Help Is Just A *KTANG* Away!

After its last defeat at the hands of Iron Man, one could almost have come away thinking that the Super-Adaptoid had reached the end of its road at Marvel--particularly following its "encore" appearance as the Cyborg Sinister, the result of the Adaptoid being evolved against its will by two alien scientists into a horrid form that would be used to conduct power to their sub-atomic world. Aside from the Cyborg having met its apparent end after being exposed to a vat of acid, the fact that the Adaptoid was recycled into something so changed in appearance and manner gave the impression that the novelty of this creation of A.I.M. having the combined abilities of four Avengers had worn off--perhaps a hasty conclusion to make, considering that the Adaptoid's power allows it to become a completely different threat with each appearance, thereby a perpetually fresh character to be used in stories for as long as Marvel was in the business of comics. The mad Thinker has used adaptive technology to some extent with his various androids, and look how far it's taken him.

But with the Adaptoid's next appearance nearly five years later, Marvel appears to have had adequate time to figure out the Adaptoid's advantages on its own, as it ditches the Cyborg Sinister and gives the Super-Adaptoid another shot at giving grief to Captain America and his comrades in the Avengers. And with Goliath and Hawkeye no longer on the active duty roster, the Adaptoid brings an interesting new combination of powers to the party--which may end up including those of Captain Marvel, as well!

Starting this ball rolling is the Adaptoid's attack on Stark Industries while Iron Man is testing in the field what could be considered the forerunner of the Jupiter Landing Vehicle that Stark International was developing for NASA. Unfortunately, like that project, this rig is fated for the scrap heap when the Adaptoid makes his move against the golden Avenger, and in all-too-familiar garb.

Realizing that he and Iron Man are too evenly matched, the Adaptoid creates a diversion that allows him to escape; for, with the exception of the death of the one he confronted, he has what he came for--the might of Iron Man, which will be used against the Avengers forthwith.

Having heard the Adaptoid's threat in that regard, Iron Man transmits an urgent message to the team to warn them. But if you were expecting Iron Man to send that message en route, while in pursuit of the Adaptoid, join the club. For whatever reason, writer Scott Edelman decides to sideline I.M. from the coming battle--even though for I.M. to stay where he is and simply hope the Avengers survive the Adaptoid's attack would be out of character for him in the extreme.

Regardless, it's fair to wonder if Iron Man sent his message by smoke signals, since none of the Avengers appear to have received any warning whatsoever of incoming.

The Adaptoid would go on to copy the abilities of both Captain America and the Beast, the only other Avengers present in their mansion at the time--which is fortunate or not, depending on how you look at it. The fewer Avengers, the less formidable the Adaptoid becomes; and while having Thor and/or Wonder Man in the fight would increase the Avengers' odds of prevailing, that would only be true for as long as it took for the Adaptoid to add their powers to his own form.

As it is, the Adaptoid is demonstrating a frightening ability to multitask while using all of his abilities in tandem.

But what of Mar-vell? Well, that *KTANG!* you could have sworn you heard was Rick Jones, stopping by the mansion after performing a sold-out concert and reacting in alarm at discovering that the mansion is on emergency lockdown. What's arguably even more alarming is that Rick has gone from ham radio operator and Avenger-wannabe to establish a hit solo performing career out of nowhere; but thanks to the nega bands that Rick wears, he's only a *KTANG!* away from calling forth Captain Marvel, who forces his way into the mansion to deal with this crisis. (The situation at the mansion, not Rick's stage show.) And wow, has he walked into it!

Wanda also warns Mar-vell to leave the battle to the Avengers, before his abilities are added to those already in use by the Adaptoid and it becomes undefeatable. But Mar-vell has come up with a plan of his own, one that he doesn't have time to brief the team on--providing that there's time to implement it before the Adaptoid overwhelms them all.

Disaster averted, no doubt the Super-Adaptoid makes for an interesting and unique addition to the strange beings that inhabit the Negative Zone--and certainly a powerful one, as we'll later discover.

As for Mar-vell, he's accomplished what he once had to achieve through covert (and dangerous) methods--making it possible for he and Rick to exist in the same universe at the same time, rather than each having to spend time in the Negative Zone while the other existed on Earth.

Funny how the Avengers are all smiles at Mar-vell now, when just a minute ago they were calling him foolish and chastising him for showing poor judgment for not fleeing the battle. Whose tactics won the day here, team?

BONUS!

Because you DEMANDED it--a glimpse of Rick's performance that evening.

(No charge!)