Mike Gustovich

"Godlings and Gladiators" Part 2 of 2. In the depths of Lemuria, Lord Ghaur has returned! And with Crystal, Sersi, Hercules, and Captain America under his control, the deviant high priest forms a new uni-mind to steal the Avengers' powers and souls! Meanwhile in the deviants' arena of death, Giant-Man and the Black Knight slug it out with Enigmo, Karkas, Ransak, and Red Bull…not realizing that these estranged deviants are actually here to rescue them! Fortunately though, Hank Pym and Dane Whitman shake off the effects of the deviants' brain mines and rally around Kro and his crew! Can Earth's Mightiest and Kro's finest send Lord Ghaur down to defeat once again? (Notes: Kro and his team of peaceful deviants appear next in Fantastic Four Unlimited 10.

"Shattered Vows!" Guest-starring Franklin Richards and Devlor of the Fantastic Force. After many years away, Shatterstar returns to Earth! And the Kree warrior is still in the business of collecting inhumans for his mighty (deceased) empire! Finding none in the deserted Himalayas, Shatterstar rushes to New York City to capture the Avengers' favorite inhuman elemental! After corralling Crystal, the Kree emissary moves on to his next target…Devlor! But as Shatterstar is gathering inhumans, he's also gathering adversaries! At Cape Canaveral, Earth's Mightiest Heroes and Psi-Lord finally catch up to their galactic foe! Can the Avengers shut down Shatterstar and his delusional dreams? Avengers Lineup: Crystal, Deathcry, Giant-Man, Quicksilver, Thunderstrike, and the Vision. (Note: Shatterstar (aka Arides) previously appeared in Inhumans (1st series) 6.)

"Prometheus Mutans!" Part 11 of the Evolutionary War storyline. Story continues from Spectacular Spider-Man Annual 8. The High Evolutionary puts the final touches on his master plan to send mankind back to the beginning! While preparing for the final stage, the purifiers reconstruct Jocasta inside a former Stark International plant. However, the Avengers' former member briefly escapes and sends a desperate call for help to Avengers headquarters on Hydro-Base. But due to ongoing events in the Avengers title, no one from the active roster is home! So the call goes out to the reserve avengers! A very diverse group responds including: The Captain, Falcon, Beast, Hulk, Hercules and the second Yellowjacket! This assorted collection of super-heroes begins a globe-hopping journey to stop the High Evolutionary's genetic bomb! After rescuing Jocasta in Long Island, the Avengers plunge into the depths of the Pacific Ocean to locate Lemuria! Earth's Mightiest Heroes successfully find Kro's undersea kingdom, but also discover Attuma and his Atlantean forces attacking it! Fortunately, the Captain convinces both leaders to stop fighting and join the search for the master geneticist's underwater base! When the seven heroes finally chase down the High Evolutionary (and his genetic bomb) near the volcanic island of Krakatoa, time has almost run out! Inside the genesis chamber, the Avengers battle the High Evolutionary for the life of the world! Can the Prince of Power, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, and Hank McCoy dash this demigod's dream of destiny? Or will the High Evolutionary succeed in taking mankind from madness to mud…and back again? Backup story: "Beyond Life" Script by Mark Gruenwald. Art by Ron Lim and Tony DeZuniga. The 11th chapter of the history of the High Evolutionary includes confrontations with the race of Beyonders and the Incredible Hulk. (Notes: The High Evolutionary returns in Thor 407. The first issue of What If (2nd series) explores an alternate reality in which the Avengers lost the Evolutionary War. The crossover plot involving the Hulk continues from Incredible Hulk 350.)

