Avengers Annual #23 (1994)

In the final annual of the original run of Avengers, the team faces the dual threat of Loki and Pluto, who engage in the time-honored strategy of switching foes, with Loki taking on Hercules here while Pluto deals with the Odinson in Thor Annual #19. Captain America’s failing health, consistently referenced in his appearances still it was confirmed in Captain America #425, is very much in evidence here, as he continues to (try to) hide his condition from his friends and colleagues.

The story opens with the Avengers engaging in a lighthearted training session, which Cap would normally enjoy, but definitely not this day—and Hercules is very concerned. (Also, don’t tell me you didn’t hear the song after Crystal’s final word balloon in the first panel.)

To his credit, Cap is lousy at hiding his true feelings, even though he doesn’t want anyone to know there’s anything wrong. (At this point, only the Avengers’ doctor, Keith Kincaid, and Cap’s girlfriend Rachel know; if anyone else suspects, we haven’t seen evidence of it.)

He forgets his troubles and gets happy (in his way) when the Avengers respond to an attack on Hercules at a local restaurant from Typhon, an Olympian Titan they fought in issues #49 and #50, giving Cap a chance to fill a familiar role: serving as ad hoc team leader in a battle crisis.

He congratulates the team afterwards even though Hercules was godnapped, and acknowledges the first responders of New York City (or leaves the clean-up work to them, whichever way you want to look at it).

Thunderstrike uses his mace to transport the Avengers to Mount Olympus where they battle a bevy of mythological beasts while Cap looks for Typhon. Despite his failing health, when Cap finds him, he displays his customary defiance and confidence—the latter echoed in Hank Pym’s thoughts.

It is not Typhon whom Cap must fight, however, but his fellow Avenger Hercules, brainwashed by Typhon to forget his past and join him in his ongoing battle with Zeus (and the Avengers).

While Hercules admires the mighty shield, Cap reluctantly punches him from behind, to little effect.

Zeus watches from another dimension as his son backhands Cap and marvels that “the masked mortal” nonetheless gets up. (Clearly he doesn’t read this blog.) When Cap realizes that Hercules does not remember who is, he decides to stir his memories while trying to delay another blow…

…although he is obviously struggling to keep ahead.

In a rage, Hercules floods the stables—as in one of his famous twelve labors—and the raging waters throw Cap against a block of stone, knocking him out. Luckily, the same waters also wash away Typhon’s spell just in time for Hercules to save his fellow Avenger, after which he turns to Typhon—and Cap has an opportunity to return the favor.

Cap valiantly joins the fight more directly, trying to use Typhon’s axe to relight the Promethean flame and bring back the Olympian gods, but is quickly trapped by one of the Titan’s tentacles. (Eww.)

All seems lost until Cap realizes that the axe will do just as good in someone else’s hands…

…especially the biggest guy around.

Working together, the rest of the Avengers manage to relight the flame and rescue the Olympians gods, which gives Hercules a chance to defeat Typhon once and for all… but we’ll give the final word to Cap, who realizes that he’ll likely be very sore in the morning.

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ISSUE DETAILS

Avengers (vol. 1) Annual #23, 1994, “Strangers on an Astral Plane”: Roy Thomas (writer), John Buscema (pencils and inks), John Kalisz (colors), Susan Crespi (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)

Collected in: Avengers Epic Collection: The Gathering and Thor Epic Collection: Hel on Earth.