Avengers Forever #1
Destiny Made Manifest
Prologue
In the 26th century, on the planet Beta Centurai, a group of resistance fighters prepare to fight back against their oppressors. Moments after they get their weapons every living being on the planet is suddenly frozen in place. Seconds later, the Galactic Avengers Battalion Theta-4 arrive and lay waste to the entire plant. Armies of Hammer-Troopers, Repulsor-Troopers, Shieldmen, and the Micro-Swarm destroy everything in their path killing countless innocent Centaurians. In the aftermath of the slaughter, the hold on the planet is released. That’s when the Avengers leader, Jonz Rickard arrives and tells them all that this is punishment for the 12 mutineers that attempt to raise a hand against his empire. In light of the utter destruction, Rickard assumes that this will quell any insurrections in the future. Amid the wreckage the three Time Keepers — Ast, Vorth, and Zanth — appear and assess the damage done and decide that this will not do and steps need to be taken to prevent this from happening.[1]
The Present[2]
Long time Avengers ally Rick Jones has fallen ill and after some examination,[3] the Avengers have determined that the cause is the power Rick once used to stop the Kree/Skrull War years earlier is the cause.[4] Unable to find a cure, the Avengers are forced to go to the Blue Area of the Moon,[5] where SHIELD is holding the Kree Supreme Intelligence prisoner after a failed attempt to conquer Earth.[6] As they transport their friend to the moon, they think about how Rick was the person who first brought the Avengers together as a team. He was also present during many of their early adventures.[7] Rick was prominent in the super-hero community until he was seriously hurt by his one-time ally the Hulk.[8] The team of Avengers accompanying Rick to the moon includes Captain America, Iron Man, Giant-Man, the Scarlet Witch, Firestar and Justice.
Captain America demands that the Supreme Intelligence do something to cure Rick. The alien artificial intelligence, however, will only agree to try and help if the Avengers leave him alone with Rick to examine the boy in private. Realizing that they have no other choice, Captain America agrees, telling the Intelligence that he has 24 hours to produce results.
After the Avengers leave, a mysterious robed figure emerges from the shadow. This mystery man has been keeping council with the Supreme Intelligence for some time now. They both agree that Rick Jones is reaching a critical juncture in human evolution that will usher forth the ultimate destiny of the human race. The Supreme Intelligence looks forward to seeing this, after his own people, the Kree, have hit an evolutionary dead end despite his efforts to change that.[9] With no time left to lose, the mystery man is dispatched to gather another uneasy ally who is instrumental to what happens next.[10]
Meanwhile, in Limbo, Immortus is monitoring the seven centuries of time that he has been chosen to guard.[11] Seeing the current status of Rick Jones, the time master knows that this cannot be allowed. With the wave of a hand, he causes all time in the present day to stop. He then dispatches his agent Tempus to eliminate Rick Jones on behalf of his master. However, before he can bludgeon Jones with his massive war club, Rick’s body begins emitting energies that slow his hand. Suddenly a bubble of time appears around the chamber. Moments later, Kang the Conqueror, the younger version of Immortus appears to stop Tempus from completing his task.[12] Immortus then projects his image and tells his younger self that it is human destiny for Rick Jones to die. Kang refuses to allow this to happen and uses a blaster built into his gloves to shatter Tempus into pieces. In response, Immortus summons warriors from across time to attack Kang en masse. The conqueror is more than ready for the fight, summoning two massive guns to blast his way through the seemingly endless horde of warriors.
In the middle of this bloodbath, Rick Jones wakes up wondering where he is and what’s going on. Seeing both Kang and the Supreme Intelligence, tells Rick that whatever is happening, it can’t be good. Rick also feels tingly all over and the Intelligence informs the Earth man that his powers are starting to return and that he needs to focus. That’s when the mystery man returns and helps tip the balance in Rick’s favor with a simple touch to the back of his neck. Suddenly, Rick’s powers flare outward summoning a team of Avengers from across time. They include the Wasp, Goliath, Captain Marvel, Hawkeye, Yellowjacket, Songbird, and Captain America![13]
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Giant-Man, Scarlet Witch, Firestar, Justice), Temporal Avengers (Wasp, Goliath, Captain America, Hawkeye, Yellowjacket, Captain Marvel, Songbird), Rick Jones, Kang, Immortus, Libra, Supreme Intelligence, Beast, Tempus, Time Keepers (Ast, Vorth, Zanth), SHIELD
Continuity Notes
Per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #4, this possible future exists in Reality-9812. It is a variant of Earth-691, the home reality to the 30th century Guardians of the Galaxy who first appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes #18.
The present day portion of this story takes place between Avengers (vol. 3) #9 and 10.
The Beast’s membership in the Avengers is mentioned here. He was a long running member of the team from Avengers #137 to 211. He says Rick’s illness is harder to crack than the Legacy Virus. This was a illness that was effecting the mutant community at the time of this story. It was first unleashed in X-Force #18. Hank was one of the scientists spearheading the effort to create a cure. He will eventually succeed in Uncanny X-Men #390.
