Byrne, Baby, Byrne!
John Byrne's Run on Avengers:
An Overview by Sean McQuaid
Avengers (v1) # 305
"Avengers Assemble!"
By John Byrne, Paul Ryan and Tom Palmer.
Edited by Howard Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Thor, Doctor Pym, Wasp, Captain America,
Hawkeye,
Scarlet Witch, Black Panther, Vision (II), Black Widow (II),
Beast,
Moondragon, Hellcat, Wonder Man, Falcon (II), Tigra, She-Hulk,
Monica Rambeau (formerly Captain Marvel II), Starfox,
Mockingbird,
Sub-Mariner, Ben Grimm (formerly Thing), Invisible Woman, Mister
Fantastic,
Gilgamesh, Quasar (III) and Firebird.
Other Characters:
Jinku, the Lava Men, Edwin Jarvis.
Story:
Twenty-six past and present members of the Avengers assemble on
Avengers
Island, where Captain America proposes a reorganization of the
Avengers:
from now on, there will be no set division of membership between
the
team's eastern and western headquarters, and there will be no set
roster.
Instead, all willing past and present members of the Avengers
will simply
agree to serve on missions when they are needed. All those
present agree
to these terms, including Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman and
Ben Grimm,
who have resumed their memberships in the Fantastic Four; the
Beast,
who is an active member of X-Factor; Hellcat and Tigra, who
squabble over
Tigra's contention that Hellcat is a cheap imitation of Tigra;
Monica
Rambeau, who resolves to serve in any way she can despite the
fact that her
powers are still gone; and Hawkeye & Mockingbird, who agree
to serve after
Mockingbird convinces a resentful Hawkeye to play along despite
his recent
bitterness toward the Avengers. Most of the Avengers then depart,
but
Captain America, Thor, Black Panther, She-Hulk, Gilgamesh and
Quasar remain
behind and engage in training exercises until Avengers Island is
attacked
by a horde of mindless, shape-shifting Lava Men created by Jinku,
the shaman
of the original Lava Men, a subterranean race who have battled
the Avengers
in the past. Jinku's new zombie-like Lava Men raise Avengers
Island high into
the air on a pillar of lava before overpowering the Avengers,
encasing them
in lava and hurling them into the sea.
Note:
-This is John Byrne's first issue as writer of the Avengers
series. By this
time, he was already writing and drawing the book's companion
series,
West Coast Avengers.
-Firebird and Quasar, formerly informal affiliates of the
Avengers, appear
as official members for the first time in this story. Quasar's
official
induction is later recounted after the fact in Avengers Annual
19.
-The sudden feuding between Hellcat and Tigra (formerly good
friends) is
never explained, though it may be a result of the mental
instability
Tigra was then demonstrating in concurrent issues of West Coast
Avengers.
Memorable Moments:
"AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!"
-Captain America
"As chairman of the east coast branch of the tem, what I
want to propose
to you is this: a permanent consolidation of all members. The
Avengers
are the Avengers. Not two teams. Not three. One team. Everyone
who has
ever been an Avenger will always be an Avenger. A member of a
pool of
super-powered individuals whose abilities add up to an
unstoppable force
for good."
-Captain America
"If Mrs. McCoy's little boy Hank can ever be of service, you
have but to
whistle!"
-Beast
Captain America: "You're both Avengers, and any
disagreements between you
will be settled as
Avengers, with due order and dignity! Not with
some
senseless...er...cat fight! Now back away, both of you!"
Hellcat: "All right...since YOU ask me to, Cap."
Tigra: "But this isn't over yet. There's something important
to be settled
here."
Monica Rambeau: "I don't know how much use I can really
be."
Captain America: Your spirit alone makes you an invaluable asset,
Captain
Marvel."
"As far as I'm concerned, this whole shebang can just go
whistle until
you've all learned to show me some of the respect I've
earned!"
-Hawkeye
"This is why you answered Captain America's call? So you
could get on your
high horse and play prima donna? Well you listen to me, Clint
Barton...I'm
an Avenger, you're an Avenger...and we're going to stay Avengers!
Got that,
mister?"
-Mockingbird
"Avengers we be, each and every one!"
-Thor
"Acknowledging the odds are impossible isn't the same as
surrendering."
