Whom the Gods Would Destroy!

The Avengers have been imprisoned in Hades, the Olympian realm of the dead. Making their escape across the Pathway to Infinity, their way is blocked when Pluto blows out the bridge. Thor tells the fliers on the team to help the others across while he deals with Pluto and his armies. However, Captain Marvel takes command as team leader, using her energy form to short out Pluto’s tanks. As the other Avengers engage the foot-soldiers, Pluto tries to crush them by blasting loose a chunk of rock from the cavern ceiling. Thor manages to catch this on his back and uses it to plug the gap on the pathway. The Avengers quickly cross it and pass the dimensional threshold that will take them from Hades to Olympus so they can find a way back home.

Their arrival is spotted a centaur that they quickly knock out. They are then led by Thor into a nearby forest so they can plan their next move. The stakes are high because Zeus, ruler of the Olympians, blames the Avengers for Hercules being in a coma and will not listen to reason.[1] There, they are greeted by the mysterious god who helped Namor find the rest of the team in Hades.[2] While he won’t tell the Avengers who he is, he creates a vision pool to show them why Zeus blames them for Hercules’ injuries. They witness a scene in the recent past, not long after Hercules was kidnapped from his hospital room and brought to Olympus.[3] Zeus put his son in the care of Apollo. While being examined, Hercules began rambling about his dislike of taking orders from the Avengers former chairwoman, the Wasp.[4] Zeus took this to mean that the Avengers were responsible for his son’s condition and despite the fact that the heroes had helped save Olympus in the past, Zeus vowed to make them pay for what happened.[5] This move is supported by Ares, and although Apollo points out Ares was the threat both times the Avengers saved them, Zeus’ mind is made up.

Seeing all this, the Avengers and their unnamed ally realize that the stakes are much higher as Ares could use the current situation to convince Zeus to attack Earth. The team quickly deduces that they need to find allies who might be sympathetic to their situation and help talk sense in to Zeus. The Sub-Mariner agrees with this plan and knows just who they can start with. They pay a visit to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who Namor petitions for aid. As the Sub-Mariner had assisted her in the past, Aphrodite agrees to join forces.[6] Later, in the forges beneath Olympus, Hephaestus and Athena are attempting to learn the secret of Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. That’s when the thunder god comes to recover his enchanted weapon. Surprised to see the Avengers, Hephaestus unleashes his army of automations against them. The team quickly discovers that these aren’t actually robots as the name implies, but golden statues animated by magic. The battle causes one of the forges to crack, spilling molten metal across the floor. The Avengers scramble to safety, saving their two opponents as well.

This impromptu rescue as well as the fact that Aphrodite is on their side is all it takes to convince Hephaestus and Athena to join their side. Convinced the Avengers are innocent, Hephaestus suggests that they attempt to recruit Apollo next. Putting on robes to try and disguise themselves, the Avengers and their Olympian allies go looking for Apollo, unaware that they have attracted the attention of Ares.

Meanwhile, Artemis has returned from another trip to Earth to bring the Wasp to Zeus for punishment. As she had resigned her post as Avengers chairwoman, Janet was kidnapped from her vacation on a Caribbean resort. As the Wasp tries to make sense of her current predicament, Zeus is informed by Ares that the Avengers are free and amassing a group to oppose them. By this time, the Avengers have found Apollo in the room where he is continuing to treat Hercules injuries. Herc is still in a coma and nothing Apollo has done has been able to wake him. Doctor Druid then attempts to use his mental powers to awaken his teammate but the Avengers are suddenly bowled over by a massive blast of lightning from Zeus. The ambush leaves both Doctor Druid and Captain America seriously injured. Still, the Avengers refuse to give up without a fight and Thor leads them into battle.

The battle is observed from a nearby mountain top by the Avengers’ mysterious benefactor. He fears that this is the day he has been dreading and that this will be a war with no victors.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Thor, Wasp, Black Knight, She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, Sub-Mariner, Doctor Druid), Zeus, Pluto, Hercules, Prometheus (unidentified), Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Ares, Artemis, Apollo, Dionysus, Cupid

Continuity Notes

1. Hercules had the shit beat out of him by the Masters of Evil in Avengers #274.

2. This god is identified as Prometheus in Avengers #284.

3. Hercules was nabbed from his hospital room in Avengers #279.

4. The Wasp was the Avengers chairwoman from Avengers #217-243 and 255-279. When Hercules rejoined the team in issue #249, he quickly grew to dislike taking orders from a woman. It was disobeying Janet’s orders that led to Herc getting the ass-whooping that put him in a coma.

5. The Avengers saved Olympus on two different occasions in Avengers #50 and 98-100.

6. The Sub-Mariner teamed up with Aphrodite/Venus in Sub-Mariner #57.