This power will later be dubbed the Destiny Force. The Supreme Intelligence awoken this power in Rick’s mind to end the Kree/Skrull War. See Avengers #89-97.
The narration mentions how the Blue Area of the Moon was built ages ago. As revealed in Avengers #133, it was built by the Kree as part of a contest to see if they or the Cotati would be accepted into the Skrull empire. When the Kree lost, they slaughtered the Skrull envoy kicking off the centuries long Kree/Skrull War.
Just prior to this story, the Blue Area of the Moon was the staging ground for the Kree Lunatic Legion’s attempt to turn everyone on Earth into a Kree. See Iron Man (vol. 3) #7, Captain America (vol. 3) #8, Quicksilver #10, and Avengers (vol. 3) #7.
Indeed Rick helped form the Avengers back in Avengers #1. We’re shown a collage of the Avengers early foes that were fought when Rick was associated with the team. The Space Phantom (#2), the Lava Men (#5), the original Masters of Evil (#6, 7, 9, and 10), Kang (#8, 12), Wonder Man (#9), and Immortus (#10).
The various heroes and groups that Rick has been involved with over the years is glossed over in the narration here. The details:
Rick only hung around with the Avengers on the regular until Avengers #17. He left immediately after feeling snubbed after a new team was selected and he wasn’t made an official member.
Prior to his association with the Avengers and for a short time after the fact, Rick was an ally of the Hulk. See Incredible Hulk #1-6, Tales to Astonish #69-100, and Incredible Hulk #103-106.
From there, Jones was briefly partners with Captain America from Captain America #110-118.
He was then bonded to Captain Marvel from Captain Marvel #18-50.
Rick returned to the Hulk from Incredible Hulk #245-285.
Next he worked alongside ROM the Space Knight from Rom #54-72.
Afterwards Rick was most regularly affiliated with the Hulk again from Incredible Hulk #319-468. This even after Rick was crippled by the Hulk in Incredible Hulk #457. Rick’s mobility will be restored in Avengers Forever #3.
The Supreme Intelligence is referring to manipulating the Kree into a war with the Shi’ar to the point where a nega-bomb was detonated in the Kree galaxy. This shattered the empire and led to countless deaths in the hopes of jump starting the Kree’s stagnant evolution. See 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 mystery man that the Supreme Intelligence is speaking with here is later revealed to be Libra, former member of the Zodiac crime cartel. See next issue.
On the monitor screens that Immortus is observing are a number of events from different points in Marvel history. Some of them are generic, but others can be pegged down pretty good. They are:
The Rawhide Kid and Two-Gun Kid: This could be literally any time the pair have teamed up over the years. Given where this series goes, this could be during the events of Avengers #142-144.
The original Human Torch fighting Nazis. Could be literally any period during World War II.
Thundra and the Black Panther: Are a peak to Realtiy-9930 where Earth is invaded by the Martian Masters. We’ll see this reality in Avengers Forever #4-6.
3-D Man battling a Skrull. Which could have been any of 3-D’s few solo outings in Marvel Premiere #35-37.
Thor fighting the Zarrko the Tomorrow Man and his Servitor robot is out of Thor #242-245.
Death’s Head II: Is likely included because one of artist Carlos Pacheco’s earliest works for Marvel was Dark Guard #1-4, which featured Death’s Head II. Couldn’t tell you where this scene is from though.
Since Giant-Size Avengers #2 it has been known that Kang will eventually evolve into Immortus.
All of these Avengers come from different points in history. We’ll learn exactly where next issue, but in case you’re wondering…
The Wasp and Goliath are pulled from a short time in the Avengers future circa Avengers (vol. 3) #11.
Captain America: Was pulled during the events of Captain America #175 just after he witnessed the leader of the Secret Empire — aka the President of the United States — blow his brains out in the Oval Office.
Hawkeye: Has been pulled from the events of Avengers #99, when Clint was trying to find his way back home from Europe following the end of the Kree/Skrull War.
Yellowjacket: Comes from Avengers #60, while he is still experiencing a mental break down where he believes he killed Hank Pym and is about to be married to the Wasp.
Captain Marvel and Songbird: Don’t come from the Prime Marvel Universe but a possible future. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #5 designates it Reality-98120. This is due to the fact that the Earth-616 Genis-Vell never joins the Avengers, at least as of the time of this writing in December, 2022. Songbird-616 however, has yet to join the mainline Avengers team time of writing, she was briefly a member of the New Avengers from New Avengers (vol. 4) #13-18.
Topical References
The present day of this story is stated as happening in the 20th century. This should be considered a topical reference. The Sliding Timescale has pushed the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe forward in time that it doesn’t begin until after the start of the 21st century.
