Hercules and Series are walking along Broadway, having just seen THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA when the street cracks open and a horde of Moloids, Tyrannoids, and Lava Men emerge. The two heroes do battle with the monsters who fight back fiercely. When it seems as if Herc and Sersi are overwhelmed, the rest of the Avengers (Captain America, She-Hulk, Rage, Black Widow, Sandman, Vision, Quasar) arrive and join the battle. Soon, Quasar thinks to use his Nega-Bands to create a bright light that drives the invaders back into the ground. The Avengers follow and discover a war machine parked below. They also wonder at having seen members of three mutually hostile races banded together and why they looked scared. The Avengers are met by Mole Man, Tyrannus, and Grotesk, rulers of the Moloids, Tyrannoids, and Lava Men, respectively. They explain that their minions were not invading the surface world but fleeing their enemies. The Deviants have created a race of Mutates who are led by a Deviant called Brutus and they a) want their technology stolen by the other subterranean races returned to them and b) to conquer all of the underground areas as a likely precursor to c) conquering the surface world. The three rulers have allied themselves against their common enemy and ask the Avengers to join them. Cap thinks that decision would be premature as the team is divided in their opinions. Cap exacts a promise that the three rulers never again attack the surface world before announcing that he and Black Widow (the two without superpowers) are returning to the surface to monitor the situation and contact the Fantastic Four while the others join the rulers. A mysterious elder with a purple cloak is watching from a hidden point. Mole Man offers to make She-Hulk his queen, Tyrannus reveals that he is aging horribly now that he is denied the Fountain of Youth, Grotesk assures Vision he has abandoned plans to conquer the surface world. Then the floor collapses beneath the Avengers, dropping them into the presence of Brutus and the Mutates. Mole Man, Tyrannus, and Grotesk, remaining above decide that if the Avengers are worthy allies they will defeat their adversaries and so they depart. Brutus and his Deviant sidekicks stand back to watch the Avengers slaughter the Mutates. Then Vision and She-Hulk go down so Brutus threatens to kill them on the spot unless the Avengers surrender. They do and Brutus blasts them with a weapon that encloses them in an energy sphere, intending to brainwash them and make a weapon of them….
On a city street, the purple cloaked woman hails a taxi, asking to go to Los Angeles, offering solid gold jewelry to pay her fare; the cabbie offers to take her to the airport. She is revealed to be an aged Kala, Queen of the Underworld, and she is going to LA to find Tony Stark and Iron Man…..
Story continues in INCREDIBLE HULK ANNUAL #17.
Excelsioring your collection
Story #2The History of Subterranea
Writer:
Peter Sanderson.Penciler:
Jeff Moore. Inker:
Bud LaRosa. Colorist:
Kevin Tinsley. Letterer:
Rick Parker.
Synopsis
The Watcher presents the history of the underground realms, starting with the Celestials’ creation of the Deviants. The Deviants then built an empire, enslaving the humans, leading to war. The Celestials returned, destroyed the Deviant cities, and left. The Deviants then created their own slave race, the Gortokians who revolted and gained independence; some Gortokians were turned into the Lava Men by the demon Cha’Sa’Dra. The Deviants created more slaves which degenerated over time.
Romulus Agustilus, the last Emperor of Rome, rebelled against King Arthur, was defeated by the Black Knight and banished to the underworld where he subdued some orange subterraneans and took the name Tyrannus. He discovered the Fountain of Youth and became forever young.
Misfit Harvey Elder abandoned the surface world, subdued the yellow subterraneans, and called himself the Mole Man, going on to fight the Fantastic Four.
Tyrannus’ scheme of conquest was halted by the Hulk, Queen Kala of the Netherworld kidnapped Tony Stark and was defeated by Iron Man. The Lava Men battled the Avengers. The surface people tested a nuclear weapon underground and devastated the Gortokians; their prince became the warrior Grotesk and fought the X-Men. Mole Man, Tyrannus, and Kala fought among themselves. Grotesk battled Ms. Marvel, and Tyrannus faced Dr. Strange. The Deviants tried to conquer the surface world again. And here we are….
Story continues in INCREDIBLE HULK ANNUAL #17.
CharactersGood (or All)Plus: Black Knight (
Sir Percy of Scandia).
EnemiesPlus: Deviants, Grotesk (
Gor-Tok), Kala.
Story #3Burning Vision
Writer:
Eric Fein. Penciler/Inker:
Mike Bair. Colorist:
Greg Wright. Letterer:
Yug.
Synopsis
The Vision arrives at the scene of firefighters trying to control a fire in an abandoned factory. When he learns there is a kid named Tommy Rivera trapped on an upper floor, he enters and locates the boy. Tommy is terrified at the appearance of the Vision, believing he is the Fire Demon which his grandmother warned would be after him if he didn’t stop playing with matches. Vision allows the ceiling to collapse on him, forcing Tommy to choose to rescue him. They make it outside unharmed, Tommy is reunited with his worried grandmother, and the Vision moves on, his job done.
Story #4A Wing and a Prayer
Writer:
Michael Higgins.Penciler:
Ed Murr. Inker:
Mike Bair. Colorist:
Steve Buccellato. Letterer:
Michael Higgins.
Synopsis
A boy named Jeffrey Crane prays to God not to let his father die of cancer. He spies Thor flying past his home and dashes to Avengers Mansion to see Thor but Jarvis turns the boy away. Jeffrey breaks into the Mansion and is seized by the automatic security system. Thor frees him and they go outside where Jeff makes his request. Thor explains he can’t do that but he calls on Odin; the All-Father also tells him that this is a human matter that can be resolved only by humans. At this moment, a vengeful Absorbing Man jumps out of hiding and attacks Thor. As they fight, Jeffrey’s father arrives, summoned by a note from his son. Seeing his boy in danger, Mr. Crane attacks Creel who laughingly absorbs the man’s powers—and his cancer. Creel, realizing what has just happened, panics and turns into air to escape….
Some time later, Dad gives Jeffrey the news that his cancer is in remission and they feel like someone is watching over them….