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EDITORIALE CORNO, 1980

prima collana italiana in assoluto intitolata agli AVENGERS che fino a quel momento erano stati pubblicati sulle pagine del giornalino di Thor

TESTATA CRONOLOGICA TUTTA DEDICATA AL PIU’ ILLUSTRE E AMATO
GRUPPO DI SUPER EROI, L’ UNICO CON CENTINAIA E CENTINAIA DI IMITAZIONI
GIORNALIERE, ALCUNE ADDIRITTURA RIUSCITE, COMPRESE QUELLE DI GIGI
SABANI, MAX TORTORA E ALIGHIERO NOSCHESE.

FORMAZIONE POLPETTONE, CHE NEL CORSO DEI DECENNI HA
VISTO ONORARE LA SUA BANDIERA PRATICAMENTE DA TUTTI  I PIU’ GRANDI EROI
DOTATI DI SUPERPOTERI , ANCHE QUELLI PIU’ INSENSATI, SUPERFLUI E SENZA
IL BECCO DI UN QUATTRINO.

PRIMO VERO GRANDE SUPERGRUPPO DELLA STORIA, PIU’ FURBI DEI POOH PIU’ BELLI DEGLI SPANDAU BALLET E PIU’ BRAVI DEGLI HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS,
DAI LONTANI TEMPI DELLA GUERRA FREDDA HANNO DATO VITA AD UN BLOB
INFINITO E DINAMICO, CHE HA SCHIERATO IN DIFESA DELLA TERRA IL
POSSIBILE E L’ IMPOSSIBILE, A VOLTE RASCHIANDO UN PO’  IL FONDO DEL
BARILE, UTILIZZANDO STRATEGICAMENTE E DEMOCRATICAMENTE FINO ALL’ ULTIMA
STILLA DI ENERGIA SIA I TITOLARI CHE LE  RISERVE, SEBBENE A VOLTE CON
QUALCHE RACCOMANDAZIONE PREFERENZIALE DA PARTE DEL PRESIDENTE ALL’
ALLENATORE ANCELLOTTI. GLI UNICI PROTAGONISTI SENZA CHANCE, MAI
IMPIEGATI IN TUTTI QUESTI ANNI DI NOIOSE E RIPETITIVE BATTAGLIE ALL’
ULTIMO INSULTO E ALL’ ULTIMO SPUTO, SONO COMUNQUE STATI RONALDO, TOPO GIGIO, GATTO SILVESTRO E MISTER MAGOO, PER TUTTI GLI ALTRI, INCLUSO  ERNESTO SPARALESTO, C’E’ SEMPRE STATA, PRIMA O POI, LA PROPRIA  POSSIBILITA’ DI TROVARE GLORIA E GOAL NELLO SCHIERAMENTO.

QUESTO ALBO FA PARTE DELLA SERIE CRONOLOGICA CORNO , COMPOSTA DI 14 NUMERI, CHE RIPUBBLICA IN FORMATO GIGANTE E
INTERAMENTE A COLORI LE STORIE DEI POTENTI VENDICATORI  A PARTIRE DALLA PRIMISSIMA
“ARRIVANO…I VENDICATORI” (THE COMING OF THE AVENGERS apparsa per la prima volta negli Usa sul silver age The Avengers  # 1 del 09/63 e in italia su IL MITICO THOR N.5 del 1971) FINO ALL’
EPISODIO “LASCIATE DORMIRE I DRAGONI !” ( “Let sleeping dragons lie !”) PUBBLICATO DA
NOI SU IL MITICO THOR  N.48 DEL 1973 (corrispondente nell’ edizione originale americana a THE AVENGERS  # 41 del 06/67 )

i testi sono prima dell’ onnipresente Stan Lee indi del discepolo Roy Thomas,
ai disegni si susseguono l’ onnipotente Jack Kirby, il pertinente Don Heck e l’ immancabile John Buscema

all’ interno di questo albo vi sono 4 episodi dei Vendicatori : 2 completi , più uno iniziato nel numero scorso che si conclude ed un altro che inizia in questo e si concluderà nel prossimo