-Captain America
"Oftimes a losing battle only makes a warrior fight the
harder! And sometimes
that can turn the tide!"
-Thor
*********
Avengers (v1) # 306
"There is a Fire Down Below"
By Byrne, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Captain America, Thor, Doctor Pym, Wasp,
Scarlet
Witch, Black Panther, Vision (II), Wonder Man, Tigra, She-Hulk,
Sub-Mariner,
Gilgamesh and Quasar (III).
Other Characters:
Edwin Jarvis, Jinku, the Lava Men and Professor Harker.
Story:
As news spreads of the Lava Men attacking Avengers Island, a
western
contingent of Avengers flies to the scene while Namor the
Sub-Mariner
arrives at the island in time to attack the Lava Men, only to be
captured
along with the other Avengers present. The captive Avengers are
then taken
to the subterranean realm of the Lava Men, where Jinku, shaman of
the Lava
Men, explains that he has vowed to destroy the Avengers since he
holds
them responsible for the recent destruction of his race. The Lava
Men were
members of an advanced subterranean race known as the Gortokians
eons ago,
until their demonic deity, Cha'Sa'Dra, appeared to them and
promised them
immortality in exchange for their worship and service. Those
Gortokians who
agreed were mystically transformed into undying beings of molten
stone known
as the Lava Men, who became increasingly primitive as they served
Cha'Sa'Dra
over the centuries. Unfortunately for the Lava Men, Cha'Sa'Dra
joined the
recent Inferno, the mass demonic invasion of New York City, and
was among
the demons destroyed by the Avengers. Most of the Lava Men
reverted to their
human forms instantly, and decayed into dust. Jinku and his
acolytes
survived,
presumbly due to their proficiency in Cha'Sa'Dra's magic, but the
acolytes
soon metamorphosed into immobile statues. Only Jinku remained,
and he swore
vengeance on the Avengers. His story told, Jinku introduces his
mightiest
creation, a gigantic lava monster intent on killing the Avengers.
Memorable Moments:
"This is the life...The only true life for Namor, Avenging
Son of fabled
Atlantis! To be free upon the sparkling waves, far from the noise
and filth
of the surface dweller's world!"
-Namor
"Learn now why the world has learned to tremble at the name
of--THE
SUB-MARINER!!"
-Namor
"Thor is ever ready to try anything, Avenger!"
-Thor
"Behold the power of he who men have called the God of
Thunder! Winds rise!
Clouds billow and grow dark! Let the rains come!"
-Thor
*********
Avengers (v1) # 307
"Metamorphosis"
By Byrne, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Captain America, Thor, Doctor Pym, Wasp,
Scarlet
Witch, Black Panther, Vision (II), Wonder Man, Tigra, She-Hulk,
Sub-Mariner,
Invisible Woman, Mister Fantastic, Gilgamesh and Quasar (III).
Doctor Pym,
Wasp, Scarlet Witch, Vision and Tigra are present behind the
scenes.
Other Characters:
Edwin Jarvis, Jinku, the Lava Men (Akor, Danka and Kelak named).
Story:
While Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman and a contingent of
western Avengers
struggle to keep Avengers Island from toppling off Jinku's lave
pillar into
the sea, Jinku's lava monster battles the other Avengers until
none
but Thor and Gilgamesh are left standing. In the end, Gilgamesh
engages
the monster in single combat but is finally struck down by a
crushing blow
that renders him comatose. Moments later, the battle ends when
Jinku's
formerly pretrified acolytes appear in new golden bodies and
explain that
their petrification was merely a transition state while they
evolved into
newer, better forms, a form that Jinku himself assumes, too, once
he realizes
that he can do so. The many dead Lava Men died because they were
too
morally corrupted by serving Cha'Sa'Dra, but Jinku and his
acolytes remained
inwardly pure of heart and survived despite the demise of their
demonic
master, gradually assuming purified forms free of Cha'Sa'Dra's
taint. Jinku
humbly apologizes to the Avengers, but the apology seems to have
come too
late for the fallen Gilgamesh.
Note: This story indicates, for the first time, that Wonder Man's
rocket
belt is powered by his own ionic energy.
Memorable Moments:
"There is no thing that lives that can resist the power of
an Eternal of
Olympia!"
