Twilight of the Gods!

Accused of putting Hercules in a coma, the Avengers taken to Olympus to punishment. They now find themselves in a life or death battle with Zeus who refuses to accept the truth about Hercules’ condition.[1] The only Avengers left standing are the Black Knight, Captain Marvel, and Thor are still standing. As the Captain and Thor continue to stand against Zeus, the Knight wonders where the other injured Avengers have gone to.

Captain America, the Wasp, and Doctor Druid were pulled from the battle so their Olympian allies could heal their injuries. After Prometheus used his power finally revive Hercules, the group is shocked when Herc call them his enemies and begins to attack them. He also blames them for their condition, refusing to listen to reason when the Wasp reminds him that the Masters of Evil were actually responsible for his injuries. Before he can crush the Wasp in his hands, Doctor Druid jumps him from behind and uses his telepathic powers to force Hercules to remember the truth. The demigod is forced to relive how he disobeyed the Wasp’s orders entered Avengers Mansion, resulting in a beating from the Wreckers, Mister Hyde, and Goliath.

Back at the scene of the battle, the other Avengers have Zeus surrounded. The patriarch of the Olympians boasts that they cannot defeat him. When he unleashes a bolt of lightning, the Black Knight manages to reflect it back to Zeus, much to his surprise. He is then swarmed by Thor, She-Hulk, and the Sub-Mariner. He then unleashes a powerful blast that knocks his foes again. That’s when someone else joins the battle and orders Zeus to stop. So consumed with rage, Zeus fights off his new attacker and begins pummeling his foe. Realizing who it is, the Avengers pull Zeus off him pointing out that he was about to beat his own son to death. Horrified by what he has done, Zeus ceases hostilities and apologizes to his son. Hercules, still weak from his ordeals, tells his father that the Avengers were not responsible for his condition.

When Prometheus and the others arrive, they explain how he used his power to restore Hercules. This has not come without a cost as much of his hair has been turned white. Realizing how wrong he was, Zeus agrees to end hostility and throws a celebration for the Avengers. The Avengers are happy that Hercules is awake again, but his injuries have left him with brain damage that makes it difficult to talk. Soon, Zeus calls a meeting with the other gods where he tells them that the Avengers have been absolved of any wrong doing and will be allowed to return home. After everything that has happened, Zeus has decided that the Olympians will cease all activity on Earth and remain on Olympus. This is protested by both Ares and Poseidon, but Zeus has little patience for dissent in the ranks.

After bidding farewell to both Hercules and Prometheus, the Avengers are returned to Earth. There, Thor and the Wasp take off while the rest of the team return to Hydrobase. When they return to their headquarters, they find Marrina — Namor’s wife — waiting for them. She is relieved that the Sub-Marine is safe after he was kidnaped by Poseidon. She has some bad news, in Namor’s absence, those still loyal to him had abandoned their new home.[2] This convinces Namor that he and Marrina don’t have a place in the sea and will have to forge a new life on the surface.

A week later, Captain Marvel decides that the current team should start familiarizing themselves on the Avengers foes following the attack on the mansion. She starts with going over the file on the Fixer, one of Baron Zemo’s Masters of Evil. The She-Hulk and Black Knight are late to the meeting because they failed to find Captain America. Recalling how Cap was dealing the government forcing him to work for them exclusively, Captain Marvel decides to make finding Captain America their top priority.[3]

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Thor, Wasp, Black Knight, She-Hulk, Sub-Mariner, Doctor Druid), Zeus, Hercules, Aphrodite, Hera, Apollo, Ares, Athena, Dionsysus, Hermes, Poseidon, Prometheus, Marrina

Continuity Notes

1. Hercules was left in a coma after being attacked by the Masters of Evil. See Avengers #273-277.

2. At the time of this story, Namor had abdicated from the Atlantean throne in Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner #1-4. Most of his people allowed Attuma to take over the kingdom as seen in Avengers #272. Some left to live with Namor after his marriage to Marrina in Alpha Flight #40. He was kidnapped by Poseidon in Avengers #282.

3. This story happens after Captain America #332, when Steve Rogers refused to consign himself to the government, forcing him to give up his Captain America identity. This will remain the status quo until Captain America #350.