The Avengers Break Up! (Sort of!)

 
While it's true that the West Coast Avengers didn't have the best of endings to their story as a team within a team (or the most dignified), I admit to having been pretty jazzed about the concept in the fall of 1985 when the new team, after being given a successful trial run in its limited series of '84, was launched with all appropriate fanfare in a regular monthly series.

Other than taking the temperature of readers as far as whether a second Avengers book would fly, the limited series also served to introduce and solidify a new team lineup under the leadership of Hawkeye, as well as to prove their effectiveness as a team in battle (and against Graviton, at that, a heavyweight who would certainly be an ample test of their capabilities and resourcefulness). But aside from a solid core Avengers membership of Hawkeye, Mockingbird, Tigra, Wonder Man, and Iron Man (the role at this point in time being filled by Tony Stark's close friend, James Rhodes), only the Shroud among all the floating, teasing heads on the premiere cover would be approached to be the group's sixth member--and though he declined, the topic remained open allowing a writer to have the option of auditioning try-outs if the WCA concept panned out.

Which indeed proved to be the case. And so, following two other appearances of the WCAs in Avengers #250 and the 1984 Iron Man Annual, writer Steve Englehart and artist Al Milgrom* were tapped for the monthly series which went on for a run of over three years for the creative team, eventually leading to the book's second wind under scripter/artist John Byrne.

And as for that sixth member, this new series does a little teasing of its own, first thing:

That would be a firm "no" on signing up. For now.

*Though since Milgrom would often limit his WCA work to breakdowns, it would be the finishing efforts of the book's various inkers (notably Joe Sinnott) which would catch the eye.

This first issue, clocking in at 39 pages, plays to Englehart's strengths and allows him room to gradually put his own touches on Roger Stern's original format (with Rhodes being replaced by Stark, in a striking new suit of armor). The threat that Englehart brings to the team is suitably introduced piecemeal and letting the reader become acclimated to team members at their own pace; in this case, Wonder Man's leisurely flight over the ocean with Tigra is interrupted by a brutal clash with deadly robots (followed by Iron Man's timely intervention), which allows Englehart to begin developing his own approach to Tigra, née the "were-woman."

But the entire team goes into action soon enough when the principal threat shows up and springs a well-laid trap--and given that the issue's perils have been metal-based thus far, it's no stretch of the imagination to learn just who that antagonist turns out to be.

While it's fair to assume that Ultron's presence in Palos Verdes is somehow related to Henry Pym showing up on the WCA's doorstep, we learn that Ultron is currently unaware of that fact; rather, it seems that his interest is indeed in Wonder Man, for reasons as yet unknown.

But, speaking of Pym, Englehart puts his presence to good use as the means for Hawkeye to set a few things straight with the team's east coast branch on the importance of autonomy.

Next, Englehart shows that he has a high regard for Avengers tradition--in this case, that the west coast compound is as lousy at stopping intruders from gaining entry as its east coast counterpart. But hey, at least team members are alerted that people are breaking in.

By this time, Ultron has learned of Pym's presence--and by the time the Man-Ape strolls in ... er, that is to say, barely breaks through the compound's formidable preventive measures that no doubt barred his way and caused him considerable injury, Ultron has adjusted his plan of attack accordingly which now includes Pym as a target for captivity.

As for that plan's effect on the Avengers, there's something to be said for "all hell breaking loose" as a go-to tactic for villains who want to throw a team of battling heroes off-balance.

With the revelation of the Grim Reaper as this crew's mastermind, it at least becomes clear why Wonder Man was abducted--though obviously there's some friction between the Reaper and Ultron, so this appears to be an uneasy alliance. As to the overall goal, the scene we've just witnessed as well as the questions remaining at the story's conclusion have combined with Englehart's treatment of the WCA successfully enough to tempt the reader back to the mag in thirty days (as it did for myself)--and as we would see in its continuation, there were more surprises and guest-stars to come.

BONUS! The Vision creates an Avengers branch for the west coast.