CONDIZIONI BUONISSIME, L’ALBO NON E’ DI RESA

LEGENDA STATO DI CONSERVAZIONE

condizioni ECCELLENTI (o anche EDICOLA e/o MAGAZZINO) = si intende un oggetto nuovo e perfetto oppure usato senza difetti e praticamente ancora come nuovo, tenendone per quest’ultimo caso in conto ovviamente la datazione ; corrisponde a un range di grading internazionale compreso tra 8,5 e 9,8 (non assegniamo punteggi superiori a 9,8 perchè trattasi di tipi ideali a ns avviso più teorici e scolastici che reali e concreti, ogni manufatto umano in natura ha una percentuale insita e congenita seppur infinitesimale di imperfezione)

condizioni OTTIME = oggetto nuovo (o talora anche usato ma maneggiato e conservato con molta cura) in cui non si riscontra alcun difetto rilevante e degno di nota, tutt’al più qualche minimo segno di lettura o di uso ; corrisponde a un range di grading internazionale compreso tra 7 e 8,5

condizioni BUONISSIME = oggetto usato (ed in taluni casi anche fondo di magazzino soggetto a piccole usure del tempo) con lievi imperfezioni e difetti poco vistosi, generalmente molto marginali ed appena percepibili ; corrisponde a un range di grading internazionale compreso tra 5,5 e 7

condizioni MOLTO BUONE = oggetto usato con imperfezioni vistose e difetti abbastanza spiccati, pur se non completamente invalidanti (generalmente specificati nel dettaglio alla voce CONDIZIONI nella parte inferiore della descrizione di ogni singolo oggetto); corrisponde a un range di grading internazionale compreso tra 4 e 5,5

condizioni PIU’ CHE BUONE / MEDIOCRI = oggetto usato con imperfezioni e difetti evidenti, smaccati, madornali ed invalidanti, assolutamente non collezionabile tuttavia idoneo per la semplice lettura o documentazione ; corrisponde a un range di grading internazionale inferiore a 4

per eventuali ulteriori dettagli aggiuntivi e specifici si prega di fare sempre riferimento alla voce CONDIZIONI nella parte inferiore della descrizione di ogni singolo oggetto

a disposizione moltissimi numeri delle altre serie Corno , Labor,  Star Comics, Play Press e Marvel, sono gradite le mancoliste.

Featured Characters:

• Avengers
  • Thor
  • Iron Man
  • Giant-Man
  • Wasp

Antagonists:

• Sub-Mariner
• Hulk

Locations:

• Gibraltar

Items:

• Iron Man Armor MK II
• Mjolnir
• Wasp’s Suit

Vehicles:

• Anthony Stark’s prototype bathyscaph

Synopsis

Continued from last issue…

At the Rock of Gibraltar Namor and Hulk use old World War II weaponry to attack the Avengers, but Iron Man deflects the shells with his repulsor rays. Namor disables Iron Man by firing an emery dust pellet at him, clogging up the joints in his armor. 

Thor holds the duo at bay while the Wasp finds a tank of oxygen, which is used to blow the dust away and bring Iron Man back into the fight. The Avengers chase their enemies through the tunnels. Namor plans to use an old air raid siren he has converted into a weapon, but is caught by Giant-Man and the battle continues. 

Both the Hulk and Sub-Mariner attempt to lift Thor’s hammer but are unable to do so. At an inopportune moment, the stress causes Hulk to change back into Banner when Namor needs his help the most, and is forced to flee.

Namor, without help from the Hulk, is quickly outmatched and narrowly escapes into the ocean.

Notes

• For a while, extreme stress becomes the only way the transformation between Hulk to Banner would occur. Though not confirmed yet, in this issue, Hulk transforms back to Banner out of extreme anger and stress, reminiscent of a future persona “Professor Hulk”.
• Thor will later recall and relate more specific details of his individual fight with the Hulk in Journey Into Mystery #112 (in Italy in THC #15). 

Featured Characters:

• The Avengers
  • Captain America (Steve Rogers) (Joins Team)
  • Thor
  • Iron Man (Tony Stark)
  • Giant-Man (Henry Pym)
  • Wasp

Supporting Characters:

• Teen Brigade
  • Rick Jones

Villains:

• Baron Zemo (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
• D’Bari Alien (First appearance)

Other Characters:

• Namor
• Atlantean Warriors
• Bucky (Only in flashback)
• Hulk (In an illusion or vision)

Synopsis

After escaping the Avengers previously, the Sub-Mariner encounters Inuit worshiping a man in a block of ice in the north sea. 

