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Marvel Comics   ·   Released Mar 1st, 1979

The Avengers #181

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"On the Matter of Heroes!"

Wonder Man and Beast catch a movie and afterward discuss the psychological role that heroes play for the general public. Wonder Man is baffled as to why regular people flock to heroes instead of leading their own lives. The Beast suggests that normal people need to have heroes to shake up their everyday lives. He demonstrates by performing a superhuman feat of agility on the street, much to the admiration of passers-by.

When they return to the mansion, Wonder Man inserts his key and is caught off guard when security coils emerge from the doorway to apprehend them. The two manage to disentangle themselves, however. Thinking something is wrong, Wonder Man bursts through the door to find a technician (Scott Lang) installing new hardware. Wonder Man confronts Lang but Tony Stark and Agent Henry Gyrich stop him. Stark informs them that the coils are part of new security parameters being installed. Stark has convinced Gyrich to reinstate the team's security clearances provided they agree to a new set of terms and conditions. Gyrich then curtly instructs the two heroes to go to the conference room where he'll make known the rest of his demands for the Avengers' priority status to be returned to them.

In his private quarters, Stark changes into his Iron-Man armor and laments how "fighting through red tape has become harder than punching through brick walls."

Outside the Mansion, a cab drops a mysterious white-bearded person. He produces an odd-looking gemstone and begins to chant.

In the conference room, Gyrich addresses the entire roster of Avengers (including assorted “hanger-ons” such as Jocasta, Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel, Moondragon, and the Guardians of the Galaxy). He tells them that they have to pare down to seven members and then proceeds to tell them who those members will be, much to Iron-Man's chagrin. Gyrich names Iron Man (as chairman), Vision, Scarlet Witch, Beast, Captain America, Wasp, and...the Falcon!?

Hawkeye stridently objects that he's being excluded and that a non-member who's never even met most of the team is being inducted. Iron Man also objects but Gyrich tells them equal opportunity for minorities is a federal requirement for all government-related agencies. Captain America chimes in to defend his friend the Falcon. Quicksilver also pipes in that the Avengers shouldn’t be subject to such restrictions but suddenly keels over, alarming the Scarlet Witch. Thor carries Pietro to the infirmary and then departs to get a doctor (i.e., turn into Dr. Don Blake). Outside, the mysterious white-bearded man smiles as he places something in a large carpet bag.

Most of the cut members leave en masse, including the Black Panther, Black Widow, Hercules, Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel, Moondragon, and the Guardians of the Galaxy. The few remaining non-core members --- such as Hawkeye, Wonder Man and Yellowjacket -- have to be gone in 24 hours. At that moment, Wanda also mysteriously collapses.

Dr. Blake reveals that Wanda's symptoms appear to be similar to her brother's and that Quicksilver's test results just came in: his heart no longer beats and his he is no longer breathing, but his body isn't decaying. He and Wanda are neither dead nor alive.

Soon afterward, the mysterious white-bearded figure checks into a hotel in the Bowery and opens his bag to reveal two little wooden figures carved to look like Wanda and Pietro in cages, and they're moving! Not only that, but the man refers to them as... his children??

Format
Comic
The Avengers #181
PrevSeries Next
251
116
110

Creators

David Michelinie
Writer
David Michelinie
John Byrne
Penciller
John Byrne
Gene Day
Inker
Gene Day
Colorist
Francoise Mouly
Letterer
Elaine Heinl
George Perez
Cover Artist
George Perez
Terry Austin
Cover Artist
Terry Austin
Roger Stern
Editor
Roger Stern
Jim Shooter
Editor
Jim Shooter

Characters

Beast
Henry McCoy
Beast
Earth-616
Black Panther
T'Challa
Black Panther
Earth-616
Black Widow
Natasha Romanova
Black Widow
Earth-616
Captain America
Steve Rogers
Captain America
Earth-616
Captain Marvel
Mar-Vell
Captain Marvel
Earth-616
Charlie-27
Charlie-27
Earth-691
Django Maximoff
Django Maximoff
Earth-616
Donald Blake
Donald Blake
Earth-616
Edwin Jarvis
Edwin Jarvis
Earth-616
Hawkeye
Clint Barton
Hawkeye
Earth-616
Henry Peter Gyrich
Henry Peter Gyrich
Earth-616
Hercules Panhellenios
Hercules Panhellenios
Earth-616
Iron Man
Tony Stark
Iron Man
Earth-616
Jocasta Pym
Jocasta Pym
Earth-616
Martinex T'Naga
Martinex T'Naga
Earth-691
Moondragon
Heather Douglas
Moondragon
Earth-616
Ms. Marvel
Carol Danvers
Ms. Marvel
Earth-616
Nikki
Nicholette Gold
Nikki
Earth-691
Quicksilver
Pietro Maximoff
Quicksilver
Earth-616
Scarlet Witch
Wanda Maximoff
Scarlet Witch
Earth-616
Scott Lang
Scott Lang
Earth-616
Starhawk
Stakar Ogord
Starhawk
Earth-691
Thor Odinson
Thor Odinson
Earth-616
Vision
Vision
Earth-616
Wasp
Janet Van Dyne
Wasp
Earth-616
Wonder Man
Simon Williams
Wonder Man
Earth-616
Yellowjacket
Hank Pym
Yellowjacket
Earth-616
Yondu Udonta
Yondu Udonta
Earth-691

Key Events

First Appearance
Scott Lang Earth-616

Collected In

  • Avengers: Nights of Wundagore TP
    Avengers: Nights of Wundagore TP
    Avengers: Nights of Wundagore
  • Essential Avengers Vol. 8 TP
    Essential Avengers Vol. 8 TP
    Essential Avengers
  • Guardians Of The Galaxy: Tomorrow's Heroes Omnibus HC
    Guardians Of The Galaxy: Tomorrow's Heroes Omnibus HC
    Guardians Of The Galaxy Tomorrows Heroes (2019)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow's Avengers Vol. 2 TP
    Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow's Avengers Vol. 2 TP
    Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow's Avengers (2013)
  • Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 18 HC
    Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 18 HC
    Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers (2002)
  • Marvel Universe By John Byrne Omnibus HC
    Marvel Universe By John Byrne Omnibus HC
    Marvel Universe By John Byrne
  • The Avengers: The Yesterday Quest TP
    The Avengers: The Yesterday Quest TP
    The Avengers Vol. 1 (1963 - 1996)
  • The Avengers: I Am An Avenger TP
    The Avengers: I Am An Avenger TP
    The Avengers Vol. 1 (1963 - 1996)

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