It takes roughly nine years since they were incarcerated following a battle with Iron Man and Daredevil, but we now come full circle with the alien duo known as the Blood Brothers--introduced in 1973 as enforcers of Thanos when the Titan first appeared on Earth and established a base for himself in the Arizona desert, and having subsequently battled Iron Man when the Avenger fought beside Drax the Destroyer as well as the Thing. Yet it was during their clash with Iron Man and DD that we learned the secret of the Blood Brothers' overwhelming strength, a benefit of battling as a team in close proximity to one another. Consequently, they were imprisoned in separate facilities in order to keep their might in check.
Fortunately, the Blood Brothers are still in custody when the Avengers learn that the Army Corps of Engineers have unearthed that secret Arizona base and practically pounced on its cache of advanced equipment--news which alarms the Avengers and prompts the Vision to take measures to safeguard that equipment from tampering.
Colonel Farnam's assurances aside, we wouldn't be here unless writer Roger Stern and artists Bob Hall and Joe Sinnott didn't have something planned that would justify the Avengers' presence beyond that of a simple matter of precaution--a fact that the issue's cover would appear to bear out!
For the Avengers as well as the base's army contingent, this issue would present a deadly footnote to the saga of the Blood Brothers, who continue to serve the will of Thanos even after their master's demise.
As we'll see, it takes little time for the Avengers' fears to be realized, when two technicians trigger a molecular transmitter--and of all things within its range to transport, it's programmed to lock onto and retrieve two targets in particular. I'm willing to wager you won't need to give much thought to making an educated guess as to which two bloodthirsty bruisers will materialize on the grid.
Within seconds, half of the Avengers' fighting might is eliminated, leaving two Avengers who know each other's strengths better than most to fend for themselves. What they'll come to realize is that the Blood Brothers have a similar advantage in terms of coordination, and determination.
And so the battle is joined, with Starfox rejoining the fray soon after. Even so, the three have their hands full--until sudden tremors signal the return of their fourth comrade, whose anger ensures an imminent end to the conflict, and that those who had the effrontery to challenge him will pay the price.
Game, set and match for the Blood Brothers, who no doubt will be requesting a lot of aspirin on their return to incarceration. As for our heroes, Captain America will have a few terse words for Col. Farnam in parting, though the Avengers will have their own house to put in order when they return to find the Vision has effectively taken over the entire world in their absence. For more on the Blood Brothers, have a look at their 2008 entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z if you're curious to learn of their further appearances.
I'm gonna go full comic book nerd here and play the geek card, but if the Blood Brothers can only lift 50 tons (in proximity to one another), how can they smack the likes of Hercules and the Thing around?
ReplyDeleteOkay, maybe the Thing, I can see that, but Herc? He's in the hundred-ton club, ain't he?
I'm going to hate myself in the morning.
M.P.
I started "collecting" comics around this time (meaning a dedicated comics buyer of multiple titles as opposed to occasional purchases now and then), and this issue was my first experience with the Avengers. So I have an inordinate fondness for this issue (though I will admit Roger Stern is my favorite superhero comics writer of all time).
ReplyDeleteMP's comments remind me of the perils of OHOTMU type categorization. I loved the Handbooks as it revealed to me the rich legacy of Marvel lore. But the idea of the Blood Brothers being able to beat Hercules (even if only for a limited time) would not prove to be a problem until the Handbooks started saying this villain can do this, but this other character can do that. My advice is to not rely on OHOTMU stats, but believe the actual stories themselves. If the Blood Brothers are shown to beat Hercules, then they can. Nuff said. Respectfully.
Chris
M.P., Chris put into words my sentiments in regard to taking hard stats with a grain of salt as opposed to what a story is providing. For what it's worth, I've known both to be inconsistent in terms of the "facts" we've been given on the history and abilities of this character or that. The PPC often calls into question such inconsistencies, but I generally leave it at that; we can nail down the basics of a character (most of the time), but the details become elusive over time, especially when handbooks and stat sheets enter the fray.
ReplyDeleteChris, I truly enjoy it when someone brings to my attention that a story being profiled here happened to be their first Marvel issue. It's always interesting to read such recollections, reminding me of my own such issue--and in particular, the store I walked into, the location in the city, and of course, for whatever reason, stopping to linger over the comics rack, and flipping through the issue before purchase, a moment that would start me down this road. Sheer nostalgia. :D
M.P. - A nerd's what I must be, too! Because, I thought exactly the same thing as you.
ReplyDeletePhillip
With no disrespect for the stalwart M.P., I think really showing off one's black belt in comic book nerdity is debating points of "Villain lifted a car with one hand in issue #129" and "Hero once snapped Spider-Man's webbing with a shrug in Annual #8." To me, quoting chapter and verse exhibits far more nerd cred than referencing those dry Handbook stats.
ReplyDelete