can rescue Cap from the Beyonder.
Meanwhile, Captain America wakes to find himself bound up in a cavern located somewhere in the Colorado Rockies. The Beyonder assures Cap that he cannot break free, stating that he is familiar with the Captain’s limitations since he copied Steve Rogers form when he first arrived on Earth.[2] This is not of any concern to Captain America, who is more interested in knowing why the Beyonder has gotten so destructive recently. The omnipotent alien disagrees with the statement, stating that he is frustrated with the constant feeling if incompleteness he has felt since discovering this universe. He then reveals that if he fails to regain his lost feeling of contentment he may have to destroy the entire universe in order to get it back.[3]
Meanwhile, the Avengers are heading back to the Beyonder’s hideout, and Captain Marvel has been sent ahead to find more allies to join the battle. However, she is unable to find the Wasp, nor was she sent out word to other super-hero teams, nobody had answered her call.[4] With no other options, they realize that they will have to face the Beyonder alone. Using the tracking device created by the Black Knight, they trace the Beyonder back to the Rocky Mountains and make a plan for their coming conflict. Hercules likens their challenge by relating to how he slew the giant Antaeus in ancient Greece when he realized the villains power stemmed from his connection to the Earth. However, the Black Knight is quick to point out that the Beyonder is far more powerful than any threat they have ever faced in the past. Monica, on the other hand, doesn’t think they will be forced to slay the Beyonder yet and asks the team to focus primarily on freeing Captain America. The Sub-Mariner secretly thinks this is ridiculous and wonders surrender wouldn’t be the better option.
By this time, the Beyonder has seemingly fallen asleep. This worries Captain America, as he recalls how Doctor Doom’s dreams manifested into reality when he briefly stole the Beyonder’s power back on Battleworld.[5] Struggling to get free, Cap manages to pull his wrists free from his shackles, even though it badly skins his hands. Ignoring the pain, Captain America tries to ambush the Beyonder but finds himself suspended in mid-air. As it turned out, the Beyonder was only pretending to sleep to see what his captive would do. He is furious to learn that Cap’s first act of freedom was to attack him.
That’s when the Beyonder senses that someone is approaching his hideout. This is the Sub-Mariner, who is scouting the area alone to try and pinpoint the their foe’s location. Namor comes upon the mountain he is seeking and finding no way inside demands an audience with the Beyonder. Allowed inside, Namor then surrenders to the omnipotent being and appeals to the Beyonder as he too knows what it is like to be hunted and hounded by the world. Intrigued, the Beyonder decides that Namor may have a role in his current plans and leads him into another chamber.
As it turns out, Namor’s betrayal was a planned distraction so the rest of the team can free Captain America from the Beyonder’s clutches. However, the Beyonder has seen through this ploy and ambushes the Avengers. First he tosses the Sub-Mariner at Captain America. Then he absorbs Captain Marvel’s energy form and unleashes it upon her teammates. When Hercules vows to defeat him in combat, the Beyonder turns into a giant and pins the Olympion under his hand. When Captain America tries to reason with the Beyonder, he has had enough with talking and turns Cap into stone. He then begins bombarding the rest of the team with animated boulders. However, when they refuse to give up fighting the Beyonder gets fed up with them and takes the entire team down with a massive blast of energy and decides that it is time to destroy all of existence.
… Secret Wars II concludes in Secret Wars II #9.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Black Knight, Hercules, Captain Marvel, Sub-Mariner), Beyonder
Continuity Notes
The reading order for Secret Wars II is a little hard to track by this point as a number of the crossover stories take place in between the events of Secret Wars II #8. These stories (in chronological order) are New Mutants #37, Amazing Spider-Man #274, this issue, Uncanny X-Men #203, and Fantastic Four #288.
The Beyonder came to Earth in Secret Wars II #1. Shortly thereafter, he copied Captain America’s form in Captain America #308. He also states he underwent a few alterations of this look. In Secret Wars II #3, the Beyonder dyed his hair black and began dressing like 80’s Michael Jackson, because why not?
A footnote here cites Secret Wars II #7 as when the Beyonder became destructive. This is not correct as in that story he unintentionally created a cult and fought Mephisto’s Legion Accursed. He didn’t start getting destructive until issue #8.
Some facts about the people Captain Marvel tries to get in contact with:
Monica states she was unable to reach the Wasp, this is because she is busy fighting Doctor Doom with the Fantastic Four, as seen in Fantastic Four #288.
Hercules takes issue with her contacting the X-Men, because the mutant outlaws just accepted Magneto into their ranks. Magneto joined the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #200 when Charles Xavier was gravely injured and had to be taken off world for treatment. Magnus joined the team to atone for his past crimes. Magneto will revert back to his former ways by issue #253 of that series.
Monica left messages with the West Coast Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Alpha Flight and the X-Men. They, and many other heroes, will respond to this call to arms in Secret Wars II #9.
Doctor Doom usurped the Beyonder’s power in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #10-12.
Topical References
The Beyonder is depicted in this story as mirroring the style of Michael Jackson had in the mid-80s during his Thriller period. While one could consider this esthetic look as being a topical reference, later flashbacks featuring the Beyonder from this period still have him dressed as an 80s fashion reject. I would argue that his appearance is not a topical reference at all, but a product of his not really understanding human fashion trends. It would add to his bizarre attempts at fitting in if he glommed onto a dated fashion trend.
Secret Wars II Reading Order
Secret Wars II #1, New Mutants #30, Captain America, #308, Uncanny X-Men #196, Iron Man #197, Secret Wars II #2, Web of Spider-Man #6, Amazing Spider-Man #268, Fantastic Four #282, Secret Wars II #3, Daredevil #223, Incredible Hulk #312, Avengers #260, Secret Wars II #4, Dazzler #40, Alpha Flight #28, Rom #72, Avengers #261, Secret Wars II #5, Thing #30, Doctor Strange (vol. 2) #74, Fantastic Four #285, Secret Wars II #6, Cloak and Dagger (vol. 2) #4, Power Pack #18, Micronauts (vol. 2) #16, Thor #363, Power Man and Iron Fist #121, Secret Wars II #7, New Mutants #36, Amazing Spider-Man #273, Spectacular Spider-Man #111, Uncanny X-Men #202, Defenders #152, Secret Wars II #8, New Mutants #37, Amazing Spider-Man #274, Avengers #265, Uncanny X-Men #203, Fantastic Four #288, Secret Wars II #9, Avengers #266
