The Avengers continue to hunt the Collector’s killer, with Iron Man employing the team’s computers while Starhawk, Moondragon, Ms. Marvel, Yellowjacket, Wasp, Jocasta and Captain Marvel all use their special abilities to seek clues. During the search, Moondragon purges Quicksilver’s mind of his hatred of the Vision via telepathic “insight,” Black Panther tries to calm an anxious Wonder Man, a bored Hercules provokes a fight with Thor until Black Widow breaks it up, and Moondragon calls her fellow searchers back to Avengers Mansion to pool their findings, prompting an irritated Iron Man to remind her he is in charge. When the searchers reassemble, Iron Man is surprised that Starhawk’s cosmic senses found nothing, but the data collected by everyone else points to a house in quiet suburban Forest Hills Gardens. Unable to launch Quinjets with their security privileges suspended, the Avengers commandeer a bus and visit the home in question, where seemingly normal couple Michael (Korvac) and Carina feign ignorance. None of the heroes can find anything out of the ordinary, but the deception unravels when a baffled Starhawk angrily asks why everyone is talking to a non-existent man, since he still cannot see or hear Korvac. The Avengers realize they have found their mysterious enemy, and Korvac sadly concludes that he can no longer remain concealed, that his plans for benevolent universal domination are probably ruined, and that the universe’s other great powers will soon rise against him. Determined to defend himself and avenge this setback, Korvac warns the Avengers will pay.
The Avengers battle the Collector (Av #174, ’78). Korvac kills the Collector (Av #174, ’78). The Avengers seek the Collector’s killer (Av #175, ’78). Korvac kills Starhawk and resurrects him, but renders him incapable of perceiving Korvac (Av #168, ’78).
This issue includes a LoC from future comics writer Peter Sanderson.