A Gathering Hate

After capturing the Vision from another reality, the Avengers — Captain America, Hercules, Black Knight, Black Widow, Sersi, and Crystal — have forced him to reveal the location of the Gatherers’ base of operations.[1] The trail leads them to the Tibetan Plateau, the so-called “Roof of the World” where the Gatherers have set up a massive citadel. Along the way, Hercules plays it rough with their prisoner, much to the disapproval of Captain America who reminds everyone that Avengers don’t act that way. The Black Knight responds by telling Cap that things change.[2]

Inside the structure, the real Vision — who had been mind-swapped with his alternate reality counterpart — is being tortured by Cassandra, the oldest of the Gatherers. This is observed by Magdalene and Sloth, who both feel sorry for their prisoner. Overhearing this, Cassandra reminds them that the Avengers are responsible for the destruction of their worlds and deserves no pity from them.[3] As Magdalene once again begins questioning Proctor’s methods the Avengers come crashing in through the window. This time, the team has come prepared for Cassandra’s strength sapping eye beams by gearing up in special body armor that negate her powers.

The Avengers begin taking down the Gatherers as Crystal races to rescue the Vision. She almost doesn’t recognize him in his new body, which resembles his original red-skinned form and green costume.[4] The battle is going well until the Avengers are ambushed by Proctor who has finally decided to reveal himself to the group. He has decided that the time for games has come to an end and he plans on destroying the Avengers right here and now.

Back at Avengers Headquarters, scientist Hank Pym and Bill Foster have been called in to help heal the Swordsman who was seriously injured by the evil Vision earlier that day. Unable to isolate what is wrong with their patient, the pair put him in a stasis chamber to keep him alive. They are interrupted by Sersi who asks if there is anything she can do to help. Pym uses the opportunity to make an appointment to examine her. Sersi agrees to allow him to run his tests but tells Hank to be straight with her, the Avengers want him to check her out to make sure she’s not insane.[5] Hank assures her that he has her well being in mind and promises to do whatever he can to heal her mind. That’s when they get an alert that visitors are in the lobby. Sersi goes up to greet them and learns that they are two NYPD homicide detectives named Joseph MacNamara and Tomas Delgado. Getting a fiendish grin on her face, Sersi welcomes the two officers inside.[6]

Lightyears away, aboard a space station in the Shi’ar galaxy, Empress Lilandra has learned that a group of rebel Kree have gone to Earth to get revenge for the Avengers part in the recent war between their two empires.[7] In order to defend the world that is near and dear to her heart, Lilandra has summoned the mysterious Deathcry. She is sending the warrior to Earth to deal with the situation, a duty that Deathcry is pleased to carry out.[8] As Deathcry departs in her ship, Empress Lilandra mourns the innocent days of her youth, as things seemed so much simpler back then.

Back on Earth, the Avengers are unimpressed by Proctor’s arrival. However, they are horrified when the leader of the Gatherers uses his power to seemingly kill his evil Vision for failing in his mission.[9] This starts a battle between the two group, with the Black Knight trying to attack Proctor directly. During this fight, Proctor notices that Dane Whitman’s eyes are black with red irises — a tell tale sign that he is the Gann Josin of Sersi. This sends the Proctor into a fit of rage as he considers himself Sersi’s one true love and soulmate.[10] Proctor tells the Avengers that their Eternal teammate is a threat to them all and that she must be utterly destroyed.

When Proctor tosses the Black Knight aside, Captain America rushes to his aid. However, thanks to his mind link with Sersi, Dane is struck by one of her momentary bouts of insanity. This causes him to become irrational toward Captain America, accusing him of trying to impose his morality on the rest of the team. Captain America defends himself and tries to get Dane to see reason. When this fails, the Black Widow steps in a jolts Dane with one of her widow bites. This causes Whitman’s sanity to reassert himself.

Watching this battle unfold, Proctor tells the Avengers that this is exactly why he has set out to destroy Sersi, saying that she almost destroyed him in a similar fashion. The heroes are reluctant to take Proctor at his word and he decides to show them exactly how he can be so certain of things to come. He activates a trap door which opens up and a stasis chamber emerges from beneath them. The Avengers are shocked to see that Proctor has imprisoned a Watcher named Ute. He explains that he rescued Ute from a dying world and has since forced the alien to help him on his quest. As he is making this explanation, Uatu — the Watcher of the Avenger’s reality — appears to observe events in person.