-Gilgamesh
"I have no wish to end this day the last Avenger!"
-Gilgamesh
"Hear me, monster, if mind you have to understand...I am the
warrior of the
thousand names! I am the dragon slayer! I have fought ten
thousand-thousand
battles, and I have won them all! I am without equal in the
annals of the
Earth...and I am your doom!!"
-Gilgamesh
*********
Avengers (v1) # 308
"Journey"
By Byrne, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Captain America, Thor, Doctor Pym, Wasp,
Scarlet
Witch, Black Panther, Vision (II), Wonder Man, Tigra, She-Hulk,
Sub-Mariner,
Invisible Woman, Mister Fantastic, Gilgamesh (comatose) and
Quasar (III).
Other Characters:
Edwin Jarvis, the Lava Men (including Jinku, Akor, Danka and
Kelak), Sprite,
Ikaris, Makkari, Thena, Phastos, Sersi and Professor Harker.
Story:
Shortly after Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman and the western
Avengers
successfully lower Avengers Island back onto the ocean surface,
the other
Avengers return with the comatose Gilgamesh, whom Thor pronounces
neither
dead nor alive after a full medical examination. Unable to think
of anything
else, the Avengers take Gilgamesh to their ally, his fellow
Eternal, Sersi,
but she is just as baffled by Gilgamesh's condition since the
Eternals are
supposedly incapable of suffering serious physical injury. She
decides to
take Gilgamesh to the Eternals' hidden home city, Olympia, for
treatment.
Meanwhile, in Olympia, the rest of the Eternals are trying to
discover why
they are feeling increasingly uneasy within the city, and why
Olympia's
defenses have begun to falter, exposing the city to potential
discovery by
humans. The Eternal prankster, Sprite, takes it upon himself to
try to fix
Olympia's defense systems--and when the Avengers & Sersi
arrive at the site
of Olympia, the entire city is gone.
Memorable Moment:
"They're a great team, the Avengers. I'm proud to have
called myself one of
them, even for a while."
-Mister Fantastic
*********
Avengers (v1) # 309
"To Find Olympia!"
By Byrne, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye, She-Hulk,
Mockingbird,
Sub-Mariner and Gilgamesh (comatose).
Other Characters:
Sersi, Professor Harker, Great Lakes Avengers (Dinah Soar, Big
Bertha,
Mister Immortal, Doorman and Flatman) and Blastaar. The Eternals
are
present behind the scenes.
Story:
Seeking a cure for the comatose Gilgamesh, the Avengers
accompanied
Gilgamesh's fellow Eternal, Sersi, to the site of the Eternal
city of
Olympia, only to discover that Olympia has vanished. Upon
investigating,
the Avengers learn that Olympia has vanished into the alien
dimension
known as the Negative Zone. The Avengers enter the Zone and
manage to
locate Olympia, but they find it deserted except for the Negative
Zone
warrior Blastaar, who attacks the Avengers and claims he has
already
destroyed the Eternals. Meanwhile, Hawkeye and Mockingbird get
more than
they bargained for while training the Great Lakes Avengers when
Doorman's
body proves to be a portal to an unknown, terrifying place.
Note:
-The real names of the Great Lakes Avengers are mentioned in this
issue.
Big Bertha (as revealed in WCA 46) is Ashley Crawford. Flatman's
real
name is revealed to be Doctor Ventura. Mister Immortal's real
name is
revealed to be Craig Hollis. Doorman's real name is revealed to
be DeMarr
(another interpretation of the dialogue would indicate that
Hollis is
Doorman's last name, not Mister Immortal's, since it's unclear
who Hawkeye
is speaking of when he says the name Hollis, but it's probably
Mister
Immortal's name).
-The subplot regarding Doorman's body has never been followed up
to date,
though Doorman did cause an altogether different mishap in a
Deadpool
story when he accidentally sent two people who passed through him
back
in time.
*********
Avengers (v1) # 310
"Death in Olympia!"
By Byrne, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Captain America, Thor, She-Hulk, Sub-Mariner
and
Gilgamesh.
Other Characters:
Odin, Warriors Three (Hogun, Fandral and Volstagg), Sersi,
Blastaar, Loki,
Ikaris, Makkari, Sprite, Cybele, Phastos, Thena, Kingo Sunen,
Karkas, Ransak.
