Leaves Team: Iron Man • Giant-Man • Thor • Wasp

Joins Team: Hawkeye • Quicksilver • Scarlet Witch

Villains: Masters of Evil: Executioner, Enchantress, Melter, Black Knight

Guest Appearance: Sub-Mariner, Rick Jones, Happy Hogan

Cameo: Black Widow, Magneto, Toad, Angel, Iceman, Beast (all in flashback); Mole Man, Immortus, Kang; Hulk (in "next issue" blurb)

Gadgets & Technology: Nuclear-Powered Remote Control Underwater TV Scanner

Letters Page: Page One • Page Two

The Avengers face off wih the remaining Masters of Evil- the Executioner, the Enchantress, the Melter and Black Knight- in the busy city streets. The villains promise a battle royal that would inevitable harm innocent bystanders. Iron Man orders Thor to execute "Plan D" and he begins swirling his hammer around. The Asgardian villains recognize what Thor is up to, and they teleport away, but the Melter and Black Knight are transported via Thor's hammer to another dimension, along with the Avengers, away from innocents. When the bad guys try and use their powers, they feedback on them, since the dimension they are in does not obey normal laws of physics. The Avengers wrap them up and take them back to Earth.

Meawhile, Cap and Rick bury the body of Baron Zemo and try to plan their next move to get out of the jungle. They are assailed by gunfire from Zemo's remaining mercenaries, who accidentally destroy the jet- their only means of escape from the jungle. Cap chases them into the jungle and then he and Rick begin the long walk to civilization.

Iron Man, Giant-Man and the Wasp have a quorum for their Avengers meeting (Thor is away at the Trial of the Gods, see Thor in JIM #116.) The three Avengers discuss their desires to take an extended leave of absence from the team. Ironically, the former villain Hawkeye is knocking on their door- in his own special way- to gain membership in the Avengers. He explains his recent troubles and tells them that he just wants a chance to get in the right direction with the Avengers, and they agree he would make a good candidate. Next, they send out an invitation to Namor, the Sub-Mariner, to join the team, but he turns them down. In Europe, the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver read in the paper where the Avengers are inviting new members. Quicksilver persuades his sister, Wanda, to consider once again using their powers, except this time for good, not evil.

The Avengers hold a press conference where they announce the new change in their lineup, introducing Hawkeye to the assembled reporters. He says that they are in the process of interviewing new potential members. After the conference, they repair to their headquarters and sort through more membership applications. Back in the Amazon jungle, Captain America is leading Rick Jones past alligators, snakes and wild animals to civilization. They find a ride back to the nearest town after saving a man from a leaping leopard.

Wanda and Pietro arrive at the docks, greeted by Tony Stark, who takes them to his mansion. Along the way, Quicksilver shows off his powers by racing around Stark's car at super speed. Once at his mansion, Stark changes into Iron Man's costume and greets them again, this time as an Avenger! Finally, Captain America and Rick Jones have made it back to Stark's mansion, and they are shocked to see huge crowds waiting outside. Unnerved at what might be going on, Cap leaps inside a window and cases the area to make sure nothing weird is up. Rick joins him after parking the car and they go into the conference room to see the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and Hawkeye surrounded by his teammates (except for Thor.) Everybody is very happy to see Cap back, and they explain to him that the three new super-heroes are going to be joining the Avengers. He is then shocked to find out that the rest of the team is taking a leave of absence.

Public speculation about how the Avengers will deal without some of their most powerful members runs throughout society, and indeed, their arch-enemies wonder how the team will cope. Iron Man addresses the public gathered outside the mansion door that the New Avengers will shortly make their appearance. His last bit of advice is for the new team- led by Captain America- to seek out the Hulk and try and persuade him to once again join the team. Then, Iron Man, Giant-Man and the Wasp make their melancholy good-byes to each other and go on their seperate ways. The New Avengers- Captain America, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and Hawkeye- go outside and greet the assembled citizens, press and fans who cheer them on.

-- synopsis by Gormuu

-- panel images and letters pages provided by Avengers Assemble

Issues Reprinted
Avengers #11-20

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.