Synopsis
The Avengers stand stunned in the wake of the sudden disintegration of the Collector. They search the craft and discover a time machine. Consulting the playback tapes, they solve one mystery: while Thor was absent on his Odin Quest, the Collector periodically brought him back to aid the Avengers, wiping his mind after each adventure, thus explaining the gaps in the Thunder God’s memory. The Two-Gun Kid asks to be returned to his own time and the Avengers comply. Vision discovers the Collector’s teleporter and they all go home—with some difficulty, as Wonder Man materializes in front of a moving bus, Scarlet Witch in mid-air, etc. Back in Forest Hills, Michael and Carina make love, opening up their minds and bodies to one another. Michael sees Carina being sent by her father the Collector to spy on him but falling in love with him and betraying her father. Carina in turn learns about Michael: he is Korvac the Machine Man, sentient computer from the future, who, fleeing the Guardians of the Galaxy, came upon Galactus’ deserted space station. Attempting to absorb the data in Galactus’ computer he gained the Power Cosmic and was transformed into a godlike being, determined to take control of the universe and remake it into something perfect. Returning to the Mansion, the Avengers try to plot their next move to find the identity of their unknown enemy but nearly dissolve into bickering. With Gyrich having removed their databanks, Iron Man turns to the Guardians for help in identifying their unknown enemy. Starhawk is sent to their aid, unaware that his memory of Michael/Korvac has been erased. Michael watches all this, thinking it a pity if he would have to destroy the Avengers.
Characters: