The 40 Years of Comics Project - Day 945: Avengers v.1 #261, November 1985

Another Secret Wars II tie-in issue. And, like the previous one, the Beyonder doesn't do much except cause problems for the Avengers that ultimately serve no end. It's interesting seeing this character in the issues that he crosses over into, as the writers sometimes don't seem to know what to do with him. Given that he's a god-like being of infinite power, he seems to turn up and simply act like a nuisance much of the time. Is that what a god trying to learn to be human would be like? A nuisance that was constantly asking us why we were doing particular things?

If that's the case, all toddlers are gods.

The major plot moment of today's comic is the departure of Starfox from the ranks of Earth's mightiest. I've been on the fence about the character, what with his fairly problematic power set. I wonder if one of the reasons for his departure is that Stern and co. just weren't sure what to do with him. If he goes bad, as superheroes occasionally do, then his pleasure power really puts him on a rapey par with the Purple Man or Mandrill. And aside from the pleasure power, he's got a fairly standard roster of other powers: flight, strength, endurance. The only novel thing he brings to the table is something that could very, very easily be abused, even if it were only being used against enemies. I imagine we'll see him again, though not during this run of Avengers, I don't think. The impetus for his departure is a desire to track down Nebula (teleported away last issue by the Beyonder) and verify her lineage. It's not everyday you discover that you have a psychotic niece cavorting about the galaxy.

We're now coming into the era of Avengers that I actually collected back in the day. We have a new/old face appearing next issue, and the line-up has become the one I remember from the first time I read any of Roger Stern's run. And the stories coming up are amazing, some to this day considered to be amongst the best stories of the team. That said, I have just got a line on issue six of Prophet: Earth War, so we may have to take a six day break in the next little bit just so we can see how that series ends.

To be continued.