Might a new logo make Bob Harras’ run on Avengers any better? Nope. What about adding Mike Deodato to the art?
Yeah, a little.
Quicksilver finds out that Bova is sick and goes to Wundagore to pay his respects. He brings Crystal because, you know, they’re married.
While there, they meet High Evolutionary. After some confrontational arguing, they agree to visit Bova together.
After that, something important happens but honestly the story is so jumbled and boring that it’s hard to follow. But it involves Arides.
And, thankfully, it wraps up a Kree storyline that has been going on for far too long.
Meanwhile, Black Widow notices that Captain America is losing his powers (it’s happening in his own comic).
And for some reason, that makes her hot and horny.
Also, Black Knight–who recently went to another dimension (for no real reason)–is haunting a mirror in Avengers Mansion.
These are Bob Harras’ last issues, and Deodato’s first. It’s an arc that mostly stars Quicksilver and Crystal. I note that Harras also needed to fill half of issue #380 with pin-ups and a chunk of #381 with a back-up feature. He goes out with a whimper, not a bang.
The filler pin-ups aren’t necessarily bad, but they are filler.
I agree this run of ‘Avengers’ stories are largely forgettable, and highly reflective of how Marvel Comics was going bankrupt by that point in time, but the above-average artwork alone should rate these comics more than a disparaging rating of “D”. I would give them a “C”. Poor Black Knight, an adventurer I have always really liked, for two reasons: 1) He’s plausible. No super-powers, ( which is why I classify him as an “adventurer”, rather than a ‘super-hero’ ) just a really nifty super-gimmick- the irresistible Ebony Blade! It’s a gimmick, but, as noted, a really nifty super-gimmick- like the Green Lantern’s power rings! 2) He’s a scientist whose greatest arch-enemy in life has always been- the British Empire! Remember, the only reason he rejoined the Avengers back in 1984 ( in issue#254, I believe ) was because the British government was threatening to repossess his castle for non-payment of back-taxes! As super-heroes go, that’s as relatable as it gets! His complete lack of success with his female colleagues is also incredibly relatable! First, he bombs out with the Wasp, then he bombs out with Crystal- who knows who all-else he’s been bombing out with between then and now-?? I suspect that the Knight’s complete impotency with the ladies can be laid squarely at the feet of his financial problems- you can take it from my own first-hand experiences- women just DON’T LIKE guys who are BROKE!!! And that’ IT!!! What are the only two things which make women weak at the knees-?? That’s right- power, and………….WEALTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BELIEVE it, buddy!!! And, unfortunately, poor ol’ Dane has neither!!! ( probably up to his ears in tax-debt, though! ) Anyway, for all of those very relatable reasons, and more- I like the Black Knight!! Best of luck to the Arthurian Avenger!!