"This is the place my friends," Silver Surfer said grimly as he overlooked the Mars sized blue planet below them. The planet was one of many that the Shi'ar had yet to explore. Supreme Evolutionary had created quite the large galaxy for the Shi'ar and they had yet to explore many of the new worlds they had within their new empire. If Norrin's information was correct this seemingly empty planet was where one of the most powerful beings in the universe was planning something sinister. This man had defeated him and many others single-handedly. His name was Tyrant and to hear that name said all you needed to know about him.

"Do you know exactly where he is on this planet?" Beta Ray Bill asked as he stood suspended in space next to Silver Surfer and Red Norvell. The former Herald of Galactus had asked him to help him on this mission. Norrin had assured Beta Ray Bill and Red Norvell that this mission was of the utmost importance. Something was definitely wrong about this planet. Stormbringer seemed to shiver as if it knew evil was waiting for them on this world.

"I can sense his power. Tyrant is in the Southern Hemisphere of this planet. I'll guide the both of you to him," Silver Surfer said as he sped off for the planet at a speed faster than any vehicle on Earth could hope to match. He didn't want to waste his time. Tyrant had to go down and fast. If the maniacal beast was allowed to get his plans in motion they might be no stopping him.

"Guess we better catch up," Red Norvell laughed as he threw himself into the direction Norrin had gone into.

"This will not go well," Beta Ray Bill sighed as flew off to come up close behind Red Norvell. He called out to him, "Do you know anything of Tyrant?"

"I know he kicks ass o' plenty! Is that enough?" Red Norvell replied his voice barely audible over the roaring winds as the two men entered into the planet's atmosphere.

"No. Understand that the three of us aren't enough to defeat Tyrant! Not nearly enough!" Beta Ray Bill warned as they came up closer to the speed of Silver Surfer.

"Despite that fact my friend we must find out what Tyrant is up to. He has to be stopped!"

"I understand this Norrin, but no one will know what Tyrant is up to if we aren't around to tell the story," Beta Ray Bill explained. He was weary of fighting Tyrant in a direct conflict. They should be using far more subterfuge in finding out what Tyrant had in mind. Usually Norrin was more practical than this. What drove him to such hasty battle?

"Believe me my friend when I say I understand your worries. Trust me that word of Tyrant's plans will get out. I promise," Silver Surfer assured. The strength in his voice had been enough to set Beta Ray Bill's worries aside.

"I trust you my friend. Let us find out what foul deed Tyrant is planning," Beta Ray Bill proclaimed.

"Yea I don't feel like being on this planet too long. The air stinks," Red Norvell commented as he stopped in mid-air above a bright pink tree.

"Are you sure it is not you, my friend?" Beta Ray Bill joked as he stopped next to Red Norvell.

"Tyrant lies to the east," Silver Surfer said as he pointed over the blue horizon to what looked like a gray spike jutting out of the planet. Norrin flew off into the air abruptly leaving Beta Ray Bill and Red Norvell unexpectedly behind. As Norrin flew he passed over miles and miles of yellow plants that swayed wildly from the wind he created.

"Talk about eager," Red Norvell remarked as he took off to follow Silver Surfer. He waved his hand back for Beta Ray Bill to follow. The alien guardian nodded and flew off to meet Red Norvell.

"Norrin lets the past guide him. It is folly," Beta Ray Bill said wearily looking forward at the silver haze that was Silver Surfer.

"Lets just worry about catching up to him," Red Norvell replied.

"Hurry allies! The tower of Tyrant is near."

"Yea sure. Whatever you say oh naked gray man," Red Norvell groaned. Within a few seconds Norvell and Beta Ray Bill had caught up to the Silver Surfer. He was floating in front of the large tower that obviously belonged to Tyrant.

"Our foe awaits us inside."

"Any ideas on how to get in?" Red Norvell asked looking over to the Surfer.

"Yes. I'll manipulate the molecules of the building to allow us to pass through," Silver Surfer said as he held out his hand and purple energy began to emanate from it. The gray tower seemed to shiver for a second.

"Are we ready?" Beta Ray Bill asked as he gripped Stormbringer tighter than he had the entire trip to this planet. He was about to take on one of the universe's most fearsome monsters and call he could was cringe inside. Beta Ray Bill was not a coward in any sense of the word, but fighting someone of the magnitude of Tyrant was something he knew to be cautious of.

"Yes, it's time to go. Prepare yourselves my friends. The battle we're about to face is not an easy one," Silver Surfer said as he shot off through the tower.

"Hey wait up!" Red Norvell exclaimed as he followed behind Norrin.