Angrily he casts the frozen man into the ocean. The Avengers discover the body, which had been thawed by warmer waters. 

It turns out to be the hero of WWII, Captain America. 

His body had been frozen and preserved after a failed mission near the end of the war. 

The Avengers then attend a press conference where they are turned to stone by a creature with a mysterious ray. 

Owing his life to the Avengers, Captain America tracks down the alien and makes it restore the Avengers back to normal. 

In return the Avengers try to free the alien’s craft from the water and the Sub-Mariner attacks. 

After fighting him off, they finish freeing the craft and the alien departs. Captain America is then recruited as an Avenger!

Notes

• This issue marks the first appearance of Captain America in the “Silver Age” of Comics. His return was spurned from a teaser done in Strange Tales #114 (in Italy in F4C #13), in which the Human Torch battled a Cap impostor. Cap last appeared in Captain America Comics #78 (in Italy in DECENNI #2), albeit part of Atlas Comics attempt at reviving the super hero genre, however as these stories take place prior to the 2nd World War they were probably retconned into being stories of one of the many successors who took his mantle after the war. Cap’s last “war time” story appeared in Captain America’s Weird Tales #74 (unpublished in Italy). Issue #75 did not feature any stories with Captain America.
• At his last appearance, his partner Bucky was injured and Hulk’s girlfriend Betsy Ross became his sidekick as Golden Girl. The tale of Cap being frozen in suspended animation, and the “death” of Bucky were never told during the Golden Age, the flashback in this issue serves as the backdrop to explaining what happened to Cap after the war.
• Giant Man and Wasp, prior to appearing in Avengers #4 made a guest appearance in Journey Into Mystery #101 helping Thor battle giant ants with the help of Iron Man (in Italy in THC , this same issue), they also battled the Black Knight in Tales to Astonish #52 (in Italy in URC #36). They would battle the Porcupine again in Tales to Astonish #53 (in Italy in URC #37).
• Iron Man since Avengers #3 (in Italy in THC #8) had a minor appearance in Journey Into Mystery #101 in which he aids Thor, Giant Man and Wasp battle giant ants (in Italy in THC#9). He would go onto battle the Madarin in Tales of Suspense #50 (in Italy in DEVC #34) and the Scarecrow in Tales of Suspense #51 (in Italy in DEVC #35).
• Thor would team up with his fellow Avengers Iron Man, Wasp and Giant Man in Journey Into Mystery #101 (in Italy in THC #9), this would later bring him into battle against Zarko the Tomorrow Man through Journey #101-102 (in Italy in THC #9-10). However it’s interesting to note that Thor does not return from Zarko’s future until Journey Into Mystery 103 (in Italy in THC #10), and soon finds himself in a battle against Enchantress and the Executioner. The events of this issue could happen either after or in between this battle.
• Sub-Mariner and Captain America have had a past working together during World War II as members of the Invaders and All-Winners Squad. However, during this issue, while the two characters know of the others existence they both appear to be unaware of their past camaraderie. This was later explained by the fact that the two had issues with their memories due to their respective conditions that carried them over into the Silver Age Marvel universe (Namor having amnesia, and Cap being frozen in ice.)
• The villain cursing Captain America and Bucky in Cap’s flashback is later revealed to be the original Baron Zemo, who appears in Avengers #6 (in Italy in THC #13)
• It has been long believed that Bucky had died attempting to stop the drone plane, however he eventually returned under the guise of Winter Soldier.
• After his appearance in this issue, Namor isn’t seen again until Fantastic Four #27 (in Italy in F4C #21), where he kidnaps the Invisible Girl once more, the FF team up with Dr. Strange in order to rescue her.
• The alien being that Cap fights in this issue of the Avengers is later revealed to be a member of the D’Bari alien race.
• The legend of Medusa the alien is believed to have perpetuated is about a Greek monster/woman whose hair are really snakes. Her appearance would turn people into stone.
• Cap joins the Avengers in this issue, he later takes the Hulk’s place and is granted “founding member” status.
• The Avengers next appear in Fantastic Four #25 (in Italy in F4C #20), where their mansion is trashed by the Hulk. They are forced to battle their former teammate in New York City along with the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four #26 (in Italy in F4C #20).

