The first five pages of this issue are devoted to the complicated relationship issues at the mansion: Swordsman is with Mantis, but while kissing him she is thinking of Vision, who is also thinking of Mantis, but who is being watched by Scarlet Witch, who decides to get sexy to steal her man(droid). By the end of the issue, Wanda just gets mad and insists that Vision make a choice between her and Mantis, and he responds in a very macho manner by telling her to pull herself together.
He says he doesn’t know how to be human, but that’s pretty typical, I’d say, of many men.
There’s also a fight involving Solaar and Klaw.
But like the best Marvel books, it’s much less interesting than the personal stuff. I note that the Avengers do fight a bunch of animals, but I’m not adding my tag about superheroes punching animals because the animals are actually sound creations from Klaw, and are not real.
Cap’s cynicism from his own title starts to show up in The Avengers…Soon, he would become Nomad: Man Without a Country–an idea also created by Steve Englehart, who was writing both titles. Later Englehart would even create West Coast Avengers. Truly, he was the Brian Michael Bendis of his time. And yet, he seems to be entirely forgotten these days.
In the last panel, Captain America thinks to himself (after Black Panther announces out loud) that he will leave the team. When Panther quits, he won’t be back until issue #150. From here,T’Challa goes back to Africa to appear monthly in Jungle Action. It’s kinda quaint how Marvel was concerned that having Panther appear in two books at the same time wouldn’t make sense. I mean, Wolverine and Deadpool and Spider-Man are known to appear in over ten books at the same time, and nobody bats an eye.
Cap will be gone until #141. Extended absences for both, but especially for Captain America who has pretty much been a mainstay for the life of the book.
That’s Daveb Cockrum looking agape as The Avengers fight Klaw.
Marvel’s editorial mindset at not wanting the Black Panther to appear in two series simultaneously simply stems from the politics of what is going on- whereas it is true- and feasible- that Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Deadpool can all star in multiple series simultaneously, the difference between their situations and that of the Black Panther in the Spring of 1974 is that these three guys all operate out of the general vicinity of New York City, regardless of what title they are appearing in, whereas the Panther was leaving the Avengers- and New York City- to return to Wakanda, to get reinvolved with the running of that country, which would logically require 100% of his time and focus. So, I have to agree with Marvel Editorial’s logic- in order to be able to realistically do this, he would have to suspend his involvement with the Avengers. If Marvel felt the need to publish numerous titles featuring the Black Panther, then as long as it involves him remaining in the same general geographic area, ( in this case, Wakanda ) then I could buy it. I could not buy the Panther being involved in a storyline as consuming and complex as “Panther’s Rage”, while having him Quinjet back and forth to New York City every few days to participate in Avengers business. Just too far beyond credulity. While it was extremely interesting to watch the Scarlet Witch flex her sex-muscles, ( which I believe that this was the only time she ever did it, at least on-panel ) am I and John Byrne the only two people in all of Marveldom Assembled who are wondering how does anybody sexually excite an android-??? Just sayin’!