Story:
The Avengers battle Blastaar, who blows Sersi to atoms and boasts
that he did
the same to the Eternals after their city, Olympia, entered the
Negative
Zone.
Blastaar holds his own until the Warriors Three arrive from
Thor's home
Asgard
(which also recently drifted into the Negative Zone). Blastaar
flees, but he
is captured by Sersi and her fellow Eternals, who reform before
the
astonished
eyes of the Avengers. As Sersi explains, Eternals have complete
control over
their bodily substance down to the molecular level, but
Blastaar's energies
happen to operate on a frequency able to disrupt that mental
control,
temporarily dispersing the Eternals, but they were able to reform
their
bodies once they had time to compensate and develop resistance.
Gilgamesh is
cured, too, since, as Thena reveals, the power of the Eternals is
rooted
partly in the city of Olympia, and Gilgamesh's centuries-long
exile to
an isolated portion of Olympia seems to have made him more
dependent on
periodic contact with Olympia than most Eternals. Gilagemsh
awakens and
stays behind in Olympia to continue healing, though Captain
America suggests
that another Eternal could take Gilgamesh's place in the
Avengers. Sprite
confesses that he was the one who accidentally shunted Olympia
into the
Negative Zone, and as Thena prepares to undo this, Thor declines
an offer
from the Warriors Three to return to Asgard.
Note:
-Sersi appears in the cover corner box of this issue with the
Avengers,
despite the fact that she had not yet joined the Avengers as of
this issue.
-Captain America theorizes that Namor's emotional instability may
stem from
his hybrid physiolgy. Byrne later proved that to be true in the
Namor ongoing
series.
-Karkas and Ransak, Deviant allies of the Eternals, are
incorrectly depicted
as Eternals in this story. Presumably, one or more of the
Eternals restored
their bodies after they were blown to bits by Blastaar, since
Karkas and
Ransak would not be able to do so themselves.
*********
Avengers (v1) # 311
"The Weakest Point"
By Byrne, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Quasar (III) and Starfox.
Other Characters:
The Avengers Crew (Robert Frank Junior, Fabian Stankowicz, Frank
[full name
unrevealed], Peggy Carter, M'Daka, Michael O'Brien, Donna Maria
Puentes,
Keith Kincaid, Edwin Jarvis, John Jameson and others, presumably
including
Genji Odashu), Loki, Doctor Doom, Mandarin, Nebula and Gunthar.
Story:
A secret coalition of criminal masterminds plots the destruction
of the
Avengers, beginning with a rash of attacks on the heroes by foes
with
whom they were previously unfamiliar. During the resultant
confusion, one
of the masterminds, Doctor Doom, unleashes an army of robots
against
Avengers Island. The robots sink the island despite the best
defensive
efforts of Quasar and the Avengers Crew. All hands escape, but
Avengers
Mansion and the rest of the island is lost beneath the water.
Meanwhile,
Nebula plots to use unwitting scientist Professor Harker as a
means to
ultimate power, unaware that she is being spied upon by her
grand-uncle,
the Avengers reservist Starfox.
Note:
This story was the firt chapter of the "Acts of
Vengeance" crossover running
through various Marvel comics and concluding in Avengers West
Coast # 55.
*********
Avengers (v1) # 312
"Has the Whole World Gone Mad?!?"
By Byrne, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Doctor Pym, Wasp, Captain America, Scarlet
Witch,
Vision (II) and Falcon (II). Iron Man and Thor appear on monitor
displays.
Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wasp, Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye,
Quicksilver,
Scarlet Witch, Vision, Beast, Falcon and She-Hulk all appear as
statues in
Avengers Park.
Other Characters:
Loki, Kingpin, Wizard, Mandarin, Doctor Doom, Red Skull, Magneto,
Freedom Force (Avalanche, Blob and Pyro), Doctor Harker, Nebula.