Trivia

• This iconic cover has been parodied and homaged many times. Most recently in the “Secret Invasion” arc with Skrulls assuming the places of the Avengers.

Leo Ortolani’s tribute for Rat-Man Collection # 30 cover (Italy, 2002)

Featured Characters:

• Avengers
  • Giant-Man (Henry Pym)
  • Wasp (Janet Van Dyne)
  • Iron Man (Tony Stark)
  • Captain America (Steve Rogers)
  • Thor (Odinson) / Dr. Donald Blake

Supporting Characters:

• Teen Brigade
  • Rick Jones
  • Various unnamed members

Antagonists:

• Lava Men 
  • Jinku (First appearance)
  • Basallo
  • Numerous unnamed Lava Men

Other Characters:

• Ant-Man’s Ants
• Stark Industries
  • Frank (First appearance)
• Jane Foster
• U.S. Army
  • General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross
• Hulk (Bruce Banner)
• Betty Ross
• Molto

Locations:

• Earth 
  • United States of America
    • New York
      • New York City
        • Manhattan
          • Midtown
            • Fifth Avenue
              • Avengers Mansion
          • Tony Stark’s Apartment
          • Donald Blake’s Medical Practice
        • Queens
          • Flushing
            • Stark Enterprises Main Plant
    • New Mexico 
      • Los Diablos Missile Base 
  • Pacific Ocean (Only in flashback)

Items:

• Giant-Man’s Suit
• Wasp’s Suit and Bio-Synthetic Wings
• Iron Man Armor MK II
• Captain America’s Uniform and Shield
• Mjolnir
• Gamma Ray Bomb (Recap)
• Living Rock (Destruction)

Vehicles:

• Avengers’ Helicopter

Synopsis

The Avengers return to their mansion to inspect the damage caused by the battle with the Hulk. They disband for the time being and Captain America teaches Rick Jones some acrobatic maneuvers.

Days later, a mysterious high-pitched sound destroys a computer in one of Tony Stark’s Long Island factories and Iron Man is informed. Meanwhile, Giant-Man and the Wasp are conducting experiments inside a large anthill. They are also affected by the noise and escape before the anthill collapses. In his medical office, Don Blake reads about the effects of the noise in the newspaper. Thor meets Captain America and Rick Jones, who are still training, and they witness another shockwave. 

The six heroes investigate the source of this new unknown threat.

Meanwhile, in an army base in the west of the country, a strange rock breaks the surface of the earth and the soldiers investigate. Overseeing the events is General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. They are interrupted by his daughter Betty, accompanied by Bruce Banner. Banner is deep in thought, mentally reliving the accident that changed him into the Hulk, as well as battling against his former allies the Avengers. His daydream is broken by General Ross, who demands that Banner investigate the giant rock. 

Banner deduces that the rock is actually being pushed to the surface by something underneath.

Beneath the ground, it turns out that Banner was correct. The Lava Men have created a machine that slowly pushes the “living rock” to the surface. Molto, one of the Lava Men, pleads with Basallo, the king of the Lava Men. Molto wishes for the Lava Men to stop raising the rock, as the humans are not evil and do not deserve this. He is however struck down by Jinku, the Lava Man witch doctor, and accused of cowardice because of his defeat by Thor.

Back on the surface, the army is about to destroy the rock with missiles when the Avengers arrive. 

Iron Man tries to cut through the rock, only to discover it is actually alive. He blasts underneath the rock to see what is below it and stumbles across some Lava Men. They overwhelm him with sheer numbers and begin to overheat his armor. At the last minute, Iron Man is saved by Thor and Captain America. 

Due to his immortality, Thor decides he is the only one that can continue. As he approaches, the Lava Men melt the earth below him, changing it into lava. Thor casually walks through it, to the Lava Men’s amazement. Thor finds Basallo and Jinku, and demands that they stop raising the rock. Basallo explains the origin of the rock and that if anybody attempts to destroy it, it will explode with tremendous power. 