"Blood Wraith" An invasion by 6th century marauders interrupts a peaceful evening at Avengers Mansion! Out of the blue medieval warriors attack Crystal, Hercules, and the Vision! What do these men from the Middle Ages want? Only the most important object from their time…the Black Knight's ebony blade! But the bloodthirsty blade is not to be found at the Avengers headquarters! It's at Whitman Manor near the nation's capital! Once Sersi and the Black Widow repel the invaders in New York, the Avengers rush to Washington D.C. to protect the dangerous artifact! However another pair of 6th century robbers are already there! When the menacing duo subdues Victoria Bentley and Seth Dolan, the Black Knight's squire has no choice but to brandish the ebony blade himself! And in that split second the Bloodwraith is born! Can Earth's Mightiest Heroes contain the savage Bloodwraith? Or will the cursed ebony blade begin a new rampage in the 20th century? First appearance of the Bloodwraith. Appearances by Lockjaw, Luna, Marilla, Chandu, Le Sabre, Maha Yogi, and Mongu. Avengers Lineup: Black Knight, Black Widow, Crystal, Hercules, Sersi, and the Vision. Second feature: One-page pin-up of Crystal vs. the Anti-Vision by Michael Avon Oeming. Third feature: One-page pin-up of Magdalene by Michael Avon Oeming. Fourth feature: One-page pin-up of the Anachronauts by Dan Panosian. Fifth story: "A Gamble With Time" Script by Roy Thomas, Jean-Marc Lofficier, and Randy Lofficier. Pencils by Al Milgrom. Inks by Mark Steckbauer. Terminatrix and the Anachronauts travel back to the 6th century to correct an anomaly in the time-space continuum involving the ebony blade. Flashback cameos by Merlin and Kang the Conqueror. (Notes: Elements of the plot continue from the Black Knight Limited Series (1990). The Bloodwraith returns in Avengers 366 (second story). Splash page art by Mark Pacella and Dan Panosian.

Book Market Steve Epting Sersi And The Avengers Cover

Collects Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) #343-344 and 348-375, Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) Annual #22, Avengers Strikefile (1994), X-Men (1991-2008 1st Series) #26, Avengers West Coast (1985-1994) #101, The Uncanny X-Men (1963-2011 1st Series) #307, Black Knight: Exodus (1996), and Avengers Anniversary Magazine (1993). One of the most shocking stories in Avengers history! When the Swordsman returns from the dead with the mysterious Magdalene by his side, a sprawling saga begins - and at its heart stands the shadowy Proctor! What is his great secret? Who are his mysterious Gatherers? And what do they want with the Vision, the Black Knight and the Eternal known as Sersi? Meanwhile, the Avengers deal with Kree terrorists, the Legion of the Unliving and a traitor in their midst - as the Black Knight finds himself torn between Sersi and his teammate Crystal! And can the X-Men help the Avengers stop a mutant/human civil war before Proctor begins his final gathering?

Direct Market Steve Epting Poster Variant Cover

Collects Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) #343-344 and 348-375, Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) Annual #22, Avengers Strikefile (1994), X-Men (1991-2008 1st Series) #26, Avengers West Coast (1985-1994) #101, The Uncanny X-Men (1963-2011 1st Series) #307, Black Knight: Exodus (1996), and Avengers Anniversary Magazine (1993). One of the most shocking stories in Avengers history! When the Swordsman returns from the dead with the mysterious Magdalene by his side, a sprawling saga begins - and at its heart stands the shadowy Proctor! What is his great secret? Who are his mysterious Gatherers? And what do they want with the Vision, the Black Knight and the Eternal known as Sersi? Meanwhile, the Avengers deal with Kree terrorists, the Legion of the Unliving and a traitor in their midst - as the Black Knight finds himself torn between Sersi and his teammate Crystal! And can the X-Men help the Avengers stop a mutant/human civil war before Proctor begins his final gathering?

Vibrant Alchemy!" Earth's Mightiest Heroes fly to Wakanda for a celebration with the Black Panther! This should be a happy reunion, but unfortunately a familiar super-villain has arrived first! Diablo, the Master of Alchemy! And the Fantastic Four's long-time foe has brought his friends with him! The Elements of Doom (last seen in Avengers 188)! So once again the Avengers will go back to school to battle the best of the periodic table…Carbon, Cobalt, Hydrogen, Phosphorus, Plutonium, Neon, and Titanium! Let's hope the heroes paid attention in their high school chemistry classes! Cameo appearance by Taylor Madison. Flashback cameos by Ms. Marvel, Wonder Man, and the Scarlet Witch. Avengers Lineup: Black Knight, Black Panther, Captain America, Crystal, Hercules, and the Vision. (Notes: This special issue is part of the Avengers' regular continuity most likely taking place between Avengers 366 and 367. Despite the $1.25 cover price, this comic book was a promotional giveaway distributed by the Charleston Chew Sugar Daddy Candy Company. This issue includes a glossy insert with Avengers trading cards.

The Sentinels attack the New Mutants, who learn that they are caught up in a web of intrigue involving the government; the Hellfire Club wants the New Mutants; Col. Rossi returns from the dead; and Psyche's attack seems to have been initiated by Prof. X.