Story:
With Avengers Island destroyed and super-villains rampaging
across the
country, a contingent of Avengers has adopted the sub-basements
under
Avengers Park (former site of the original Avengers Mansion) as
their
emergency headquarters. Unfortunately, they are attacked by
Freedon Force,
old enemies of the Avengers who recently left their positions as
government agents. The Avengers manage to send Freedom Force into
retreat,
but not before Avengers Park is wrecked, stirring anti-superhuman
sentiment
among the citizenry of New York. Meanwhile, the mysterious
mastermind
behind the Acts of Vengeance conspiracy continues to watch from
the shadows,
gloating, while his lieutenants--Doctor Doom, Mandarin, Kingpin,
Wizard,
Magneto and Red Skull--all fancy themselves the guiding force
behind the
plot against the Avengers.
Note:
The statuary at Avengers Park is revealed to include
representations of
Falcon (II) and She-Hulk.
*********
Avengers (v1) # 313
"Thieves Honor"
By Byrne, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled:
Thor, Doctor Pym, Captain America, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch
(catatonic),
Vision (II), Black Widow (II), Hellcat, Wonder Man and
Mockingbird.
Other Characters:
Edwin Jarvis, Mandarin, Loki, Doctor Doom, Red Skull, Kingpin,
Wizard,
Agatha Harkness, Ebony, Magneto.
Story:
The Acts of Vengeance crisis continues, with Doctor Pym leading
the
Avengers' efforts on the west coast while Hawkeye and Mockingbird
cover
the midwest. Meanwhile, Captain America leads other Avengers in
inspecting
the sunken Avengers Island to prepare for salvage operations.
While
all this is happening, the Mandarin grows imaptient with the pace
of the
plot against the Avengers and personally attacks Avengers Park,
pursued
by the Wizard, who had hoped to stop Mandarin but instead joins
his
co-conspirator in battling the Avengers. They are quickly
outmatched as
more and more Avengers arrive to take part, so Mandarin flees,
allowing
the Avengers to capture the Wizard. Under questioning, the Wizard
claims
to be the mastermind behind the plot against the Avengers, the
same belief
held by his various co-conspirators, who continue to squabble
among
themselves--and their latest argument leads to the revelation
that the
"Doctor Doom" among them was one of Doom's robot
doubles. Meanwhile,
Magneto has abandoned his fellow conspirators to pursue a more
personal
plot, beginning with the abduction of his daughter, the Scarlet
Witch.
Note:
-The statuary at Avengers Park is revealed to include
representations of
Sub-Mariner and Moon Knight. Other visible statuary in this story
includes
Hawkeye, Iron Man and Ant-Man.
-Hellcat's red hair is miscolored as black in this story.
*********
Avengers (v1) # 314
"Along Came a Spider..."
By Byrne, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Thor, Iron Man, Doctor Pym, Wasp, Captain
America,
Vision (II), Wonder Man, Starfox and Sersi (joins the Avengers).
Other Characters:
Withers (construction worker employed by Avengers to supervise
construction
of new headquarters), John Jameson, Edwin Jarvis, Nebula,
Professor Harker,
Gunthar, Spider-Man.
Story:
When Professor Harker experiments with his new Compressor
invention under
the auspices of Nebula, the universe temporarily ceases to exist
each time
the device is engaged. Nebula insists on continuing the
experiments,
despite the
danger, in hopes of acquiring some ultimate power in the process.
Starfox
tries to warn the Avengers of Nebula's plans, but he is captured
by her
minions. Once the Avengers realize what is happening, though,
they
join forces with Spider-Man and new member Sersi to investigate.
Sersi
manages to use her powers to keep Harker's compressor from
affecting the
room in which they are standing, protecting a handful of
Avengers, Jarvis,
and Spider-Man, as well as herself; but when they look outside,
they see
that everyone and everything else in the universe has vanished.
Note: The Avengers begin building a new headquarters on the site
of
Avengers Park in this issue.
Memorable Moment:
"Whatever this force is, I shall not let it master me! I am
Sersi! I am
an Eternal born! I...WILL...NOT...FAIL!"
-Sersi
*********
Avengers (v1) # 315
"Doomsday Plus One!"
By Byrne, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Captain America, Thor and Sersi.
Other Characters:
Spider-Man, Edwin Jarvis, Nebula and Professor Harker.
