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Avengers #247

Sep 1984
Roger Stern, Al Milgrom

Story Name:

The Ties That Bind


Synopsis

Avengers #247 synopsis by T Vernon
Rating: 4 stars
She-Hulk contacts Vision and Scarlet Witch at Avengers Mansion to inform them that Wasp and Starfox disappeared when Sylvia Sersi was abducted from her apartment by the Delphan Brothers. Vision initiates a search through the databanks, planning someday to hold all of that info and more in his own brain. Wanda, though, is concerned that Vision is acting very much out of character….

In New Orleans, Monica Rambeau is dining with her parents when she receives the Avengers Emergency Call. She turns into Captain Marvel, says her hasty goodbyes, and is at the Mansion in a split second where Vision fills her in….

In Olympia, Ikaris of the Eternals explains to Wasp and Starfox that it was a misunderstanding, the Delphans did not intend to harm any humans when they came to summon Sersi to the meeting. Wasp mentions knowing Thor whom Ikaris admires and Sersi is soon taking out her anger and frustration on the bungling Delphans, transforming them into a pack of armadillos. Ikaris persuades her to change them back and explains to their visitors the genesis of his people….

The Celestials came to Earth, studied the proto-humans, and created the Eternals and the Deviants, while largely leaving the humans alone…

…so Sersi adds the bits Ikaris left out: a civil war followed with Chronos defeating the rebel Uranos and exiling him and his followers into space. Chronos then swore off war forever, devoting himself to peace and science. He isolated the essence of immortality but it exploded, disintegrating his body but merging his mind with universe. With the Eternals now immortal, Chronos left two sons, Zuras and Alars. The people chose Zuras as their leader so Alars left the planet so as to avoid any conflict and his fate is unknown…

…but not to Starfox, who reveals that Alars arrived on the moon Titan in the aftermath of an apocalyptic war; he married the sole survivor Sui-San and created a new civilization. As Mentor, he developed the super-computer ISAAC and is the father of Eros, the Avenger called Starfox. This surprises Ikaris and Sersi so they carry the news to Thena and Domo….

At the Mansion, Vision connects Sersi to Olympia via Thor’s records and asks Captain Marvel to check it out. In a split second, Cap M has found Wasp and explanations are quickly made and Domo sets up a telescreen so that Vision can see what’s going on in Olympia. Domo examines Starfox and discovers he is indeed an Eternal and so must be allowed to take part in the ritual of the Uni-Mind, which does not sit well with Thena…

In Transia, Quicksilver is told how Bova and Modred were tortured by Magneto who left them behind. He vows vengeance against his father, intending to have Bova come with him and Lockjaw back to Attilan on the moon when she is well….

As the Eternals prepare for the Uni-Mind, Cap M asks about the Deviants and is told they are all imprisoned in a giant cube that rests in the ground beneath them….

The ritual begins, the Eternals, including Starfox, rise into the air and merge to become the Uni-Mind. Vision watches via telescreen and Wasp and Captain Marvel are suddenly overpowered. A villain introducing himself as Maelstrom welcomes Vision as witness to his triumph, gaining the Uni-Mind and the power of the Eternals for himself….


 

Review / Commentaries


Avengers #247 Review by (April 8, 2023)
Comments: Cover title: The Mighty Avengers, on issues #241-255. Part two of three parts. Maelstrom was introduced in MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #71-72; this is his second appearance. Makkari appears prominently on the cover but is barely seen in the comic. The letters column includes one by future comics blogger Mark Coale.

Review: Well, that was a disappointing cliffhanger: we were led to believe that Wasp and Starfox were in dire trouble with the Eternals but that was all the fault of the gloomy Domo. Really, they are welcomed by the heroic people. But the real oddity is that this is a story with no real conflict. The Avengers meet the Eternals and everyone is nice, at least until the final page. An even greater oddity: this is one talky issue: nearly every page has huge blocks of narration, monologues, dialogues, and thoughts crowding out action it seems. She-Hulk’s detailed report, Vizh and Wanda’s brooding, Monica’s conversation with her parents (including her father’s retirement plans), and much more in the Eternals sections. The origin of the Eternals, the secret origin of the Eternals, and Starfox’s origin of Titan. We get a slight breather and then Quicksilver discourses for two pages on Magneto’s poor treatment of Bova. Then things turn into the spectacle of the Uni-Mind which is pretty cool and speechifying by the villain is limited and postponed until next time. An entertaining issue, it’s just that it’s the wordiest issue I have seen in a long time.



> Avengers comic book info and issue index

Elektra

Excelsioring your collection:
Marvel Premier Collection: Scarlet Witch Resin Statue
Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Al Milgrom
Joe Sinnott
Christie Scheele
Al Milgrom (Cover Penciler)
Joe Sinnott (Cover Inker)
? (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Jim Novak.
Editor: Mark Gruenwald. Editor-in-chief: Jim Shooter.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel

(Monica Rambeau)
Quicksilver
Quicksilver

(Pietro Maximoff)
Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch

(Wanda Maximoff)
She-Hulk
She-Hulk

(Jennifer Walters)
Starfox
Starfox

(Eros)
Wasp
Wasp

(Janet Van Dyne)

Plus: Bova Ayrshire (Bova), Delphan Brothers, Domo, Maelstrom, Thena.