BRONZE AGE MINUTE: The Avengers #127

Marvel; September 1974
Cover by Gil Kane, Mike Esposito and John Romita

Title: “Bride and Doom!”
Synopsis: The Avengers join the Fantastic Four and Inhumans in the Great Refuge as Quicksilver and Crystal prepare to wed.

Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciler: Sal Buscema
Inker: Joe Staton

Review: This was the kind of back issue this reviewer lived for as a kid. It’s got everything: The Avengers! The Fantastic Four! The Inhumans! A revolt by still-repressed former slaves! Omega the Ultimate Alpha (and an even cooler, secret villain)! Big punching! And, of course, relationship angst in mighty Marvel fashion! Finding an issue like this in a swap meet dime bin would have been a passport to heaven. Sure, Steve Englehart’s story is a little cluttered and Sal Buscema’s art is solid but not spectacular. But this is a nigh-perfect example of a Bronze Age Marvel comic.

Grade: B

Cool factor: As the cover says: “This one’s got it all!!”
Not-so-cool factor: What’s up with Black Bolt’s nose on that cover?

Notable: This two-part story continues in Fantastic Four #150. … The “Avengers Assemble!” letter page includes an LOC from future Marvel editor Ralph Macchio.

Collector’s note: Beware, this issue contains Marvel Value Stamp (Series A) #13.

Character quotable: “Can we discuss my love life like two civilized adults, brother and sister together?” – The Scarlet Witch, whose sibling relationship with Quicksilver was always a little creepy

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