sonotadream

Avengers (1963) #5-6 - Stan Lee/Jack Kirby

The Avengers assemble again to investigate a weird sound that's been causing havoc.

It originates in the US Southwest - the Hulk's stomping grounds - and it's caused by a strange kind of living rock, that the Lava Men are pushing to the surface. They hope it'll explode and destroy the surface world, leaving the Lava Men as rulers of Earth.

One of them fought Thor some time ago and he thinks the Lava Men should make peace instead, but the Witch Doctor really wants to send the rock to the surface.

The Army, with General Ross in charge, is monitoring the situation, but they’re also relieved when the Avengers helicopter flies in.

Bruce Banner also wanders in, claiming he had been sick. General Ross isn't as happy to see him, but his daughter is. Betty encourages Bruce to investigate the rock so her father will like him.

Meanwhile, the Avengers get separated, as Thor tries to talk with the Lava Men. He gets trapped in the other side of a landslide, but it's okay. He can just walk trough lava without his cape get even singed.

Giant-Man finds a spot on the surface of the rock where it's possible to strike without it exploding. Thor's hammer would do the job, but he's not available.

Luckily, the Hulk shows up and the Avengers just trick him into hitting it instead.

The Avengers save the day and the Hulk disappears again, allowing Bruce to hang out with Betty, at least for a little while.

Somewhere in the Amazon, Baron Zemo receives his yearly supplement of outside news and finds out Captain America has returned. He's so upset he starts monologuing his backstory to the pilot of the supply plane.

He was a chief Nazi scientist and he was so hated, even by other Nazis, that he always wore a hood over his face. One day, while working on his latest weapon - Adhesive X - he’s confronted by Captain America and the Adhesive X gets spilled all over his face, gluing the hood permanently.

And that's got to be one of the silliest origin stories in comics.

Zemo swears revenge and almost manages it - he’s the one responsible for the booby trapped drone plane that killed Bucky. Now that he knows that Captain America survived, he assembles the Masters of Evil to defeat him and the other Avengers.

So, roll call: Radioactive Man - the only one capable of repelling Thor’s Hammer; the Melter - the only one capable of melting Iron Ma’s armour; the Black Knight - he has a winged horse and a lance that can fire any missile; he fought Giant-Man once.

The plan is to spread Adhesive X all over New York - greatly disrupting the city - and when the Avengers arrive, finish them off. The initial bout goes in the Masters of Evil favour, with Giant-Man and Captain America getting trapped in the adhesive. The Was thinks to call Paste-Pot Pete and, luckily, he has the solvent that can break the adhesive and the Avengers rejoin the fight with a new plan. First, exchange enemies, to gain the element of surprise; and two, exchange all the Adhesive X for the solvent, with the help of the Teen Brigade.

So, avengers save the day again, and the Masters of Evil end up in jail. Oh, and Thor gets a winged horse - at least, until the Black Knight gets out of jail.

Random stuff

I do know it's magma underground and lava above ground; it seems the authors don't.

Rick Jones is the unofficial sixth member of the Avengers at this point.

At the beginning, everyone meets up at the Mansion to inspect the damage caused by the Hulk; then they leave and just leave Iron Man to deal with it.

Thor walking up to the Lava Men covered up to his neck in magma - he looks like the Terminator. Except the Terminator would melt.

The Avengers get along much better with each other, compared to the Fantastic Four - maybe they're just being polite because they don't know each other as well?

Iron Man equipped Cap's shield with a state of the art radio. He hasn't used it yet, though.

Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes #3 - Joe Casey/Scott Kolins

After the situation with the Hulk and the Lava Men, the media is suspicious of the Avengers - why hasn't the Team denounced him yet? - but the Army is impressed and wants the Avengers working for them. Tony isn't enthused about the offer, and neither are the others - concerned about what this would mean for their freedom of action.

Except Captain America, who was AWOL on a little tour, trying to find out what he missed. He visits Bucky's tomb and the Vietnam Memorial - where he insists in reading every name - and his memory starts coming back.

Of course, one week later, when the Masters of Evil attack New York and he comes face to face with Zemo, things come to a head…

Random stuff

Agent Munch, from the NSC, thinks Iron Man is datt for not saying yes to the Army's offer right away. He's also very wary in Thor’s presence.

The Masters of Evil look more cool the modern art style; Zemo's hood looks even more ridiculous.