Issue(s): Avengers #45
Cover Date: Oct 67
Title: "Blitzkrieg in Central Park!"
Credits:
Roy Thomas - Writer
Don Heck - Penciler
Vincent Colletta - Inker

Review/plot:
What? No! Bring back Buscema!

Oh well. The city of New York celebrates Avengers Day which of course turns into an opportunity for an old enemy to attack. This time it's the Super-Adaptoid, who wants another crack at Captain America.

Since Iron Man and Thor briefly show up at the celebration before heading back to their own business, the Adaptoid is extra powerful this time and more than the whole team can handle.

They finally beat it by getting him to use too many powers at once which overloads its system.

The Wasp is flaunting her new inheritance. Hank isn't handling it very well. She's also designed a new costume. It's one of her more frequently used outfits.

She's also doing her old trick of flirting with super-strong guys to get Pym crazy, but it almost backfires when Hercules takes it seriously.

Hercules is officially inducted into the Avengers after being a hanger-on for seven issues. They were going to induct the Black Widow as well, but she's still in the hospital and currently thinking she won't go back into costume.

Quicksilver is having some militant mutant thoughts. Not about the other Avengers, but about the "nameless, faceless masses who were once our enemies!". He takes the fact that the Super-Adaptoid was created by humans as further evidence that homo sapiens are scum.

There's a very comical scene where Goliath, the Adaptoid, and the Wasp are having a fight in ant-sized mode, and the rest of the Avengers try to keep a disbelieving police force from stepping on them.

Overall, Pym doesn't have a good showing. First, when he attacks the Adaptoid in his giant form, the guy who does nothing but shoot trick arrows tells him that "mere size" isn't going to cut it. Then he gets knocked out in ant form and has to be rescued by Janet (you know he's going to stew about that). Finally, it's Quicksilver who figures out how to beat the robot. So much for Dr. Pym, super-scientist.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - new Wasp costume, Hercules officially joins the Avengers

Chronological Placement Considerations: Both Thor and Iron Man are apparently very busy and can't stay very long. According to a footnote removed from the Triple Action reprint, this is before Thor #145.

Cap thinks that the fact that the police give him a motorcycle escort to the celebration is 'ironic', "...when I've been seriously wondering if I shouldn't give up my life as Captain America." I originally took this to mean that this issue takes place after Tales Of Suspense #96, but seeing later references (such as the fact that in Avengers #46 he still hasn't proposed to Agent 13, which also happens in TOS #96) I think it means he is currently considering giving up his Cap identity.

References:

• The origin of the Adaptoid was seen in Tales Of Suspense #82-83. He became Super in Tales Of Suspense #84.
  
• Watching the Avengers show off for the crowd, Thor complains about strutting and fretting for the benefit of mortals. A footnote says "Little does the Thunder God know that a similar fate awaits him... in the pages of Thor #145 - Stool Pigeon Stan".

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Marvel Triple Action #37

Another fun issue with lots of Avengers. I found it humorous that Quicksilver's speed was the deciding factor rather than Pym's brain or Hercules' strength.

Why did Don Heck pencil this book instead of big "john"?