The Avengers discuss whether to grant Rick Jones full membership, but Captain America insists the decision will be his as Rick’s mentor. When Rick inquires, Cap says he needs time to consider it, but indicates he is reluctant because he fears Rick might die young like his old partner Bucky. Immortus of Limbo allies with the Masters of Evil and promises to destroy the Avengers. Immortus lures Jones into a trap with the aid of his servant Atilla, locking Jones in the Tower of London in 1760. Immortus soon lures the Avengers into his lair, after briefly tricking them into fighting amongst themselves. Immortus pits the heroes against his agents Goliath, Merlin and Hercules, who are beaten by Giant-Man, Iron Man and Thor. Immortus then takes Cap back to the Tower in 1760, where Cap fights his way through soldiers to rescue Rick. The Masters of Evil attack the other Avengers and are on the verge of victory when Cap returns with Rick, turning the tide. Facing defeat, Enchantress casts a spell that turns time back to before they met Immortus, undoing recent events, though the Masters recall what happened. When Immortus tries to contact them, they ignore him.
This issue includes “A Marvel Masterwork Pin-Up” of “The One and Only Cap” (a full-page drawing of Captain America), by Jack Kirby (pencils), Sol Brodsky (inks). GSAv #3, ’75 reveals Immortus is another iteration of Kang. Issue includes fan letter from Gene Day, later a Marvel artist whose credits will include Av #181, ’79 & Av #201, ’80 (inks). The team’s traditional “Avengers Assemble!” battle cry sees print for the first time in this issue, voiced by Thor, though Av:EMH #4, ’05 depicts Cap as using it chronologically earlier, during the events of Av #8, ’64. OHMU #8, ’83 identified the historical figures Immortus deploys here to be Dire Wraiths; AvFo #8, ’99 confirmed Goliath, Hercules and Merlin to be Space Phantoms instead, as are, presumably, the others previously believed to be Wraiths. Since anyone trapped too long in Limbo becomes a Space Phantom, both identifiers may be true. Immortus claims to have observed the Masters’ previous battles with the Avengers, and the AvFo series confirms he monitored many more of the Avengers’ early battles; however, since it is nearly impossible to establish whether he was “present” or watching something akin to recordings, he is not listed in those appearances.
