Issue(s): Avengers #251
Cover Date: Jan 85
Title: "Deceptions!"
Credits:
Roger Stern - Writer
Bob Hall - Breakdowns
Joe Sinnott - Finishes
Howard Mackie - Assistant Editor
Mark Gruenwald - Editor

Review/plot:
This is something of a downtime issue, although it continues to develop the "Vision's up to something" plotline, including an awesome dream sequence.

Captain America returns to the Avengers, after his recent ordeal and aging at the hands of the Red Skull. The issue starts with a fun scene where Cap has to run through a Danger Room-esque scenario that was actually built for the Beast, and then wrestle Hercules, who is disguised as a robot, in order to prove (mainly to himself) that he's ready for active duty.

Starfox explains to the Scarlet Witch and Hercules that he never intended to keep his pleasure power a secret.

And the Wasp goes on a vacation and begins a romance with a guy who turns out to be the Paladin. They team-up to take out a low level villain called Baron Brimstone.

In Brimstone's previous appearances, it was definitely the case that he was supplementing his abilities with technology, but he maintained that he really did have magical powers. It was left ambiguous whether or not that was true. The Wasp's statement here seems to settle that, but it's possible that she's incorrect.

Some great stuff is brewing here under Stern. Art this issue is by Bob Hall, who did the West Coast mini, but i think it's looking better here, probably due to Sinnott's finishes.

Quality Rating: B+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place after Captain America #301. A note in the lettercol says "For all you chronology buffs, the bizarre goings-on of Captain America #295-301 all happened during the week between Avengers #250 and this issue! The MCP also places this story during the Kulan Gath saga in Uncanny X-Men #190-191.

References:

• Captain America has recovered from the Red Skull's age accelerator, which affected Cap in Captain America #295-301.
  
• The Vision is upset that SHIELD took over responsibility for the Wraith War in Avengers #245 and that the FF instead of the Avengers were called in to deal with Terminus in Fantastic Four #269, in spite of the relationship he's been building with the president, as shown in Avengers #246.
  
• The Wasp is particularly on edge regarding Starfox's pleasure powers due to the manipulation she was subjected to from Moondragon in Avengers #219-220 (no footnote provided).

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

The "quiche" line might be a reference to the book Real Men Don't Eat Quiche.