By this point, Hercules has had enough of Proctor’s insane ravings and calls him a liar, pointing out how he had sent his Vision to infiltrate the Avengers for the sole purpose of killing the Swordsman, whom they had captured.[11] Hearing this, Magdalene — Swordsman’s lover — turns on Proctor and the other Gatherers. With the situation growing out of control, Proctor activates the self-destruct system. However, as he tries to flee with the other Gatherers, the Black Knight tries to catch him. Instead, Dane is surprised when Proctor is able to cease his mind. Saying that this is a gift from one Black Knight to another, Proctor forces Dane to fatally stab through the chest with his energy sword. However, this doesn’t kill Proctor, who assures Whitman that this is far from over as he teleports away.[12] With the entire fortress crumbling around them, the Uatu begins to teleport away himself, warning the Avengers to flee while they can. Moments later, the entire fortress explodes.[13]

Back in New York, Hank and Bill come upstairs to check on Sersi. When they ask her who was at the door, she assures them that it was nothing and asks them to tell Jarvis that she is ready for dinner. At that same moment, at the bottom of the East River, the petrified forms of Detectives MacNamara and Delgado are frozen in absolute horror.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Hercules, Vision, Black Knight, Black Widow, Sersi, Crystal), Gatherers (Proctor, Anti-Vision, Cassandra, Sloth, Tabula), Bill Foster, Swordsman, Magdalene, Hank Pym, Joseph MacNamara, Tomas Delgado, Lilandra, Deathcry Ute, the Watcher

Continuity Notes

1. This alternate reality version of the Vision was planted among the Avengers by the Gatherers in Avengers #360. He was exposed last issue. Per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #2, he comes from Reality-932.

2. The tensions between Captain America and this team of Avengers — particularly the Black Knight — are due to the fact that many of the group agreed to assassinate the Supreme Intelligence back in Avengers #347. This disturbed Cap enough that he quit the team in Captain America #401, only to return again in issue #360. What they don’t know is that the Supreme Intelligence faked his death and will turn up alive again in Imperial Guard #1-3.

3. The Gatherers all come from realities that were doomed. Proctor had convinced them that the Avengers of the Prime Reality were responsible and that they must be destroyed. This is a cover for the fact that Proctor is actually killing ever Sersi in every reality they visit because his own dumped his ass. See Avengers #374-375. Per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #2, 3, and 5 the Gatherers come from realities 374 (Proctor), 9201 (Magdalene), and 92101 (Cassandra). Sloth and Tabula’s realities are unrevealed as of this writing in May of 2022.

4. On Earth-616, the Vision was first created with red skin and a green costume. This changed when he was captured by Vigilance who disassembled him. When the Avengers put him back together again, the shock of the disassembly process left the android a ghostly white. See West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #42-45.

5. Over the last while, Sersi has grown increasingly erratic. These bouts of madness have been blamed on her creating a Uni-Mind with the Brothren causing her to suffer from an Eternal illness called the Mahd W’yry, per Avengers #334-339 and 361. In reality, she is being gaslit by Proctor, as revealed in Avengers #374-375.

6. MacNamara and Delgado are investigating a series of bizarre serial killings since Avengers #357. While this story implies that Sersi is responsible for the killings, it is a red herring. It’s Proctor, again. ibid Avengers #374-375.

7. The Avengers involvement in the Kree/Shi’ar War was documented in the Operation: Galactic Storm event in Captain America #398-400, Avengers West Coast #80-82, Quasar #32-34, Wonder Man (vol. 2) #7-9, Avengers #345-347, Iron Man #278-279, and Thor #445-446. The Kree warriors (aka the Lunatic Legion) seeking revenge will attack Earth on two occasions in Avengers #364-366 and 378-379.

8. Lilandra’s aid Aroke protests dispatching Deathcry, stating that she is a dissident. Deathcry’s past is only mentioned in snippets: That she was part of a rebellion against the Shi’ar empire as a youth, likely during the rule of Emperor D’Ken. She was later stripped of her rank and exiled after killing a member of her platoon in a drunken brawl. See Avengers #366, 389, Vision #1-2, Avengers Unplugged #2 and 5, as well as Chaos War: Dead Avengers #2 for bits and pieces of her backstory — because why make it easy?

9. The so-called Anti-Vision isn’t down and out yet. He’ll turn up alive again in Vision #3-4.

10. The Black Knight was made Sersi’s Gann Josin — or soul mate — against his will in Avengers #361. The reason why Proctor is so upset by this is because he was the Gann Josin of his reality’s Sersi. See Avengers #374-375 again.

11. The Swordsman was captured by the team in Avengers #356.

12. This is a very unsubtle hint that Proctor is an alternate reality counterpart to the Black Knight. See Avengers #374, again.

13. The Watcher’s warning is vague due to the fact that his race has made a vow of non-interference. See Tales of Suspense #53 and Original Sin #0.

Bonus Material

This issue features a number of pin-ups to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Avengers they include: the Vision fighting Proctor, the newly introduced Blood Wraith, the Gatherers, vs Captain America, Sersi, the Arachnonauts begging for a limited series (don’t hold your breath), and the Avengers vs. the Gatherers.

Topical References

• The original twin towers of the World Trade Center are depicted as part of the New York City skyline. This should be considered a topical reference as these buildings were destroyed in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 and subsequently replaced with the Freedom Tower.