Marvel 1975.01 - Avengers #131

Avengers #131

Title: A quiet half-hour in Saigon!

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Sal Buscema

Avengers: Iron Man, Thor, Vision, Hawkeye

Villain: Kang, Rama-Tut, Immortus, Legion of the Unliving (Frankenstein Monster, Wonder Man, Original Human Torch, Midnight, Ghost, Baron Zemo)

Regulars: Mantis

Guests: Nomad, Swordsman (ghost)

I'm continuing my reviews of the Avengers from January 1975 onwards. I need to write a recap of what's been happening, but the storylines have been so complex that I'm afarid I might omit something important.

Kang has been attacking the Avengers since Avengers #128. This is in connection with the Celestial Madonna, a woman whose son is prophesied to be the Chosen One. It was finally revealed that the Celestial Madonna is Mantis. I'm well aware that this storyline is disliked by most Marvel fans, but I enjoyed it. The story is complicated by Rama-Tut coming from the future to stop Kang taking the Celestial Madonna for himself, even though Rama-Tut is Kang's future self. Yes, I know, it's complicated.

The Swordsman dies while protecting Mantis.

Agatha Harkness is now teaching the Scarlet Witch the art of witchcraft.

Since last issue the Avengers have been in Saigon, trying to help Mantis discover her past.

Now to this month's issue. The quiet half-hour begins with Mantis beating up a mugger. Silly man. Did he really think he could attack the Avengers with a knife?

The Avengers are visited by Nomad, the new secret identity of Steve Rogers. It's only a quick visit to say Hi to his old friends. Supposedly he was nearby when he fought the Serpent Squad in Captain America #181. That's a happy coincidence.

Mantis sees a ghostly vision of the Swordsman.

Kang and Rama-Tut have been fighting one another in a time sphere ever since the end of Giant Size Avengers #2. They're sucked away into the throne room of Immortus, who was last seen in Avengers #10. Immortus enslaves Rama-Tut and offers to help Kang defeat the Avengers. Kang uses Immortus' technology to pluck six opponents from the past to attack the Avengers:

1. The Frankenstein Monster from 1898.

2. Wonder Man from 1964.

3. The original Human Torch from 1954.

4. Midnight from 1973.

5. The Ghost from 1969.

6. Baron Zemo (no date given, but he died in 1965).

Together he calls them the Legion of the Unliving. It's not clear to me why they should agree to serve Kang. The original Human Torch wasn't even a villain.

Kang betrays Immortus by trapping him in a cell. Then he teleports the Avengers and Mantis from Saigon into a castle which he calls the Labyrinth of Limbo.