Marvel 1976.05 - Avengers #147

Avengers #147

Title: Crisis on Other-Earth

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: George Perez

Avengers: Captain America, Iron Man, Beast, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Thor, Moondragon, Hawkeye

Villain: Squadron Supreme (Hyperion, Golden Archer, Doctor Spectrum, Lady Lark, Whizzer)

Guests: Hellcat, Two-Gun Kid

Flashbacks: Serpent Squad (Krang, Princess Python, Viper, Eel, Cobra)

I can already hear you asking me what I'm doing. Yesterday I wrote about Avengers #144, and now I've jumped to Avengers #147. I have a good excuse, if you'll just stop shouting enough to hear what I'm saying. Avengers #145 was a Dreaded Deadline Doom issue, i.e. an issue that wasn't completed in time to be sent to the printer. It's something that happened a lot in the 1970's, unfortunately. Usually this meant an old story was reprinted as a replacement, but this time Marvel was in luck. Tony Isabella and Don Heck had already completed a 30 page story to be printed in Giant-Size Avengers #5. Stop the press! This story was split into two and printed in Avengers #145 and #146. It's out of continuity, and the letters page advises the reader to consider that the story took place before Avengers #141. That doesn't fit. Yellowjacket and the Wasp are already out of hospital, which would place the story later, but Hellcat isn't a member. It's a non-canon story which I choose to ignore. Let's go back to the rudely interrupted Steve Englehart story.

Thor, Moondragon and Hawkeye return from the past, accompanied by the Two-Gun Kid. Hawkeye says he's taking a break from the Avengers, but if they need him any time he's ready to help.

One thing I'm curious about is how they travelled through time. Doctor Doom's time machine was already lost. It was established way back in Journey Into Mystery #86 that Thor could travel through time by spinning his hammer faster than the speed of light, but that's not what it looks like. Possibly it's a spare time machine that Kang had standing around in his castle. If so, the Avengers should take it back to their mansion for safe keeping. They shouldn't have to risk an international incident by entering the castle of the ruler of a foreign country every time they want to travel through time.

Now let's get back to the remaining Avengers, who've been sent to the world of the Squadron Supreme, sometimes called Earth-712. They continue the fight with the Squadron Supreme that they'd started in their own world, Earth-616. Hellcat is surprisingly proficient, considering she's been a superhero for less than an hour.

Their battle is interrupted by the arrival of the American president, Nelson Rockefeller. In our world, Earth-1218, he only got as far as vice president. But what's significant is that he's wearing the Serpent Crown, which we last saw in Captain America #182. Or rather, it's an alternative version of the crown in this world. The Vision steals the crown and gives it to his wife, the Scarlet Witch. President Rockefeller seeks advice by establishing mental contact with Hugh Jones in the Avengers' world. It seems that everyone who's worn the crown in any universe is given a psychic connection with all the others.

The Avengers walk through the streets, not heading anywhere in particular, just trying to get away from the president and the soldiers at his side. As they walk, the Scarlet Witch feels the Serpent Crowl trying to take control of her. She runs away, followed only by the Vision. They bump into Hyperion, Golden Archer and Lady Lark, who also seem to be walking around aimlessly. Vision and Scarlet Witch defeat them.