Mantis Appreciation

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Avengers #113 Jul 1973
"Your Young Men Shall Slay Visions!"
After making repairs to the Statue of Liberty, a spectator is upset by the image of
the Scarlet Witch a mutant and the Vision [B]an android[/B sharing a loving embrace.
As this development gets media coverage, the Avengers begin getting hate mail as well.
Meanwhile, the man who watched the spectacle has organized a group of like-minded people
who think that romance between a mutant and an android is an insult to god, band together
and become The Living Bombs, a group of extremists strapped with bombs that are set off by detonators on the top of their helmets.
Later, the Avengers make short work of a bunch of thugs terrorizing a neighborhood.
After the battle, one of the members of the Living Bombs manages to get
close to the Vision and detonate her bomb, seriously injuring the android.
The Avengers take him to Stark Industries, where Tony Stark attempts to heal him.


The Living Bombs learn of this and attack the Stark Industries building in hopes of destroying the Vision, however, they are opposed by the Avengers.

The Avengers manage to stop the Living Bombs from destroying the Vision, however,
all the members end up blowing themselves up when caught in a tornado created by Thor.
After the battle's climax, Tony Stark informs the Avengers that the Vision will pull through, much to the relief of his comrades.
Wanda, however, is angry that everyone seems to be against her romance with the Vision and storms out.
Cameo appearances by Mantis and the Swordsman.
Note: During a brief encounter between Don Blake and Tony Stark, they reveal that they have figured out each other's secret identities.

Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Bob Brown. Inks by Frank Bolle.

[WallStreeter]

Mantis was always under-utilised in the comics. I'm hoping the films develop her more and hopefully that will put her back in the Guardians of the Galaxy or the Avengers.

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

Avengers #114 Aug 1973
"Night of the Swordsman"
Still upset over the events of last issue, the Scarlet Witch takes a walk through Manhattan to unwind.
But along the way Wanda runs into trouble with some construction workers!
However, a brand new heroine arrives on the scene to help her!
Who is Mantis and where did she come from?

When Wanda and her new friend return to the mansion, another surprise guest shows up! The Swordsman!


Wow, the Avengers' long-time foe and former member of the Lethal Legion wants to join the Avengers!
Captain America immediately squashes that notion, but surprisingly the remaining members of the team agree to give the Swordsman a chance!
And several days later when the Lion God returns, Earth's Mightiest Heroes are glad they did!

Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Bob Brown. Inks by Mike Esposito.

[nadler]

Do members here recall in Avengers #133 where Steve Englehart has Immortus state "five lives have I known"? Including his present incarnation of Immortus, only three others were then known, Kang, Rama-Tut and the Scarlet Centurion. While Nathaniel Richards was probably that fifth identity, this is certainly not who Englehart intended so does anyone have other suggestions?