Synopsis
Avengers, The (1963 series) #31 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
Captain America and Wasp are preparing to fly to South America to find Goliath. They are joined by Hawkeye, returned from his fight with Black Widow, Power Man and Swordsman. Despite his new resolution to get along better with his teammates, especially Cap, Hawkeye is still prickly.
Meanwhile Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are in their Balkan homeland hoping it will renew their powers.
Goliath is in the hidden Forbidden Land with its deposed leader Prince Rey. Rey explains that his people are descendants of Incas who found the cave system containing the Flame of Life, powered by cobalt rocks. The Flame is their power source, watched over by the hereditary priesthood called the Keeper of the Flame.
The current Keeper increased the supply of cobalt, making the flame stronger to enhance his personal power despite the danger to the whole Earth (!). Prince Rey opposed him, and the keeper drove him and his followers out. Rey expects Goliath to help him regain his throne. But Goliath realises that Rey is just as power-mad as the Keeper.
Hank leaves Rey, intent on destroying the Flame, but the Keeper traps him with power-draining rays. At that point the other Avengers appear. Cap and Hawkeye get captured, but tiny Wasp escapes. She opens doorways letting Prince Rey and his rebels in. The ensuing battle saves the three male Avengers from being sacrificed to the Flame. Wasp directs Hawkeye to send a blast arrow into an idol full of explosives. The exploding idol snuffs out the flame, and the Incans stop fighting because they have nothing left to fight over.
The Avengers rescue Dr Anton, whom Goliath had come here to see. Goliath wants to know if Anton can cure him from being stuck at 10 feet high (since #28). But the scientist can't do anything. Ironically he believes the only person who might be able to help is Henry Pym, Goliath's alter ego.
CharactersGood (or All)Plus: Goliath (
Hank Pym).