Avengers, The (1963 series) #361

An Intruder Alert brings the Avengers running to see a glowing sphere enlarge and burst. It reveals Ikaris of the Eternals with associates Sprite and Arex. Ikaris demands they turn over Sersi to them. Captain America tells him she has had a breakdown and can’t be moved. Ikaris responds with a slight eye beam at Cap. Sprite tries to calm the rising tension but things get out of hand with the Avengers demanding some sort of respect while the Eternals refuse any sort of explanation. Crystal unleashes her own power and finally Sprite stands between the two groups. Sersi enters with Black Knight, introducing him as her intended Gann Josin which dismays Ikaris and impresses Sprite. When Dane asks what that means, Sprite explains to the Avengers that it is a mental bonding making two people lifelong soulmates. Now Dane seems dismayed….

The phony Vision is taking it easy in the communications room, telling Proctor that he decided to delay killing Swordsman since there was a ruckus with Sersi. Then Arex fires a small blast at him to get him to leave, which angers him, an emotion he suppresses when the other Avengers arrive. Sersi demands that anything they want to say to her can be said in the presence of her teammates. So Ikaris explains that they fear she is a victim of the Mahd W’yry, an affliction of the Eternals when the strain of immortality takes a toll on the mind and they go mad. And they think Sersi’s Uni-Mind with their distant cousins the Brethren has exacerbated her mental instability. Sersi admits there is something wrong with her but she considers the Mahd W’yry nothing more than a myth and tells Ikaris to explain what the remedy for it is. Ikaris replies that the sufferer must be killed to prevents its spread. Arex tries to force her to come with them so Hercules punches the guy’s lights out. More violence threatens until Sprite again intervenes and tells Sersi that he fears the Mahd W’yry is real but they need someone to monitor her malady’s progress so he suggests Dane be made her Gann Josin. Sersi is willing but before any of the Avengers can react, Ikaris unleashes an energy bolt and the three Eternals depart. Sersi thanks Dane for his aid but, with new red eyes, he is angry that he was not consulted about this and he is now Sersi’s soulmate; he walks out in a rage….

At the Gatherers’ Citadel, the captive Vision has had time to adjust to his new body and charge his solar jewel; he then uses his eye beams to slice through his glass prison. But he is caught by Proctor and recaptured, the villain explaining that he is Sersi’s one true Gann Josin and the only one who knows what she is about to become….

At the Mansion, Crystal approaches Dane on the roof; he now understands what Sersi is going through and empathizes. Dane confesses that he doesn’t love Sersi—it’s Crystal he was drawn to. Crystal admits her marriage to Quicksilver is over and she is attracted to Dane. They kiss, an act which is witnessed by the phony Vision…and Sersi….