Synopsis
Avengers, The (1963 series) #332 synopsis by
T Vernon
Rating:
The Avengers are throwing a big party for the grand opening of their new headquarters and many influential people are in attendance including President and Mrs. Bush, Prince Charles and Princess Diana and, of course, a multitude of superheroes. When the Fantastic Four arrives, they are greeted by Jarvis, who has them electronically scanned so their identities can be confirmed in multiple ways by the Support Team (John Jameson, Peggy Carter, Michael O’Brien, Fabian Stankowicz) downstairs to guard against infiltration by a disguised villain. Then an alarm goes off in the sub-sub-basement and a glimpse of green cape is spotted but surveillance of all the rooms reveals no one [but the readers saw Doctor Doom]. Fabian calls Jarvis upstairs, apprising him of the situation—and Jarvis sees Doctor Doom go by behind his back and vanish. Jarvis discreetly informs Captain America, using their code word, “opportunity.” As Cap heads downstairs, Rage shows Jarvis that his Granny Staples has baked cupcakes for the party; Jarvis indicates he prefers them to the caterer’s canapes….
Cap checks in with the staff and they show him that motion detectors had blips in the Weapons Testing Room and in the East River Tunnel so Cap decides they need to be checked out personally. He calls Vision and Sandman from the party and warns them about the Doctor Doom sighting; Cap heads for the Weapons Room while the other two take the tunnel….
She-Hulk and Black Widow are standing near the entrance when Iron Man arrives; he had previously said he would not attend but his business was cleared up early so here he is. While being checked-in the security system shuts down and he rushes to fix it, running a diagnostic from his armor. He brings it back online, then enters….
Vision and Sandman encounter Doctor Doom in the tunnel and he fires an explosive at them. It passes harmlessly through the two heroes then explodes behind them, turning Sandman to dust and propelling Vision though several walls, reaching Cap in the Weapons Testing Room. He reports briefly, reminding Cap of Doom’s propensity for Doombots. Sandy and Vision improvise attacks but Sandy encases Doom who blasts him to dust once more. So Vision increases his density for the next move….
The Support Staff investigates how Doom could have entered the building; the only possible entry is a single exhaust vent near the river but it’s only nine inches wide, impossible for Doom to enter by, unless he can now shrink….
Cap confronts another Doom in the Weapons Room….
At the entrance, it is discovered that Iron Man was never scanned for security, having bypassed the guard when he fixed the system. She-Hulk approaches him at the party and his armor retracts to reveal Doctor Doom, who has taken over the security and communications systems, trapping everyone inside and at his mercy….
CharactersGood (or All)Plus: Fabian Stankowicz, John Jameson, Michael O'Brien, Rage (
Elvin Daryl Haliday).