Avengers, The (1963 series) #354

Comments: “Fear the Reaper – Part III of III”—Cover. Title: “The Conqueror Worm” is a term for death, as in the same-titled poem by Edgar Allan Poe. Grim Reaper will return in WONDER MAN (1991) #22-25. The Grim Reaper died in VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH (1985) #2 and was raised as a zombie in later issues before dying again in #12; he was raised again in AVENGERS WEST COAST #65. This Legion of the Unliving will return in AVENGERS (1998) #10-11. Second appearance of the Lovecraft-inspired ancient deity Lloigoroth; his third and final appearance is in DOCTOR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #54. Hercules recalls towing Manhattan to its proper place in MARVEL TEAM-UP #28. Letters page includes one by future comics artist Delmo Walters Jr.

Review: And the grim tale wraps up with the reappearance of the Lovecraftian nasty that is Lloigoroth, whom I have already compared to DC Comics’ Ten-Eyed Man, perhaps their silliest villain—putting your eyeballs on your fingertips would only make dexterity impossible to keep from hurting those sensitive organs. Meanwhile, the eyes would be useless as the fingertips lack optic nerves, lenses, rods and cones, etc. Rearden would be unable to scratch himself, use a keyboard, etc. without severe discomfort. But I digress….
Still the cover is creepy and perhaps it would have been more effective had Lloigoroth not been such a clearly human hand. The climax to the tale is quite satisfying and the Grim Reaper gets what he deserves. The plot might not have been very complex but it didn’t need to be: revenge was the motive, setting undead nasties on the heroes was the means. A very nice departure from the norm. Next up: back to a science fiction menace.