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The Avengers #48

Jan 1968

Roy Thomas, George Tuska

Story Name:

The Black Knight lives again

Synopsis

The Avengers #48 synopsis by Rob Johnson

Rating:

Last issue Magneto (and Toad) escaped the Stranger's planet and lured Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch into a trap. Now he wants them to rejoin his Brotherhood Of Evil Mutants. But of course since he was last around (X-Men #11) they've switched sides and joined the Avengers. But Pietro pretends to consider the offer so that Magneto will leave them alone for brother to persuade sister Wanda. However it was a ruse because 1 of his wrist manacles is loose and he can slip his hand out to contact their team. But Toad overhears and bounds off to inform his master.

However the only person in Avengers Mansion is Edwin Jarvis leaving for the evening. He ignores the signal at 1st because he believes the twins are still there on monitor duty. But when it keeps beeping he answers it and gets a plea for help from Quicksilver before the call is cut off. Hawkeye is out brooding over a spat he had with Black Widow and the fact that Captain America quit the team (both also last issue). Henry Pym and Janet Van Dyne are on vacation in Las Vegas (last issue again). They detect someone cheating at a casino roulette table, and Hank uses his revived Ant-Man power (#46) to foil his plan. Then they get an emergency call from Jarvis and take Jan's private jet home. Meanwhile (last issue yet again) Hercules went to confront father Zeus about his exile but found Olympus deserted. Now he also discovers that the Promethean Flame, which keeps the Greek gods immortal, has been quenched - and he vows revenge.

Goliath, Hawkeye and Wasp meet at the Mansion and listen to a tape of Pietro's call which informs them of the capture by Magneto, but not where they are. We know (again from last issue) that they are in Garrett Castle that used to belong to the villainous Black Knight. Now we get a recap of things we learned last issue. Nathan Garrett died after falling from his winged black horse in Tales Of Suspense (Iron Man) #73. He left everything to his scientist nephew Dane Whitman whose use of an experimental magnetic space communicator inadvertently brought Magneto back to Earth. Now we learn that he had used his uncle's science to create a winged white horse which he intends to use as the new heroic Black Knight.

Angry Magneto knocks Quicksilver unconscious but Scarlet Witch still defies him. He takes his anger out on the grovelling Toad. They all fly off in a magnetic craft the villain has constructed. Meanwhile the new BK flies towards Avengers Mansion but the heroes think he's the old villain. Hawkeye rashly attacks which triggers off a conflict with all 3 which results in a large chunk of masonry falling towards innocent civilians. Goliath grows dangerously to 25 feet to grab it and hurl it away. But action and reaction sends *him* falling until he's saved by the Knight and his horse.

The Avengers now realise this BK is a good guy. He tells them about Magneto, Quicksilver and SW, and leads them to his castle where they find everyone fled. Pym quizzes the new hero about his origin, but Whitman takes umbrage and flies off (even though it's *his* place) swearing to have nothing more to do with them.

Review / Commentaries

The Avengers #48 Review by Rob Johnson (May 14, 2022)

George Tuska pinch-hits for John Buscema here as penciller. And colourists remain uncredited.

Dane Whitman muses about the original Arthurian Black Knight, whose 1950's Atlas adventures were currently being reprinted in Fantasy Masterpieces, already renamed as Marvel Super-Heroes to include a new super-hero tale. And #17 will house a new Black Knight story which will link all the Black Knights together.

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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Roy Thomas

George Tuska

Unknown

George Tuska (Cover Penciler)
George Tuska (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)

Additional Credits

Letterer: Art Simek.
Editor: Stan Lee.

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Avengers

Black Knight
(Dane Whitman)

Hawkeye
(Clinton Barton)

Hercules
(Heracles)

Jarvis
(Edwin Jarvis)

Magneto

Quicksilver
(Pietro Maximoff)

Scarlet Witch
(Wanda Maximoff)

Wasp
(Janet Van Dyne)

Plus: Goliath (Hank Pym), Toad (Mortimer Toynbee).

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