Synopsis
Avengers, The (1963 series) #148 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
In the Squadron Supreme's satellite HQ Rocket Central Dr Spectrum and Whizzer are with Amphibion, Cap'n Hawk and Tom Thumb when Golden Archer, Hyperion and Lady Lark join them after failing to apprehend Scarlet Witch and Vision. Which also means the Avengers still have the mysterious Serpent Crown that this parallel Earth's President Rockefeller puts so much store in.
Cap'n Hawk has spotted the other Avengers on a viewscreen and the fresh Squaddies decide to go after them, leaving the losers to man the fort (or in this case the satellite).
Meanwhile Rockefeller tries to keep control of the business cartel that the Crown has helped rise to run this version of the USA. They query why the Avengers were even allowed on this world. Their leader replies that the heroes were a danger to the Serpent Crown's foothold on the Avengers' Earth, Hugh Jones of Roxxon Oil. So they were sent here for the Squadron to deal with, where the Crown is well-established.
Meanwhile the Avengers are looking for the missing Vision and Witch. They split up into 2 subteams, and Captain America and Iron Man leave Beast and Hellcat.
Patsy Walker is eager to prove herself as a new superheroine. But she only just manages to avoid Cap'n Hawk's mace as he slams into the ground where she stood. Beast gives him a gymnastic kick to the jaw, but is in turn attacked by a blast from Tom Thumb's flying platform. Amphibion pops up out of a manhole and tries to persuade Hellcat to surrender, but she uses her agility to trick him into diving through a plate glass shop window.
Amphibion's out of the game, but Tom Thumb sticks Patsy to the ground with a jet of paste. Then he aims his jets at them, that keep his support flying. But Hellcat sends a claw-line to hook onto the hovering module. Beast grabs the line and brings Tom's machine crashing to the ground. After that he soon KO's the diminutive superguy. That just leaves Cap'n Hawk who flies back with a sword. Now it's Hank McCoy's turn to trick his opponent into crashing a window.
We now have a brief interlude back on the main Marvel Earth where Moondragon asks Thor why he spends his time with the inferior other Avengers.
Then it's time for part III of the battle. Cap and Iron Man are attacked by Dr Spectrum and Whizzer. The speedster knocks both heroes off their feet. Spectrum then keeps IM busy with constructs of his Power Prism while Whizzer uses his super-speed to batter Cap.
But Steve Rogers fights back. He hurls his shield at Whizzer who vibrates to let it pass through him. But of course he gets taken out when it loops back to hit him from behind, as Cap had planned all along. Dr Spectrum has Iron Man in the grip of a giant hand. But the fate of his friend makes Spectrum's concentration waver briefly, and Tony Stark manages to get a hand free to switch on his ultraviolet beam which does for the Squaddie as it defeated the villainous Marvel-Earth Dr Spectrum in IM#64.
Then Beast and Hellcat arrive, bringing Scarlet Witch, Vision and the Serpent Crown with them. They are going to take the Crown away with them, but Vision says they must do something to free this world from the residual effects of its dominance.
In a 2nd interlude Wasp and Yellowjacket are told their injuries (#137-140) are healed and they can leave hospital. Janet Pym wants to return to the Avengers but husband Hank isn't sure.
The Squadron meet with President Rockefeller at the White House. He surprises them by admitting that he and his cartel are running the country for their own benefit, and that the heroes (and by extension the people) just let them do it. He doesn't get very far before he's exposed as Beast in 1 of his disguises.
Beast escapes to join the Avengers in another room where there is a stargate, I mean portal to Marvel Earth. The team pass though.
But the seed of doubt has been sown. Dr Spectrum and Golden Archer think Beast may be right. Hyperion is still loyal to the President, but the rest of the Squadron side with the radicals.
Enemies
Amphibion (Onax), Buzz Baxter, Cap'n Hawk, Dr Spectrum (Squadron Supreme), Golden Archer, Hugh Jones, Hyperion (Squadron Supreme), Lady Lark, Tom Thumb, Whizzer (Squadron Supreme).