Their only hope is to push it to the surface before it explodes so that it will only destroy the surface life and not the entire planet. Thor tries to think of a way to save both the planet and the life on the surface.

The Lava Men attempt to invade the surface and come face to face with Captain America. 

He fights bravely but is stopped when the Lava Men bind him with cinders. Rick Jones rushes to his aid and begins to break Cap free while Iron Man faces the Lava Men.

Elsewhere, Giant-Man and the Wasp have been analyzing the living rock and they find a patch that isn’t pulsating. If this spot is struck with enough power, it should cause the rock to implode, rather than explode. They rush to find Thor and find Iron Man, Captain America and Rick Jones. Giant-Man lifts the Avengers’ helicopter and blows back all the Lava Men with the spinning rotors. 

Rick Jones finally sets Cap free and they travel underground to find Thor.

Back on the surface, Bruce Banner is still carrying out his research when he turns into the Hulk. He hears the voices of his enemies, the Avengers, and proceeds towards them. The Avengers panic and try to lure Hulk away from the living rock. 

Thor attempts to join in the fight but is ambushed by Jinku. He points his witch doctor’s rod at Thor and miraculously changes him back into Don Blake, as well as causing the tunnel to collapse. He flees, thinking that Thor is bewitched and able to change his form, leaving Blake injured in the rubble.

On the surface, the rest of the Avengers attempt to deal with the Hulk. Cap, Giant-Man and the Wasp have a plan. Using their growth capsules, Giant-Man and the Wasp taunt and tease the Hulk, luring him onto the living rock. They take him to the correct spot to strike and coax him into striking it, causing the living rock to implode.

Underground, Don Blake uses the last of his strength to change back into Thor as the tunnel completely caves in around him. He breaks free and confronts the Lava Men, convincing them to stop their invasion and to return to their own land.

Outside, General Ross declares the threat to be over and Betty rushes off to look for Bruce, finding him injured, but alive. As the Avengers leave, they receive a “condition red” distress call from the Teen Brigade.

Notes

• Thor is last seen in Journey into Mystery #103 and #104 (in Italy in THC #10-11) where he returns from the future battling Zarko the Tomorrow Man and ends up in a battle with Enchantress and the Executioner, and later battles Skagg the Storm Giant and Surtur. These events likely occur prior to Thor’s appearance in Fantastic Four #25 and #26 (in Italy in F4C #20).
• Iron Man is last seen in Tales of Suspense #52 in which he battles the Crimson Dynamo (in Italy in DEVC #36) and Tales of Suspense #53 where he battles the Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) (in Italy in DEVC #37). These events likely occur prior to Fantastic Four #25-26 (in Italy in F4C #20).
• Giant Man and Wasp are last seen in Tales to Astonish #54 battling El Toro (in Italy in URC #38), and in #55 against the Human Top (in Italy in URC #39). These adventures likely occur prior to Fantastic Four #25-26 (in Italy in F4C #20).
• Captain America and Rick Jones are last seen in the previous issue of the Avengers, as well as Fantastic Four #25-26 (in Italy in F4C #20).
• This issue begins directly after the events of Fantastic Four #25-26 (in Italy in F4C #20).
• Although last seen being swept away by a river in New York in Fantastic Four #26 (in Italy in F4C #20), it is not explained how Bruce Banner manages to get back to New Mexico in such a short amount of time.
• The flashback presented by Bruce Banner details events that were originally told in Incredible Hulk #1 (in Italy in THC #5).
• The Lava Men in this issue once sent one of their own to battle Thor, who defeated Molto (Earth-616), the self titled Lava Man, back in Journey into Mystery #97 (in Italy in THC #6).
• All the Avengers would appear (chronologically) in Avengers #6 (in Italy in THC #13), although there were two issues of their solo titles (minus Captain America and Rick Jones, who didn’t have their own solo series as yet.)
• Giant Man and Wasp will be seen again in Tales to Astonish #56 (in Italy in URC #40).
• Iron Man would be seen again in Tales of Suspense #54 (in Italy in DEVC #38).
• Thor appears next in Journey into Mystery #105 (in Italy in THC #11).
• Bruce Banner/The Hulk will not be seen again until Amazing Spider-Man #14 (in Italy in URC #12).
• Banner takes another dose of Gamma Rays through a Gamma Pill which Rick throws into the Hulk’s mouth.
• The Lava Men will appear again in Marvel Team-Up #26 (in Italy in F4C #132).

