Avengers #309: Review

Nov 1989

John Byrne, Paul Ryan

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Story Name:

To Find Olympia

Synopsis

Avengers #309 Synopsis by T Vernon

Rushing Gilgamesh to Olympia to cure his malady, the Avengers are shocked to find only a smoking crater in the ground where the city of the Eternals should have been. Sersi tries to locate her fellow Eternals with her telepathic powers but is overwhelmed by a sense of emptiness. After a brief rest she claims that the Eternals are near but no longer on Earth. Thor knows what she means and spins his hammer Mjolnir, opening up a portal to the Negative Zone. Sersi confirms that’s where the Eternals are. After a brief discussion, they choose to enter the dangerous Zone….

Interlude 1: Professor Harker goes to Polydyne where staff scientists are excited by his new discovery which could provide cheap energy for centuries; Harker promises even bigger consequences….

Interlude 2: Hawkeye and Mockingbird address the Great Lakes Avengers (Dinah Soar, Big Bertha, Mister Immortal, Doorman, Flatman), explaining the new training procedures they have set up. As they run the obstacle course, Hawkeye fires a Slippy Grease Arrow, which causes Bertha to slip, knocking Mr. Immortal into Doorman’s body. Doorman is puzzled as nothing like this has ever happened before. Suddenly Dinah dives into Doorman and after a few nervous moments, emerges carrying Immortal who is shivering from extreme cold. Hawkeye orders Doorman to get ready for a battery of tests….

The Avengers fly a Quinjet through the crazy cosmos of the Negative Zone, following Sersi’s senses until they come upon Olympia, ruined and crumbling, perched on a tiny asteroid. Landing, they see no one, though Sersi can detect her fellow Eternals all around. They split up to search the city. Captain America and Namor reminisce about their Invaders days until they are attacked with a massive power blast….

Sersi and She-Hulk head up to the High Tower of Olympia, their most sacred spot. Sersi tries to enter but the door fails to open for her. Shulkie knocks the doors in and they discover that the hall is completely shattered. But Sersi’s awareness of the Eternals is strongest there. Then they are blasted; She-Hulk is hurled out of a window but the gravity is such that she hits the ground hard enough to knock her cold. Thor hears the noise and comes to investigate; he finds Sersi is glowing and insubstantial, like a mist. Then he’s attacked by the villain: Blastaar….

Review / Commentaries

Rating:

Avengers #309 Review by T Vernon (September 6, 2024)

Comments: Part two of three parts. The Great Lakes Avengers plus Hawkeye previously appeared in WEST COAST AVENGERS #48-49; next appearance: AVENGERS ANNUAL #19. Blastaar was first seen in FANTASTIC FOUR #62-63; his most recent appearance before this was in FANTASTIC FOUR #318.

Review: Very effective issue begins with a disaster then follows that up with the discovery of another disaster. The deserted Olympia scenes are quite effective and the final reveal of the villain comes off well. One very interesting bit: Cap and Subby reminisce about their days as a team during World War 2, missing their comrade the Human Torch, and hoping for a revival of the Invaders; they would have to wait a few years into the next century but it would come. Now if Sersi would dial back the drama queen act a little.

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