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Solo Avengers #20: Review

Jul 1989
Howard Mackie, Ron Wilson

Story Name:

Veg Out

Review & Comments

Rating:
4 stars

Solo Avengers #20 Review by (June 22, 2022)

Review: Like part one, the Hawkeye tale is just pure dumb fun, comics at its most entertaining. And Plantman almost seems like a formidable foe!

The conclusion to the origin of Sundragon is a nice, emotion-heavy little epic. Too bad it’s in service of a hero who is (practically) never seen again. It has been a few decades but someone may eventually remember her and decide they can use her in a creative new project. But for now….

Comments: Last issue with this title; book continues as AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #21. First story: Part two of three parts. The title phrase, derived from a “vegetated state,” refers to becoming completely idle or passive. Hawkeye mentions FTD, a company that delivers flowers and floral arrangements. He also calls Plantman Mr. Green Jeans, a character on the popular children’s show CAPTAIN KANGAROO (1955-1984). Second story: Part three of three, continuing from issues #16 and 18. Pamela Douglas becomes Sundragon—and has only one further appearance: COSMIC POWERS UNLIMITED #2. Moondragon returns in AVENGERS #305 before moving into QUASAR for an extended visit; she will also be seen pretty soon in AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #27. Gargoyle next shows up in QUASAR #19-20 before settling down in HELLSTORM for a while. Demeityr is never seen again. Sly joke: Cloud and Pamela are discussing the 1989 BATMAN movie, then in theaters. And the planet Kotzwinkle just has to be named after William K., sci-fi author who is most famous for the novelization of E.T. THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL.





 

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Solo Avengers #20 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Trapped in Plantman’s Dome of Life in the California desert, Hawkeye and the Orb are eaten by a giant carnivorous plant; the villain assumes they are done for but Hawkeye uses a flare arrow to burn the monster’s mouth and the two escape. Plantman ignores Hawkeye’s challenges and sends his Plantmen to take care of them. Orb flees and the amazing archer discovers that arrows are a poor weapon to use against vegetables. Setting a fire, he runs off into the forest and eventually comes to the edge of the glass dome but he sees no door. He fires a suction cup arrow at the ceiling and climbs a rope to survey the land. From this vantage point he locates the Dome’s command center where Plantman is lecturing the captive Orb on his scheme to release alien spores to convert the world into a paradise of sentient plants under his control. Hawkeye arrives on the scene and fires an arrow into the giant computer, causing it to explode. He uses an explosive arrow to blast a hole in the dome so that he and Orb can escape and then the entire Dome launches into the sky to find another location….

Story continues in AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #21.

“The Sun and the Moon” 4/5
Writer: Peter Gillis. Pencils: James Brock. Inks: Roy Richardson. Colors: Paul Becton. Letters: Rich Parker.
Synopsis: Former New Defender Cloud has joined the ship carrying Pamela Douglas, the now toddler-sized Moondragon, Isaac “Gargoyle” Christians (still in the amulet), and Demeityr and is catching up with her old friends. She also learns that Moondragon is very unhappy being a brilliant mind trapped in a child’s body….

On the way to planet Kotzwinkle, Pam and Demeityr get romantic and the jealous Moondragon attacks them psychically; she grows into her adult form in seconds and tries to seduce Demeityr but Pam and Isaac warn her that her emotions are out of control. Heather again attacks Pam and Isaac but Pam now has powers of her own and is able to withstand Heather’s force. Moondragon finally explodes in wrath and teleports the other outside the ship. Pam is united with a bolt of energy from a nearby sun and she saves the others, returning to the ship riding a space dragon. Moondragon repents of her misguided attempts to cleanse herself of the evil within. By the aid of Cloud, Pam has now become Sundragon and Isaac has been restored to his body with the ability to assume his Gargoyle form at will. Sundragon, Isaac, and Demeityr decide to go their way, leaving Moondragon to find her own way….




Ron Wilson
Don Heck
Marc Siry
Tom Palmer (Cover Penciler)
Tom Palmer (Cover Inker)
? (Cover Colorist)
Letterer: Jack Morelli.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Gargoyle
Gargoyle

(Isaac Christians)
Hawkeye
Hawkeye

(Clint Barton)

Plus: Cloud, Plantman (Samuel Smithers), Sundragon (Pamela Douglas), The Orb.

> Solo Avengers: Book info and issue index

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