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thebibliomancer · 8 months

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Essential Avengers: West Coast Avenger #41: When Ghosts Can Die, Even Gods Must Fear!

February, 1989

Mockingird: "Go away! Haven't you tortured me enough, PHANTOM RIDER?"

Why did West Coast Avengers suddenly decide to have awesome covers?

Ghostly heads? Pentagram? Cover dialogue? This has it all!

This issue is to tie off some loose ends before John Byrne takes over so lets get to it!

Last times on West Coast Avengers: Mockingbird committed some cowboy manslaughter in the past times. Fully justified because it was a sex crime cowboy but when her cowboy manslaughter was revealed by the ghost of the cowboy, it kinda torpedo'd her marriage. Mockingbird and Hawkeye got into a massive argument masquerading as a debate on whether its okay for superheroes to do a manslaughter. And when the dust settled, the two were pre-divorced and Mockingbird took half the team with her, Tigra and Moon Knight.

Hawkeye's side of the team doesn't matter for this issue. But its Hawkeye, Wonder Man, Vision, and Scarlet Witch. Last time they fought a quirky miniboss squad.

This time, the narration is right. It really does seem like someone slapped some Thor inside a West Coast Avengers cover.

There's an invasion of Asgard by Seth, Egyptian god of being a dick, and his army of snakey boys. Leir of the Tuatha de Danaan/the Celtic gods is here helping the Asgardians because the line must be drawn heeeyah. This far, no further.

This stuff isn't really relevant but its not not relevant.

What is relevant is that Mockingbird's Notvengers have gone to the University of Nevada.

Remember that time Mockingbird assaulted and nearly killed Dr. Hamilton Slade, believing him to have something to do with his ancestor's ghost jackassery?

Well, the Notvengers are trying the novel idea of just asking him for help without kicking the shit out of him. And also, they've brought Daimon Hellstrom as a supernatural consultant. But no Patsy Walker though.

Suddenly, this is a bad issue.

Also, plotter and editor-in-chief Tom DeFalco has a cameo of himself in this book.

I like to point out creative team cameos.

Look at that DeFalco, playing some frisbee and being mocked by a friend. Interesting choice for a cameo, I tell ya what.

Anyway, Dr. Hamilton Slade says he has no idea what all this Phantom Rider stuff is about. Sure, his ancestor Lincoln Slade was a Wild West vigilante but what does that have to do with him?

Mockingbird decides to recap her entire experience with Phantom Rider in the past times. How he kidnapped her and drugged her into being his girlfriend. How she came to her senses and fought him at the edge of a cliff and didn't save him when he wound up hanging from the cliff.

Cowboy manslaughter!

Mockingbird: "I watched him fall -- and I was glad. You'd have to be a woman to understand how such violation can traumatize you -- drive you to extreme. And, of course, I was once a secret agent. We're taught to live with death."

But Phantom Rider has no appreciation for what should have been the cathartic end of the story. He came back as a ghost to torment Mockingbird and leaked a biased version of the story to Hawkeye to ruin Mockingbird's marriage.

Granted, Hawkeye and Mockingbird being too stubborn not to yell at each other about it sealed the deal.

Hamilton Slade says he kinda understands why she beat the shit out of him now. He'll do what he can, although he still doesn't know what he can do.

THE ANSWER TO THAT IS SATANISM.

Hellstrom draws a big ol' pentagram on the floor and tridents the ghost out of Hamilton.

Oh, ghost(s) actually.

Handily distinguished. Cape Phantom Rider is ye original Phantom Rider, Carter Slade. Lincoln's older brother. No cape Phantom Rider is Lincoln, the Phantom Rider that's been tormenting Mockingbird.

-slaps Hamilton-

This bad boy can hold so many ghosts.

Cape Phantom yells that Lincoln was always a bad egg. He abandoned his own wife and child to go off and be Phantom Rider when Carter died.

And dammit, Carter told him not to go and be Phantom Rider! It's not a legacy title, shitheel!

After watching some cowboy ghosts lasso each other for a while, Daimon Hellstrom decides that what this situation really needs is to be complicated.

He tridents Moon Knight and Khonshu points out.

Turns out that the occult expert recognizes a possession when he sees it. Even if its divine possession.

But with a god on the board, surely we'll get this ghost cowboy situation cleared up in no time.

Except... remember that thing with Seth and his demonic invasion of Asgard?

Yeah. That didn't open the issue for nothing. We're complicating the resolution of the haunted Mockingbird subplot by adding in a completely different plot.

Seth is an Egyptian god and whoops so is Khonshu. When Khonshu pings the ethereal scanners that Seth's demons are using, Seth's general orders a strikeforce to attack Khonshu before he can join the fight against Seth.

Despite the fact that Khonshu has shown zero knowledge or interest in Seth's plans.

Womp womp.

So back at the pentagram, Khonshu orders the ghost cowboys to stop fucking fighting each other and settle down.

