The Old Order Changeth, Part 1--1963-1981

 

With all the fanfare and media frenzy that typically takes place before the announcement of a new Avengers lineup, it's a wonder that we didn't see more of that sort of story during the twenty-three years of the book's first run, particularly since such an "event" does a fair job of sweeping readers up in the anticipation. Yet there's something to be said for "less is more," a phrase which applies to so many things but can be especially true in this case since not all lineup changes merited news crews and rampant fans descending on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 71st Street. I don't recall the Fantastic Four making news with their own lineup shifts, whether temporary or long-term, though they didn't exactly lack for news coverage given the public's continuing fascination with their lives (and certainly their headline-worthy exploits); while the Champions, with a PR person on their payroll, depended heavily on news conferences to establish themselves (for all the good it did them).

As for the Avengers, in researching this subject it was interesting to compare the times when a lineup change resulted in new members being formally introduced to the public, vs. the situations where it would have been unwarranted for the writer to craft a story where the Avengers felt they should send out press announcements that a lineup change was being deliberated. If you're a longtime Avengers reader, you know precisely which story started the ball rolling where Option 1 was concerned.

In the story that Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers put together, the process of confirming to the press that the Avengers were interviewing applicants for new membership (while at the same time keeping mum for the time being about the status of the missing Thor and Captain America) appeared to be about as low-key as possible, under the circumstances--very dignified, very Q & A, and the crowds consisting of curious onlookers milling about rather than swarms of fans with autograph books at the ready (albeit including no shortage of curious villains), though little did Lee know he was laying the seeds for this sort of announcement one day garnering intense interest from the public.

Heh--Kang, of all people, having to "follow developments."  It's literally ancient history to you, bub!

We could possibly attribute the informative and methodical nature of these press conferences to the fact that the original Avengers didn't have a great deal of history to their name that would cause shockwaves in public discourse as to why they were shaking up their membership; indeed, one of their members departing the team almost immediately after their formation produced no public reaction at all (at least that we knew of).

At any rate, Captain America returns from his separate mission, and is chosen to lead the new team of nascent Avengers--and the small band takes the stage soon afterward, if not exactly to acclamation but to smiles and applause from well-wishers (and no doubt more than a few questions for the new members).

Three years later to the month, the Panther is recommended for and accepts membership in the Avengers--and in five months, the Vision is welcomed to the ranks. But rather than press announcements, both memberships were handled behind closed doors--in the Panther's case, over a communications channel facilitated by Captain America and a decision which not even local authorities were made aware of, judging from their response when the Panther was mistaken for the Avengers' killer. As for the Vision, his first exposure to the Avengers also involved an attempt to destroy the team; but when the true villain was revealed and confronted, the Vision requested membership, and the current team as well as its senior members assembled to weigh and discuss the matter (Cap's sly attempt to demonstrate the Vision's abilities in combat notwithstanding).

Once things quiet down, the Avengers get down to business--again, with no crowds present that evening, which is probably a good thing since the Avengers all departing the premises in order to investigate the Vision's connection to Ultron would have sparked a good deal of confusion and baseless speculation. As we've seen in a separate tale, the N.S.C. didn't take the news at all well--regardless, the Vision is endorsed by all present.

It would be seven years before the decision is reached to replenish the Avengers' ranks--only this time, the senior members decide to make use of conventional airwaves to send out a call for prospective applicants to meet at Yankee Stadium to be evaluated. You have to wonder why the news media didn't head there as well, if they're so attentive to Avengers lineup changes--but perhaps it's just as well, since the Avengers have put themselves in grave danger.

That membership call finally results in a more formal meeting at Avengers Mansion (over a year later, our time) which, produced by writer Steve Englehart and artist George Perez, results in the most extensive use of crowd and media interest that we would see in a new Avengers lineup presentation--nicely mixed with recaps of the Avengers' history as presented by fictional CBS reporter Sam Reuther.

Until, finally, the unveiling:

That lineup, more or less (a lot more, as it turned out, considering the nature of the threat to be faced) would last for nearly the next three years, at which point the book would return to closed-door lineup changes--first, through the directives of the N.S.C. in the form of Henry Peter Gyrich, who laid down the law as far as limiting the number of Avengers on the team and just who those members would be, and, 2½ years later, similar directives from Moondragon, who thought it best that she intercede and do the Avengers' thinking for them until she was given the heave-ho. As far as the public were concerned, only a brief announcement was made via television in the latter story when the dust had settled.

Apparently, neither Gyrich nor Moondragon felt like keeping reporters and/or Avengers fans in the loop.

NEXT: Times change--and the people want a greater voice as to who should (not) be an Avenger!