Comic Browser:

The Avengers #284

Oct 1987

Roger Stern, Tom Palmer

Story Name:

Battleground: Olympus

Synopsis

The Avengers #284 synopsis by T Vernon

Rating:

The kidnapped Wasp slowly regains her memories: she was on a Caribbean beach when an arrow was shot at her; she tried dodging it but it followed her so she blasted it with her sting and the arrow exploded into dust that knocked her out. And now she is immobilized in a large capsule. She shrinks and easily escapes the container and meets a woman who introduces herself as Hera. Wasp realizes she is in Olympus; Hera explains that the Avengers have been captured by Zeus but they have escaped from Hades and Zeus is angry….

In the Hall of Apollo, several Avengers and Olympians lie injured and unconscious after Zeus’ blast of anger (last issue). Only four are left standing: Thor, She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, and Sub-Mariner, to face the King of the Gods. CM attacks him with her energy powers but Zeus, who controls lightning, dispels her easily. [Doctor Druid vanishes mysteriously.] Thor hits Zeus with Mjolnir and is clobbered into the distance in return. Artemis fires her arrows at CM who responds with an electrical blast. Captain America, whose legs are broken, tosses his shield to Namor who uses it to break Ares’ battleaxe [while Cap vanishes from sight]. Black Knight recovers and is nearly clobbered by She-Hulk throwing Dionysius around. [The unconscious Hercules is the next to disappear.]

It is now revealed that the super-fast Hermes is carrying off the wounded Avengers to Prometheus’ cavern where he sets Cap’s broken legs and binds up Druid’s concussion. Hermes feels disloyal for doing this but Hera reminds him that he is obeying her commands so he shuts up. Wasp and Cap are reunited and he encourages her to hope….

Back in the ruins, Captain Marvel has defeated Artemis and She-Hulk has subdued Dionysius. Namor is using Cap’s shield to fend off Ares’ axe blows. CM blasts the ground near Ares’ feet and he topples into a pool. Namor discards the shield and dives into his element. Dionysius slips through She-Hulk’s hold and tries to knock her down with a massive stone column; Jen catches it, takes it away from him, and pounds him into the ground with it. The unconscious gods, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Apollo, and Athena revive. CM is concerned about the missing Cap, Dr. Druid, and Hercules so she zips off in search of them as Namor surfaces with the beaten Ares….

In his cavern, Prometheus uses Hermes’ caduceus to try to heal Herc’s damaged brain; he channels part of his own life force into Herc and the hero’s hand moves….

The fight between Thor and Zeus has reached the forest of Olympus where the Greek deity is overwhelmed by warrior madness, leaving him unable to see beyond his own anger and grief over Hercules. Thor tries to reason with him, that Hercules’ injuries were the result of his own poor judgment but Zeus refuses to listen. Captain Marvel shows up and zaps Zeus to get him to listen and then demands he surrender. He hurls lightning bolts at her but they have no effect: she then responds with a massive electrical charge that lights up all of Olympus—but Zeus is still standing. Namor arrives and attacks Zeus who just flips him onto his head. She-Hulk seizes him from behind and he repels her with an electric blast. Black Knight watches and asks, “How could things possible get worse than this…?”

In Prometheus’ cave, Hercules has risen from the table but he is insane and intends to kill Wasp, Cap, and Dr. Druid….

Review / Commentaries

The Avengers #284 Review by T Vernon (March 8, 2024)

Comments: Part four of five parts. Thor was cursed with brittle bones by Hela in THOR #372 but also made immune to death. Wasp gives her height as 5’ 4”. Namor battled Ares in SUB-MARINER #57.

Review: More battles on an epic scale mark this issue and things still look bleak for our heroes. That’s what happens when someone asks, as Black Knight does herein, “How can things get any worse?” One should not ask that question in a comic book and especially never in a comedy. One more issue left to this story arc and it ends on an epic note, as do all the tales of Greek gods.

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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Roger Stern

Tom Palmer

Christie Scheele

John Buscema (Cover Penciler)
Tom Palmer (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)

Additional Credits

Layouts: John Buscema. Letterer: Bill Oakley.
Editor: Mark Gruenwald. Editor-in-chief: Jim Shooter.

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Ares

Athena

Avengers

Black Knight
(Dane Whitman)

Captain America
(Steven Rogers)

Captain Marvel
(Monica Rambeau)

Doctor Druid
(Anthony Ludgate Druid)

Hercules
(Heracles)

She-Hulk
(Jennifer Walters)

Sub-Mariner
(Namor McKenzie)

Thor
(Odinson)

Wasp
(Janet Van Dyne)

Zeus

Plus: Apollo, Artemis, Dionysius (God of Wine), Hephaestus, Hera, Hermes, Prometheus, Venus.

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