Avengers, The (1963 series) #324

All of the hero teams, the Atlanteans, and the terrorists are united inside Shaman’s magic pouch when the Combine appears, terrorists Prokvitch and Strokov melded together, offering to help them return to their home. Combine reveals they can absorb the radiation from their bodies so they can leave but they would rather not, sticking to their plan to nuke the East Coast, create a war, and revitalize the world economy. Box tries shooting at them but they fire back, damaging the armor and forcing Madison Jeffries to abandon it. Quasar, Guardian, Vision, Perun, and Crimson Dynamo attack the Combine while Captain America and Red Guardian see to protecting the others. Stingray guards the comatose Sersi, Vostok molds the Box armor into a giant shield protecting the civilians. Fantasma contacts Shaman to explain the latest complication; Shaman is weakening his hold on the dimensions. The Peace Corpse terrorists come to Cap and Red G to explain they have seen the error of their ways and wish to try to convince their Combine comrades to abandon their plan. Fantasma detects that they are sincere but they would need the comatose Sersi to accomplish this plan. Fantasma links Sersi’s mind to Cap’s and he contacts the strong members of the teams to keep hammering at the Combine while they pursue their plan. Puck and Diamond Lil use their invincible bodies as a shield to protect Sersi while this goes ahead. Fantasma, drawing on Sersi’s powers, levitates the group toward the Combine….

Shaman informs Cap that the radiation has subsided enough for them to start withdrawing people from the pouch. The Atlanteans (Tyrak, Orka, U-Man) volunteer to go first, in case there is danger. The Atlanteans and some human refugees suddenly drop into the sea and the Atlanteans help them to shore, hoping to atone for their warlike actions….

Vision distracts the Combine, forcing them into an intangible state so that Fantasma can meld the other Peace Corpse terrorists to Prokvitch and Strokov. Then Guardian teleports them over and the newcomers join the circle and persuade Prokvitch and Strokov that their terroristic schemes were wrong and that mutual cooperation is the way to peace. The Combine then absorbs all the excess radiation and, after delivering a lesson on the true meaning of nationalism, heads off to explore the Multiverse. Then all of the heroes and civilians are released from the pouch and Shaman collapses from exhaustion. The Atlanteans return home, abandoning their war plans. The Avengers, People’s Protectorate, and Alpha Flight say their goodbyes and head on home….

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Story #2

Armies of the Night

Writer: Mark Gruenwald.Penciler: Rik Levins. Inker: Fred Fredericks. Colorist: Joe Rosas. Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos.

Synopsis

The mind-controlled members of the Avengers support crew (Edwin Jarvis, Peggy Carter, Fabian Stankowicz, John Jameson, Michael O’Brien) have gathered in the courtyard of the Avengers HQ at the behest of Mother Night. Two workmen passing by spot them so Mother Night immediately hypnotizes them that she appears to be another worker and they don’t see the captives at all, walking on. She leads the captives to a Red Cross van where she is greeted by her brother Minister Blood and her accomplice Machinesmith. She fills her brother in on the scheme: disguised as a woman walking her dog, she approached each of the Crew and hypnotized them so she could plant a micro-transmitter, created by Machinesmith, into each of their ears. She then triggered traumatic hallucinations in them to make them susceptible to mind control. Each of the Crew is injected with sodium pentothal and Mother Night has them relive the traumas, only this time Mother Night is there to rescue them. They are then set free to return to Avengers HQ, with a subliminal command to plant listening devices around the building and this will be Mother Night’s birthday present to the Red Skull….