Beta Ray Bill held his hammer. Looking down on the tower he took a deep breath. Something about this mission felt entirely wrong. Evil was waiting for him inside. Pure, untiring evil. The kind that made you wake up with a cold sweat at night. Nonetheless, he would not abandon Norrin and Norvell to the darkness that awaited all of them in that tower. He would aid them as best as he could.

"Time to go," Beta Ray Bill said to himself as he flew off into the building that Silver Surfer had made intangible.

"Took you long enough," Red Norvell whispered with scorn as Beta Ray Bill landed on the ground.

"It matters not now Norvell. I can sense Tyrant near. Down that hall," Silver Surfer said in a low voice as he pointed down the silver hall. At the end of the hall there was a glowing blue light. It illuminated the entire hall.

"So I suggest we go and handle him," Red Norvell smiled. It was time to get down and dirty with Tyrant. No matter what the consequences were for that battle.

"Be silent. I don't want him to expect us," Norrin said as he began to creep down the hall. Both Norvell and Beta Ray Bill latched their hammers to their belts and followed behind the Silver Surfer. The two had been afraid that their large boots would make too much noise as they walked along the nearly empty hallway. Fortunately, that was not the case. Perhaps Tyrant had gotten tired of hearing metal clanking descending down the hallways of this place and had some type of device installed to capture the sound. Luck seemed to favor the three cosmic warriors today.

A silver hand went up to stop Beta Ray Bill and Red Norvell from walking any further as they neared the entrance to where the blue light was coming from. Talking could be heard coming from within.

"This device will allow me the control the minds of entire worlds. But I need a catalyst. That's why I want you two to go to Earth with me."

"Who is this catalyst you speak of?" a voice that Silver Surfer immediately knew as Firelord's said. Norrin was deeply confused. Tyrant had counted Firelord amongst his enemies and vice versa. Now they were working together. It all didn't make sense!

"She is an Earth mutant named Karma. I have made a deal with High Evolutionary like I did with the two of you. He'll enhance the woman's powers to the point they need to be. We'll bring her back here and the device will be activated. Then the three of us shall begin our conquests!" Tyrant bellowed.

"It seems we have company. Step into the light Norrin," Morg, Tryant's other ally, laughed as he prepared his axe for battle.

"You three plan madness! I can't allow you to accomplish your task," Silver Surfer said as he looked over at the floating yellow sphere with a glowing blue diamond in the middle. This plan had to be stopped. Tyrant couldn't be allowed to control entire worlds.

"Please Surfer. You are nothing to me! Your threats are as empty as you," Tyrant exclaimed as he stepped forward in front of Morg. His hulking form nearly blocked out that of Morg's. Dark blue tendrils hung down from Tyrant's head contrasting with his light blue skin. The eyes of the fiend were brimming over with bubbly blue energy.

"He's not alone! You're not getting away with this," Red Norvell said as he walked up behind Norrin. He had his hammer in his hand and he knew exactly where he was going to throw it. Right between Tyrant's eyes.

"Leave Morg and Firelord. I'll handle the puny Surfer and his hammer throwing friends," Tryant commanded with a voice that could make forests crumble and mountains crack.

"Are you sure Tyrant?" Firelord said with trepidation. He knew of Tyrant's power, but he did not want to leave him alone.

"I said go! Do not question me!" Tyrant yelled as the energy continued to pour out of his eyes. Firelord and Morg took leave of the building by stepping onto a circular brown disk. The two men disappeared in a flash of black light. Tyrant looked over at the three warriors and smiled, "So where were we?"

"Making you hurt!" Red Norvell roared as he flung his hammer with all the force he could muster. The weapon didn't reach its intended target, but instead of hit Tyrant dead in the mouth. The brute's head flinched a little, but the rest of body didn't even move. It was as if Red Norvell's attack had been entirely useless.

"Tell me there is more to you than that pathetic attack."

Spiraling red energy poured from Silver Surfer's hands and blasted Tyrant square in the chest. If Silver Surfer could sweat he would be pouring out a river right now. The attack was barely even making Tyrant yawn let alone hurt him.

"Why did you come here Norrin? Did you think you could stop me?" Tyrant asked in disbelief. He would have to teach these three the lesson of humility. Leaping into the air he went crashing through Silver Surfer's attack and wrapped his large fist around Norrin's entire head. The Herald's head went through solid metal as Tyrant threw it into the floor. He then backhanded Red Norvell and sent him crashing through the wall and out into the yellow fields of the blue planet.

"Stop it!" Beta Ray Bill yelled as he lifted his hammer up high into the air and sent it crashing down on Tyrant's face.

