The Revealing Of... The Enemy!

 

The story of Korvac--or, rather, the character we're most familiar with from a ten-month string of Avengers stories in 1978--began following his emergence from a conflict in the 31st century and into our own, where he stumbled upon a source of power that would pave the way for a greater conflict to come.

As we've learned, "Michael," as he refers to himself, had now set out to make himself the universe's benefactor and the savior of all who live by freeing all beings from the chaotic cruelty and injustice of life throughout the universe, while bringing all existence under his own "sane and benevolent rule"--words which for any reader of comics ring familiar as those spoken by many would-be oppressors who felt similarly entitled.

Like other sagas in Marvel's titles which have slowly unfolded over stretches of time (the story of "They" being one such example), this plot winding its way through the Avengers book managed to stay relevant even through shifts in the book's creative talent, as well as the turmoil which can often be found in the team's adventures--sandwiched as it was between their desperate battle with Count Nefaria and their showdown with the deadly Ultron, where the they learned that another threat was now stalking them.

More disappearances occurred both before and after the Avengers (joined by Ms. Marvel) went on to deal with the menace of Tyrak--yet unknown to them, one of the Guardians of the Galaxy, travelling from the future to head off a suspected attempt on the life of one of their members, Vance Astro, had already managed to sense the true nature of their enemy and decided to confront him. It would be a meeting which would cost Starhawk his life.

Starhawk was then sent on his way, oblivious to what had just occurred and no longer a threat to Michael. As we've also seen, Michael had been joined by Carina Walters, a fashion model he coerced to come with him but who in reality is the daughter of the Collector--sent to spy on Michael, but who had instead fallen in love with him.

In dealing with Starhawk, Michael had, in his own words, drawn first blood in the war to come--but as we backtrack and assemble the pieces of this conflict taking shape, how will even the Avengers come to know of this threat before it's too late?

Considering the turmoil apparently taking place behind the scenes of the Avengers title, it seemed to be no easy task bringing the Korvac story to fruition--a situation not helped by a guaranteed momentum killer of an inventory story inserted into the mix just as this story was getting off the ground. When all was said and done, the assignments broke down as follows in terms of the percentage of issues handled:

Scripters:
Jim Shooter: 60% (#s 167-168, 170-172, 177)
David Michelinie: 30% (#s 173, 175-176)
Bill Mantlo: 10% (#174)

Artists:
George Perez: 40% (#s 167-168, 170-171)
Sal Buscema: 20% (#s 172, 173 (which included a hefty assortment of inkers))
David Wenzel: 40% (#s 174-177)

As for the Avengers, our friend Henry Peter Gyrich had finally had it with the team's lax security standards and chose this point in time to strip the Avengers of several of their data-banks--as well as their priority clearance, which also prohibited their usage of their aircraft and their communications monitors, effectively tying their hands as far as investigating the growing threat. Michael, however, was proceeding both diligently and cautiously--currently basking in his manipulation of the Guardians, yet aware that discovery of his plans at this stage would put his goals at risk.

Finally, however, when the continuing abduction of Avengers had left the team with only a skeleton contingent, some luck comes their way when it occurs to them to make use of the Guardians' technology and resources, 1000 years more advanced than anything on Earth, to trace the culprit to his location. That turned out to be the Collector--who, after being forced to free his captives, seems to sense that his moments are numbered.

That left the team with only their own abilities (as well as those of Captain Marvel, who reaches out to them and offers his assistance) to piece together vital clues which might lead them to their quarry. As for the Guardians, there is only one among their number who could be of use in such a hunt, though we know that Michael has effectively tied his hands.

The final scenes of this penultimate issue in a way typify the thrown-together feeling that this story had come to exude. For one thing, how difficult is it for the Avengers, even with their privileges revoked, to travel to Forest Hills to hopefully uncover the truth in this plot? Not really difficult at all, when one has the resources of Tony Stark, who has an entire hangar of suitable aircraft at his beck and call; or how about the teleportation technology of the Guardians, which transported them to the Collector's lab in an instant? And then there was Michael, who could have reached out with his power and subtly altered reality so that the Avengers' efforts would amount to naught. Presumably, he hasn't done so in order to avoid alerting the great powers of the universe to his presence--but with his blatant obliteration of an Elder of the Universe, to say nothing of a battle with Starhawk which rippled across the cosmos and any number of astral planes, that ship had likely already sailed.

Yet for Jim Shooter and writer David Michelinie, this issue's plotter and scripter, respectively, there seems to be no recourse but the following scene--where Michael and Carina have nothing to do but to busy themselves with house chores, while Iron Man must flag down public transport.

It's fair to wonder if this setting rang a bell with the Avengers when they would later track down the Masters of Evil to a suburban home and Hawkeye, of all people, cautioned that there was probably more there than met the eye. (Come to think of it, the Defenders, in dealing with the Headmen, walked into just such a trap even as Nighthawk questioned the "sinister" aspect of the home.)

Finally, however, this plot regains its momentum rather quickly, as the Avengers make every effort to ascertain the bona fides of Michael's status, even as he their foe deflects their suspicions with a casual demeanor meant to allay them. But the one step which Michael took to prevent his discovery now boomerangs to inadvertently expose him--and in a tense moment, it slowly dawns on the Avengers that their enemy stands revealed.

This is definitely going to put a crimp in the efforts of Michael and Carina to tidy up their home--but that's nothing compared to what's going to happen to the Avengers.

NEXT:
Return to a post made nine years ago to the month-- as the Avengers face not one powerful foe, but two!