Featured Characters:

• Avengers
  • Captain America
  • Thor
  • Iron Man
  • Giant-Man
  • Wasp

Supporting Characters:

• Teen Brigade
  • Rick Jones
  • Tom (First appearance)

Antagonists:

• The Masters of Evil (First appearance)
  • Baron Zemo (Joins team)
  • Black Knight (Joins team) 
  • Melter (Joins team)
  • Radioactive Man (Joins team) 
• Franz Gruber, (First appearance) Zemo’s pilot (Unnamed)

Other Characters:

• Black Knight’s Horse (Elendil)

Locations:

• South America
• United States of America
  • Chicago
  • New York City
• Germany (Flashback)
• J.F.K International Airport

Items:

• Iron Man Armor MK II
• Mjolnir
• Captain America’s Shield
• Captain America’s Uniform
• Black Knight’s Power Lance
• Melting Ray MK I
• Adhesive X

Vehicles:

• Zemo’s heli-overcraft

Synopsis

En route to respond to the Teen Brigade‘s distress call, Captain America gives the other Avengers a demonstration of skill with his shield. Cap thanks Iron Man for upgrading his shield with transistors, making the shield even easier to use. He thinks of Bucky and begins to dwell on the past.

Prior to the Teen Brigade’s distress signal, over the jungles of South America, a pilot flies a plane along a perilous route to bring supplies to his master, Baron Zemo. Zemo examines the latest scientific journals, looking for a formula to dissolve the mysterious “Adhesive X,” which has permanently bonded his hood to his face. He angrily discovers in a newspaper that Captain America is alive, and explains to the pilot that Captain America caused his hood to be glued to his face.

The pilot leaves Zemo, with instructions to find three people… In present day New York, the Teen Brigade are still waiting for the Avengers to arrive. Tom arrives and explains that the situation has escalated and that the Black Knight is flying over the city, spraying a mysterious chemical onto the streets below. After a brief time, the city is brought to a standstill, with people and vehicles alike stuck on the spot. 

The Melter appears, bragging about how Zemo has upgraded his melting ray so that it affects all metals, instead of only iron. Radioactive Man joins him, and they continue to spray adhesive and stamp out any resistance from the police. Suddenly, the Avengers appear and battle the villains. 

Unaware of the trap, Captain America and Giant-Man are stuck to the ground by the Adhesive X. As the Wasp and Thor hold off the villains, Iron Man cuts through the ground beneath the trapped heroes and drags the pavement away with a tow truck, heroes still attached. The Black Knight appears and charges the truck. Thor leaps ahead and knocks the Black Knight off-balance. As the Avengers escape, Zemo arrives and is updated by the other villains. He realizes that if anyone can find a solution to Adhesive X, it is the Avengers, so he decides to wait until they have found one.

Continued to next issue…

Notes

• Although this issue takes place directly after Avengers #5 (in Italy in THC #12 or VENDGIGC #2), Iron Man is drawn wearing the helmet he started wearing in Tales of Suspense 54 (in Italy in DEVC #38), which as far as evidence suggests happened after the events of Avengers #5 & 6.
• Baron Zemo, although first appearing in this issue, is responsible for the drone plane that killed Bucky in the flashback depicted in Avengers 4 (in Italy in THC #9 or VENDGIGC #2), where he is depicted in one panel as a featureless background figure, and his hand only is shown in another.
• The Black Knight was last seen in Tales to Astonish 52 (in Italy in URC #36), where he was defeated by Giant Man and the Wasp.
• The Melter last appeared in Tales of Suspense 47 (in Italy in DEVC #31), where he was defeated by Iron Man.
• Radioactive Man last appeared in Journey Into Mystery 93 (in Italy in THC #4), where he was supposedly destroyed by Thor.
• The Teen Brigade was last seen Avengers 5 (in Italy in THC #12 or VENDGIGC #2).