Search Comics, Titles, Creators & More
Browse
View Titles by Publisher or Series
New Comics
View the Weekly Releases
League of Comic Geeks - Home ×
  • Log in Sign up
  • Search
  • My Pull List
  • My Comics
Discover
  • Browse
  • New Comics
  • Stores
    • Browse Stores
    • Retailer Tools
  • Community
    • My Feed
    • Community Posts
    • Comic Discussions
    • Comic Reviews
    • Community Lists
    • Contributions
Log in Sign up
  • My Profile Navigation
Marvel Comics   ·   Released May 1st, 1964

The Avengers #5

  • Overview
  • Contributions
    Submit Corrections Submit New Variant Cover Contribution History
78
45 of 58 Liked It
3.3 Avg. Rating
Pull It
Have It
Read It
Want It

THE INVASION OF THE LAVA MEN

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.

Format
Comic
Cover Price
$.12
The Avengers #5
PrevSeries Next
148
267
78

Other Covers

Add
The Avengers #5 UK Edition

Creators

Stan Lee
Writer, Editor
Stan Lee
Jack Kirby
Penciller
Jack Kirby
Inker
Paul Reinman
Stan Goldberg
Colorist
Stan Goldberg
Sam Rosen
Letterer
Sam Rosen

Characters

Basallo
Earth-616
Betty Ross
Betty Ross
Earth-616
Captain America
Steve Rogers
Captain America
Earth-616
Donald Blake
Donald Blake
Earth-616
Giant-Man
Hank Pym
Giant-Man
Earth-616
Hulk
Bruce Banner
Hulk
Earth-616
Iron Man
Tony Stark
Iron Man
Earth-616
Jane Foster
Jane Foster
Earth-616
Jinku
Earth-616
Molto
Earth-616
Rick Jones
Rick Jones
Earth-616
Thaddeus Ross
Thaddeus Ross
Earth-616
Thor Odinson
Thor Odinson
Earth-616
Wasp
Janet Van Dyne
Wasp
Earth-616

Key Events

First Appearance
Jinku Earth-616

Collected In

  • Essential Avengers Vol. 1 TP
    Essential Avengers Vol. 1 TP
    Essential Avengers
  • Marvel Masterworks Vol. 4 HC
    Marvel Masterworks Vol. 4 HC
    Marvel Masterworks Vol. 1 (1987 - 1993)
  • Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1 HC
    Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1 HC
    Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers (2002)
  • Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1 TP
    Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1 TP
    Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers (2002)
  • Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1 HC 2015 Printing
    Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1 HC 2015 Printing
    Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers (2002)
  • Mighty Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1 - The Coming of The Avengers GN TP
    Mighty Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1 - The Coming of The Avengers GN TP
    Mighty Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers (2021)
  • The Avengers Annual #4
    The Avengers Annual #4
    The Avengers Vol. 1 (1963 - 1996)
  • The Avengers Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
    The Avengers Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
    The Avengers Vol. 1 (1963 - 1996)
  • The Avengers Epic Collection: Earth's Mightiest Heroes TP
    The Avengers Epic Collection: Earth's Mightiest Heroes TP
    The Avengers Epic Collection (2013)
  • The Incredible Hulk Epic Collection: Man or Monster? TP
    The Incredible Hulk Epic Collection: Man or Monster? TP
    The Incredible Hulk Epic Collection (2015)

Community Reviews

Me
Write a Review

Community Discussion

Me
Start a Discussion
You must be logged in to write a review for this comic.

More From The Avengers (1963 - 1996)

Previous
The Avengers #402
Sep 1st, 1996
The Avengers #402
The Avengers #401
Aug 1st, 1996
The Avengers #401
The Avengers #400
Jul 1st, 1996
The Avengers #400
The Avengers #399
Jun 1st, 1996
The Avengers #399
The Avengers #398
May 1st, 1996
The Avengers #398
The Avengers #397
Apr 1st, 1996
The Avengers #397
The Avengers #396
Mar 1st, 1996
The Avengers #396
The Avengers #395
Feb 1st, 1996
The Avengers #395
The Avengers #394
Jan 1st, 1996
The Avengers #394
The Avengers #393
Dec 1st, 1995
The Avengers #393
The Avengers #392
Nov 1st, 1995
The Avengers #392
The Avengers #391
Oct 1st, 1995
The Avengers #391
The Avengers #390
Sep 1st, 1995
The Avengers #390
The Avengers #389
Aug 28th, 1995
The Avengers #389
The Avengers #388
Jul 1st, 1995
The Avengers #388
The Avengers #387
Jun 1st, 1995
The Avengers #387
The Avengers #386
May 1st, 1995
The Avengers #386
The Avengers #385
Apr 1st, 1995
The Avengers #385
The Avengers #384
Mar 1st, 1995
The Avengers #384
The Avengers #383
Feb 1st, 1995
The Avengers #383
Next

Log In

Already have an account with the League of Comic Geeks? Let's get you back to tracking and discussing your comics!

Forgot your password? Reset it.
Don't have an Account? Join Free!