The Greatest Storylines in Avengers History

The Michael/Enemy/Korvac Saga

Synopsis by Van Plexico. Click here for the front and back covers and four newer pages from the Korvac trade paperback collection.

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This one lasted from 167 to 177, and featured one of the most powerful adversaries in Avengers history. The old Guardians of the Galaxy villain, Korvac, was transformed by an encounter with Galactus's worldship into a godlike being calling himself "Michael." The Guardians, knowing Korvac to have travelled back to the 20th century, followed after him, seeking the help of the Avengers, whom they idolized as predecessors. After a long search (punctuated by the disappearance of numerous members in thin air,) the reunited Avengers and Guardians confronted Michael in his suburban Forest Hills (?!) home. After a stunning battle in which nearly every hero is slain, Michael allows himself to be killed by the remaining four, knowing his cause is lost. Carina, the Collector's daughter and Michael's mate, lashes out in fury, but finally causes Thor to slay her, as well, to join Michael in death. As his last act, Michael restores life to the slain heroes.

This storyline features a number of interesting aspects. For one, it encompasses at least two other major plots--the Collector's abduction of the Avengers (he knows about Michael and wants the Avengers to survive the coming war) and yet another return of Ultron. In addition, the case is made near the end that Michael was a benevolent being, seeking to bring peace and happiness to a chaotic universe, rather than seeking to harm it. (In a What If? which followed the story, however, the case is made that had Michael's plan succeeded, the entire universe would have in fact been annihilated.) The ambiguousness of the ending left me frustrated as a kid, but now that I reflect back on it, it holds up. The major disappointment to me at the time was that by the next issue, everyone had indeed forgotten about the entire incident (as Moondragon had promised) and it was never mentioned again! Just once I would have liked for one of the A's to say, "Hey, you remember the time Korvac kicked our butts? Man, that was a fight!"

Overall, the Korvac storyline ranks among the greatest Marvel achievements of the 1970s, if ever, and among the best Jim Shooter ever produced (along with Michelinie and Perez.)