Synopsis
Avengers, The (1963 series) #355 synopsis by
T Vernon
Rating:
The Gatherers (Swordsman, Magdalene, Sloth, Cassandra) are dispatched to another dying world to search for a survivor. They arrive at Avengers Mansion in time to see this world’s Captain America die; they search the Mansion to find other dead Avengers and a living hero calling himself the Coal Tiger. They quickly subdue him and return to their ship before that world dies. They are met by their leader, Proctor, who orders the drained rescue set apart to rest. Proctor broods over the Eternal Sersi…
…who in our world is explaining to Sprite who has been sent by Thena to bring Sersi home that she is now an Avenger with responsibilities so she declines the invitation and heads for Avengers Mansion...
…where the team is gathered to listen to what Dane “Black Knight” Whitman has found. The same energy signatures found at Melissa Darrow’s apartment have also been found in the Mansion and the skycar [which we know are from Magdalene and Proctor], proving the Mansion has been invaded by enemies. Vision has created a device which will detect and neutralize those visitors should they return. The meeting adjourns and Crystal wishes to speak to Dane privately. She is concerned that he seems to be keeping her at a distance; she expresses her gratitude for his saving Luna; he is still afraid to tell her he is attracted to her. They are interrupted by Sersi, in a new black and red outfit, and Crystal excuses herself while the flirtatious Sersi kisses Dane—but his eyes lock with Crystal’s for a moment….
On the Gatherers’ ship, Proctor tries to heal the badly damaged Coal Tiger; Cassandra reminds him that they can stabilize him by eradicating his template in this world. She knows he is an Avenger in this world as well and they can enter the Mansion and search their records to find where he resides. Magdalene is reluctant to break into Avengers Mansion a third time lest they be caught but Proctor rebukes her for her independence and orders them all to go that night….
At the Mansion, Black Widow and Vision discover Hercules hesitant to phone Taylor Madison for a date, uncharacteristically insecure. So Natasha picks up the phone and calls Taylor to invite her to a dinner party at the Mansion….
Late that night, the Gatherers teleport into the Mansion and Swordsman uses the computer to discover what their Coal Tiger, T’Challa, is called in this world—and then they are all shocked by the defense system Dane had installed. The Avengers arrive in force; Thor (Eric Masterson) leaps forward to battle Sloth one-on-one but his quick defeat leads him to call Hercules to his aid. Sersi and Crystal unleash their powers on Magdalene who holds them off with her power lance but Black Knight sneaks up behind her…but her lance strikes out again. Sersi tries to transmute the lance but it is resistant to her powers. BK duels with Swordsman, which reopens Dane’s stomach wound. Cassandra, an old lady, pleads for mercy from Black Widow—but Vision warns Nat that the old lady is using telepathy on her. So Cassandra unleashes a mind-blast and knocks all the Avengers out cold. The Gatherers then open a portal to Wakanda to find Coal Tiger’s template in this world, the Black Panther—and for Tiger to live, Panther must die….
CharactersGood (or All)Plus: Sprite, Taylor Madison.
Enemies
Cassandra (of Gatherers), Coal Tiger (of Gatherers), Gatherers, Magdalene, Proctor, Sloth (of Gatherers), Swordsman (Philip Javert).