Avengers (vol. 3) #54
A Good Day to Die
Kang the Conqueror’s invasion of Earth has been stopped. His massive warship, the Damocles, has been decimated and has crash landed on Earth. Although most of the debris landed safely in the ocean, the remainder of the hull has crash landed in the town of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Luckily, the Avengers — Captain America, Thor, Vision, Warbird, Firebird, Triathlon/3-D Man, and Jack of Hearts were able to evacuate the area before the crash.[1]
From the ship emerges Kang himself, who survived the crash. However, the time master refuses to go down without a fight. While the entire team is willing to rumble, Thor tells everyone to stay back as this is Captain America’s fight to finish. After a number of traded blows, Captain America knocks the sword out of Kang’s hands. That’s when Kang thanks Cap for fighting him honorably. This angers Steve Rogers as there was nothing honorable about Kang’s invasion, which killed millions and devastated the world. He attacks Kang with renewed fury. He pummels Kang over and over until the time master collapses. His final words before blacking out is commending Captain America, calling him one of the greats. When Jack of Hearts asked if they won, Cap tells him to look at the damage done around them and that nobody won.
As Kang is being taken into custody, Firebird notices that Thor disappeared during the fight.[2] Wonder Man tells her not to look so down, since Kang has been defeated. The Vision then reports that the President of the United States is being brought back to American soil so they can get to work on rebuilding. That’s when Triathlon/3-D Man decides to depart, he needs to go back to the pyramid ship of the Triple Evil and finish dissolving it and free the trapped life forces within it.[3]
Soon the Avengers are on a Quinjet flying back to New York. Already, Captain America is coordinating plans to find, apprehend, and send Kang’s remaining foot soldiers back to the future they came from. That’s when Warbird also suggests that they need to hold a court martial over her killing the Master of the World, violating the Avengers usual “no killing” policy.[4] The other Avengers don’t feel this is necessary but Carol insists on it. That’s when Jack tells everyone to look outside the window as they land. The Avengers are all delighted to see people outside the mansion cheering their victor. They briefly stop to wave to their fans before going back inside their headquarters.
All over the world people are celebrating the defeat of Kang. In California, the Scarlet Witch and her fellow prisoners celebrate being released from the camps. In Paris, both Hercules and She-Hulk are celebrated for their part in defending Europe. In Moscow, there are candle light vigils. While in the former base of the Master of the World, the Wasp, Yellowjacket, Stingray, and Black Knight drink champaign with military and government officials. That’s when an alarm goes off on one of the computer and it begins asking for an override code. Unfortunately, none of them know what the code is and what it’s for.
Meanwhile, Kang has been locked away in an underground prison in the mountains of Montana until trial. Kang believes that he will be executed for his crimes and looks forward to it as this is a fitting end to his legacy. That’s when the wall to his cell blows open and Marcus comes to get him. Kang is furious that his son came, as he had accepted his fate. Still, Kang returns to his son’s ship in orbit. Kang suits up in a new suit of armor as Marcus suggests plans for a counter attack. Kang still doesn’t think Marcus should have freed him and decides that this is the right time to show him something. Opening a secret chamber, Kang shows his son a crypt filled with a number of coffins. Looking through the view glass, Marcus is shocked to discover that the corpses all look exactly like him.
Kang explains that his son is not the first Marcus, but the latest in a series of them. Each and every single one failed him and he put them to death. He had high hopes for his current son, he was even willing to overlook the fact that his boy betrayed him for Warbird of the Avengers. All Marcus had to do was leave him to his fate on Earth and follow his fathers wishes. He had hoped that Marcus would forge his own destiny. However, Marcus chose to save his father instead and as such, Kang has to punish him for his betrayal. Before Marcus can offer protest, Kang fatally stabs him in the stomach. As Marcus dies, the ship’s computer kicks in and asks Kang if he would like to start the process to create the 24th Marcus. Kang tells the computer not yet, and mourns over the loss of his son.[5]
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Yellowjacket, Wasp, Scarlet Witch, Hercules, Vision, Black Knight, Wonder Man, Warbird, She-Hulk, Stingray, Triathlon, Jack of Hearts), Kang, Scarlet Centurion, 3-D Man, Hal Chandler
Continuity Notes
Kang announces his invasion of Earth in Avengers (vol. 3) #42. By issue #49 he had conquered most of the globe. The Avengers managed to push his forces back in issue #52, and bring down the Damocles last issue.
The concern over Thor comes from the fact that the thunder god was reminded of how fleeting mortal lives were when Captain America was briefly transformed into a radioactive zombie by the Presence in Avengers (vol. 3) #44. Although he was restored to normal, the incident convinced the thunder god to reconsider his connections to humanity. Believing his connection to humans is important, Firebird has made it a point to try and change his mind since issue #45. Firebird got frustrated with Thor’s stubbornness and yelled at him last issue.
If you want to know more about why Triathlon and 3-D Man are merged and what the deal with the pyramid is all about see Avengers (vol. 3) #50.
The Master of the Earth was withholding defensive walls from the population of North America, demanding everyone pledge loyalty to him, as seen in Avengers (vol. 3) #45. The Avengers broke into his base to seize control of them. In the ensuing battle, Carol killed the Master. At the time she believed it was justified because they were in the middle of a war. See Avengers (vol. 3) #48.
As of this writing in February, 2023, Marcus XIII and his brothers all remain among the deceased. It is unknown at this time if Kang has created any more, or given up entirely on siring a successor.
