Previously, we've seen a sampling of the Avengers' conflict with the Gatherers--a group of refugees from alternate worlds who have joined the cause of their ringleader, Proctor, in eliminating the catalyst for the destruction of alternate Earths, worlds where the Avengers (and one Avenger in particular) have played a pivotal role. Thus far, we've observed the Avengers only beginning to assemble the pieces of this puzzle, while also having to deal with a malady involving the Eternal in their ranks, Sersi, who may be in the early stages of a type of senility which may cause her to eventually go mad.
And now, having uncovered a Gatherer spy in their midst--the Vision, who took the real Vision's place with the Avengers when he was ambushed by the Gatherers--the Avengers close in on the Gatherers' citadel in the Andes mountains to recover their member, and get some answers!
With Cap's recent return to the Avengers, the character obviously still clings to the notion that heroes should strive to conduct themselves far differently than those they battle, by abstaining from strong-arm tactics as well as the use of deadly force. Yet stories in the 1990s began to see their characters toss their standards aside and steadily embrace methods that for over two decades were informally considered to be reprehensible behavior for those who fought for justice. Cap, for instance, has already been overruled when some Avengers broke ranks to kill the Kree Supreme Intelligence for its role in Operation: Galactic Storm; and the issue would later come to a head when the team attempted to move forward from that incident. In Proctor, perhaps, they'll face the ultimate litmus test on the subject in terms of stopping the Gatherers' plans.
For now, though, the Avengers' priorities are clear--and to that end, they've come in force to deal with those who have thus far outmaneuvered them at every turn.
With the appearance of Proctor, the one who has spearheaded this operation and who remains the most powerful of the group, the tone of the battle becomes more guarded on both fronts since each side will take their cue on what he chooses to do next. In this case, it's his "mole" in the Avengers who suffers his displeasure for leading his enemies to his stronghold, whatever the excuse for his cooperation.
Again, however, the focus of the battle pivots when Proctor takes a sudden interest in the Knight, where he discovers that Dane Whitman is now a Gann Josin--the chosen one of Sersi (who has remained in New York under observation from Henry Pym). Furious, Proctor declares outright that he is her first love, her only true soulmate--and in what seems a leap of illogic, announces with deadly certainty that she must die.
Proctor contradicting the Knight's assertion of the Avengers' high standards by correctly citing incidences to the contrary is the latest example of writer Bob Harris broaching the subject of Marvel openly making a shift in its stories toward its heroes crossing the line and adopting the methods of their foes--in the case of the Avengers, as Proctor points out, its characters deciding to use deadly force in recent issues. Yet while a group of Avengers was forced to break ranks in order to carry out the execution of the Kree Supreme Intelligence, Anskar of Polemachus instead fell victim to Sersi alone (though it seems clear that no disciplinary action, or even so much as a hearing, was invoked by the Avengers in response).
On the heels of that scene, however, Captain America is then shocked when Dane suddenly erupts in a vicious attack against him--eventually forcing the Black Widow to drop him. Yet when the Knight comes around, he acknowledges in confusion that he had no cause or reason to act as he did--but Proctor realizes it's the perfect time to follow up his words about Sersi with a warning, along with what appears to be vivid proof of the danger she represents. And that is when another, imposing entity enters this drama.
The Watcher makes no further comment in response--but there are plenty of words exchanged between Proctor and one of his Gatherers, Magdalene, when Hercules raises questions about his wish to save Earth in light of the violent acts he's committed against both the Vision and an alternate world's Swordsman who is currently in the Avengers' care. That leads to Proctor inexplicably activating the citadel's destruct sequence, forcing the Avengers and the Gatherers to scramble for their lives.
Yet what of Sersi herself? The seriousness of her condition deepens when she's paid a visit by two NYPD homicide detectives--who subsequently end up at the bottom of the East River, transmuted to what appears to be solid stone. (And no, Harris hasn't roped in the Grey Gargoyle just to confuse the hell out of us. Heaven knows that ship has sailed.)
The saga of the Gatherers would continue for several more months before reaching its climax--but fortunately, as noted previously, one now has the option of reading the entire story without a wait of thirty days (or even thirty minutes) before reaching for the next issue. (And, of course, your thoughts on this story are welcome here at any time. :D )
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