Then because of Hellstrom's prompting, he decides to explain to Moon Knight why he's been possessing him.

Khonshu: "Marc Spector, I have left your body which I have inhabited for several months. As the giver of vengeance, I desired to experience this team called Avengers, and in what more fitting fashion -- than as you. I made you believe it was your destiny to become an Avenger. And so as to arouse no suspicion -- I took control of you by degrees. Slowly, like the waxing moon, I imposed myself upon your essense... and the god became man. But my need for this experience is over and so I withdraw my imprint from you completely. Now arise, Fist of Khonshu. Once again you are but flesh and blood in my service."

So, basically, Khonshu wanted to hang out with the Avengers and took over Marc's body to do it.

Rude.

Also rude: Seth's demons teleport in and start fighting everything.

Tigra: "Does anybody get a break around here?"

Moon Knight gets the worst in the ambush.

He was already dealing with suddenly being back in the drivers seat when suddenly a bunch of demons show up and start punching him and knocking him down the stairs. And the strength of these silly snake demons and maybe tumbling down the stairs breaks Moon Knight's weapons and his bracelets.

Moon Knight: "My weapons being lost -- and shattered! What type of enemies are we facing?"

Hellstrom handles the ambush better. These are demons, he fights demons. He blasts the group accosting him away with BALEFUL SOULFIRE!

Khonshu does not do as well.

Seth's demons were expecting to fight a Khonshu and they were ready to fight a Khonshu.

They incapacitate him with a surprise blast of the "etheromic phase-out cannon."

And the demons definitely didn't reckon on Tigra who goes catserker on them.

They really weren't ready for The Tigra.

Meanwhile, ghost fight.

Phantom Rider punches Phantom Rider through the wall of the building and outside where some college students are chilling.

They, of course, get a frighten and run off.

Other students seeing the ghost fight just assume its holograms from those darn computer graphics majors again.

Bad Phantom Rider clarifies for the audience that ghost guns can hurt ghosts. And then he shoots his brother, the Phantom Rider with the cape.

Good Phantom Rider also clarifies that Lincoln Slade was never supposed to be Phantom Rider.

Carter was chosen based on fate and destiny and spirits and whatever. Lincoln wasn't.

Good Phantom Rider: "My life was saved for a reason -- a purpose! I was destined to be a creature of the night... bringer of swift justice to the lawless! I knew I had been saved for a reason and Flaming Star claimed I was to be the champion his sky-spirits had promised him! But the Phantom Rider identity is not meant to be passed to one who isn't worthy! It's a special gift -- and you never measured up inside, Lincoln! Never!"

Lincoln, the bad Phantom Rider, insists that not only did he deserve to be Phantom Rider, he was better at it than Carter ever was! So, nyeh!

Good Phantom Rider claims that because the fates/spirits didn't intend Lincoln to become Phantom Rider, they probably maybe drove him mad! Yup, possibly, the spirits are responsible for Lincoln obsessing over Mockingbird and kidnapping her. You're maybe dicks, the spirits.

Back at the Seth subplot, Tigra is still going ham on Seth's demons. Just really tearing into them.

Mockingbird realizes that her cat friend is in a real berserk state and that anything that moves might be in for a mauling.

Nevertheless, Mockingbird jumps Tigra from behind and restrains her, saying that Avengers don't murder!

Okay, but what about manslaughter?

Because this feels like its supposed to be the conclusion to Mockingbird's arc? She sees a bunch of superhero murder going on and decides 'wow I don't like that, maybe I was in the wrong'?

Except: different situations. Apples and oranges.

Back at ghost fight, Bad Capeless Lincoln Phantom Rider says he doesn't care about Caped Carter claiming that the spirits drove him mad. He just wants to endlessly torment Mockingbird in revenge for her letting him fall off a cliff.

Nothing saner than that!

Anyway, ghost fight ends with Carter giving Lincoln a real walloping. Because he's fighting to protect Hamilton, who both the ghosts were living in rent free.

Back at the demon fight, Moon Knight has decided it doesn't matter whether he's going mad or not. Doesn't matter who these chumps are or what they want. Because he's very pissed off now and he's going to do violence until he stops being so pissed off.

And Moon Knight jumps into a pile of demons, bringing one of his last weapons over someone's head.

Elsewhere in the demon fight, Hamilton Slade is hiding under a desk wondering if he's going mad.

This day has been nuts for him. Superheroes claiming he was harboring a murder ghost. An Egyptian god popping out of another dude. Extradimensional invasion of demons. Ghost fights!

So when Carter shows back up with an unconscious?? Lincoln and tells Hamilton that he's the chose one of this generation, Hamilton just goes you know what fine.

And he becomes the new Phantom Rider. Possessed by a dead Phantom Rider. But the good one.

BECAUSE WHY NOT.

