Moments after laying the Swordsman to rest, the Avengers witness the Titanic Three pursuing and executing a local who killed his wife in a fit of rage. Seeing the Avengers preparing to attack, Crimson Dynamo reminds them that they have no jurisdiction in Vietnam. Iron Man angrily attempts to fight regardless, but Thor halts him, causing a brief fight between the two before the Avengers depart. Turning their attention to investigating Mantis’ mysterious past, Vision suggests that Mantis contact Captain Mar-Vell since her past apparently involved the Kree and the Avengers stop by a local radio station to send a message to Rick Jones. Their ongoing search proves fruitless, and the Slasher soon spots them. Thinking the Avengers are hunting him, and also spotting the Titanic Three, the Slasher alerts the trio that the Avengers have not departed Vietnam as instructed, and joins them in attacking the Avengers. During the battle, the Avengers are aided by a hooded figure, and the battle finally ends when the Slasher is revealed to be a thief, causing the Titanic Three to abandon him.
Radioactive Man fights Goliath (Av #54-55, ’68). Crimson Dynamo and Titanium Man fight Iron Man (IM #22, ’70). Mantis trains with the Priests of Pama, first meets the Avengers as Swordsman’s girlfriend (Av #112, ’73), then learns of her parentage from the Zodiac’s Libra. The Star-Stalker proclaims the Priests of Pama to be pacifist Kree (Av #123, ’74). Kang announces the Dawn Star’s heralding of the Celestial Madonna (Av #129, ’74). The Avengers meet to discuss recent events, and agree to accompany Mantis to Vietnam to inter the Swordsman’s body and help her investigate her past, leaving behind the Scarlet Witch to continue her sorcery studies with Agatha Harkness. Meanwhile Slasher robs the Saigon Diamond Exchange. Arriving in Vietnam, the Avengers bury the Swordsman in the grounds of the Temple of the Priests of Pama (p1). Radioactive Man escapes prison & joins Crimson Dynamo & Titanium Man as the Titanic Three (p2).
The hooded figure aiding the Avengers is revealed as Libra next issue. The text on p4 calls the Slasher Buzzsaw.
