Do you really want to pick a fight with a construction worker in the Marvel universe's New York City? I mean, the whole city is probably being rebuilt from some super-hero fight or another all year, 24-7. Guy's probably built like a...and I can't think of a way to finish that sentence without swearing. Well, let's just get into my coverless copy here of Avengers #114, "Night of the Swordsman" Written by Steve Englehart, pencils by Bob Brown, inks by Mike Esposito.
The Scarlet Witch is not in a great mood here; as anti-mutant panic was up, and her brother Quicksilver had basically bagged out, having just married Crystal and gone to live with the Inhumans. Wanda also wasn't sure where her relationship with the Vision was going: although he had recently recovered from injuries (damage?) she takes offense Cap and Iron Man pointing out he was an android, different from them. Storming out of Avengers Mansion, she is accosted by a construction worker, and lets him have it; namely, a hex blast. That doesn't seem to do much, or at least enough; but she gets an assist from Mantis, who leaves his ass unconscious on the street.
Back at the mansion, Cap is a hard case, pointing out Mantis is a security risk. And he's less thrilled to see her bringing the Swordsman! After having betrayed the Avengers multiple times, Swordy had fallen on hard times and hard drinking; before Mantis took an interest in him and turned him around. Cap is unconvinced, but Wanda wants to give him a chance; which I think is less that she believed in him than was sick of Cap and the other guys making all the calls. The other Avengers seemingly agree, offering Swordsman probationary status. Mantis would hang out, but wasn't particularly interested in membership; at least yet.
The Swordsman fights alongside Thor for a few days--fighting no one of any real importance. It might've been nice if that had been seen in Thor's book, but no go. He seems on the verge of going bad while sparring with the Vision and Black Panther, but stays true. Later, when the team sees a news report of Hawkeye (fighting Zzzax with the Hulk!) Swordsman doesn't lavish praise on his former pupil, calling him a grandstander: true, but Cap wonders if maybe Swordy just didn't want Hawkeye around. Cap writes that off as paranoia, although he'd feel differently if he saw Mantis and Swordman summon...the Lion God! Which had attacked the team just two issues prior, although I don't think I'd ever seen him. He had something against the Panther, and promises Mantis and Swordsman "the warm glow of my gratitude!" Could've at least offered a gift card, particularly since Mantis takes down Thor with a surprise neck-strike!
The Avengers are felled quickly, and the Lion God plans on burning the Panther at the stake; before the Swordsman and Mantis hypnotize him with "psychedelic blade-work" and Mantis's dancing! Um...hmm. The Lion God is captured in an adamantium cylinder, for Thor to get rid of him later; as Swordy and Mantis explain she had sensed the Lion God's "malignant force" and knew they couldn't beat him, so set this trap; having no time to warn the suspicious Avengers beforehand. All's swell that ends swell; although Cap still wonders if this was a blind, setting them up for a later betrayal...
I think this was Mantis's second appearance? Like the Lion God, she first appeared in Avengers #112. Englehart really, really liked her. I'm kind of surprised she had an issue off. Oh, and today's title? From Futurama, of course!
Man, I wouldn't mess with Wanda...she has angry angry eyebrows. But yeah, Swordsman always was a bit of a jerk.
ReplyDeleteI know he created her so that's why he was so enamored with her and thus used her a lot in his stories, but Englehart was pretty much the only one who thought that highly of her. No one else really used that much. I meah shit, Englehart used her in a total of 3 different comic companies under 3 different names. Jesus man, obsessed much?
ReplyDeleteI also call bullshit on Mantis taking down Thor with a judo chop or whatever that was. even if she hit a vital pressure point, he's a god who can toe to toe w/ the Hulk. He'd have laughed that shit off instead.