The Avengers #27 – T’Challa Rerturns

Black Panther & Captain Amerca team up against the Master of Evil in the Avengers #27 by Jed MacKay, Farid Karami, Andrea Broccardo Federico Blee & Cory Petit, Marvel Comics

THE ABSENT KING

Previously, T’Challa the Black Panther had been absent from all team missions. Because the Black Panther had a mission of his own: search and rescue. The Avengers sent T’Challa to find the slave warriors inside the Tesseract Space of one Meridian Diadem, one of the members of the Ashen Combine. Unbeknownst to the Avengers, the slaves inside Meridian Diadem had been genetically engineered to only survive in the Tesseract space. Meaning, if they would not survive extended periods of time outside their imprisonment. Once T’Challa made headway into the city and found out about these details, he realized his mission needed to change.

POWER VACUUM

The previous system that kept the order was solely held together by the now absent ruler. She had promoted some of the slaves to wardens or custodians. A power vacuum was created without Meridian to mainatain the hirearchy. Now, those same wardens made their claim to power and decided to continue oppressing the rest of the slaves. Inevitably there was a revolt. The prisoners rebelled and most managed to escape their prison. Just to try their luck in the wastelands outside the city. Once T’Challa learned about these events, he changed his objective. The mission required new objectives. 

LIBERATION BY UNIFICATION

   As fate would have it, there was no peace either outside the prison walls. Even out in the wastelands division ruled by way of factions. Instead of uniting for survival they war with each other for resources. So, for the previous months T’Challa has been unifying all factions under one flag, one mission, one purpose: Liberation. Eventually this one big assembly of former slaves attacked the city to dethrone the wardens and finally get rid of all bad actors left behind by Meridian. With T’Challa’s mission over, he was ready to return home. But home was also in disarray. 

FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION ON BLACK PANTHER’S MISSION, CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW:

*SPOILERS FOR ISSUE #27*

FROM SOLICITATION:

“The return of the Black Panther! While T’Challa was away, the Masters of Evil were at play! With the rest of the Avengers tied up with Doctor Doom, the Masters of Evil have been plotting the downfall of the Avengers… from the inside! Can Black Panther’s return turn the tide?”

THE NEW MASTERS OF EVIL

   While the world below is busy dealing with Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Doom, Sam Wilson aka Captain America has been fighting off a home invasion. Sam sustain injuries in battle. So, Captain Marvel made the call to extract him from the battlefield. But Sam’s problems did not stop there. The Impossible City went through a hostile takeover. While he was recovering from his wounds, the new Masters of Evil took over the Avengers’ headquarters. For the previous 2 issues Sam has been picking them apart. 

1 CAPTAIN VS. 5 MASTERS

Of course the numbers were not in his favor. A direct approach was not an option. So Sam opted for dividing the villains and picking them out one at a time. Also, Sam got a suit upgrade before engaging the enemy. The last plastoid carrying the Impossible City’s A.I. merged with Sam’s suit and gear. This leveled up the abilities of an already capable Captain America. Obviously Sam welcomed anything that would give him an advantage.

BLACK PANTHER RETURNS

Although not a physical powerhouse, Madcap is somewhat indestructible since he doesn’t feel pain. His greatest strength is manipulating others emotions. When Madcap went wandering around the impossible city, Sam got the jump on him. Captain America separated Madcap’s head clean of his body with one swift throw of his shield. Following that, Sam’s suit informed him that T’Challa was reaching from the Tesseract space, he was ready for extraction. Now, Sam had the opportunity to even the odds. So, he distracted the villains while he prepared the extraction for T’Challa. Then he took the fight to the Dreadknight. After baiting the villain to follow him to the skies. Where he showcased what makes him a formidable heroe.

DOWN GOES HYDE

But Mr. Hyde got the jump on Sam. Being the powerhouse of the group, Mr. Hyde presented a great threat to Sam. When it seemed like the end was nigh, T’Challa returned to the city. Immediately hit the ground running to come help his brother in arms. They took some hits. After all, Mr. Hyde was no slouch. But teamwork and ingenuity prevailed.   

FROM ORIGINAL SIN

There was no moment fro dwelling. As soon as Hyde was taken out, Oubliette Midas aka The Exterminatrix pulled up to the heroes. Oubliette is probably one of the most eccentric characters you will see in Marvel Comics. However she might present herself, the truth is she’s also very dangerous. She wields two golden pistols loaded with Midas rounds. The whole gimmick is that it turns everything into gold on impact. However, T’Challa and Sam have previous experience with the Exterminatrix. Previously they had faced Oubliette during the Original Sin storyline from 2014. So, once again, teamwork prevailed. They took out the Exterminatrix as well.

THE REAL PLAN

Finally, the Masters of Evil were down to one: The Thinker. Even if there was no love lost between all these villains, they at least had similar motivations. But all that brought together was a lie. The Thinker’s plan was to used them for his very own benefit.

HOW ABOUT THE ART?

First couple of pages were drawn by Farid Karami. Which takes place inside the Tesseract space-city inside Meridian Diadem. Karami did issue #20 as well so it makes sense art and story wise to bring back Karami in order to maintain the same somber aesthetic of that world. Meanwhile the rest of the issue was drawn by Andrea Broccardo. Which is filled with energy and action from start to finish.

OVERALL GRADE: 9.5/10

Jed MacKay went above and beyond to create a stagering wedge between the Avengers and the Masters of Evil. As stated by The Thinker, the members of his group were never going to succeed. For being evil is inherently selfish and self-centered. While the Avengers had no seconds thoughts on working together. The Masters of evil stuck to attacking the Avengers individually and that brought their demise. Teamwork will always prevail, plain and simple.

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