Avengers #191

Issue Details

Synopsis

"Back to the Stone Age!" Iron-Man and Daredevil have been transformed into stone statues by the Grey Gargoyle. The Avengers battle the villain but he defeats them and leaves. At Avengers Mansion, Jarvis is dismayed to see Redwing (the Falcon’s pet) at a window, anxiously pecking to get out. Jarvis opens the window and the bird bolts off like a rocket. Back at the site of the battle, the Avengers rouse one by one. They discover that Iron-Man hasn’t actually been transformed into stone, just his armor, although he’s imprisoned within it now. Iron-Man (who’s battled the Gargoyle before) is aware that the transformation only lasts an hour. He informs the team that he saw Falcon take off in pursuit of the Gargoyle and suggests they search for him. The Falcon pursues the Gargoyle across Manhattan rooftops back to his former penthouse apartment, which is now occupied by a woman named Margo Neil after he was believed to have abandoned it. Intending to augment his powers, he opens up a secret compartment - only to discover that Margo has thrown away his formulas and now uses it as a liquor cabinet. Enraged, he is about to attack her when the Falcon intervenes. The Falcon isn’t a match for the Gargoyle’s strength. Redwing arrives and his master tells him to find the Avengers but the Gargoyle turns him to stone before he can fly away. The Falcon continues battling the Gargoyle, hoping to cause enough of a ruckus to attract the team’s notice. The Avengers then show up in time and the Scarlet Witch uses her hex power to turn the Gargoyle back into flesh and blood. Margo, who’s been crouching in the corner, is dismayed to see her home has been trashed. Returning to the court (after Iron-Man and Daredevil have reverted to normal), the Senate committee rules in favor of the Avengers, citing that this recent encounter has reminded them that the Avengers can combat menaces ordinary law enforcement cannot. A visibly disgruntled Gyrich is forced to greatly loosen his restrictions on the Avengers. Gyrich snidely asks Iron-Man if the team will once again expand their roster, but Iron-Man admits that they likely would have trimmed their active membership down to what it is now anyway. Unfortunately, the good news for the Avengers is bad news for the Vision. With Gyrich’s strictures loosened, the Scarlet Witch is now free to take her previously requested leave of absence. "The Icemaster Cometh" Icemaster has frozen New York in an attempt to create a new ice age. The Human Torch shows up to stop him but is no mach for Icemaster's powers. Thinking quickly, Torch throws some Hostess Fruit Pies at Icemaster. The real fruit filling warms Icemaster up, causing the city to thaw.