Newly arrived in 1873, Immortus, Thor and Moondragon are warily confronted by five of the era’s most notorious heroic gunslingers, but hostilities are averted when Two-Gun Kid mentions Hawkeye. The cowboys take their new allies to Tombstone, and sneak into town to Matt Hawk’s law offices, where Hawkeye awaits. He explains how he arrived there, and that Kang has taken over the town. Immortus tells them Kang’s new plan is to conquer the 20th century by taking over the 19th, thus preventing the Avengers from ever existing. Meanwhile, in the 20th century Hugh Jones gloats over the imprisoned Avengers, but after he leaves, Captain America tells the others he has a plan. In the past, Hawkeye tells the others that he suspects Kang’s men will rob the Pecos train, which carries uranium ore from a nearby mine. With his conspicuous 20th century allies disguised and in reserve aboard the train, Hawkeye and his cowboy friends capture bandits working for Kang as they try to rob the train, and Hawkeye begins interrogating them in preparation for an attack on Kang’s citadel.
Hawkeye used Dr. Doom’s time machine in an attempt to reach the 12th century, but encounters Kang in the time stream. Their battle sends them both off course, and Hawkeye finds himself outside 19th century Tombstone, whose skyline is dominated by Kang’s futuristic citadel. A fan of the era, Hawkeye seeks out Matt Hawk, knowing that Hawk is secretly the Two Gun Kid.
This issue marks the first time Marvel’s Western heroes cross over with Marvel’s super hero characters, confirming them as all being part of the same timeline. Previously known as Ghost Rider, the Western hero Night Rider was renamed to avoid confusion with the new Ghost Rider, demon-possessed bike rider Johnny Blaze; he will later be renamed again to his most frequent title, Phantom Rider.