"When will I get a challenge?" Tyrant asked to no one in particular as he used the same fist he backhanded Red Norvell with to punch Beta Ray Bill. The alien went high into the air and out of the roof. He skyrocketed almost a mile into the atmosphere before coming to a stop. Unfortunately, he was unconscious when he did.

From afar Junn-Moon Lord watched the battle the slaughter that took place. He saw the battle through a mystical black mirror. It was one of the many weapons of the Moon Gods. Someone had to be made aware of Tyrant's plan. Junn-Moon Lord would make sure of that. He wanted that device Tyrant possessed for his own and he would do anything it took to get it.

"Make preparations for Earth, Queen Wastha," Junn-Moon Lord smiled as he made the mirror he was staring into disappear.

"I can't stay anymore. I'm sorry, but I just can't," Black Knight said as he stood on the steps outside of Avengers Mansion. He had a brown bag over his shoulder that pretty much had everything he had bought to the Mansion in it. L.A. was where he was headed and the Avengers couldn't be part of that.

"Why Dane? I don't want you to go," Crystal sighed as she took the hand of Black Knight's into hers.

Dane quickly pulled back from the Inhuman woman, "See this is what I'm talking about! You say you're with Exodus, but then you try and flirt with me. Why do you do this to people? Does Bennet even know how many times you cheated on Pietro?"

That question earned Black Knight a slap from Crystal, "How dare you question my feelings for Exodus? Don't try and put this on me! You're leaving because you can't handle the fact I'm with someone you hate. I know you still want me. I can see it in your eyes."

"Maybe I did Crystal. Just for a little bit I did. Now I feel sorry for poor Exodus. I wonder how long till you cheat on him! You know what? The both of you deserve each other!" Black Knight yelled as he walked away from Crystal and began his march to the gates of Avengers Mansion. He wasn't going to look back. Crystal wouldn't get that satisfaction from him. Not now. Not ever.

"Things are about to get nasty for the Avengers," Blood Mage laughed as he stepped away from his boiling pot of children's blood. Ever since his master, Yamu, had fallen to the Avengers he wanted nothing less than total vengeance. Nothing would stop him from having it.

"I'm sure the heroes will be able to handle it. They did after all defeat our master," Rex said his voice nearly devoid of any sense of hope. His servitude with Yamu had been everything to him. It had been his life. Now that had been taken away from him. There was nothing left for him.

"They needed help to defeat our master. We'll wait until this current threat passes. Then the Avengers will be weak. That's when we make our move against them," Gandriel smiled as he floated in the air above his fellow refugees.

"So Neal where you from?" Quasar asked as he took a drink of his wine.

"My parents are both from Korea. I was raised in Queens though," Neal replied.

"The hard knock life huh?"

"Not really. My life wasn't entirely bad. I wouldn't say hard knock," Neal laughed.

Quasar sat his drink down on the table and pulled out a deck of cards from his pocket. Looking over to Neal he asked, "Wanna play?"

"What's the game?"

"Poker. I figure I might as well get a game in pretty soon."

"Why is that?" Neal asked curious.

"Cuz with the Avengers trouble seems to always come our way," Quasar winked as he began to pass out the cards.

Avengers Assembled!

Alright man, I finally got a chance this weekend to sit down and read your full run to date (all 15 issues!), and I got a few comments for you.

First off, thank you for bringing in characters like Jack of Hearts, Photon, Quasar, and the Black Knight (even if Dane is winging his way over to Champions as I type this). As much as I admired your attempt to go with a completely off-the-wall roster for the start of your run, I was still unconvinced by the characters you brought in. As the Scarlet Witch herself said in one of your later issues, heroes shouldn't just be given Avengers status on a whim. I mean, these are the Earth's Mightiest Heroes we're talkin' about here! People like Callisto, Gilgamesh, and Satana just do NOT fit the team's premise (and hey, I'm even a huge Satana fan, lol).

While not being too impressed with the first arc, I felt the series really came into it's own with the issue that introduced Quoi to the team. I *liked* that guy, and I'm looking forward to his return later on in the series. In the same vein, I was glad to see you finally get a handle on Crystal's character. At the beginning, it seemed as if her only purpose on the team was to make bitchy remarks to Wanda, but now her relationship with Exodus has really gone a long way to giving her a more defined personality than just "I hate Pietro!". Thor continues to shine under your guidence as well, but c'mon man...let's see the Thunder God mess some people up!

But yeah, the series is getting better with each issue, despite the awkward start to your run. Keep up the good work, and I'll keep on reading.

Chris