The Destiny Hunt!

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THE AVENGERS — Issue no. 176, January 1978

Book: The Avengers

Title: “The Destiny Hunt”

Issue No.: 176

Published: July 25, 1978

Price: 35¢

Format: Digital scan

The last few issues of The Avengers have been teasing a super-powerful bad guy who, so far, we only know as “Michael.” Which, as bad guy handles go, doesn’t have the pizzazz of “Doctor Doom” or “The Kingpin.” Plus, Michael doesn’t have a metal mask or even a cape. He’s just a blond white dude.

I keep thinking this Michael thing is a disguise, and we’re going to find out he’s actually an alien supergod or something. But so far, no, he’s just Michael.

At least for this issue, which continues to tease Michael as an existential threat to the Avengers. And maybe all of humankind? But without any payoff.

But there’s some hope that the payoff will arrive next issue. There’s a lot of place-setting here, getting all of the Avengers and several of their pals in line to face off with Michael. The heroes assembled include Captain America and Iron Man, Thor and Hercules, Moondragon, Jocasta the robot (FKA the Bride of Ultron), Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel, Quicksilver, and Hawkeye.

A panel from this issue. It shows several Avengers standing behind Michael, ready to pounce, as Michael monologues. Michael says, “For there is much cruelty in the cosmos, much injustice. And I was in the unique position to alter that, to bring all of existence under my sane and benevolent rule. But you, with your stubborn determination to ‘save’ what you don’t even comprehend, have discovered me — a revelation that, I know, will not go unnoticed! Ah, the hopes... the dreams...”

At this point in Avengers history, they’ve lost their government clearance (for reasons I have already forgotten, but the “why” isn’t really important). Which means they don’t have access to their high-tech Avengers jet plane. So the big joke this issue involves the Avengers and their pals commandeering a New York City public bus so they can all ride together to the location where they’re going to confront Michael. Which is a house in Forest Hill Gardens in Queens.

Not a cool super-villain fortress inside a volcano or on an asteroid, just a house. But, hey, Michael the suburban super-villain obviously wouldn’t have it any other way.

The story ends on a splash page with Michael getting all big and glowy and telling the good guys “you shall pay!” So, like I said, maybe we’ll be getting some payoff to all this next issue.

Next time — I’ll be back next week with another July 1978 Marvel book!

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