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Issue Review
Avengers #260

Direct Market Release Date: June 18, 1985

Credits

Title: Assault on Sanctuary II
Writer: Roger Stern
Breakdowns: John Buscema
Finisher: Tom Palmer
Letterer: Jim Novak
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Editor: Mark Gruenwald
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Summary

Note: This issue takes place between panels 1 and 3 of Secret Wars II #3 page 25.

The Avengers have joined forces with the Skrulls to battle the mercenary named Nebula, who has captured the Titanian ship Sanctuary II. As the Skrulls have long tried to take over his home planet of Xandar, Firelord breaks his alliance with the Avengers. He returns home to find his planet destroyed. Discovering that the attackers were led by Nebula herself, Firelord returns to the Avengers and finds them storming Nebula's ships.

Firelord is hit by a large blast from the Sanctuary II, and is hurled into a nearby asteroid. The Beyonder, having recently experienced that some satisfaction can be gained by helping others, arrives at the scene of the battle, and stumbles across Firelord's weakened body. He stays conscious long enough to tell the Beyonder that the Avengers are nearby battling Nebula, and that after all she has done, she should be hurled from the galaxy.

On board the Sanctuary II Starfox encounters Nebula as she tries to escape. Confronting her, he discovers that she is his Grand-niece. Before he can react, the Beyonder appears, and having taken Firelord's words literally, teleports Nebula out of the galaxy.

After being confronted by an upset Avengers team, the Beyonder teleports away, leaving a stunned team behind.

Quotes

Hercules: But, Alas, there be no sound in the vacuum of space. None can hear and treasure the wit of Hercules... None save myself!

Starfox: Gone? They're... gone?
The Beyonder: You appeared to oppose Nebula... Are you an Avenger?
Starfox: Am I--? Yes, I'm an Avenger! Who the *#%$ are you? And what have you done with Nebula?
The Beyonder: I am from Beyond! As for Nebula and the others... why they've been removed from the galaxy! Isn't that what you wanted?
Starfox: NO!! Are you insane?!?

Commentary

You already know that this issue is going to be great - written by Roger Stern, and drawn by classic Avengers artist John Buscema, featuring the Avengers tied up in an epic space battle. It's made even better by the fact that Stern handles the Beyonder's involvement deftly, using his appearance to further advance the main story. The issue perfectly handles a fairly complex plot that is still easy enough for newcomers brought in by the Secret Wars II crossover to digest. Stern leaves out enough of the story that not only makes you want to hunt down the back issues, but also to pick up next month's book to see what happens next.

The only odd bit about the issue was that, if the Beyonder made the Avengers angry by teleporting Nebula away, could be not just teleport her back? I suppose this can be explained by the fact that the Beyonder is still naive and confused, and that the Avengers were too shocked to ask him to bring her back.

This issue sports a gorgeous cover by John Byrne, who to date in the crossover, has pencilled more than half of the covers involved in the series. Oddly enough, the book's cover advertises an "Assault on Sanctuary", yet the interior is titled "Assault on Sanctuary II".

Up next...

Secret Wars II continues in Daredevil #223!