Avengers #29: Review

Jun 1966

Stan Lee, Don Heck

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Story Name:

This Power Unleashed

Review & Comments

Rating:

Avengers #29 Review by Rob Johnson (May 29, 2011)

Goliath gets his picture in the cast list in the corner box on the cover of this issue. Poor Wasp doesn't make it until #32. It is a bit strange that it is the Chinese who brainwash Black Widow, claiming she previously betrayed them, when in all her earlier appearances she was a spy for the Russians. Her betrayal was also a bit strange in the first place. In Tales of Suspense #57 and #60 the Widow was cynically using besotted Hawkeye against Tony Stark. But she did profess her love for him at the end, as she was being taken back to Russia to answer for her failures. In Suspense #64 she was suddenly rebelling against her masters, but she was forced to try again. (The threat to her parents doesn't gell with later stories of her early life.) This time she did openly love Hawkeye. In Avengers #16 Hawkeye said she had broken with her Soviet masters, but was taken away again.

Avengers #29 Review by Peter Silvestro (May 29, 2011)

First appearance of the Black Widow in this title, where she would go on to become a regular.

Avengers #29 Review by Rob Johnson (June 9, 2011)

Swordsman's comments indicate that by now he has realised that Hawkeye is the youth he taught archery to in a circus years ago.

Black Widow will help the Avengers on and off from now on, but it won't be until #111 that she is made an official member, only to quit the next issue. She won't become a regular member until #329.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Avengers #29 Synopsis by Rob Johnson

Last issue the Avengers helped Henry Pym rescue Janet van Dyne from the Collector. In the process Hank resumed his super-hero role as Giant-Man, albeit with a new costume and a new name Goliath. But his size-changing ability had grown limited and medically dangerous over time. And now he is unconscious at 10 feet high.

Hank and Jan have revealed their identities as Giant-Man and Wasp to the current Avengers. The original Avengers kept their identities secret from each other. Jan tries to contact Thor's 'friend' Dr Don Blake. But there is no answer, as Thor is in Olympus in Thor #129. Captain America brings in Major Carlson, who he knew as an army medic in WWII. Carlson diagnoses that Goliath mustn't change size again or he might die. Goliath revives, but is stuck at 10 feet. He leaves Avengers Mansion in frustration.

Black Widow has been brainwashed by the Chinese to spy for them. They have sent her to America to destroy the Avengers. She has recruited Swordsman from #19-20 and Power Man from #21-22 to help her. Hawkeye learns that SHIELD have seen her in America, and heads for his lover's old base of operations. Cap sends Wasp to follow him.

Black Widow expects her old flame Hawkeye to join her gang. But Hawkeye is an Avenger now, and he also realises she has been brainwashed. In the ensuing fight Power Man and Swordsman knock him out. Wasp has seen all that transpired and flies back to get the other Avengers. She is out of costume and without her stingers. When she tries to avoid an attacking bird without harming it, she falls and hits her head.

Swordsman and Power Man capture Cap in Avengers HQ and take him to the Widow's lair. Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are off duty in their apartment away(?) from the mansion. But Cap calls them for help. Unfortunately they too get captured at Black Widow's house.

Meanwhile Jan has recovered and returned to Avengers Mansion. Finding it empty she sends a message to Hank. (Has he got an Avengers communicator, or a device private to Goliath and Wasp?) Goliath takes on Swordsman and Power Man while Wasp, in costume now, stings Black Widow and frees the captive Avengers. As the villains are overmatched by the assembled Avengers, the Widow opens a passage for them to escape. And Hawkeye finds he can't shoot at his erstwhile girlfriend.

It is noticeable that Wanda does nothing in the battle, and Pietro gets tired after running. This will figure large in the next issue.

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