Divided… We Fall!

The Black Knight is heading home to Avengers Mansion, unaware that it has just been taken over by Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil. Dane is upset over learning that the Wasp is dating the soldier of fortune known as Paladin and he is deep in thought when he is ambushed inside by Mister Hyde and Yellowjacket. The Knight is no match for Mister Hyde’s superior strength and is quickly knocked out and taken prisoner alongside Jarvis, the Avengers’ butler. Baron Zemo commends them for the quick victory, but warns them that they still have the most powerful Avengers to contend with.

Meanwhile, Monica Rambeau is relaxing at her apartment in New Orleans when she receives a distress call, apparently from the Wasp.[1] She quickly changes into Captain Marvel and races to Avengers Mansion at the speed of light. There she finds Jarvis and the Black Knight tied up. However, before she can free them, she is restrained in a mass of dark matter by Blackout. She attempts to free herself in her new neutrino form but finds that it can’t help her penetrate the darkness and she is soon dumped into the Dark Force dimension.[2] Zemo was able to trick Marvel with a device that could immitate the Wasp’s voice and is pleased that the mind control device built into his headdress can keep Blackout under his control. With another Avenger out of the way, Zemo looks forward to dealing with Hercules, Captain America, and the Wasp.

In the communications room, Yellowjacket is attempting to hack into the Avengers database. When the Fixer tries to make a pass at her, she almost breaks his thumb and turns down his offer of help.[3] When Baron Zemo checks in on him, Fixer reports that the Fantastic Four are out of town and they managed to trick the West Coast Avengers into going on a wild goose chase in Indonesia.[4] With everything going according to plan, Zemo is very pleased.

Meanwhile, Captain America has been airlifted to the Wasp’s home in New Jersey. There he tells her how he was recently ambushed by the Trapster and Whirlwind.[5] He radioed in the encounter and was surprised when the Wasp seemed disinterested in hearing about her old foe.[6] Janet confirms that Cap didn’t speak with her and the two decide to find out who has tapped their communications system. When they arrive at Avengers Mansion, the Wasp is sent inside at insect size to scout things out. Inside she is disturbed to find a number of super-villains inside trashing the place.[7] She also finds Jarvis and the Black Knight tied up in the meeting room. With Dane still unconscious, she removes Jarvis’ mouth gag and learns about Baron Zemo’s plot against the Avengers.

It’s about this time that Hercules returns to the mansion after an evening out drinking. Little does he know that the woman he had been partying with had been paid to drug him by Baron Zemo in order to impair him further. Luckily, Captain America and the Wasp manage to stop Herc from blundering inside and they retreat to a van they have parked nearby. However, in his intoxicated state, Hercules is even more belligerent and disobeys Janet’s orders by charging into the mansion to face their attackers head on. When Captain America and the Wasp try to follow after him, Cap is named by a traps set by the Fixer while the Wasp is blocked out when the entire mansion is sealed in a cube of Dark Force matter by Blackout.[8]

Inside, Hercules finds himself alone against Tiger Shark, Mister Hyde, Goliath, and the Wrecking Crew. The combined might of these villains proves too much for the drunk ass Olympian who is beaten into unconsciousness. Inside, Captain America is brought before Baron Zemo who gloats over his mortal foe. However, Cap refuses to surrender and believes that as long as one Avenger remains free, they will defeat the Masters of Evil. Outside, the Wasp in unable to get through Blackout’s barrier. Suddenly, Hercules’ body is tossed outside and when she runs to his side she fears the worst when she can’t feel a pulse.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Wasp, Black Knight, Hercules, Captain Marvel), Masters of Evil (Baron Zemo, Fixer, Yellowjacket, Mister Hyde, Goliath, Moonstone, Tiger Shark, Blackout, Wrecker, Thunderball, Piledriver, Bulldozer, Black Mamba)

Continuity Notes

1. Here, Monica wonders about the status of a loan she applied for. She has been attempting to start her own business back in Avengers #236.

2. Monica discovered that she cannot pass through Dark Force back in Avengers #237. She learned how to change her energy form into neutrinos in issue #271.

3. Yellowjacket reminds the Fixer of his recent defeat at the hands of Iron Man, that happened in Iron Man #202.

4. At the time of this story, the Fantastic Four are pre-occupied fighting two aliens named Umbra and Jaggur in Fantastic Four #297-298.

5. Captain America fought the Trapster and Whirlwind in Captain America #324.

6. Janet is very much interested in hearing about Whirlwind because he has been one of her most enduring foes dating back to Tales to Astonish #50. Obsessed with Janet, he spent time posing as her chauffer from Avengers #46 until Marvel Feature #6.

7. Piledriver is furious to see Porcupine’s costume on display. Alex Gentry gave up his costume to Captain America before his death in Captain America #315.

8. Fixer mentions his recent defeat at the hands of Captain America. That happened in Avengers Annual #13.