Avengers #50: Review

Mar 1968

Roy Thomas, John Buscema

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Story Name:

To tame a Titan

Review & Comments

Rating:

Avengers #50 Review by Rob Johnson (May 28, 2022)

In true Greek mythology the Erinnyes was another name for the 3 Furies. Marvel Fandom Wiki is in 2 minds whether to equate the 2 names, but 1 of its minds claims that the monster here is Alecto of the Furies.

In Greek myth Kratos and Bia (Strength and Force) are sons of Pallas the Titan. In Marvel mythology I think they are Olympian gods. We'll see them next in #99-100.

Hercules will next appear in his own story in Ka-Zar #1 which leads in to his app in Sub-Mariner #29. He'll have fallen out with Zeus again who sends the Huntsman to capture him. But in the end they're reconciled. Then he'll go on to our #98-100 which features everyone who's ever been an Avenger.

Ares will also be in #98-100.

Typhon will return in the Hercules-starring Marvel Premiere #26, also containing Kratos and Bia.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Avengers #50 Synopsis by Rob Johnson

The Avengers have been reduced to 3 members. Captain America quit (#47) and Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch were tricked into rejoining Magneto's Brotherhood Of Evil Mutants (last issue). The 3 left are Hawkeye, Wasp and Goliath who can no longer grow (but he's reinstated his cybernetic control over ants). Guest Hercules was made an official Avenger (#45) but he left on a personal mission (#47 too) and hasn't been heard from since. Even Hawkeye's girlfriend Black Widow, who had been a candidate, retired from superheroing (#46). So the trio decide to find Herc by following the homing beacon in the aero-car he used.

We know that the Prince Of Power went home to Olympus from where he had been banned by Zeus (#38) but found it deserted (#47 again). He subsequently learned that the Olympians' enemy Typhon the Titan had snuffed out the Promethean Flame which sent the gods to another dimension, and at the end of last issue Typhon sent Hercules to follow them.

Now he wanders through a dismal land, encountering and slaying a monster, 1 of the Erinnyes. But then he finds his folks. Jealous Ares isn't glad to see him, and their father Zeus suspects that Herc caused all this in revenge for his banishment and has come here to gloat. But his demi-god son explains about Typhon and the Flame. And because he's only half-god Zeus is able to send the Avenger back to Earth ...

... where Typhon is testing his might against the forces of the world he intends to conquer. He has the power of the Promethean Flame in his battle-axe, and directs it against a US warship in the Mediterranean. They fire back at the seeming man who is attacking them, but with little effect.

But then the Avenging trio arrive on the mountainside above him and Hawkeye latches on to the axe with a magnetic arrow, diverting its aim. However Typhon just pulls the cord attached to the shaft and brings the archer crashing to the ground at his feet. He's about to deal a fatal blow when Henry Pym directs a horde of ants to tunnel under the villain's feet, toppling him. Goliath carries Hawkeye's unconscious body to safety before the Titan recovers and comes after him. He can't grow now but he does manage to shrink out of sight.

Luckily Hercules finishes climbing down the mountain from Olympus and is able to take over the fight. It's the usual exchange of fists and bombast until Typhon uses the Flame to bury his foe in a pile of rocks. A smoke arrow from recovered Hawkeye delays the bad guy enough for Hercules to shrug his way out of the rockfall. Typhon throws another rock at him which just breaks on the Lion Of Olympus. After more punching Herc tries a judo trick he learned from Cap which leaves the baddie stunned.

Hercules elects to leave the team and stay in Olympus, so the Avengers go home without him. He drags the defeated Titan up the mountain to Olympus and throws the axe in the sacred brazier to relight the Promethean Flame. And this returns the Greek Gods life. Zeus has Kratos and Bia throw Typhon down a pit into Hades. And he welcomes his son back into the fold. A feast follows, but Hercules knows he'll miss his mortal teammates.

Back on Earth there are truly now only 3 Avengers. But they vow to get the 2 mutants back. (However they won't get a chance until #53.)

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