Does the present need a cowboy with ghost powers to fight crime? Either way, its got one now!

All-New, All-Different Phantom Rider shoots his ghost guns at the Etheric Stasis Generator, freeing Khonshu. Who takes the good measure of destroying the generator so they can't get him again.

Moon Knight gets grappled by the pile of demons he jumped into but he's able to kick himself loose. But loses his fancy belt in the process.

They're really destroying this man's collection of ancient egyptian artifacts.

Also, Hellstrom has been kicking demon ass off-panel this whole time. So between Tigra slashing her way through a small pile of demons, Moon Knight kicking his way out of another pile, Khonshu breaking free, and Hellstrom blasting demons with hellfire this whole time... the general decides 'actually? fuck this' and orders a retreat.

Moon Knight gets to throw a straggler through the portal himself and tells him to tell Seth that "one of those who defeated you was Moon Knight -- the Fist of Khonshu!"

Khonshu appears before Moon Knight and tells him that it's been fun possessing him but he's got to get back to his god responsibilities.

Moon Knight tells his god that he has no idea who his real self is anymore or what he should be doing.

Khonshu tells him to continue to avenge in his name but Khonshu won't be possessing him anymore.

He possessed Moon Knight because he was curious to experience mortal sensations but now he's gotta go punch Seth a lot. He feels somewhat responsible since they're from the same pantheon.

Khonshu: "Perhaps I will not survive the coming conflict. But though I perish -- let the mortal fist outlive the immortal deity. Strike in my name, disciple. Now and forever... strike in my name. Farewell."

And Khonshu fucks off.

Tigra flirts with Moon Knight but he rebuffs her.

Implying, I suppose, their relationship was because Khonshu wanted a catgirl girlfriend.

Valid.

Later on, like this year, Tigra and Moon Knight do have a good relationship. I think they're dating again. Both have grown up a lot since West Coast Avengers.

Hellstrom decides that he should ghostbust both of the Phantom Rider ghosts, just in case. Mockingbird echoes the sentiment because she dislikes all ghost cowboys now.

Cape Carter Phantom Rider agrees to be banished if it banishes his evil, bad fuckup brother Lincoln too. Carter will guard Lincoln for eternity to make sure he never threatens the world with his madness.

Hamilton disagrees though. And he commands Carter to possess him at the last second.

Bad Lincoln gets banished, Carter is safely hidden inside Hamilton.

Hellstrom asks Hamilton if he's going to be okay with hosting a ghost.

Hamilton Slade: "In my mind I can see -- I can feel the glorious future to come! It shall be as it was over one hundred years ago... A caped champion in white astride the great stallion Banshee -- a champion whose blazing guns will see that decent folk rest safe and secure! Rider and horse united in the never-ending pursuit of law and order and the frontier justice that is the legacy of -- THE PHANTOM RIDER!"

So, yeah, like I said. A new, new modern Phantom Rider.

Hellstrom says, well, fine, but he's still going to keep Hamilton on notice for ghost crimes.

Which Phantom Hamilton Rider is fine with.

As the Notvengers leave the university, Tigra asks Moon Knight what's wrong. The two of them have a rapport, he can confide in her.

But what he has to say, he says to the whole group.

He's quitting.

Joining the Avengers was Khonshu's idea and since Khonshu fucked off, Moon Knight is fucking quitting.

Technically, he already quit when he sided with Mockingbird. But semantics.

Also, Moon Knight is implicitly dumping Tigra in doing this.

Tigra suggests that she and Mockingbird go back and rejoin the West Coast Avengers.

Given what note things ended on, I don't know why she thinks it'd be so easy. It definitely feels like there were hurt feelings and bruised pride that has to be navigated.

But either way, Mockingbird rejects the suggestion. She has too much shit to sort out and she can't face Hawkeye.

She's probably definitely not begging him to take her back.

So Mockingbird and Moon Knight sadly walk off in different directions. NOTVENGERS NO MORE!

Tigra cries because this is super-poignant, we swear.

But also because she hitched her wagon to Mockingbird's cause and like the East Coast Avengers team pre-Inferno, the team just dusted away due to indifference.

The Notvengers won the day, fought off some demons, were around when someone else stopped the evil ghost haunting Mockingbird.

But it doesn't feel like a win.

Hellstrom tells her life goes on and Avengers endure. Maybe go rejoin the Avengers, he seems to be suggesting.

Because she seemingly does in the next issue.

And I'm finally at the Byrne run. Lamentations.

Follow @essential-avengers because I'm not an evil ghost possessing an archaeologist. I'm very material. Like, reblog, and comment maybe?

#avengers #essential avengers #west coast avengers #Notvengers #Phantom Rider #Seth or Set #his demons of death #mockingbird #tigra #moon knight #khonshu #a different phantom rider #a third phantom rider somehow #tom defalco #yes thats right tom defalco is in the cast list #awkward tie in to thor events #thorvents

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