Avid Reading

While settling into my new home this month, I decided to move my comics out of their customary long boxes and into a barrister bookcase. Rearranging my collection drew attention to the handful of back issues I inadvertently purchased twice over the years, including Avengers #188.

My favorite scene from that issue involved Scarlet Witch firing a hex bolt to jar Beast away from reading through a book of Darkhold, which the Avengers previously confiscated from Modred the Mystic.

Scarlet Witch: I--I'm sorry, Hank, but there are traps in tomes such as this -- passages phrased so as to subtly ensure the unwary in a dark web of evil!

Beast: Frankly, Scarlet, a simple "Hank, please refrain" would have sufficed! But if you want to hog the only bedtime reading on this barque, be my guest. Just don't complain when I shed all over your cape.

Avengers. Vol. 1. No. 188. October 1979. "Elementary, Dear Avengers." Bill Mantlo (guest-scripter), John Byrne, Dan Green & Frank Springer (artists), Gaspar (letters), Sharen (colors), Jim Shooter (plotter/guest editor/chief).

Other issues that I bought twice include Defenders 98, 102, 112, 117, 122, 123, and New Defenders 126, 129.

The Raven

The final scene from Fearless Defenders #6 featured criminal mastermind Caroline Le Fay reviewing images of super-villains up for consideration as Doom Maidens. Looking over her shoulder was the subservient Mr. Raven.

Seeing that one of the most prominent pictures in the rogues' gallery was of the shape-changing Mystique (real name Raven Darkholme), I couldn't help but wonder if Mr. Raven might in fact be Mystique playing the part of second-banana in disguise.

Fearless Defenders #6 was written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Will Sliney.