Story:
The Compressor designed by Professor Harker and built with the
aid of Nebula
has seemingly wiped out almost the entire universe. Seeking a way
to restore
the universe, the Avengers and Spider-Man track down the
compressor and
confront its operators. Presented with her old foes, Nebula
attacks the
Avengers and a battle ensues. Harker tries to aid the Avengers,
and Nebula
kills him, but not before he and another project employee give
the
Avengers information which Spider-Man uses to disable the
compressor,
restoring the universe to normal. Nebula, however, has already
fled by the
time the Avengers get their bearings.
Memorable Moment:
"Aw, no! You don't mean--I just saved the whole blamed
universe and...
nobody will ever know??"
-Spidey
*********
Avengers (v1) # 316
"Spiders and Stars"
By Byrne, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Vision (II),
Starfox,
Sersi and Spider-Man (joins the Avengers).
Other Characters:
Edwin Jarvis, John Jameson, Avengers Crew (various members),
Nebula,
Gunthar, Stranger.
Story:
Nebula escapes the Avengers and returns to her spacecraft with
the Avengers
and Spider-Man in pursuit; but by the time the Avengers and
Spider-Man
fight their way through Nebula's forces, they find that Nebula
and her
closest aides have already been overcome by Starfox, who managed
to free
himself from Nebula's captivity during the confusion. Impressed
by
Spider-Man's abilities and attitude, the Avengers offer him
membership and
he happily accepts. Before they can celebrate, though, they are
attacked
by the enigmatic alien known as the Stranger.
Memorable Moment:
"Look, I may have been out of my ever-lovin' web-head when I
agreed to tag
along for this songfest, but agree I did...and whatever happens
next, I want
to see it through to the end!"
-Spidey
*********
Avengers (v1) # 317
"Business as Usual"
By Byrne (plot), Nicieza (script), Ryan and Palmer; edited by
Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Vision (II),
Starfox,
Quasar (III), Sersi and Spider-Man.
Other Characters:
Edwin Jarvis, Stranger, Nebula, Gunthar.
Story:
The Avengers have captured Nebula and her minions after her
failed attempt to
exploit Harker's compressor invention for universal power, but
another of
Nebula's schemes brings the enigmatic aleien known as the
Stranger in
pursuit of her after she stole the universe-threatening weapon
known as
the Infinity Union. Deciding that neither the Stranger nor Nebula
should
have such a device, the Avengers search for it as well--but when
Spider-Man
finds it, he accidentally sets it off, and a terrible explosion
flashes
throughout space.
Memorable Moments:
Captain America: "We've got a job to do!"
Spider-Man: "Innocuously slinking back home, maybe?"
"Uhm...listen, guys, much as I'd like to invade a ship
roughly the size of
Argentina...shouldn't we reconsider, or plan a comprehensive
strategy...or
run and hide somewhere?"
-Spidey
*********
Avengers (v1) # 318
"A Vengeful God!"
By Nicieza, Ryan and Palmer; edited by Mackie.
Avengers Assembled: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Vision (II),
Starfox,
Quasar (III), Sersi and Spider-Man.
Other Characters:
Edwin Jarvis, Stranger, Nebula, Gunthar.
Story:
Nebula has become all-powerful, having rigged the Infinity Union
to transfer
power derived from Professor Harker's compressor into her if it
should be
tampered with. She then proceeds to unmake and remake the
universe for sport
while she toys with the Avengers, but she is eventually depowered
and
defeated with the aid of the Stranger, though she manages to
escape with
the aid of her accomplice, Gunthar. The Avengers are victorious
and the
universe survives, but Starfox has been badly injured. Realizing
how shaken
new recruit Spider-Man is after their recent adventures, Captain
America
suggests that he leave the active roster, and Spider-Man gladly
agrees.
Memorable Moment:
Cap: "Spider-Man, I feel your abilities are needed in the
war on crime...
I just don't know if
they work best in a group...or against the kind
of menaces we
face."
Spidey: "Hey, you'll get no real argument from me! Then
again, you guys never
seem to do much about
the Kingpins of this world, either!"
Cap: "I know, and maybe it works best that way. What I'm
saying is, we are
honored to call you a
friend, but I don't think being a member of the
Avengers is best for
you."
Spidey: "I'm fired?"
Cap: "Well, I wouldn't put it quite that way."
Spidey: "Hey, no problem, Cap. It's actually kind of a load
off, if you
know what I mean. Call
me if Galactus comes around! Take care!"
Cap: "You, too, Spider Man!"